"I am the nightmare you cannot wake from."
----
Two weeks and six days since joining hestia familia.
---
"I miss the old joint." Ed said lazily, leaning against the wall, his eyes looking at the patrons gambling away their life. "It had soul, y'know? Smelled like bad decisions. This place smells like… gardens and hope,"
Jon rolled his eyes, not agreeing with his companion "Fuck no. This place is way better. The old spot smelled like piss, blood, and desperation. That ain't 'soul,' that's disease."
Ed clicked his tongue. "You're soft." He gestured vaguely toward the pristine establishment. "Where's the edge? Back in the old place, you had guys flippin' tables, fights over dice rolls, maybe a knife fight here or there. This? Everyone's just sipping drinks and smiling like it's a tea party."
"If 'edge' is just another word for tetanus, you can keep it." Jon added snarkily.
Ed opened his mouth to retort, but his eyes caught a figure approaching, interrupting the conversation.
It was the white-haired kid from before, wearing a nice black suit, a Sharp look on his eyes.
Both of them straightened immediately, snapping to attention as he neared them.
"Don't bother us," the kid said, not even glancing at them while entering the boss's room.
As the door banged shut behind him, they eased up, their stiff postures melting away.
"Last time Boss lettin' this kid into her office, and boom, a brand-new casino," Ed said, his tone all hush-hush, his eyes squinting a bit.
"I was thinking that maybe she was his sugar mama or something. But I guess... The kid's the sugar daddy." Jon shook his head, looking baffled by the thought of an elf doing stuff like this.
What weird times we're living in.
---
All For One entered the office with measured, deliberate steps, his presence radiating an air of absolute authority.
"S-Sensei!" Lia exclaimed, bolting upright from her seat behind the desk. She wore a sparkling blue gown that complemented her golden hair, yet the elegance of her attire did little to mask the unease that now marred her expression.
He stood silently, his eyes fixed on her, as though dissecting her very being.
Lia fidgeted under his gaze, the oppressive quiet gnawing at her composure. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, the words dying on her lips.
At last, he broke the silence, his voice calm yet commanding. "Tell me," he began, stepping closer, his tone deceptively mild, "how is the new establishment?"
This was, after all, one of the reasons for his visit. He had even bought a second-hand suit for the occasion.
Ensuring his assets were performing as expected was non-negotiable.
"S-sir," Lia stammered, instinctively taking a half-step back as he approached. "T-the profits are steadily g-growing," she managed, her voice trembling but clear enough to deliver her report. She edged around the desk, positioning it between them like a flimsy barrier.
He cast a brief glance at her before easing himself into her chair without invitation, his casual confidence only amplifying the weight of his authority. "Good," he said evenly, his tone carrying faint approval. "You've done well, Lia."
Relief flickered across her face for the briefest moment—short-lived, as his tone darkened without warning.
"Now," he began, his voice sharp as a blade, "let's address the real reason for my visit." Leaning forward slightly, he rested his forearms on the desk, his posture deceptively relaxed. "Why is it," he asked, each word deliberate and laced with menace, "that you failed to inform me about Fangs' Vengeful Friends?"
Lia's eyes widened in alarm, her heart pounding in her chest. 'Don't tell me…'
'Stupid, stupid Lia!' she berated herself internally. Of course Ortiz's group wouldn't let Fang's death go unanswered. She should've known, should've told him!
And now, she was going to pay the price for her own slip-up.
Flashes of that night came back to her; blood, so much blood!
She didn't want to die!
"I-I…" she stammered, her lips trembling. The words she so desperately needed refused to come, her voice caught in her throat as she met Sensei's calm smile.
All For One's expression remained unchanged, but the oppressive weight of his presence intensified. "Before we get to your punishment for this… oversight," he said, tone calm. His hand began to emanate faint arcs of black lightning, the crackling energy hissing softly in the suffocating tension.
Still smiling, he leaned back slightly, his posture almost leisurely as the lightning danced ominously between his fingers. "I want you to tell me everything you know about them."
Lia swallowed hard, the blood draining from her face as her wide eyes remained locked on the flickering energy in his hand.
'Fuck,' she thought helplessly, every fiber of her being screaming at her to run. But she knew better—there was no escape.
---
"Canoe, are you sure about this?" asked a human adventurer with short black hair. He wore no armor, save for a shoulder protector emblazoned with a crescent moon encircling a goblet—a symbol marking him as a member of the Soma Familia.
