“Yo… Are you sure he’s still around somewhere?” Said a mob suddenly to others.

“Who knows…”

It’s been fifteen minutes since the last time they saw Skullface breaking away from the siege. After that, not even a hint of his scent lingered around the thin air.

The mob turns his attention to his boss not far from there, “Ain’t you too clingy with that girl, boss?”

“What the hell did you mean by that??”

“Uhh… well, I-I mean… you know… it’s been a while, and it’s getting pretty borin’ you know?”

A long sigh comes out from the stocky boss’s mouth, “I’m just standing by here, making sure he’s not after the precious goods. At least, if he shows up, the only way out is under our control.”

“Is that it? Or seems like you don’t want her to be taken away from you, eh?” Another mob chimed into the conversation.

“You think? It’s gonna worth lots of cash if it’s in good condition.”

“Well, that is… if the QC confirms it first.”

“Wait, what are you on about?”

Chuckles and laughter came out of their mouth as those two mobs surround the helpless girl. The fear was etched clearly in her eyes, receiving nasty glances from those thugs.

A gasp slipped out when one of them suddenly groped her from behind. Taking her by surprise, almost tearing up at the same time. The other one is taking a closer look at her with filthy images forming in his mind.

“Of course, it needs to be test driven, yeah boss?” Scoffed the one behind her, and keep groping.

“Hmmph!”

“It would be such a waste to gag up these delicate lips, yeah?”

“Ay yo, don’t tease her like that, fam! Makes me wanna fill it up with my loads!”

“Hey, don’t start yet! Might as well turn it on to get in the mood?”

While two of them are messing around with the poor girl, the boss was rendered helpless to stop them. Deciding to join the remaining thugs to patrol the area. Volk silently watches their shenanigans from afar, leaning against the container behind him. Sharpening his senses.

On top of one of the trucks lined up inside, the masked man sits calmly. Observing the entire room. Readjusting his breathing as he assesses the situation amidst the pitch-black atmosphere.

So they ain’t gonna face me head-on, huh?

He exhaled heavily after figuring out what will he face in the next encounter. It was too close for comfort to being ganged up in the state of life and death.

There are still seven of them… and a girl?

 …Whatever, I’ll just grab my stuff and head back.

Yeah, easier said than done…

Throwing his gaze far ahead, even if only a slight number of them are on standby, the only entrance is still guarded with no other way around them. Wandering between those trucks, of course sneaking up would be a hard task with those patrolling ones.

After grasping the general situation, carefully he takes steps to the edge of the truck’s container to get a better view of them. Squinting both eyes before pulling something out from his jacket.

Thock!

“What’s that noise?”

“Did you hear it!?”

Thock! Thock!

“It comes from a different direction.”

“It must be him!”

“Watch out, he must be on the move above those trucks and plan to face us directly.” Said the boss.

Without any hesitation, the crooks immediately march toward the sound as the source keeps changing from one container to another. Making it sounds like a rough footstep coming from the top part of the truck’s container.

Got ‘em…

He gets on his feet before throwing the last piece of metal scrap into the container on the far side of the room, attracting the group’s attention to the clanging sound that reverberates in the air.

As he slowly walks on top of the truck, both eyes keep peeled on those thugs, waiting for an opportunity to close in.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, one of them turned around. Out of reflex, Skullface stays low on his knee out of the line of sight when another mob decides to approach his comrade.

“Oi, whatcha doing there?” Asked his comrade to see him aiming the handgun at empty air.

“Did you hear something?”

“Nope, ain’t hear a thing. What do you mean?”

“I dunno, bro. But I’m sure, there’s a footstep nearby.”

“Yeah, it’s from that place, fam. Like the boss said.”

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere here…”

His friend hisses at him, “Come on, bro. Hurry up your lazy ass! I don’t wanna stay the damn night in this f*cking place!”

“Tch, whatever, but ya have to treat me some booze after all of this ends, yeah?”

“Ain’t happening!”

The mob replied to his comrade after taking a turn at the next truck in front, leaving the man alone with the dreadful atmosphere lingering around him.

“Gah, he’s right. There’s no shit here, imma catch up with them bastards- Ack!?”

