The day was here. After months of relentless work, the Guild Hall was finally complete. It had been quite a journey to this moment. Ever since meeting Noel and Finn in the most unexpected of circumstances, Kenzo had grown to form a bond with them. And now, a guild. As the name suggested it, the advent of a new day had finally arrived at Oak. The citizens of the western city would get to know at last what the coming of the new guild truly meant for the future of Fiore. Advent World’s message would spread through the streets and cement its power within the infamous city. For years, crime and dark guilds made a living at the expense of the people living in Oak, extorting and demanding every last bit of wealth they could from the populace. A rule of fear and injustice was the only thing the noble’s in charge of the city offered to its poor citizens. Today this would all change, for the guild’s preparations were done, and Advent World would finally make a move towards destroying the rotten system.

Or at least that was the idea… if only the mages in charge of doing so were able to beat the horrible hangover waiting for them. The past day had ended abruptly in the mind of Kenzo. After getting the final details of the Majura Gallery takeover mission, the mercenary and his mission partner Noel celebrated with a ritual of companionship sacred to both. Drink like there was no tomorrow. During the last year, the relationship between both of them deepened through their shared love for booze. Kenzo respected the mage. One could say he even looked up to him in some ways. After all, he’d always managed to drink Kenzo under the table.

”You’ll refine this ability with age my boy” Those were the last words the blue haired mercenary remembered before passing out cold. Kenzo promised to himself he’d always remember the day he beat Noel, be it at battle or at drinking, whatever came first. Alas that day had not been the day. Through snores and a deep sleep, the mercenary dreamt of the important task he had at hand. He’d review in his sleep the assigned mission’s details. Going carefully over every minute step that would ensure total success. As he heard the familiar voice that called him while tugging away his covers, he finally remembered what the real mission was. ”Fuck. The Majura Gallery”

In an instant, the covers flew all over the bed as he stood up quickly. He was disoriented, couldn’t remember what happened, or how he’d gotten to that specific room. But he knew that they had an important job to do. Wearing only his underwear, Kenzo heard Noel playing instrument after instrument in the hall. He quickly grabbed his clothes and managed to ready himself, making it just in time before the black-haired wizard reviewed the details in his notebook. Coffee cup in hand, Kenzo sat in a chair close to the man. He nodded as he heard Noel describe the intel they had on the location.

”I heard quite an interesting rumor the other day” Kenzo commented after hearing the mage talk. ”While walking through the streets the other day, a bunch of wannabe gangsters were talking about extorting the big wigs at the gallery for protection.” Kenzo took a sip of his coffee before a smug look filled his face. ”Bunch of amateurs… Deals with people as refined as these require quite a higher grade of finesse. I suggest we approach them with a far more professional alternative. As you said, we’ve gotta talk in their language.”

Noel agreed that following the lead was a good choice to start with the mission. Quickly following his line of thought, the older male grabbed his drawing pad and immediately began scribbling a sketch. The mercenary watched attentively as the drawing came to life with each stroke of Noel’s pen. After he finished, he showed the completed product at the warrior, asking for his opinion. By the way he proudly presented it, the mage was definitely eager to hear Kenzo's comments. ”E-erm. Sure. That’s just what I was thinking about.” To be honest, Kenzo didn’t have what some would call an artistic eye, so he really didn’t see anything bad on the drawing. He’d never even attempted to draw anything before in his life, so for the blue haired man this was uncharted territory.

Moving along, Kenzo heard Noel’s input on the subject, stating that this wasn’t really his strong suit. Luckily for them, it was exactly Kenzo’s cup of tea. ”Yeah, that might be able to help us. I’ll leave the pie charts to you, just give me a moment for the calculations.” Kenzo was a man that valued wealth and money very highly, so he knew his way around numbers and financial terminology. After all, he’d also helped with the accountability of the mercenary company he’d been a member of. Managing and administering the finances of a large group of fighters had taught him the necessary skills he needed to speak with investors. However, the real answer laid in the following comment Noel made. ”That definitely needs to be the approach here.”

