Chapter Four – Kill The Night
The highly annoyed and irritated in the main foyer room of the City Hall waiting for his brand new armor and weaponry. He sat in the incredibly large and busy room as business workers pass on by to and out of the palace like structure. He sat as patiently as he could while the morning drifted away and it began to become the afternoon.
Then finally at his far left the massive red carpeting had wave running down the stair with his armor. He came up to [Name] with a nervous smile.
Wave: Sorry for the wait. Here's your new gear. No weapon through, you're just a grunt. Not my rules.
[Name] had sat up and got in his new wardrobe. But it looked newer, sleeker, and the fabric's fibers seemed a lot thicker and harder. The Capital was preparing itself for [Name] and the Nightraid.
Wave: These are the newer state of the art "night guard" outfits. Since the nightraid are attacking Capital hotspots like here. You'll be more than likely to run into nightraid sooner than later. I hear that shadow guy might be nightraid's newest member.
[Name]: But from the reports I've read, the "shadow" doesn't kill. Nightraids a group of assassins.
Wave: You're right but that doesn't mean things can change. If that guy catches you at night you can pretty much kiss yourself goodbye. But other than that look good in that suit because pretty soon you and the other recruits will be meeting our highest general today. Good luck new guy!
He said as he ran back up the carpeted stairs. [Name] thought to himself, highest general? It must be General Budo. His strength and prowess in combat is unparalleled. He is tall, imposing, and intimidating. Why come visit new recruits? Shouldn't he have more pressing matters to attend to?
Early Afternoon – Capital Cantina
For the most part the capital's main drinking hub was an epicenter of scum. People often come here to pass out drunk, throw sorrows away, or just to have fun. The lights were always dimmed to give a relaxing atmosphere.
Numerous people sat at the bar as well as the tables. Numerous people walked in and among those people was Rom. He found his way over to a back table to where a lone man sat on his own. Knowing the man, Rom sat at the table as the two exchanged pleasantries.
Rom: We're kind of tight back at my place for the time being. Any odd jobs I can get my roommate to part take in? Even if it's a temp job?
A younger man by the name of Koukei responded from across the wooden table.
Koukei: The trades of "goods" are finished for the month. Both arms and "spices". However, there is a fighting competition in near the center of town that'll provide a substantial reward for the winner.
Rom: Well then. Only if I was in my fighting spirit, this competition would be mine.
Koukei: That's right, you're just a blacksmith right?
Rom: The best in the capital.
Koukei: And you don't sell any of your weapons? I mean you can make a killing in both the clean and black markets.
Rom: I'm well aware of that. I just make them as a hobby. Nothing else.
Koukei: More like weapons for your roommate? By the way some bandits are right outside of the capital. Pretty formidable.
Rom stayed silent and gave a raised eyebrow at the young man.
Rom: If I do it's none of your business. Now back to business. My roommate will be the one fighting for the money. And as for the bandits, they're as good as gone.
Koukei: If your roommate is as good of a hand to hand combatant, the prize is a sure win. I just hope you can make it in time for registration.
Rom: When's that?
Koukei: It ends today actually, at the city hall. I actually-
Before he could finish Rom took another shot of something strong and bolted out of the bar knocking over chair, people, and glasses all the while.
Mid Afternoon – City Hall
Now in the main foyer room of the city hall. There were about 20 new recruits that were in the newest armor in an astute stance in a form lined on both sides of the room. 10 on one and 10 on another. All standing straight, this was nerve racking and annoying. [Name] stood amongst one of the lines and analyzed his other cohorts. They were all tall, muscular, some rough looking facial features, and others handsome.
Kurome, Seryu, and Wave stood at the beginning of the stair well to greet the person who passed by all of the new recruits entering from the main entrance. It would've been a long walk for the general, but [Name] could care less.
Then it happened. A blue haired women entered in white garbs. It was general Esdeath?! She walked through with as an extremely cold feeling washed the entire room. With a smile on her face she strode through the line of recruits looking from guard to guard.
Once she got to [Name] she looked and he looked back. But with intensity unlike any other, his eyes followed hers as time nearly slowed as she glared at [Name] while walking by. The feeling of her icy stare still lingered on as she gave [Name] the longest stare of all, continuing to look at him even after she passed him, completely ignoring the others after him.
Esdeath then finally reached her own cohorts.
Seryu: How are you general?
She asked as she saluted.
Esdeath: Just fine.
She retorted with a very casual and somewhat tiresome tone. She looked back at all of the guards and spoke with her voice filling the room.
Esdeath: All of you are blessed to be living in this capital and even more blessed for serving it. You are all tasked with patrolling the city hall day and night. You are to eliminate any hostiles with extreme prejudice unless specified to do so. Weaponry will be in your quarters located beneath the the building. You are to take patrol shifts. If any of you encounter Nightraid, it's likely you won't live to see the next day. That likelihood is rather high, so live each day to the fullest. You're all dismissed.
