"If you don't mind me asking, where are we headed?" Artis inquired as he trailed behind Lexis and Ray.
"As I said, we're going to gather information," Lexis replied, glancing back briefly. "Here in East Ferrous, just like us, many gangs operate under the sun. We're on our way to meet one of our allies."
Artis furrowed his brow, curiosity piqued. "Allies? What kind of information are we looking for?"
Ray chimed in, "Anything about unusual activities around the outskirts. We've heard rumors, but we need solid intel before we proceed."
Lexis nodded. "Exactly. The Black Wolf Crew has been making some noise, and we need to know what they're planning. Last thing I want is to walk into a trap because of this stupid mission."
Artis glanced around, remembering a few gangs he himself encountered in Inloen, and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He took a deep breath, before calming himself down and asked, "So? Are you sure the information will be reliable? Since I came here, all warnings I have received so far is to not trust anybody. Isn't that right, Ray?"
Ray nodded, remembering his first interaction with Artis, as he smacked his head, "Yeah, I told you that right...I still stand by it, but the place we are going can be trusted! You don't have to trust me but just know that it will be worth going there."
Lexis chimed in, "Plus, he owes us a few favors. We've helped him out before, so he has a reason to give us the truth."
Artis raised an eyebrow, still unconvinced. "And if he doesn't? What if this is just another wild goose chase?"
"Then we simply adapt," Ray said with a shrug. "That's how it works in this world. We gather what we can, and if it leads to nothing, we regroup and try again."
Artis said nothing, absorbing the words Ray said and looked up as he was in a deep thought.
'Try again, huh? I wonder if you can try again and again until you can't, right? I want to save my sister no matter what. That's why I am here trying to get stronger and engaging in all these missions. Every second here feels like I am losing time. Only few people can get the luxury to try again, and as for me, I can only seek for opportunities...'
Lexis noticed the shift in his demeanor and slowed her pace to walk beside him. "Hey, you good? You look like you're a million miles away."
Artis snapped back to reality, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just...thinking. It's a lot to take in."
"Trust me, I get it," Lexis replied, her tone softer now. "Every single one of us got reasons to do what you do. Believe me, the guy walking besides us has a big reason to be here as well. Just like you got your reasons, so does everyone else."
Artis chuckled lightly, "Right. I guess I just need to focus on the task at hand."
As they approached an old, rundown building, Artis felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. The paint was peeling, and the windows were grimy, giving off an air of neglect.
"Is this the place?" he asked, eyeing the structure warily.
"Yep, this is it," Ray confirmed, scanning the surroundings. "Just remember to keep your cool. Jax likes to test people. If he senses any weakness, he won't give us anything."
"Got it..."
...
Lexis pushed the door open, the hinges creaking in protest. Inside, the dim light revealed a cluttered space filled with mismatched furniture and the faint smell of smoke. In the corner, a slim hooded figure sat slumped over a table, obscured by shadows.
"Jax?" Lexis called out, her voice steady.
The figure stirred, slowly looking up. His eyes glinted in the low light, revealing a knowing smirk. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite band of troublemakers. What brings you to my humble abode?"
Ray stepped forward, his posture relaxed but alert. "We need some information, Jax. Do you know anything about what's happening in the Outskirts of East Ferrous?"
Jax leaned back in his chair, his gaze flicking between them. "And why should I help you? What's in it for me?"
Lexis crossed her arms, her expression unwavering. "You owe us, remember? We helped you with that little mess in the market. It's time to pay up."
"Pretty ballsy." Jax chuckled, "Alright. I'll take 25 Grands for the information I am about to share."
Artis blinked in disbelief. "Twenty-five grand? Are you out of your mind? That's a lot of money for just a few rumors."
"Information isn't free, my friend," Jax replied, leaning forward with an amused glint in his eyes. "Especially in this line of work, where you can get killed for learning any wrong information."
Ray frowned, crossing his arms. "We don't have that kind of cash on us right now. Can't we work out a deal? You know we've helped you before."
