Three months had passed since Victor Delacroix, in the guise of The Butcher, had torn through the village of Ravensbrook, eradicating Gabriel Thorn and his secret organization in a single, brutal night. The Crimson Veil's subsequent disavowal of The Butcher had sent shockwaves through both the criminal underworld and law enforcement circles. It was a move that had altered the delicate balance of power in New Albion, and it left many questioning what The Butcher's next move might be.
The media had latched onto the story with fervor, dubbing the massacre "The Butcher's Banquet." Sensational headlines graced the front pages of newspapers, and people endlessly speculated about the identity and motivations of the man who had singlehandedly wiped out an entire village, unaware of the residents being assassins. Rumors spread like wildfire, painting The Butcher as a demon in human form.