Out of nowhere, the man’s neck has been locked with his mouth also being gagged up from behind. He can’t help but hopelessly cry for help despite no one being able to hear it. The image of death is carved clearly before his eyes as the lock of both hands keeps getting tighter, crushing the air circulation to his brain.

“Hmph! Hmmph!”

“Quiet. Stay low, yer life spared. Make a scene, yer life screwed.”

“Hmmph!”

“Tch, ain’t gonna lemme take my time, yeah?”

He harshly fastened the chokehold as the mob wriggled his way out from him. No matter what the man does in this dire situation, it’s useless struggling with the slowly weakening body.

“Now, be a good boy, would ya? Say… does the girl have some shit to do with y’all?”

“Gah!” Immediately the man took a breather as soon as his mouth is released, “No! She has nothing to do with this or with us!”

“Keep it low, blockhead.” His lock is tightening again without hesitation.

“Ack!”

“If she ain’t mean a thing for y’all, then why is she here in the first place? Don’t tell me, y’all using her as a hostage to face me, huh?”

“I dunno…! Ack!?”

“Tch, What a bunch of morons. Who do you think I AM? Is this some kind of joke to make the innocent involved here? Y’all think that half-assed plan is gonna work, huh?”

“N-no! I-I don’t know what’s he pulling off from this, bro! She ain’t one of us! She’s just the boss’s precious goods!”

“Just damn goods, huh…”

“P-Please… Let… Me… Go…”

“Playing pity, aren’t we?”

Clack!

“Huh?”

BANG!

A loud sound thundered through the air as a shot has been released amidst the total silence. In an instance, the sound attracts the attention of the rest of the group, hastily coming towards the place of source as the sudden silence envelops once more.

The pool of blood on the floor put them in a panic state. When they scan their surroundings, the culprit has gone. Leaving the fright of the poor mob behind for them to contemplate. Groaning in pain with a hole in his leg.

The only choice for them is to regroup in the middle, away from the darkness.

“AAARGH!”

Another shrill engulfed the dark spaces.

Instantaneously, everyone in the group shifts their attention to the other side of the truck. Their gaze fell in the direction of the warehouse. As if something has pulled one of them straight down to the depths of hell.

“What… The f*ck… is that?”

“The hell is going on here!?”

“Did he get one of us…!?”

“Seems like it, lads….”

The fear is etched on their faces, feeling a shiver from the terrifying presence soaring in the air and engulfing them with primal fear. For a moment, they can’t help but freeze in their place and wait for further instruction from their seemingly calm boss.

More like, desperately keeping his dignity in one piece.

“Another one down, boss. What should we do?” Although the impending terror inside, Volk yet moves an inch away from the same spot. Glaring down at the stocky man. “Can’t answer? I thought you said you’d be the one taking control here.”

“S-Shut up! What have you done all this time while we were away? You’ve done nothing but stoned at this same spot!” The stocky boss furiously pointed his finger at the tall man in front. Volk just calmly watched him enraged.

“I’m keeping an eye for the entrance. Besides, you don’t want him to get away, right?” Volk turned his gaze far to the right, to the utter darkness. “Turn the lights on. This is your limit.”

“Didn’t you hear me? We’ll ambush him in this situation as we move as a group! Can’t you understand a simple plan like that?”

“The simplicity of an idiotic mind like you is what makes us fall like this.” Volk straightens his body, grabbing the axe leaned against the wheel. “Besides, the lights aren’t for the search. It’s for y’all safety.”

“Being so cocky, I’ll make sure you won’t get any payment even when you finished the job!”

“Say what you want, I ain’t give a f*ck. Just stay still, and watch.”

A fast throw was made, launching the axe into total darkness to his right. Even with the subtlest lighting in his eyes, Volk can see it.

Thwack!

“Found you.”

Helplessly standing far in the dark, with the axe stuck above the head, Skullface helplessly froze while his hood is already pinned against the wall.

The intimidating pressure in Volk’s eyes overflows into the entire room. As if switching his killing mode on the moment he caught the silhouette of it.

“Lights on, lads. The party had just started."