The rancid and stenchy smell coming from the bottle dungeon was enough to fend them off and push them away from learning the truth.
Vinyl's accurate inspection was enough for Cleoantra to not push further into the matter.
"Let's go back. I can't bear the disgusting smell any longer."
"Oh, I'm glad you thought of that! I was thinking you'd choose to stay there forever! Anyway, don't worry about Hubert. He'll eventually come back."
"I'm not worried about him. What I'm worried about is the task he's
assigned to do."
Vinyl and Cleoantra reported back to King Estaroth upon further inspecting the person whom they were sure to be Invictus.
They then went back to complete their mission given to them by the king himself.
***
A day in Haven City would not go by without people shedding blood, fighting among themselves, hurting each other, and stealing even from their friends.
People barely experience peace in Haven City because wherever you go, there would be at least one person eager and compulsive to cause harm.
Moreover, sunset does not put an end to everything that is going on. It was actually the opposite because it marks the start of more chaotic events in Haven City. And it is very brutal, and gruesome, and those that have
no business at night would just stay inside their houses.
Locking their doors and closing their windows are the only safety, the only assurance they have every night. A house should be okay for the night if they do that.
If you don't lock your door and close the windows, it is highly likely thought of as inviting intruders into your house.
They won't force a locked door, but will immediately enter an unlocked one. The worst possibility that could happen to someone is not death, but horrendous torture waiting ahead. Some will come for money and others will seek pleasure in either assaulting others or inflicting immeasurable pain on people.
Nighttime encompasses the whole city with its darkness, arousing the lustful and atrocious desires of every criminal in Haven City. Like a nocturnal animal, these people whose desire surmounts each other began to lurk in the streets, alleys, and shadows whereupon eviler than evil resides.
What comes at night were nothing like ghosts and monsters from urban stories but abnormally normal people who are bloodthirsty.
Their desire for blood to shed and for the flesh to get off was insatiable hunger. It is in their twisted nature to scourge someone inferior to them. Those that do not possess the same amount of desire they have.
"It has begun. Another night of bloodbath and insanity will transpire. Many will die but at the end of the day, isn't that good? Because those are minus scums in this world, yeah?"
Amid the common pandemonium, Invictus stayed in a small house he rented for a few Plata. An abandoned house wherein a whole family was massacred. The massacre left bloodstains on the floor, the walls, and furniture that is beyond restoration.
"Always onward towards better things."
It really is happening. Terror and screams filled each house, store, and everywhere people live.
The thudding of footsteps resounding in the alleys, loud rough voices of men calling for their friends echoed, and painful cries of people brought forth immeasurable amounts of fear, drilling itself into each person's head in Haven City.
"They went this way!"
Only the brave, the insane, and people in need are outside, chasing pavements. Their desire and needs might differ from the others but in the end, they will still be sullying their hands red. Ultimately, every one of them is doing their kingdom a favor by killing the criminals off their world.
"Quick, quick! They will catch up to us!"
In Haven City, there is an unwritten rule among criminals. "No one shall ever break inside a house if the doors and windows are locked."
A group of criminals is assigned to check on each house's door. An investigation will be conducted when these inspectors found out that a house had been ransacked and its household had been killed where the doors were locked.
And when the perpetrators are found, they will be publicly executed by the punishers. These punishers can easily kill people because they have been doing it for a long time. No mercy will be given to those that dare try to break the rules.
Although an example had been set and people actually knew of the unwritten rule, some lunatic, crazily brave maniacs tried to go against the system implemented in Haven City.
A party of six men, wearing all rags in their faces to hide their identities, yet did not bother hiding their skin or whatever proof that can become solid evidence against you.
Silently, through the dark alleys of Shinda Street, they tread on the dirty bricked path, careful of their steps or they might alert others trying to look for prey they can hunt.
The small house Invictus rented for a week is behind another two-story house. His place is about 10 meters away from the road.
Other houses around where the supposedly "haunted" house he was staying in were either burned to the ground or destroyed.
The citizens do not bother fixing or rebuilding their homes for a place to stay due to the chaos going on each night.
Every night, the number of citizens in the city would fluctuate, and
none of them are perturbed by the efflux of people living in Haven City.
Sooner or later, in the near future, Haven City will lose all the scum, vile, atrocious, it refuged.
However, Invictus came to the city to prevent the trash from getting burned from the surface of the world. It would be such a waste to let the trash go without getting recycled even for the last time.
Before they all go, these insignificant criminals shall serve a purpose to Invictus' plan and be a part and the reason for Estaria's downfall.
"Are you sure he is here, Jorp?" Whispered a man sneaking around Invictus' place along with five more men with the same objective.
~