Amir now found himself in deep shit, if what Ivy said was true then he couldn't kill them, or he would have to deal with people way stronger than him and he didn't want to know what being hunted down by a powerful gang felt like.
'If I kill them now, I might get hunted down but what's the point of keeping them around for them to bite me in the ass later.'
Ivy couldn't tell if her threat had created any hope out of the situation and started nervously looking at Amir as he thought to himself.
After a few minutes she saw Amir gripping his sword handle more tightly she began to panic. He had a look of different emotions on his face of anger and worry as he walked closer to ivy.
"WAIT! it doesn't have to be like this you don't have to kill me!"
As Amir reached closer to her, he stared her directly in the eyes with a look that sent shivers down her spine. It felt as though he was overpowering her with his pressure which only made me wonder as to how in the world could a child have this much killing intent.
'You and your friend are going to sign a mana contract with me and if you decide not to ill just leave you to the beast.'
Ivy didn't see a choice as he looked like he really would kill her. Seeing her nod her head Amir pulled out a brown paper that he had bought from the store and woke up the other girl telling her the same thing.
They both signed the contracts quickly but felt dejected as it was a slave contract. They were required to answer anything he asked truthfully or suffer pain, and they were never allowed to speak of seeing him and they got injured by a magic beast. They also couldn't hurt him in any way shape or form. If they broke any of the rules, they would suffer intense pain, and he would be notified.
Amir took out a potion from his magic ring and poured it on the stab wound and cut to ivy's Achillies who on the ground wailing in pain. He couldn't careless about their pain and he only need to make it look like the magic beast was the only injuries they suffered.
'Why the hell as soon as I get here I'm dealing with something like this.' He thought internally sighing.
Looking at the girl he was irritated to have to be dealing with her. He only came to this city to raise his stats and get more money.
"Okay tell me everything you know about this Sainthood gang." he said with a irritated look.
After a few minutes he had a good grasp of the situation with the gang. The Saint Hood Gang is a powerful underground organization notorious for its involvement in extortion, murder, and even the slave trade. They have become a scourge on the city, rising to prominence 10 years ago. The gang is highly skilled at remaining hidden, eluding the city guards, and staying under the radar of imperial authorities and academy officials, thanks to the protection of a powerful backer.
Amir had no interest in tangling with a group as powerful as the Saint Hood gang. Anyone who could operate under the radar of the Academy's officials clearly knew how to navigate the city's treacherous waters. Amir preferred to steer clear of such forces, recognizing the need to gather more information about the city's power dynamics and the locations of various noble families to avoid unnecessary entanglements.
Wanting no part in the city's political machinations, Amir left the two girls behind, their fear evident in their wide eyes and trembling bodies. Ivy and Alysia sat there, stunned and terrified.
"I don't think we should try robbing anyone again," Ivy murmured, her voice shaking.
Alysia, clutching her mangled arm, could only nod, silently praying to Atlas that she would never encounter that boy again.
Amir knew he needed a better understanding of the city's power structure before making any further moves. The last thing he wanted was to get caught up with the nobles or gangs. With this in mind, he headed back to the bar to seek information from Finral.
When he entered the bar on the first floor, he found Finral cleaning glasses and arranging bottles. Noticing Amir, Finral called him over.
"Hey, you need something? If you're here for beer, sorry, I don't serve minors."
Amir shook his head. "No, I just wanted to ask what you know about the nobles in the city."
Finral wasn't surprised by the question; many kids envied the nobles and their prestige. He himself had once harbored similar feelings, unaware that Amir's interest stemmed not from envy but from a desire to avoid trouble.
"There are five noble families in the city," Finral explained, still wiping the glass. "Three barons, one count, and of course, the city lord, Marquis Aron."
Amir nodded, absorbing the information. "Do you know how I can identify them?"
Though curious about why Amir wanted this information, Finral decided to help. The boy was only F-rank, and as a new member of the guild, he didn't see any harm in offering some guidance.
Finral showed Amir the different sigils of the noble houses and described their prominent members. Amir also peppered him with questions about the city's economy, policing, and the military strength of each noble family. The depth of Amir's inquiries made Finral pause, wondering what a boy of no more than thirteen could possibly want with such detailed knowledge of the city's affairs.
"Kid, what are you planning with all this information?" Finral asked, his curiosity piqued.
Amir shrugged.
"I only like to know where I lay my head at night." he said nonchalantly
Amir Felt satisfied with the information from Finral he thanked him and left the bar. It was finally time to start hunting magic beast like he planned.
***
On a snow-covered mountain, where the wind howled and snow fell heavily, a river of blood flowed down, staining the pristine white landscape with deep red.
"If you tell me where their base is, I'll make this quick," Valerie said, her voice as cold as the air around them.
A man dressed in black lay before her, his legs severed and bleeding profusely. With a defiant glare, he spat at Valerie.
"Screw off, you damn imperial dog!" he growled.
Valerie ignored his insult and calmly stepped closer, pressing her boot into his open wound. The man howled in agony as she applied more pressure.
"You call me a dog, but what should I call someone like you, who abandoned humanity for those who don't belong in this world?" she replied, her voice as chilling as the mountain winds.
The man's screams grew louder as the pain threatened to shatter his mind.
"You damn hypocrite! You talk about humanity, but look at you—murdering everyone here, even when you know we don't have the answers! When they win this war, they'll wipe out you and your kind, and the world will finally know peace. Praise the Alif—"
Before he could finish, Valerie crushed his head beneath her boot.
"Fanatic," she muttered, glancing down at the mess. "Now my new boots are ruined." With a flick of her wrist, she cast a water spell to clean them off.
Behind her, Alex appeared, dressed in his usual butler's attire.
"Are you finished here, my lady?" he asked, his tone respectful.
Valerie turned, giving him a brief glance. "Yeah, I'm done with them and this hideout. Still couldn't find a clue to where they are."
"A pity, my lady," Alex replied with a hint of sadness. "I'm sure we'll find a lead soon."
Valerie walked past him, her eyes sweeping over the hundreds of corpses littering the snow. "That remains to be seen. By the way, what do you think of Amir?" she asked, a note of curiosity in her voice.
Alex paused, considering his words carefully. "Honestly, my lady, the kid is the biggest monster I've ever seen. His talent rivals the children of the Six Great Families. But it's more than that—he has a natural inclination for cold-blooded murder. If it's not controlled, it could spell disaster for the empire."
Valerie sighed, her breath forming frost in the cold air. She knew Alex's observations were always accurate, but she was determined to guide Amir down the right path. She would have preferred to bring him back to the academy, but his mistrust made that difficult. She had allowed him to go to Divitas so he could experience freedom, hoping that when he realized he needed more power, he would come to the academy willingly rather than see it as just another part of the deal.
"I won't kill him just because he's a little dark. A little darkness is necessary in this world," she said calmly.
"As you wish, my lady," Alex responded with a bow.
Valerie turned her gaze to the distant horizon, overlooking the vast and beautiful planet of Argos. A soft smile touched her lips as she whispered, "He would never abandon a child. Never."