Canoe scoffed. "What are you so scared of, Arno? All we have to do is stir up a little ruckus to make some customers fuck off permanently. The pay's damn huge for something this simple."
Arno hesitated, his uneasy gaze darting down the street.
The sun was beginning to set, and the red district was slowly coming to life. "But... this is the Ishtar Familia's territory. They'll beat us half to death if they catch us causing trouble."
"Quit whining about it," Canoe snapped, cutting him off. His eyes shifted forward as he muttered, "That loser is here."
Arno followed Canoe's gaze, spotting a man approaching them.
"Canoe," the newcomer said as he reached them, not even sparing Arno a glance. "Why are we here? I thought you said you'd be laying a trap for that pipsqueak." His tone was laced with irritation.
Instead of responding directly, Canoe called out with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Ged! You came!" His tone was friendly and welcoming.
Ged scoffed. "Where is the supporter?" he demanded impatiently, clearly in no mood for Canoe's antics.
"You need to be patient, Ged. She's hard to track, you know?" Canoe replied casually, brushing off the demand. With a smirk, he added, "But first, I need you to help us cause a scene in there real quick." He pointed at a nearby building; a newly opened casino in the red district.
Ged's scowl deepened. "And why would I do that?" he asked slowly, his tone making it clear he was seconds away from walking away.
"Because I just saw a white-haired guy walk in there." Canoe's smirk widened. "I remember you mentioning him,"
Ged's eyes widened. "And you sure it's him?" he asked skeptically. Just having white hair didn't mean it was that guy.
"C'mon, how many fuckers with white hair could there be in orario?" Canoe countered, placing a hand on Ged's shoulder. "And didn't you say he broke your nose?" He chuckled lightly, further fueling Ged's anger.
"Fine," Ged growled, venom dripping from his voice as he slapped Canoe's hand away. "I'll join you for this." His eagerness to get revenge on that Albino bastard was evident.
"Great!" Canoe said enthusiastically before turning to Arno. "Arno, let's go."
"Yes," Arno replied quietly, falling into step behind Canoe, his expression slightly uneasy.
Ged followed silently, he have his own plans when they are inside, but these two idiots didn't need to know that.
His hand itching for the chance to wring the life out of that white-haired punk.
---
Ed flicked a gold coin into the air, his expression thoughtful. "Y'know," he mused, "if I had a coin for every time someone said I was handsome, I'd have… probably like, two. And one of 'em would be my mother lying to me."
Jon whistled at the confession. "Huh. That's one more than I figured," he said with a smirk.
They leaned casually against the wall, watching the casino floor. The sound of dice rolling, cards shuffling, and murmured conversations filled the air. A rowdy group erupted in cheers over a big win, while a nearby table groaned at their losses.
Then, out of nowhere, a barely audible "No!" came from behind the boss's door.
Both of them stiffened.
Ed shot Jon a sideways glance. "…Did you hear that?"
Jon blinked. "Yep."
Ed cleared his throat. "So, uh…" His words trailed off, unsure of what to say.
Jon raised a hand, gesturing to focus ahead. "Eyes forward," he advised. The last thing he wanted was to get fired for overhearing things he shouldn't.
"P-please, s-sensei!" Their boss's voice came through the door, faint but unmistakable.
They stared at the door.
Then at each other.
Ed nodded sagely. "She's into the freaky shit, huh?"
Jon shrugged. "Rich people always are."
They shared a moment of silent understanding before returning to their casual slouch against the wall, unbothered by what was clearly a scream of fun.
A sudden commotion from the casino floor caught their attention.
"This is a scam!" someone roared, flipping a table. "I demand a refund!"
Chips and cards clattered across the floor as the table attendants scrambled to get out of the way.
Ed let out a long-suffering sigh. "Ah, the circle of life," he said dramatically. "One fool goes all in on thirteen, and suddenly we're the bad guys."
Jon stretched, cracking his neck. "Wanna bet how long before security tosses him out?"
"Eh, three minutes."
"Two."
They shook on it and settled in to watch the chaos unfold—until Ed remembered something very important.
"Uhh," he began hesitantly, "isn't the new security team supposed to arrive tomorrow?"
Jon stared at him for a long moment, then sighed irritably. "Let's just get this over with," he huffed, marching toward the idiots causing the scene.
"Well, boss sure would have a nice private time," Ed muttered to himself, chuckling as he trailed after Jon.
They had idiots to deal with.