Kenzo was left thinking about a course of action while the older mage went to change clothes. He sat on his chair, looking at the big map of Oak that covered one of the hall’s walls. As he pondered about their situation, an image kept flashing on his mind. Noel’s art piece. There was something about it he couldn’t quite get out of his mind.

Just as the now fully dressed man entered the room, a sudden idea rushed to Kenzo’s mind. His eyes lit up as he got excited over the realization. ”So, how about letting them taste first what living with the competition would be like?” Kenzo took up a quick sip of coffee as he organized his thoughts for the plan. ”Let’s let these gangsters get away with their thing, observing the deal from away. From what I gathered the other day, they’re making their strike today. Once they’ve gotten the money from the dudes at the gallery… SMACK! You crush them to the ground with your magic. Once all is settled, we simply offer them Advent World’s protection against any threats to their business. Easy as that, we can then sit at the negotiating table to draft our proposal.” It was exactly like Noel’s drawing. To solve the issue, the gangsters first needed to do gangster stuff…

Both men set out to a grocery store before heading to the gallery. Kenzo also needed to buy something to eat, he was starting to get a little light headead from the hangover. While in the road, Noel asked him what his opinion on art was, and if he had a painting he liked. Kenzo pondered on his answer with a silent expression for a moment. This was something he hadn’t really asked himself before. Sure, he had seen paintings in the past, but more as part of spoils of war after a castle or noble house fell during conflict.

”Well, while I cannot say that I definitely get it, art is one of those things that I’ve always wanted to know more of but I’ve never known where to begin…” Scratching his head a bit more, he continued. ”Actually. There was this one time when a painting caused a very profound reaction within me. I cannot explain it, but it was like if the author taken a look into my soul and painted exactly what he saw inside. Feelings I didn't even know where there.”

By this point, both men had already reached the grocery store and entered through the door. ”I don’t remember the painting's or the author's name, but- Hmm, lend me your drawing pad for a sec.” Taking the sketchbook from the mage, Kenzo began drawing from memory the painting he was referring to as best as he could. Even if this was the first time he tried making an illustration, the mercenary hoped it was at least enough for Noel to recognize it and tell him the name; obviosuly in the case the painting was famous at all. Just as the black haired mage finished buying his stuff, Kenzo showed him the drawing he’d managed to do. ”Erm.. I don’t know if it’s any good, but the painting looked kinda like this:”

Noel gave some pretty solid points against Kenzo’s initial plan. The blue haired mercenary agreed with what he said. It would seem too much of a coincidence if they appeared to save the Gallery just when they were getting mobbed. They needed to find another approach. Graph’s in hand, both men left the building as the black-haired mage pitched in his alternative to the plan. His focus made complete sense to the warrior. They needed to build trust between them. That was the only way this partnership was going to work. His proposal: instead of saving them from the mobsters after they had come, they would beat them to the place and warn the Majura Gallery owners about it, offering to protect them. It was a simple thing, but Kenzo was sure it was going to be quite an effective plan. Looking back at his partner, he spoke. ”Sounds good”

Entering the store, Noel kept elaborating on the plan. Kenzo heard attentively to what he had to say. His eyes shone brighter as the concepts he described began forming dots and his brain connected the lines. Little by little, Kenzo began seeing the same picture Noel was so enthusiastically trying to describe. When he asked the man if he followed him, Kenzo simply laughed. ”You crazy bastard. You’re slyer than I give you credit for.” Clearly, the plan ought to work. It made complete sense and he was sure the people of the Gallery would see it that way. After all they were people that dealt in business under the table; trust and secrecy were key in their line of work. Kenzo grabbed something to eat and drink while the conversation flowed. It was comical actually. Topics that would normally be treated between whispers, dark alleys and as far away from prying ears were being discussed in the open. Every grandma from Oak making their week’s shopping had now heard the details to Advent World’s master plan to convince the Majura Gallery to join forces.