All of the guards began to walkout to different places throughout the city hall. [Name] could hear what Esdeath was saying as everyone filed out of the main foyer room.
Esdeath: I have half a mind to torture the recruiters for these guards. They're all pitiful, they'll be dead within a month at this rate.
Seryu: But general?! One of them is promising. . I think.
Esdeath: Oh? Well right now I have other priorities. I'm going to the fighting competition today. Maybe I can find what I'm looking for there.
Kurome had left from Esdeath's side and walked towards [Name] who was still a bit of ways away. But listening intently on Esdeath.
Kurome: Hey [Name]!?
[Name]: What is it now Kurome?
Kurome: You don't seem all that promising like I thought.
[Name]: Not promising? But I haven't done anything yet.
Kurome: Yeah, But there's another job waiting for you at the imperial palace. I'm sure you'll like it.
In minutes [Name] found himself with a bucket and rags as he was rubbing the wet tiles of the bathroom floor.
[Name]; Damn I'm in the bathroom!
[Name] sighed. He only knew it as no long before dark and once it was he'd escape. He scrubbed, sprayed, and wiped numerous bathrooms for hours on end before dusk hit the capital's skyline.
He looked out of one of the bathroom windows and luckily it was big enough to fit him. So since there seemed to be virtually no one on that particular floor but someone's private quarters. There was nothing but cool silence, so he took a deep breath and opened and exited the window and cautiously climbed down the thick building blocks.
However, while leaving the bathroom he saw General Esdeath walk by! And behind her walked a guy. [Name] recognized his face instantly, he was the man from Nightraid. What happened? A Nightraid agent brought to the private quarters of the highest general?!
The shocked [Name] continued to climb down and finally reached the ground. Once he reached the ground he almost wanted to kiss it. But he tried to jogged out of the palace courtyard. Before he eve reached the gates from the outer gate came Kurome! His heart nearly jumped out his chest. She caught him, she was also eating cookies none the less.
She walked up to him and asked.
Kurome: Enjoy your first day?
[Name]: Yeah, sure i guess. . .You're not going to kill me?
Kurome: What? Why?
[Name]: What time is it?
Kurome: Time for you to leave, your shift's over already. It has been for a half an hour already.
She then walked passed him and towards the palace as she began to talk.
Kurome: Anyway, I have a mission to go on to go get some bandits. You wanna tag alo-
She looked back and [Name] was already gone.
[Name] raced home through the streets. As he finally reached the house. He used his keys to enter. When he did he saw Kasumi and Rom having a fierce tug of war of an obsidian longsword. Rom finally snatched it out of her hands.
Kasumi: I just wanted to see the craftsmanship!
Rom: No.
Kasumi: That's imperial level artwork there. Don't tell me you blow our money on antiques!
Rom: Our money?!
[Name]: Yes, our money. She lives here too.
Rom: Where the hell have you been all day?! You missed a fighting competition. You could've snagged us more money.
[Name]: Long story short, I got enlisted in the imperial guard for the palace and city hall. But there isn't time. Kasumi, head upstairs.
Kasumi: But-?
[Name]: Just go!. .Please
Kasumi: Fine.
She said with a dejected tone. As she walked up the hard wood stairs and shut the door. Once [Name] was sure she was gone, he spoke once more.
[Name]: I know where General Esdeath's personal quarters are. If we're quick we can-
Rom: Forget her for now, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of killing that woman.
[Name]: She brought the young man from Nightraid along with her. He—
Rom: Even with his aid you'll be a damned fool to challenge her. Just wait, we'll find time and a strategy to kil-
[Name]: I don't kill.
Rom: Well you're eventually going to have to! She won't be put down by any normal means other than death. If you fall short or slip up you'll be the one killed.
He spoke firm and serious yet quiet enough to ensure that Kasumi couldn't overhear. Rom sighed and he walked over to the front window to close the blinds.
Rom: There's a group of bandits outside the walls. Be careful, they're well-armed.
[Name]: Good.
Then right before going out of the backdoor, Rom spoke.
Rom: That girl is strong.
[Name]: I know, to see her parents like that and to keep going on. She's really something else.
Rom: Not that, before you came in. She nearly threw me across the room when I tried to get that sword back. You need to train her and soon.
[Name]: We'll see.
He said as he left the house and went into the smaller backyard. It was full of grass and [Name] lifted up a grass cover secret door. It was a secret cellar, the stairs led to a larger section fit with a crafting table, blacksmith tools, numerous swords, snares, crossbows, and his signature armor stood up on support. He put it on fit with all of his utilities and left.
