Lokei's grin spread slowly, sharp and full of mischief. His blue hair was tightly braided, and his eyes were cold and hungry, the kind of look that suggested he thrived on other people's fear.

  He stepped forward, his feet crunching over the gravel like a beat in a song.

  With a flick of his wrist, his fingers danced loosely. "Ready?"

  Assad tilted his head, that infuriating smile creeping back onto his face. Inside, Toon was screaming for him to back off, but his body just wouldn't listen.

  "You talk too much, If you want money, you better hope you can still count after I'm done breaking your fingers." Assad muttered, his shoulders dropping into a low stance.

  Lokei chuckled, a sound like gravel sliding down a hill.

  Then, in a flash, he lunged forward.The ground cracked beneath his heel; one moment he was standing there, and the next, he was right in Assad's face, fist pulled back and ready to strike with lightning speed.

  Assad barely managed to raise his forearm in time. The impact rattled through his bones, sending shockwaves down his entire body. He stumbled back three steps, his sneakers screeching against the concrete.

  'What the hell? This guy's not just some street thug… he's something else.'

  But Assad's smile only grew wider, his teeth flashing.

  "My turn."

  He lunged forward, dropping low before rising up with a brutal uppercut aimed straight at Lokei's jaw. The punch sliced through the air, loud as thunder in the narrow alley.

  Lokei bent back in an unnatural way, his spine twisting like a snake, narrowly avoiding the fist. Then he retaliated with a knee that slammed into Assad's gut.

  Whump!

  Air exploded from Assad's lungs. Blood splattered against the wall. But instead of crumbling, Assad laughed a jagged, broken laugh that even made Lokei hesitate for a moment.

  "You hit like a wimp," Assad growled, grabbing Lokei's leg midair.

  Before Lokei could react, Assad twisted, swinging him around like a ragdoll, and smashed.

  Before Lokei could even think to react, Assad pivoted, using him like a rag doll, and slammed him hard against the brick wall. The bricks shattered. and dust rained down, Lokei crashed to the ground, coughed up blood, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a wide grin spreading across his face.

  "…Sh*t. You're a blast."

  Both of them began to vibrate, raw energy crackling around them like sparks. Two hunters, one narrow alley.

  The alley vibrated with every punch thrown, fists cracking, knees colliding, and sparks of raw energy igniting with each hit. Assad's grin never wavered. Lokei's smirk mirrored his, even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

  BANG!

  A gunshot sliced through the air, reverberating off the narrow walls.

  They both froze for a split second before instinct kicked in and their heads snapped to the side, narrowly dodging the bullet that zipped past and shattered a bottle behind them.

  "What the hell?" Lokei muttered.

  Assad's gaze sharpened. They turned in unison.

  At the alley's entrance stood the tall seller, the same guy Assad had slammed against the wall earlier.

  His face was swollen, his nose bent at an odd angle, but somehow he had managed to get his hands on a pistol. His hands trembled, yet he sneered defiantly.

  "You two… you're not walking out of here alive."

  For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, in perfect sync, Assad and Lokei said, "…This dumb idiot."

  Their annoyance was palpable, as if the gunshot had interrupted their favorite track.

  Before the seller could even react, they sprang into action. Assad was the first to move, his smile sharp enough to slice.

  He seized the seller's wrist and slammed it against the wall with such force that the gun clattered from his grip.

  Lokei was right behind him, driving a fist into the guy's ribs with a sickening crunch. The seller wheezed, spit flying from his mouth.

  Assad didn't let up; he kneed the guy in the face, snapping his head back, then shoved him forward just as Lokei's kick sent him crashing into a dumpster.

  The seller crumpled, bloodied and unconscious before he even hit the ground. Both fighters stood over him, panting heavily.

  Lokei clicked his tongue. "Man… talk about killing the mood."

  Assad spat blood to the side, a smirk creeping across his face. "Yeah. If you interrupt me again, you'll end up worse than him."

  Their eyes locked, the air was thick with tension, but there was an odd sense of understanding between them now.

  "...So," Lokei cracked his knuckles and shifted back into his stance, "where were we?"

  The alley erupted again with the sound of fists meeting flesh. The fight raged like a tempest until Assad, with a calm grin plastered on his face, ducked under one of Lokei's wild swings. His foot slid over a puddle on the alley floor, and without thinking, he kicked it up.

  The murky water splattered across Lokei's chest, soaking through his shirt.

  "AAAAH WHAT THE HELL?!" Lokei screamed, stumbling back. He grabbed his shirt, took a whiff, and instantly gagged.

  "Dude DUDE, IS THAT…?!" His voice cracked like a fragile glass. "Why the hell does this smell like—like actual SH*T!?"

  Assad tilted his head, his grin widening, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Guess the streets don't play nice, huh?"

  Lokei's horror morphed into a mix of rage and disgust. "No… no, no, no screw this, I'm out!"