---
Canoe smirked as the patrons around him backed away, their cautious retreat only fueling his confidence.
He couldn't wait to get paid in full after this easy snack of a job.
"Arno, daggers," Canoe called, snapping his partner to attention. He noted the absence of Ged—that bastard must have slipped away while they were pretending to play.
No matter. They could still do the job easily.
Arno quickly handed him a blade while unsheathing his own.
Somehow, they had slipped their weapons in unnoticed. The casino's security seemed practically nonexistent.
The tension on the floor thickened as more patrons edged toward the exits.
"S-Sir, please leave, or I'll be forced to call the authorities," the croupier stammered, her fear barely hidden beneath the thin veil of professionalism.
Canoe chuckled darkly, twirling the dagger in his fingers. "Come on, babe, we're just getting started."
He reached for her arm.
She yanked herself away.
His smirk faded. This bitch thought she could escape from him!? "You don't want to mess wi—"
A champagne bottle crashed into the back of his head mid-sentence, shattering on impact.
"FUCK!" Canoe stumbled, clutching his now-bleeding head as crimson blood and wine dripped down his face.
The croupier didn't waste her chance. With a startled "Kyaa!" she disappeared into the crowd.
"Canoe!" Arno lunged forward, barely catching him before he collapsed.
"Potion," Canoe hissed through gritted teeth, his vision blurring.
Arno scrambled for one, tilting the vial to Canoe's lips.
The bleeding seemed to stop, but the pounding in his skull remained.
"Get off me!" He shoved Arno away, sending him sprawling onto the floor.
Canoe's gaze swept the room, his fury bubbling over. "Who the fuck threw that!?"
Laughter rang out from a group of Amazonesses in the back seats. One of them nudged her companion, pointing in his direction.
Canoe's rage intensified.
His eyes locked onto two men in suits near them—security, who, despite his bloodied rage, looked utterly bored.
"Was it you two!?" Canoe pointed at them, his fury rising. "Think you can—"
Jon adjusted his cuffs with the calm detachment of a man about to handle yet another routine inconvenience.
"Sir," he said coldly, "I'd like to remind you that all wagers placed within this establishment are final. Refunds are unavailable, and our complaint department does not handle cases of idiotic decision-making."
Ed nodded. "However, if you'd like to file an official grievance, I'd be happy to provide the necessary paperwork. Processing time is approximately: never."
Jon offered a polite, soulless smile. "Alternatively, we can proceed with our expedited conflict resolution service." His voice dropped a degree colder.
Ed smirked. "Comes with a very hands-on approach."
Canoe's grip on his dagger tightened, the ache in his head matched only by the sting of his wounded pride.
Jon exhaled, stepping closer. "As a courtesy, I'd advise against escalating this further."
Ed gave a casual shrug. "Or do. It's your medical bill."
"I'll kill you both!" Canoe finally snapped, lunging toward them.
Jon sighed irritably. "And here I thought we wouldn't need to break bones."
---
"Nee~ Aisha." Lena, a young Amazoness from the Ishtar Familia, nudged her friend playfully, her orange eyes locked on the brawl unfolding before them. "Think the fat one has a chance?"
Aisha, another Amazoness, hummed as if giving the question serious thought before dismissing it outright.
"Not happening." Her tone was final. "Especially after that champagne hit—impressive aim, Samira."
She glanced at their silver-haired companion, who sat beside them, looking utterly bored.
Samira shrugged. "Well, you did say the owner pays us protection fees, so I figured… why not?"
Aisha turned back to the fight, watching the two idiots get pummeled.
"Say, these two have some stamina, huh?" Lena smirked, licking her lips suggestively.
"Huh. You're not wrong," Samira mused, watching as the brown-haired bodyguard slammed the skinny, black-haired thug into the ground.
"Want a piece of one of them after this, Aisha?" Lena asked, not entirely opposed to the idea of sharing for today.
Aisha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her expression dull with boredom. "Not my type," she said flatly. "Also, don't mess with the employees."
Their Familia and the casino's owner had an arrangement—protection fees in exchange for a few… privileges.
They could hunt among the customers, but the employees were off-limits.
Lena huffed. "Fine," she muttered, settling back into her seat to enjoy the show.
Samira gestured toward the fight. "Look, the fat one's about to drop."
"Wait—" Lena squinted. "Is his friend trying to bail?"