Jax smirked, clearly enjoying their discomfort. "Oh, I remember. But that was a while ago. I need something more substantial this time. Unless…"
He paused, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably.
Artis felt a knot tighten in his stomach. "Unless what?"
"Unless you can offer me something else—something valuable. I deal in goods, not just favors."
"What do you want?" Lexis asked.
Jax leaned back, fingers steepled. "I have a job for you. A little side hustle that could make you some quick cash. Pull it off, and I'll consider your debt settled."
Lexis listened, and responded, "Sure we will help you, after we get the information we want!
Jax raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her defiance. "You think you can negotiate with me? Cute. I'll play along. Since I owe you one and because we are such good friends, I'll tell you the information.
"The information you want is that some peculiar type of Spirit beasts have entered the outskirts of East Ferrous. Nobody knows what kind of beast it is but it usually appears in night. So, some strange people wearing a black costume with strange red marks have also appeared there.
"Rumors say that whoever goes there at night gets attacked and it only got worse since its becoming public knowledge now."
Artis exchanged glances with Ray and Lexis, absorbing Jax's information. The mention of strange people and spirit beasts sent a chill down his spine, as the description of uniform was very familiar. Anger spiked within Artis as he wanted more information.
"Is that all?" asked Artis, trying to mask his anger to not show any disadvantage, "Can we trust your info?"
Jax shrugged, a disinterested smile on his lips. "Who knows? I haven't verified the info myself. But it seems like the Black Wolf Crew is involved somehow. They've been seen near the outskirts, and they're not the type to shy away from danger."
Ray's expression darkened, "Seems this mission got got more dangerous than I expected. How about it Artis, want to go?"
"Yes!" An immediate answer came from him, "I'll go. This is an opportunity that I can't miss." Artis made eye contact will all of them present, "We'll do it. But we need more details—where exactly are these sightings happening?"
Jax leaned back, crossing his arms as he weighed his response. "There's an old watchtower at the edge of the outskirts. That's where the sightings have been reported most frequently. It's not a safe spot, especially at night. But if you're smart about it, you might find out what the Black Wolf Crew is up to and what these spirit beasts are about."
Artis felt a mix of excitement and dread. "Alright. We'll check it out. But if we're doing this, we need a plan. We can't go in blind."
Lexis nodded in agreement. "Let's recon the area during the day. See if we can spot any movements or patterns before nightfall."
Ray added, "And we should gear up. If we're going to face both the crew and these beasts, we need to be prepared for anything."
Jax chimed in, "Just remember~ Don't expect it to be easy. You'll be on your own for this one."
Artis met Jax's gaze, determination flooding his veins. "We'll manage. We've come this far; we're not backing down now."
...
Outskirts of East Ferrous, 7:00 PM
As they reached the edge of East Ferrous, the city's clamor faded behind them, giving way to a silence that felt thick with anticipation. The outskirts loomed ahead, a tangled mass of trees and darkness. Artis took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay beyond.
"Stay alert," Ray instructed, glancing at the treeline. "We don't know what's waiting for us."
Lexis drew her weapon, which was a pair of gloves that transformed into a purple gauntlet. "We'll figure it out as we go."
With a final nod, they stepped into the shadows waiting for whatever danger was ahead of them.
Just as they waited, some sounds of tree branches being stepped, bushes hustling filled the entire area making them tense.
"Did you hear that?" Artis whispered, anxiety gripping him.
"Yeah," Lexis replied, her gaze scanning the darkness. "That was close."
Ray crouched low, his senses sharp. "We need to move quickly. If those beasts are out here, we don't want to be caught off guard."
"Here it comes." Lexis said seriously as her eyes turned white.
Just in front of them, a tall black figure shaped like a rabbit stood in front of them. It's eyes red with anger and drool drenched from its front teeth as if it was staring at its next pray.
Artis readied himself, preparing for any attack as the rabbit jumped to attack them.