{The Imperial Valekar Capital - Somewhere in the outer city}
Alfred and his shadowbound team stared down at the thugs walking down the street.
He was still deciding which of the big gangs to take down when he suddenly heard a loud crash.
His vision immediately moved to the source of the sound, where he saw a wooden door get broken down by a thug with a thunderous kick.
The thug was wearing a bandana as he swaggered into the house with a menacing expression.
"Old man! It's already the second day… How much longer do you think I can wait for my money?"
On a rickety wooden bed, an old salesperson with a crippled leg struggled to sit upright. His hands trembled as he pressed them into the bed.
The old man's eyes were filled with desperation as he looked at the thug.
"Bossman… you must be mistaken, I paid my fee for this week, yesterday! I gave the coins to your friend, and he said we were good…"
"Well, you didn't give it to me now did you?" the thug snarled and without warning, he stomped down viciously, his boot grinding on the old man's face.
"Now Tell me! Where are you hiding the rest of your coins?" The thug continued. "Before I get really violent with you."
The old man screamed in pain clutching the thug's boot as he begged.
"Bossman, I swear, I have nothing left! Please… let me go."
"If you don't pay your protection fee, do you think you will have any way of surviving out here... Don't you remember what happened to your leg?" The thug asked as he pressed down harder.
The crunch of bone followed, and the old man's cry of agony tore through the shabby room.
But then… a small shadow darted out from beneath the bed. With a scream a small girl charged at the thug and sank her teeth into the thug's arm.
"Well look at that… old man, I didn't know you had a young beautiful daughter." His grin twisted into something vile as he said.
"Since you do not have the money… I know some rich men that are willing to pay a good sum to play with her."
Ignoring the old man's pleas, the thug grabbed the kid by her neck and dragged her outside.
The neighbours had been watching silently but even though some of them wanted to help their friend, they didn't dare do anything.
This kind of scene happened almost every day and trying to help meant defying the Six-Seven gang and it never ends well.
The young girl tried to get off the thug's grip as she scratched, thrashed around punching him in her effort to escape but it did not work.
Just as everyone was sighing thinking this was the end… the thug's head suddenly disconnected from his neck and flew up.
Everyone gasped and immediately fled save for the old man when immediately moved towards his daughter and hugged her.
Before the thug's body could reach the ground it suddenly vanished without a drop of blood touching the ground.
In the corpse place stood what could only be called a man made of shadow…
The old man's daughter kept staring at the man and smiled at him and said, "Thank you."
"…" the shadow moved closer, knelt beside her, and asked, "What is your name?"
"My name is Alina, Sir angel."
"Well, Alina you are a fighter… keep it up… here." The shadowbound reaver said as he handed her a black coin.
Alina's father bowed down, as he said, "Thank You my Lord."
The shadowbound reaver nodded at him as he turned to leave.
"What is your name sir angel?" Alina asked as she saw her saviour was about to leave.
A small voice reached her ears as the angel vanished from her view, "The emperor's shadow… keep this our little secret now, will you?"
The old man saw his little girl nod, while he was confused, he immediately grabbed his daughter and began thinking of how to escape.
A few metres away, Alfred smiled as he stared at his subordinate's actions before he also moved away.
***
{Somewhere in the outer city – Six-Seven Gang's headquarters}
The deputy leader of the gang shifted uneasily, casting a nervous glance at his leader seated at the head of the hall.
"Boss… don't you think we are doing too much this time… I mean we have collected protection several times more that we usually did?"
He swallowed as he lowered his voice seeing his leader's eyes focus on him.
"This is still the Capital City and if we stir up too much trouble wouldn't we get eradicated of the police… not to mention the Church?"
The boss chuckled darkly, leaning back with confidence written across his face.
"What there to fear? Do you think the people we work for didn't think of that? In fact, some of the money we make go to some of the top brass of the police." He smirked.
He continued, "One of our closest customers is one of them and he told me in confidence that they wouldn't crack down on us because we are one of the reasons they are able to keep bleeding the Treasury for 'security funds'"
The deputy's expression didn't ease up even a little bit.
"But boss what if they use us for now and then use us as scapegoats when we are no longer useful."
The boss's smirk faded a little as he became thoughtful. Not to lie that has also been one of his biggest worries.
But before he could give a reply to his deputies, a sharp, mocking voice laugh rang from the doorway.
"You think too much!" A smooth, youthful voice full of scorn sounded as the doors swung wide open and three figure stepped inside.
All of them wore silken robes, their presence regal and refined. But the most terrifying thing about them was their aura.
"My L-lords… why are you here?" The boss asked as he and his deputies immediately rose from their seats and bowed low.
These were no ordinary men… they were all at intermediate rank.
Although they had never revealed their origins, it wasn't hard to figure out that they were from a powerful force given their ranks in relative to their age.
Although, he was also at the intermediate rank, the gang leader didn't dare breathe too loudly.
It was only thanks to them he had stepped into the Intermediate rank and the Six-Seven Gang rose to their current position.
The leader of the trio spoke coldly.
"Your orders are simple. Cause chaos. Spread disorder in the outer city." He paused for a second before he continued. "When the time is ripe, you will be permitted to leave."
He waved a hand, his tone casual, yet filled with authority.
"Do as I command, and you will be rewarded. Defy me... and you know the price."
The gang leader forced a grin, nodding rapidly. "Yes, my lord. Of course. We'll do exactly as you say."
"From now on, escalate your actions," the youth continued.
"Yes, yes, my lord. We have already begun sending men out to get more money and even children. Soon you will see the results. Please believe me… we will not let you down."
"That is good, now bring me to the treasury bank so I can go pay some of our benefactors."
The gang leader forced a laugh and hurriedly prepared to lead his way to their stash when a chill spread through his spine.
The last things he saw was all his deputies' head flying off their necks… before he could do anything he was suddenly staring at his headless body from a third person view.
The leader of the trio stiffened. Terror filled his eyes as he saw shadowy men appear behind the men as their heads flew up before they immediately vanished.
"Assassins." He shouted as he tried to use a spell but before he could move, he suddenly lost one of his legs causing him to go off balance.
Just as he registered the loss, the pain hit him like a train.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Blood gushed out like a fountain, soaking the stone floor. Before he could collapse on the floor, a line suddenly appeared on his second leg.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The pain slammed into him from his second leg as he collapsed writhing in agony, his screams echoing through the hall.
The other two tried to pull their swords but two shadows appeared behind them cleaving them in halves.
"What… what is happening? Please listen… who ever you are I promise to pay you double what ever your employer is paying you?"
The leader of the trio forced his agony down, the moment his two friends collapsed on the ground dead, trying to buy is way out.
Seeing the remaining shadows keep walking towards him not appearing to be phased.
"Wait triple… I swear… Please wait." Seeing the men still advancing at him, he finally lost it.
"Hahahahahahahahaha… do you know who I am… I am the grandson of the Reus Trade Group."
"My father will hunt you all down… I swear you will feel true…" And his final words hung in the air as his head was chopped off.
The headquarters of the Six-Seven Gang finally fell silent.