Either way, both men walked through the snowy streets of Oak while Kenzo drew a portrait using Noel’s things. He soon received feedback from his sketch. In the mercenary’s mind, he hoped that Noel was at least able to recognize the painting. He wanted to remember the name of the artist and even perhaps find it. It had made quite a lasting impression in the mercenary. However, his hopes were not up. After all, this was the first time he had drawn something, so he was oblivious to whether it was any good or not. His hopes were thrown out the window in a second. Noel’s scolded the mercenary for drawing something so heinous. Even if only slightly, Kenzo’s self esteem was hurt a bit. ”Shit. That bad?” The day they had met made the mercenary certain that the Advent World mage knew what he was talking about when it came to health and medicine. He suggested that his motor cortex was damaged from excessive underage drinking. ”Think it can be fixed?” His voice was slightly preoccupied. For the most part, he wasn’t a gullible person, but perhaps due to the difference in experience and age between both, Kenzo respected Noel’s word.

Either way, they eventually made it to the entrance of the Gallery. ”We’re here huh?” Kenzo took a glance at his partner before motioning at him with his head towards the entrance door.

”Welcome! Welcome dear guests. How may I help you?” The mercenary flashed the man a charming smile before raising his hand to greet him. ”Good afternoon! We’re here for a really important reason.” His smile turned into a smirk. ”We’re sure it’ll definitely be a proposal you’ll be interested in.”

The architecture of the Gallery was quite unlike any other building one could find in the city. Every aspect of it described finesse and elegance. From the colored marble floor to the fine wood doorframes of each room, the place exuded luxury within its details. Both men were greeted by two good looking women, giving out information about the different seasonal and permanent expositions. Apparently, they had a special exhibit on Dadaism paintings. Looking through the leaflet, Kenzo was able to understand what his drawing from earlier was lacking. Most of the pieces that were highlighted in the flier were very similar to the one Noel had previously drawn. No wonder his sketch didn’t make the cut. As he intensively examined the paintings, he thought to himself. ”So this is what real art looks like.”

Kenzo followed Noel while he was still absorbed on his thoughts. He nodded at the black-haired wizard’s comment without really paying much attention. However, he was brought back when they were suddenly showed the way up the stairs. Apparently, the guard had cleared them to meet Main Man. Quite a fitting name for the boss of a Gallery like this one.

Both men entered an expensive looking black wooden door before being greeted by a secretary. She quickly notified her boss of their arrival, telling them to wait a moment before entering the office. Kenzo at this point was planning on let Noel lead the whole operation, he definitely had more experience on this type of missions. However, the mercenary was instantly thrown into the fire as Noel tasked him with leading the conversation. He didn’t have a second to reply, since the door was now open, and a deep masculine voice greeted them. “Hello, who are you two?”

The owner was a mysterious figure. His physical appearance was completely concealed to the eye, but he still exuded an air of dignity and refinement one could only find in a person that had spent their lives surrounded by power and wealth. Nevertheless, this was not a time to chicken out. Kenzo quickly composed himself before replying to the boss with a confident tone. ”Greetings. My name is Kenzo and this is my partner Noel. We’re both members of Advent World, the guild that’s settled in the nearby river.” The mercenary motioned his right palm towards Noel as he introduced both of them. ”One of our intel sources has made us aware of a possible attack to the Majura Gallery. Apparently, some deputies within Vincenze Tessio’s family have been bought by the Martello gang and are planning on starting a coup soon.”