  And just like that, he took off.

  Lokei dashed through alley after alley, shoving crates, vaulting over trash cans, even slipping past a toppled noodle cart, while Assad casually pursued him, laughter echoing like a predator relishing the chase.

  "Stop chasing me, you psycho!" Lokei shouted.

  "You already stink, one more splash won't hurt!" Assad shot back.

  They darted through alleyways, leaped over fences, startled pedestrians, and even barreled through a cramped laundromat, knocking clotheslines askew. Finally, Assad cornered Lokei in a dead-end backstreet.

  The blue-haired fighter pressed against the wall, eyes wide with panic.

  "Wait, WAIT don't—"

  Another wave of foul-smelling water hit him right in the face.

  The stench was immediate. Lokei recoiled, gagged violently, and then crumpled to the ground, face-first on the concrete, overwhelmed by shock and disgust.

  Assad stood over him, casually wiping his hands, exuding calm. "Pathetic."

  When Toon finally regained his senses a moment later, he looked around, bewildered. The chaos of the fight had swept them into a completely different part of town.

  An engine's hum sliced through the stillness of the night. A sleek black rugged, purpose-built 4x4 low, shiny.

  Inside, Shuren lounged comfortably, one arm draped over the door, her keen eyes scanning the dark alleys like a hawk on the hunt.

  "Over there," she said, a sly smile creeping across her lips.

  The driver, a young woman with sharp bangs and a quiet intensity in her gaze, glanced back at her through the rearview mirror. "You sure? It looks pretty messy."

  "Yea, it's messy so what. Just drive."

  The car purred to a halt near the alley.

  They stepped out. Assad was crouched low, his body still shaking from the switch. Blood dripped from his knuckles, his breathing was ragged, but that dark, lingering smile was still plastered on his face

  .

  "Well, well…looks like you made it." Assad tilted his head up, meeting her gaze with an unsettling calm. Shuren's tone was playful, but her eyes were sharp as daggers.

  Shuren's attention shifted past him, narrowing as she spotted the blue-haired body sprawled in the corner, unconscious and reeking. She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

  "…And what the hell happened here?"

  The driver stepped closer, pinching her nose against the stench.

  "Whatever went down, it stinks."

  The car's engine hummed as it pulled out of the alley, city lights streaking across the windows like tired neon veins.

  Assad leaned back in his seat, quiet, the faint smell of blood and decay still clinging to him. Lokei sat with his arms crossed, sulking, his once-clean clothes still damp and carrying that awful odor.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The driver Tasia suddenly erupted into laughter. Not a giggle or a snicker, but a full-on belly laugh that echoed in the confined space.

  "BAHAHAHA! Water full of what?!" She slapped the steering wheel, tears brimming in her eyes. "That's how you got dropped?! Oh my god, I can't breathe!"

  Lokei's jaw tightened as his face flushed red. "Tasia, shut the f*ck up! I said stop laughing!"

  But she just couldn't help it.

  Every time she tried to catch her breath, laughter bubbled up even more.

  "Seriously? You're supposed to be Shuren's top guy, and you got taken down by freaking sewer water?! Nah, I'm done BAHAHA!"

  In the backseat, Shuren let out a thick cloud of smoke, her face a total mystery. She flicked the ash out the window, her sharp gaze darting between the three of them.

  The car fell silent for a moment except for Tasia, who was still trying to stifle her laughter.

  Finally, she got herself together, wiping her eyes. She caught Lokei's reflection in the rearview mirror, a small grin still playing on her lips.

  "But don't get it twisted. Even if he's a spoiled brat, Lokei's really good at what he does. The dude's no pushover. Just had the crappiest luck tonight literally."

  Lokei groaned, leaning his head back against the seat, a scowl on his face. Assad just smiled faintly, his eyes following the city lights as they passed by, saying nothing.

  Tasia leaned back with a playful grin. "That's what I like about him."

  Those words hit Lokei like a stray bullet. His cheeks flushed instantly, and he turned his head away, arms crossed tightly.

  "D-Don't say dumb stuff like that… idiot."

  His sudden tsundere act drew a chuckle from Shuren, who shook her head in disbelief at the rising tension in the car.

  But then Assad stiffened. He heard it. A faint, rhythmic click of heels tapping against the floor from the backseat.

  Slowly, he glanced at the rearview mirror and sure enough, two figures lounged comfortably in the shadows Sévon, with his laid-back posture, and Taura, half-asleep, stretching like she'd been there the whole time.

  "When did you two get in the car?"

  Sévon didn't even bother to look up, just smirked lazily, "Since the beginning. You just weren't paying attention."

  The casual reply makes Shuren click her tongue in annoyance. Meanwhile, Taura sits up straight, letting out a soft yawn before directing her gaze toward Assad.

  Her sharp eyes fixate on his features. Leaning in with curiosity, she studies him like a rare treasure, "What's your name?"

