The streets were dim, lit with magical blue flames. It looked odd, to think during the day, babies took sink baths and mothers raised children. Men went to work out here, but at night it looked so dead. A husk, empty shell, depleted of noise and life. But in all fairness-- there was an infinite beauty to the redacted singularities or key ingredients to people. No violence, or stress… It was an opportunistic energy. The element of loneliness. But everything had a dark-side. Being alone drove men mad, and madness was such a harmful and sinister concept. Mutilation to one’s self or others fell behind or in short to it. However, that was unimportant now, only one entity, a single being felt this great and encompassing feeling right now. Maybe he wasn’t the mad one yet, but others were. Erebus made it his job to eradicate signs of madness-- unless they were his own; showing out. Empty the world of such a thing he figured, so that he might flourish as it’s prime factor-- and who knows maybe you get something tens of times more beautiful out of a broken box.

Of course in reality that meant he was the source of all madness, it's embodiment and concept. But conceit was a privilege earned. Erebus knew that as fact; so, his motivation to rise above others never fell beneath his obsession with ending life. How does one get stronger in a world with magic when you no not the taste of such power? Weapons. So money was a very important component.

Erebus grabbed a letter off the wooden mahogany table in his motel room. It had the name Remy Martello jotted down in chicken scratch. “Is this what he calls cursive? Ugh… This is pathetic!”

Erebus turned for the garbage can to toss the mission aside. Until he read the last line, the payload was vast. One hundred thousand jewels if he’d take the mantle. Excellent. Then it was time to leave home, and fetch some work. Erebus grabbed his new jacket, and slung it over his back. Exiting out the door which clicked, locking at the back of him.

The majura gallery, a prized tourist attraction in Oak and an even more prized memory in the lycan’s mind. He recalled an older friend that had assisted him here. Their first meeting. They destroyed and tagged the entire insides with spray paint. Breaking canvas’ over chairs. Shattering glass. You name it. Though, that was months ago, like, around eight or so? Erebus was not surprised to return and notice it was repaired and acting as the location of his latest and greatest mission. A B-rank job, and an excellent one at that.

Erebus donned a wool coat, with traditional dark colors on. His eyes scanned the front of the gallery. Lots of the more ‘wealthy’ inhabitants here tonight. Honestly, what a migraine. These people were moronic to come out on a night like this; in a criminal syndicates back yard. Then again-- most of the rich folks were ignorant to the dangers outside of their homes. Erebus couldn’t help buy to cock a grin.

The lycan pushed an elderly lady through a table to make space to enter the gallery, her scream was drowned out by the cake shoved down her bitch throat. Now, as it turned out. This was exactly what he expected to find once the door was held open for him. It was funny how the only people to notice the old woman get put through the ground said nothing. Rich people… Pft. They don't even have hearts. Inside Erebus immediately registered the event down as an auction. It was frankly kind of the way you'd expect it to be.

Quiet. Stupid. Annoying. They didn't even have the idiot guy at the front screaming money offerings faster than a horse could ride the hills yet. I mean seriously? Get good. Yeesh. The dark dressed agent of evil, pushed himself around men and women wearing jewels and embroidered tuxedos. His eyes were searching for a single man in specific. The buffoon who had summoned him to this gathering. Remy Martello was the name. Cheating the system? His game.

Erebus skimmed and searched until finally seeing the tall, slender-bodied mafia member off by a pillar under an indoor balcony. The lycan made quick to his introduction. Wasting little time, the werewolf greeted his quest-giver. The lycan smiled, showing off perfectly white teeth. Straight and well taken care of. Remy slightly bowed his head downward. Making it come off as more of a nod; not that it mattered. Erebus didn't need any of that. He sought only to fill his pockets of coin. Nothing personal-- just good business.

“You called?”

“I did in fact, Strategist.”

“Why. What do you want me to do, bomb the place?”

“No of course not. I want you to ensure my victory in obtaining exquisite pieces art that will be revealed shortly from behind the podium. Nothing you can't handle I’m sure.”

“Oh. Well that's easy, I thought maybe you had a real job in mind.”

“This is a real job, I have my eye on more than a few pieces here today. But I’d rather keep most of my wallet full, you understand don't you? ”

“You want me to rob it? Like, you're going to have to be more specific, I can't read minds, Martello.”

Remy nodded and sighed, removing a book from under his armpit. He seemed to have it there tucked and hidden where Erebus hadn’t noticed.

“This lists all the numbers, you see?” Erebus leaned over the man’s shoulder.

“I do now.”

“And do you see the cheaper items?” The man poked the pages.”

“I see now. You want me to switch the numbers around ensuring you get the items everyone thinks is cheap, while they wate money on useless buy-outs. That's wrong. Can’t blame you. Where did you get the book?”

“I have my connections just as you have yours. Mobster and all.”

“Oh tight. Well then, I’ll get right to work. See you soon.”

Just like that, Erebus was back into action. Once again sliding, pushing and pulling himself around the many people here to rob his client, of their incredibly sought after art portrait. That just wouldn't do, you see… Erebus wouldn't get paid if he failed. So victory was the only way out of this idle situation.