Kenzo let the comment in the air for a second. Main Man stood motionless. Both of his arms traveled to the top of the table as he crossed his fingers and rested both extended indexes where his mouth was supposed to be. Nothing could be seen behind the mask that he wore, but the mercenary was sure he had struck on the target. He hadn’t been taking jobs in Oak the last couple of weeks for nothing. The mercenary had been able to obtain insider information from the two most influential underground organizations by taking requests from both of them. Most importantly, Kenzo had come to learn that the Majura Gallery was under the protection of Vincenze. He was the head of the oldest and most powerful gang in Oak. However, the Martello family was slowly nailing its claws in their business. Just a couple of days before, Kenzo had received a job from Remy Martello to sabotage an auction going on in the Gallery. It was obvious that the newcomers wanted to mess around with Vincenze. Whoever controlled the Majura Gallery held the keys to blackmailing the nobles and influential families of Oak. For the moment, Vincenze was proving that his family couldn’t protect the owners of the place, so a shift in power was coming closer. What neither of the gangs knew, was that Advent World would be the first to act.

Main Man broke the silence after a moment. He motioned his hand towards the two empty chairs in front of his desk. ”Please go on” Kenzo and Noel would take a seat after thanking the owner before continuing. ”We’ve been sent by our guild master to offer our assistance with these matters. Oak has been ruled far too long by criminals and dark mages…” the mercenary would take a glance at his partner expecting him to deliver the finishing punchline.

However Noel decided to finish their introduction, one thing was certain. Main Man now had an opportunity before him, and Kenzo knew he could see it. These men cared only about profits. Any smart businessman would know that trying to make a profit while tied to criminal organizations was always a bad idea. However, when there was no other choice, compromises had to be made. Today, Advent World would give them an escape route. The only thing left to do was see if the Majura Gallery would take it.

Noel wandered off as Kenzo talked to Main Man. He seemed to have made his way to the coffee machine at the far end of the office. While the two men talked, the black-haired man had taken the opportunity to make a coffee for himself. Or at least that was what the mercenary thought at first. Upon closer inspection, he had prepared… hot dogs? A cooking sausage hung halfway out the expensive porcelain cup in his hand. After making sure one side had cooked thoroughly, he would take the wiener and turn it around, making sure it was ready to be eaten completely. Kenzo knew Noel was a quirky guy, but he outdid himself sometimes.

Either way, it seemed that for the moment Main Man would allow them to help out. It was definitely a test to see the veracity of the men’s words. After all, they were complete strangers at this point. As they made their way downstairs and into one of the gallery’s exhibits. Noel was drawn to the paintings like a moth to a flame. Following closely behind, Kenzo thought to himself that it’d be a good time to learn more about art. Both men stood motionless as they stared at the first painting. It had a complexity the mercenary couldn’t quite understand, but something about it moved the warrior. It was dedicated to a man named Geb, apparently the founder and owner of the Gallery.

As they made their way to the next one, Noel offered a sausage to Kenzo. ”E-er.. I’m good thanks” The half cooked sausage dripped droplets into the wooden floor as he extended the cup. The black-haired mage was really invested into seeing the paintings, and the sentiment had spread to Kenzo. The next painting represented the death of Geb. Apparently, the owner had died four years before. While Noel stared at the piece, Kenzo moved a couple of steps ahead, finding a golden plaque with a carved text:



Rows of paintings filled the walls of the room

Truly, Kenzo was left speechless. He was definitely a neophyte when it came to art. But even someone as unexperienced as him in art was moved to tears. Without noticing, they began flowing from his eyes. The mercenary was touched. He could simply mutter a single sentence: ”This IS Art”.

Even if a commotion was taking place outside, the man couldn’t help but ignore it. It was obvious that the attack had come to the Gallery, and under other circumstances the warrior would have sprung into action. However, he needed to compose himself. Taking a look at Noel, Kenzo spoke as he tried to control his emotions. ”Mind going first? I’ll be there in a second.”

A sudden crash brought Kenzo back from the catharsis he was having. It was the distinctive sound of wood breaking apart from an absurdly strong strike. The guards of the gallery that had been informed through their intercommunication lacrima about the supposed attack instantly figured the gangsters had arrived at the gallery and begun destroying the place. However, Kenzo knew better. There was no mistake, the one that had destroyed whatever wooden object it was, had to be Noel. The mage was absurdly strong. Kenzo knew for a fact that there was no one capable of making such damage with a single blow but him. Unless, the enemies were actually the real deal. Nonetheless, the mercenary could place his money on the fact that it had been the black-haired mage. Either way, Kenzo finally composed himself and made his way to the entrance of the Gallery.

