Era sat in a dimly lit room, dressed in a sharp mix of white and black. His face was hidden behind a mask, its design concealing every detail of his identity. The atmosphere was tense but calm, the air heavy with the scent of secrecy.

The door creaked open.
Ashu stepped in — a well-known weapon dealer in the underground market.

A2: “Sit down, Ashu.”
Ashu: “Thank you.”
Era: “So… what’s the deal?”

Ashu leaned forward, his voice casual but layered with intent.
Ashu: “I’ve got quite a few powerful guns lying around — things like SCARs and AK-47s. If you’re interested, I can make them yours.”

Era: “A3.”

A3: “Right now, we only have pistols — things like G18s, Desert Eagles, and a few sniper rifles like the Kar98. No AKs or SCAR-Ls.”

A1: “So… based on that, this deal would be worth it?”
A3: “Hmm. Seems like it.”

Era tilted his head.
Era: “So, what do you want in exchange? Money? Or… a personal favor?”

Ashu smirked slightly.
Ashu: “Exactly. Normally, I could give you 300 to 400 AKs, and 200 to 310 SCARs. On the market, they’re worth crores. But for you… I can give them for 70 lakhs, maybe even less. Or… for free. But—”

Era’s eyes narrowed behind the mask.
Era: “But?”

Ashu: “You’d have to do something for me.”

Era: “And what is that?”

Ashu: “I need a place… somewhere no one will disturb me. A safe spot where I can work in peace. And not just that — there’s a problem. Some underworld gangs are after me. They’ve been paid to kill me. I need you to assassinate the man who put the hit on me.”

A4: “So you need a safehouse, and you also want us to kill someone for you?”

Ashu: “Exactly. The man’s name is Eagle. He’s the uncrowned king of the weapon-dealing world — the most infamous arms supplier in the underworld. 95% of criminals get their weapons from him.”

Era leaned back in his chair, analyzing the request.
Era: “You’re asking us to assassinate someone who’s allied with almost every most-wanted criminal alive… and is guarded like a fortress?”

Ashu: “Yes.”

Era: “That means… to kill him, we’d have to fight at least ten of the most dangerous underworld gangs.”

Ashu’s eyes widened.
Ashu: “W–wait… so you can’t do it?!”

Era’s tone sharpened.
Era: “When did I say that I can’t do it? What did I just say?”

Ashu blinked, then let out a nervous laugh.
Ashu: “R–Right! You didn’t say you wouldn’t. Hahaha…”

Era: “But—”
Ashu: “But…?”
Era: “It’ll take some time. Right now, we’re already in the middle of dealing with another gang.”

Ashu: “I see.”

Era: “I can’t say when it’ll be over, but it’ll be soon. And once it is, your job will be our first priority.”

Ashu: “Th–thank you, Nightmare sir! Thank you!”

Era: “But until then, you’ll have to stay here.”

Ashu: “W–Why?”

Era: “For your safety. And because it’s our rule.”

A1: “If you want to work with us, you have to operate from here.”

Ashu: “Y–Yes sir!”

A2: “One more thing — you’re free to sell weapons to whoever you want. But never to someone who will misuse them for extreme harm… like a terrorist.”

Ashu: “Yes, ma’am!”

A4: “That’s all for now. You may go. We’ll talk again when it’s time for your mission.”

Ashu: “Yes sir! Thank you!”

Scene shift — Ashu leaves the room, walking down the dim corridor to his quarters.

Ashu’s thoughts:

“I’d heard the Night Walkers were dangerous… even evil. But they don’t seem that way to me. Sure, they talk like they mean business… but they don’t feel like bad people. Not Nightmare.”

Back in the room…

Era: “So, that’s all for today?”
A1: “Yes, Nightmare.”
Era: “Then—”

A2: “Nightmare, you should go to your room. You have college tomorrow.”
Era: “Oh, right. Okay. Then bye, guys. And A3 — start preparations to finish off that gang.”
A3: “Yes, Nightmare sir.”

Era walked towards his room, thoughts running deep.

“The Night Walkers are slowly diving deeper into the underworld. More names, more threats… a big war between us and them is coming. But before that… this entire state, this entire country — it should be under Night Walker rule. Then, we’ll deal with the underworld and international gangs. And as soon as we finish this current gang, that weapon dealer Eagle will be dead… just like Ashu asked.”

He reached his door, opened it, stepped inside, and closed it behind him.

[Chapter 18 – End]