A vehicle, sleek and black, slowly approached the alley entrance, its headlights cutting through the darkness. It came to a stop, and the engine's hum died down as the vehicle came to a halt.
A tall man in a finely tailored suit stepped out, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat and a long coat that flapped against his legs. He surveyed the alleyway with a critical eye, seemingly unimpressed by the scene before him.
"Is this some kind of joke?" he muttered, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. He moved closer, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of the kidnappers. Instead, he found the burlap sack lying in the middle of the alley, abandoned and alone.
With a frown, he approached the sack, his footsteps echoing softly against the wet ground. Just as he reached for the sack, Mattias exploded from the fabric, landing gracefully in front of him.
"Prepare yourself for a—" Mattias began, striking a dramatic pose as he emerged. "A beating like you've never—" He abruptly stopped, his expression shifting from theatrical to one of sheer disappointment. "Oh, come on. It's just you? Seriously? I sat in that sack for a whole hour, and this is what I get? Don't you have any more henchmen or something?"
Mattias looked the man up and down, his eyes narrowing at the man's attire. "And what's with the outfit? You look like a fifth-century mob boss. Aren't you just the pickup guy, or has the economic recession led you to do the grunt work yourself? I get it, times are tough."
The buyer's eyes narrowed beneath the brim of his hat. He sighed, clearly unamused by Mattias's mocking. "I'm not here to entertain you," he said with a cold edge to his voice. "I'm here to collect what's mine."
With a swift motion, he pulled out an ornate knife from his coat. As he drew it, the blade began to shimmer and grow, extending into a menacingly large, enchanted weapon.
Mattias's frustration boiled over. "Seriously? Two enchanted weapons in one night? I can't believe this. First, it's a magic boomerang, now a ridiculously oversized knife. How do you guys even afford these?"
The buyer's eyes were unwavering as he brandished the knife, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light of the alley. "You might want to rethink your approach. I'm not in the mood for games. Where is the brat?"
Mattias raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, sheesh. Hey, after I beat you to a pulp, can I keep your knife? I promise to take good care of it!"
The buyer's frustration reached a boiling point. He growled and prepared to swing at Mattias, his anger palpable. But before he could move, an arrow suddenly whizzed from above and pierced his right calf, pinning his leg to the ground.
The buyer let out a roar of pain and fury, his curse echoing off the alley walls. "Dammit! Who the fu—"
From the roof above, Serenity and Ócalus descended with practiced ease. Serenity landed gracefully beside the buyer, her eyes glinting with determination. Ócalus followed closely, his bow already in hand, scanning the area for additional threats.
Serenity's gaze locked onto the buyer as she approached, a cold ferocity within them. "Looks like you're not the only one who's been busy tonight. Tell us what you know before we have to get rough."
Ócalus knelt beside the pinned buyer, his expression stern. "We're not here to play games. You're going to tell us where you planned to take the girl."
The buyer glared up at them, the pain in his leg making him grimace. "You won't get anything out of me," he spat. "You'll regret this. Especially you, you knife-ears"
Mattias leaned against the wall, watching the scene unfold with a smirk. He called out to Serenity, his tone both teasing and menacing. "If he keeps refusing to talk can I just eat him? Honestly I'm starving, and it's not like any of you were going to let him live anyways."