Lo and behold, Kenzo was just in time to see the aftermath of Noel’s demolishing blow. Splinters and wooden pieces had flown everywhere, as if the expensive wood of the entrance door had exploded from the inside out. Still, a motionless body laid tumbled in the floor before his companion. A punch mark was still visible in his back. As if someone had made a cast mold of Noel’s fist, the print at the back of the gangster was the perfect proof of the attack that had just happened. The sight of the damage brought a smile to the mercenary’s lips. It was still not over.

Even if one of the Macaroni brothers was done for, the other had managed to evade the gravity wizard’s attack. He was standing four meters away from Noel, facing him directly. It was obvious from the tone of his voice that he was shaken by seeing his brother knocked out. Honestly, even Kenzo wasn’t sure if the poor guy was still alive. It was doubtful, but it could potentially be better for them, seeing what they were tasked to accomplish. Taking advantage of the situation, Kenzo sprung into action. He knew what needed to be done. The end of the stairs, where he was standing on, were a mere meter closer to Diego than where the older wizard was standing. Furthermore, the shock from the sudden attack had made the still standing mobster completely oblivious to anything other than Noel. Finishing the task would be a piece of take for the warrior now.

Lunging forward in an instant, Kenzo closed the distance between him and Diego in a little more than a second. Grabbing the katana he’d acquired from a renown Baska smithy a couple of months prior, Kenzo struck Diego at the back of his head with a swift motion. Making use of the momentum of his lunge, the mercenary grabbed the scabbard with both hands in the same manner as one would start a nukitsuke stance in Iaijutsu. Even after a year in Fiore, Joyan style swordsmanship was still second nature to him. With his sword resting on the left side of his hip, Kenzo grabbed the sheath with his left palm from the outside, facing towards his body. With his right hand, he firmly gripped the hilt of the blade as he made a 45-degree angle with his forearm. Keeping his elbow close to his body, Kenzo made sure he would maximize the attack’s power as he approached his target.

A second after setting off, Kenzo swiftly extended his right arm upwards as he held firmly to the scabbard with his left hand. The mercenary crossed Diego’s position from the right, unsheathing his blade midway and hitting him directly on the back of the head with the katana’s pommel. The strike was significant enough to deal A-Rank damage to the gangster and instantly knock him out. Diego was going nowhere for the next couple of hours. Sheathing back the sword completely, Kenzo walked towards the lump that was Macaroni. As he stood next to him, the mercenary was relieved to see his chest expand and contract with his breathing.

”Damn. I really thought you killed the guy.” Kenzo let out a laugh directed at Noel, before proceeding to signal the Gallery’s guards to tie the mobsters up. Before walking away, the mercenary quickly pat the passed out gangster’s coat. The blue haired male had been a thief while he was an orphan, so he knew his way through people’s pockets. In a flash, his hand met with the prize he looked for. Tucked deep inside, Kenzo brought out a bag full of jewels from the unconscious man. Certainly, it was the protection money they had managed to extort from others before coming to the gallery.

”Should we go report to Main Man the mission was completed?” Kenzo expected Noel to follow him back inside and up the stairs. They still needed to obtain his cooperation in order to further Advent Worlds cause. Making his way into the Gallery, presumably next to Noel if he followed him, Kenzo would throw the bag of jewels he had just obtained at one of the guards. ”Sorry about the door. I’m sure this’ll be more than enough to pay for the damages.” The mercenary flashed at the man the most amicable smile he could. They needed to make a good impression with them after all.