Erebus was simply a shadow. For the one named as Strategist was his villainous alter ego, the one who’d grown famous out in the world. Or rather-- was beginning to grow infamous. It bothered Strategist little to none, if he had to kill others; where under the ego of Erebus, such a murderous feeling was not in top priority. The monster inside of his heart represented Strategist, a real agent ready to die for his leaders. The man under the mask; his husk. See the Lycanthrope was indeed strange. He did not suffer from multiple personalities or anything like that. Merely, he could adopt different patterns, different pieces. It would be hard to explain, so I won’t. Though, do you really believe a crazy man could that? He was unaware. But he knew his skills were testament to his ability.

Months ago Erebus had quit Kaidou’s teachings to reassure himself of his own powers. He was no man to linger and be patient, not when he felt the aroma of sweet victory around every corner. So it became fairly obvious he’d continue to go forward. Without the Southern Star to train him, mind you. In reality he actually thought it better to do his own thing. He was right. Look how far he came? Weak or not his justification was etched through the stone.

Remy informed Erebus of a number of pieces, deemed priceless that Erebus was going to tip into the hands of his client. They were getting auctioned off anyways, Erebus just needed to make sure they went to the right guy.

Now along with his ‘priceless’ antiquities. A few other items would be here worth next to nothing. Though, eyes were on the bigger prizes. As you can imagine…

Erebus was going to tamper with these significantly different items. He snuck through a doorway on his way to the public restrooms. Though a security guard tailed him into the room. Erebus quickly grabbed a lamp off a white desk and planting the light’s base into the forehead of his follower when the much more brute like man entered the room a moment afterwards. “Sorry my man, can't have you messing up the fun.”

Erebus popped open a vent, and crawled through. Climbing up the side of the metallic passageway, he left his lamp in a pool of blood at the flooring. It took about fifteen minutes to locate the correct area so Erebus had to work fast. Little time separated himself, the auction show, and his hundred thousand dollar paycheck. Eebus was not just a beast of rage, he was a soldier under direct orders. It was time to begin.

Upon reaching the backroom Erebus facepalmed. There was far more paintings than initially seen in that catalogue earlier. It meant he had to check under white blankets and move stealthily. Erebus was sweating by the time he got halfway across the room. Luckily he eventually had located every single painting aforementioned by Remy. So getting all this done turned out to be more simplistic than first anticipated.

Erebus grabbed the tags loosely placed over the art pieces and switched the numbers ranging from millions of jewels to the ones of thousands. In no time at all he was done, the lycan clapped and exhaled sharply.

The doors then began to open and Erebus was forced to duck into a closet of some kind. His eyes peered from behind a screen as men took to lifting the huge paintings and canvases out of the room.

The auction numbers were changed though. So it was too late, Erebus had tampered with the Majura Gallery’s special event. This makes the second time Erebus shit on the owner’s shop. What was his name again? Jeb or something. Oh well, not important. What was important was that Erebus would be out of this place faster than you could say Make Out Hill!

Erebus watched them exit the room. He wuickly unbound himself from the closest and went back to the third item he had been at. Switching it's value with another item’s opposite side of the room. The paintings were all beautiful, Efebus assumed it must have been the artist themself that made some of the paintings worth more overall. Since he hadn’t been detected-- the lycan was back to getting his job underway as usual.

Two more times throughout the job, fucking guards would barge in. Forcing the anxiety in Erebus to creep out. He was sweaty from the job, but was a furnace in the vent and pretty hot in this room too. Guess it didn't get much cooling due to how deep in the building it was.

The final time he’d see them, he popped out of the shadows. Saying he got lost looking for the bathroom. The guards were skeptic, but since nothing was technically stolen they were forced to believe him. The two burly men pushed him forth and he took to the inside of the event. Where items were already being betted on. A happy smile was plastered over Remy.

Erebus waited in the parking lot for his quest giver to come out. When he did, the two welcomed each other. Many unhappy people poured out but Remy was more joyous than ever before.

“Ah Erebus, you should have stayed inside. Oh boy, my luck! I got most of the expensive pieces. You know, even though no one else knew it hahaha.”

“Excellent. I’m pleased you found my assistance fortunate for you.”

“Oh indeed! Here's your reward. I hope we can do buisness again Mr. Strategist.This what I was afraid I’d have to spend anyways, for your masterful work. You can have it all. A hundred thousand. As promised.” The blonde male, reached within his tuxedo, displacing gleaming diamonds into Erebus’s hands. It was more than enough to make Erebus speak a bit. After all, Erebus loves cash. No matter what form it came in.


“Thank you Remy. It does feel good to be thanked for the work I do. I’ll be leaving you then. You always know how to reach me. Just contact my superiors.”

Erebus gave a toothy, beastly smile, before cutting away and exiting. The walk home was long, but he didn't care. His pockets jangled with jewels.

2116/2100

Adventurer -20%
Grimoire Heart -10%