  Assad hesitates for just a moment before responding.

  "Assad."

  Taura hums, softly repeating his name to herself.

  Her attention then drifts to his black and white hair, catching the faint light in the car. Without waiting for permission, she reaches out, running her fingers through it.

  "I thought it was dyed at first… but it's natural, isn't it?"

  Her fingers brush near his temple, and her curiosity intensifies when her gaze meets his eyes. Those silver irises, framed in black and white, are unlike anything she's ever encountered.

  "Silver eyes with that contrast… no wonder it feels surreal."

  She twirls a strand of his hair around her finger, still entranced, while Assad remains perfectly still, his expression unreadable but the tension in the air is palpable. Finally, Shuren breaks the lingering tension in the car.

  "Enough with the distractions. We're running late, we should get moving."

  Tasia nods in agreement, her tone carrying a hint of authority this time.

  "Yeah, right. Let's go."

  The car pulls away, leaving the outskirts behind and venturing deeper into the city. Assad leans against the window, taking in the changing scenery. Neon lights flicker above narrow alleys, lanterns glow softly in the twilight, and the air buzzes with chatter, aromas, and shadows.

  The inner streets of Kurayamiya unfold before them vivid, mysterious, and alive.

  His silver eyes widen slightly as he absorbs it all.

  'Beautiful… it almost resembles a Chinatown.'

  The ride gradually slows down and comes to a halt in front of a line of cars parked along a quiet street. The group steps out, their footsteps echoing against the stone tiles beneath them. In front of them, nestled between towering buildings, is a small wooden door.

  It looks pretty plain at first glance nothing special except for the faint, worn lettering carved above it that reads:

  "KURAYAMIYA SWEEPERS AGENCY."

  Without a moment's hesitation, Shuren grabs the handle and pushes the door open, stepping inside. One by one, the others follow, with Assad trailing last, his curiosity pulling him forward as the mysterious agency unfolds before them.

  Once inside, Assad is surprised by how warm the agency feels; dim lanterns flicker along the walls, and shelves are crammed with papers, ledgers, and all sorts of odd trinkets.

  The sound of their footsteps echoes as they enter.

  Almost immediately, the others Lokei, Tasia, Sévon, and Taura veer off down another hallway. Taura stretches and gives Assad a cheeky little salute.

  "Catch you later, Assad."

  She waves goodbye as she disappears with the rest, leaving Assad alone with Shuren. The two of them make their way to a small desk at the front. Behind it sits a girl lounging back in her chair, a glossy magazine casually held in her hands.

  Without even looking up, she flips a page, then glances over the edge, her lips curling into a playful grin.

  "Well, well, how's my baby-baby doing tonight?"

  Shuren lets out a puff of smoke and dismisses her words with a flick of her wrist.

  "Knock it off, Pixia."

  Pixia giggles, tossing the magazine onto the desk and finally giving Assad a proper once-over. Her sharp eyes narrow in curiosity, scanning him from head to toe as if she's already trying to figure him out.

  "Assad, this is Pixia. She's the one who keeps this madhouse running… in her own unique way."

  Pixia leans her chin on her hands, smirking.

  "Ohhh, so this is the stray cat you brought in? Adorable."

  Shuren gives a slight sigh at the action that Pixia just did. "Don't get attracted to her fiendish ways."

  "You're no fun baby baby."

  "Can it!"

  "Well whatever, anyway nice to me ya rookie it's a pleasure to meet new high talents like yourself."

  She said with a slight smile on her face, her voice soothing.

  "Baby baby Shuren over there told me everything about you, but it's for the best that I check for myself don't ya think."

  Pixia then starts rubbing her forehead and then she taps the middle of her eyes then says, "Time to check ya potential."

  This shocks Assad for a second he does not understand what she means by that potential.

  'Does she think I have potential? I mean that is what she is checking right now.'

  "Okay baby, hold still."

  Pixia's eyes light up with golden energy and she stares deep into Assad but as she tries to look closer all she sees is static with a smile that is evil. This makes her back off and takes her out of her trance.

  "What's wrong? what did you see?" Shuren asked.

  "Um right, well his physical abilities are outstanding so there is no need for that development. He also has a calm mind and soul. Everything is good so far and also."

  "Is that all you saw?" Shuren asked.

  Pixia looks down at Assad's chest and points at something then says, "He also got some weird small hole on your chest."

  Both Assad and Shuren look at the hole Assad does remember when he got stabbed at the fight with those drug dealers.

  "Oh this I got stabbed here."

  "That's way too small for a stab wound, there is not even a knife that small in Kurayamiya."

  Pixia and Shuren close their eyes trying to think what could have been the cause for that hole but then Assad stops their thinking process when he says," But I did not say it's a stab wound from a knife."

  This makes both of them widen their eyes.

  "If it's not a wound from a knife then what could it be from?" Pixia asked.

  "Um well it's actually from—