Kenzo entered the room after Noel had already sat on a chair, just in time to hear his guildmate explain Main Man about the possible implications that came with these turbulent times. Some months ago, the merc had heard a couple of merchants talking about the current state of the country and how it was best described as an Open Season. In his mind, it was absolutely true. With the recent fracture created between the noble and royal factions, the centralization of power had been dissipated as the nobles left their estates and lodgings in the capital and ventured into the country. The king and the royal family had been left virtually powerless to exert control over the different noble holdings in the land. It was a time of uncertainty, where rules would have to be rewritten. If history had taught something to humanity time and time again, was that those that wrote them ultimately came on top.

Main Man knew this. Without a strong central government, power struggles were sure to pop up in the cities. His job was to identify which group to support. Evidently, he’d never bid for anything but the most likely to come on top. The display of power he’d just seen a couple of moments ago, was enough to convince him that Advent World would have no trouble filling the role. Now, it all came down to the nitty gritty details of tracing an agreement.

”Well, this is actually very simple. As seen in this graph, we’ve traced two forecasts for the Majura Gallery. The first of these two is one where we are not to intervene. Taking into consideration the growing restlessness of the population, people are less likely to travel to cities with high indexes of insecurity. Less people traffic means less trade, and by consequence less purchasing power for the citizens. Since almost half of the Majura Gallery earnings come from local patrons, the decrease in cashflow will be quite significant.” Kenzo took a moment to move a bit forward in his chair. Talking about these topics made him excited. After all, he had also done his homework beforehand. All those quests he had taken prior to this operation had been with the sole purpose of obtaining information on the Gallery.

”This decrease in income will likely mean the Gallery will have to face losses or cut staff. Less staff means less security and considering there has been an upward trend in criminal activity for the past two months in Oak, less security means the Gallery will become an easier target just like today. There are even some rumors going around the city that the Martello mafia recently scammed you in an Auction a couple of weeks back. They’ve been flaunting a couple of priceless pieces they managed to get for a ridiculously low amount of money.” Kenzo faked a face of pity masterfully. He had mastered that art in the streets of Bellum. Truly, there was no better school for an orphan than the harsh reality of having to scam and thieve to survive.

Main Man was visibly shaken by the mentioning of that specific information. It was supposed to be a top-secret matter. Of course, Kenzo had not stumbled upon that news so opportunely either. In fact, he had taken the job for Remy Martello and helped him make sure the operation succeeded. Naturally, he left that detail out for obvious reasons. ”Che. Those fucking newcomers. Vincenze has certainly stopped being useful ever since they have their hands full with them.” The fact that Main Man mentioned the fact meant Kenzo and Noel were right on the money. They needed to replace their current protectors.

”I could go on and on about the challenges you’ll face in the future if nothing changes in the city, but I’m sure that you’re better aware of them than us. Instead, let’s focus on this green vertical inflection point. What Advent World offers is just as Noel has said. The Majura Gallery will remain under the guild’s protection and be granted full autonomy in the future it takes.” Kenzo moved a bit backwards as he crossed both hands and placed them on the table.

”We will make sure the Gallery can operate undisturbed. Soon enough, we’ll take control of the transit routes to Oak and put an end to attacks in the roads and within the streets. This will stabilize the city once again. You may operate as you see fit as long as you provide us with information about the future you wish to take. We can sign an agreement for a term of one year. During this time lapse, we will ask for no monetary remuneration. Instead, we will expect to obtain information from your patrons and any other piece of news you could provide. Furthermore, important guild events and diplomatic matters can be hosted in some of the Gallery’s conference rooms, with any proceeds deriving from the them going completely to you. Once the contract time is done, we will discuss an extension of the deal involving a margin of the Gallery’s income as long as you’re satisfied with the service we provided.”

Main Man smiled beneath the mask as he finished hearing the proposal. ”Hmph. I guess you’ve gotten all planned out right? I’d be a fool not to accept this offer” A feminine voice suddenly spoke behind the hidden figure with a chuckle. Kenzo was caught back by the fact, but it instantly made sense as Main Man took off the mask covering his- or rather her, face. A golden-haired elf cleared her throat as she looked at both men with a smile. ”Anything you’d like to add Mr Noel?”