Night – Outer Region/Capital's Outskirts
[Name] landed in the front of the fortress and. The main wall seemed undefended. However, within the bushes sprang numerous gun wielding bandits.
Bandit: You made a big ass mistake comin' here.
Another one of them shouted in agreeance.
Bandit 2: Waste this imperial shit!
[Name] quickly smashed a smoke pellet and used his grappling hook to snag a branch to pull himself up. As they fired into the smoke as they breathed in and passed out. He then landed back around the bodies as walls of men from behind the fort fired away. [Name] grabbed a hand full of explosive pellets 30ft up towards the fort of men.
The Explosion lit up the night as [Name] grappled up and mixed himself amongst the disoriented men. He smashed heads together, broke jaws, and lastly picked one of them up and threw one man over the fort.
He looked as the main door to the fortress opened and crowd of bloodthirsty bandits came out and charged. [Name] ran towards them slide under a lot of them. He smashed a few shins and countered a few punches. He then almost like an idiot got himself surround and was stabbed through his rib cage.
He then grabbed the knife wielder's arm, broke it and stabbed the man's hands by using the knife to stick them together. [Name] then head-butt a few around him and the jumped over the crowd to get clear. As he did he saw most of the men had pistols trained on him.
So quickly he grabbed one of the nearest bandits as a shield. The men shot anyway and [Name] threw the body into the crowd with one of his own flash grenades attach to his clothes. As the men are disoriented, [Name] used a snare gauntlet to wrap the remaining bandits up.
Losing lots of blood, [Name] saw the stab wound was worse than originally thought. It was gapping and raw. With the compound decimated and the bandits defeated. [Name] slowly walked out of the fortress's entrance from once he came. Walked down the long stair and called to his dark horse with a seemingly silent whistle. But to his surprise he saw familiar faces convene. One of them gasped.
Bols: Oh! Is that him?!
Wave: Woah. .It's the shadow!
Kurome: Well, looks like we can kill two birds with one stone tonight.
Run: It appears; he beat us to the punch. You're quite the popular man in the capital. Tell me Sir, How did you find and defeat these men?
Even [Name]'s horse couldn't show up fast enough to save him from this situation. He had to do something to escape. So [Name] with the blink of an eye, grappled away to a faraway tree branch. However, right as his body reach the branch it was cut off by Kurome who almost immediately anticipated it. As they both fell, they stared face to face while falling.
Kurome: Are you running from us?
As they fell through the air, he looked into her eyes as she smiled and blushed. She then stated with sensual tone
Kurome: That's cute, it means you're scared. We've got you.
[Name]: On the contrary!
He throws his last smoke pellet to the ground and a incredibly fast entity zoomed by and [Name] was gone. Kurome landed on her feet and looked in the direction with a smile.
After around 10 minutes, the Jaegers executed every soul [Name] apprehened and the fortress was set afire.
Late Night – Imperial Palace (Esdeath's Quarters)
Tatsumi laid back on the bed as Esdeath attempted to straddle him. Incredible flushed he argued with her about morality and their stance the current state of the empire. They put the debate to rest and after Tatsumi's shower, he reentered the bed.
Tatsumi: Um. . .Goodnight Esdeath?
Esdeath: Sweet dreams Tatsumi.
She said as she closed her eyes. However, Tatsumi wasn't finished asking questions. After a few minutes of silence, Tatsumi spoke.
Tatsumi: Esdeath?
Esdeath: Yes Tatsumi?
Tatsumi: Our mission tonight. Those bandits were taken out by someone before we got there. It was "that guy" wasn't it?
Esdeath: If you're referring to the vigilante skulking around the capital. Then yes.
Tatsumi: That guy is really interesting. He doesn't have an imperial arms and look at what he's doing. He's not a imperial agent is he?
Esdeath: To my knowledge no. This anomaly is a complete ghost. Your guess as to their identity and motive is as good as mine. But I agree, he is quite interesting.
Tatsumi: What's the plan? I mean what are you going to do when you find him?
She giggled and held Tatsumi tighter.
Esdeath: In all likelihood. I'll torture him, break him, and he'll receive a public execution like all the rest. It'll be a nice honeymoon for us Tatsumi, we can torture him as one to consummate our love.
She then gripped him tight in a aggressive manner.
Esdeath: Given your current mindset, you wouldn't like that. But that'll change with time.
Tatsumi's mind was drowned in fear and uncertainty. He even mentally spoke to himself.
Tatsumi: Oh man! I really wish that guy would swoop in and save me!
Esdeath closed her eyes and also mentally spoke to herself.
Esdeath: Don't worry mystery man. You and I will cross paths before long. And once we do, it'll be a day we'll both hold on to until death.