---
"Arno!" Canoe's voice rang out, raw with frustration as he staggered to his feet, legs shaking from a brutal strike. "Support me!"
Arno, battered and barely standing, assessed the situation. To his right, the brown-haired security guard stood poised, ready to smash his face in again. To his left, Canoe was locked in a losing battle against the blond one—clearly outmatched.
Ed cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "What's it gonna be?" His tone was light, but the threat beneath it was unmistakable.
"MOVE!" Canoe roared, patience snapping.
Arno took a step back. Then another.
"Fuck you!" he spat before turning on his heel and bolting for the exit, his steps uneven but quick enough.
Jon chuckled, shaking his head. "Huh. A smart one for once."
Ed smirked as he strolled closer to his companion. "So, fatso—how's this gonna end?"
Canoe's eyes darted frantically, trying to look for a way out of this.
Then, suddenly, he grinned. "I'll show you two!"
His hand shot toward his hilt, reaching for his magic sword—
—only to find nothing but air.
"Where the he—!?"
His words barely left his mouth before a hand grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the floor. The impact cut him off mid-sentence, his body going limp.
Ed, recognizing the newcomer, smirked. "Good one, bro." He gave a thumbs-up to the white-haired kid who had just stepped out of the boss's office. Must've finished his 'business.'
The kid stood over Canoe's crumpled form, holding a crimson blade. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it with an almost clinical detachment before slipping it into his pocket.
Ed nudged Jon with his elbow. "I was actually bracing for some last-minute 'You've activated my trap card!' bullshit." He let out a chuckle, glancing at Canoe's unconscious form beneath the kid's foot. "Guess not."
---
"Ho~ that albino ended it," Samira mused, her tone bored.
"This casino really has some cute boys!" Lena chimed in, watching the newcomer with interest. "He's like a rabbit!"
Aisha remained silent, her sharp eyes fixed on the albino.
He moved toward the two security men with effortless confidence, giving a simple command. They obeyed immediately, moving to restrain the unconscious raccoon-person who had caused the scene.
As the albino's gaze swept over the room, their eyes met for a brief moment.
Aisha felt it—an oppressive weight behind those crimson eyes.
His gaze was… wrong.
A cold, endless ocean of red. A vast abyss stretched beneath those eyes.
The way he looked at her for that brief moment sent a strange sensation through her chest.
It wasn't quite fear—Aisha didn't fear men—but there was something in that gaze that made her feel as if she were being examined. Not as prey. Not as a conquest.
But as something beneath him.
The thought sent a sudden thrill through her spine.
"Die!"
A man suddenly lunged from the crowd, snapping Aisha from her thoughts.
The man charged without hesitation, blade in hand, aiming straight for the albino's back.
"Is he not sensing it?" Lena murmured, a hint of concern in her voice. At this rate, the cute kid would be wounded.
Before the blade could connect, the albino moved.
With a casual slap, he knocked the weapon aside, then caught the attacker's arm. A single fluid motion sent the man flipping through the air—slamming into the wooden floor with enough force to crack it.
The albino brushed a speck of dust from his suit and turned away, walking back toward the office door he had emerged from—completely unbothered, as if nothing had happened.
"Ouch. That must've stung," Lena winced, pitying the fool who had tried to stab him.
"I wouldn't mind being handled like that~" Samira purred, licking her lips.
They were Amazons, after all. Strength was their primary attraction.
Aisha still hadn't joined the conversation. Her eyes remained fixed on the albino's retreating form, watching him disappear into the office.
A smirk played on her lips.
'I wouldn't mind a piece of him.'
Men with confidence and character were her type. And despite the albino's… cute appearance, his movements spoke volumes.
Oh, she'd definitely be keeping an eye on him.
---
The End
---
Updated version: Sorry this took forever to rewrite, I was very busy IRL, and I kinda hit writer's block for a few days.
Anyway, this is the updated version. What changed? This version is primarily focused on canoe, OCs, Aisha.
I know the OCs are meh, but they are mostly comedy relief and won't be making appearance too much, this chapter is an exception because I used them to clean up Canoe's mess.
What else changed? Some scenes were deleted and will likely be used in other chapters, and a few new scenes were added, along with a complete rework of the fighting scene.
Aisha is now officially in the story!
Rizz For One is subtly catching ladies!
(Don't worry, it's not a harem story—Aisha is just horny.)
Note: I think this updated version is not up to expectations, sorry readers but I wanted to be done with it already, it took way too much time to do it sadly.