An air of dignity was evident from the female. She proceeded from a rich family, that was for sure. Some elves were known to own most of Fiore’s financial sector at its highest levels. For now, it seemed the matter had virtually been solved. Or had it?

It was a deal. Kenzo didn’t quite know what to say from that point onward, except nod with a smile after Noel confirmed with Main Man the good news. It had been quite the peculiar day, but in the end it was all worth it. The Majura Gallery was to enter into Advent World’s fold. It was now a matter of Finn and the elf signing some papers.

The woman introduced herself as Vanessa, telling both men to keep it a secret from others. It was logical for her to hide her appearance, given the nature of her job. She needed to appear more respectful in the midst of this male dominated business world. ”Pleasure to do business with you, Vanessa” The mercenary answered as he took off from the table and directed towards the exit.

Before he could take another step, Noel suddenly took out a scroll out of his coat. It was a painting of the guild master. It was also the first time Kenzo had seen it, surely the black-haired wizard had been working on it for a time now. Having seen now the pieces of art displayed at the Gallery, Kenzo couldn’t help but compare it with them. There was something rather.. crude? About it. The art neophyte couldn’t quite put a finger on the thing that made it stand out. Clearly it was Finn portrayed, but something about it didn’t quite evoke the feelings he had when seeing the collection The Life of Geb. Yet, when Vanessa gave her comments on the piece, Kenzo was once again reminded that he was a total newbie to the art scene. She was the owner of the Majura Art Gallery, and she seemed to praise Noel’s art. I guess I’ll never understand true art after all The thought crossed Kenzo’s mind as he heard the elf tell them she would find a suitable place to display it.

Either way, a handshake with her later, and both guildmates made their way back to the Advent World guildhall once again. As they walked through the streets of Oak, Noel asked the blue haired warrior what the rumor was all about. Taking a look back out of instinct, as if looking around to make sure no one from the Gallery could hear them, he told his guildmate the whole story. ”Well, ever since I got to Oak around a month ago I’ve been taking some missions from locals to gather information. Since we were to take over the city, Finn figured it would be best if we could get some insider information.” Kenzo made a pause as he placed both hands on the back of his head.

”I decided it would be best to infiltrate the underworld of Oak. Considering it’s always been a nest for dark guilds and criminals y’know… So, I decided to accept a request by a certain guy known around here as Dr. Stephan Mabuz. He’s got a shop near the town center. He sells herbs and medicines to people at cheap prices. But that’s all just some bull…” A smile escaped Kenzo’s lips for a second. ”In reality, the doctor is actually the local narcotics and illegal substances provider. He works with every single mob and gang that exists in Oak. Naturally, I tried to leave a good impression with him after helping him out in some.. sticky businesses he needed to have done. Soon enough he recommended me with the Martello mafia family.” Kenzo shrugged as he let the final sentence float in the air. He was not someone that enjoyed criminal activity, but it was something he would gladly accept to do as long as it served the better purpose. Taking into consideration the deal they just arranged with the Majura Gallery, he was pretty satisfied with the result. ”So a couple of weeks ago, the right hand man of the Martello boss gave me a call. Long story short, he wanted to mess around with the Gallery to get at their rival gang. The place was supposedly being protected by Vincenze Tessio’s mafia, so they place was the perfect target. Let’s just say that I simply helped the Martello’s get a better deal by switching the prices of the most expensive items in secret before an auction took place.” As the words came out, the mercenary realized the kind of soap opera he had gotten himself entangled with. Luckily, he had been smart enough to hide his identity, so everything would be fine.

As he finished with his story, both men made their way finally to the guild. Kenzo bid farewell to Noel before going to his room. Their job for the day was done. Now he needed to sleep away the horrible hangover he had been trying to suppress. He would travel to Baska later at night. He still had some matters left unresolved there.

-EXIT-

Final WC: 6208