William and Cain sat in front of Roy, who seemed more serious this time. The atmosphere was charged with tension, before he spoke in a quiet voice but carried a hidden weight:
"I have money, and I also have personal reasons that make me want to eliminate the 'black eye' tattoo ring. But before I give you any information, I wanted to make sure you two deserve it."
He paused for a moment, then continued, looking directly at them: "What I'm going to tell you two is not known to many. The gang is not just a group of ordinary criminals, but controlled by a powerful person, who is the de facto ruler of this city from behind the scenes. He is the mastermind of everything, and one of the prominent members of a sect known as the Phoenix."
William's eyes narrowed, while Cain smiled a sideways smile and said in a sarcastic tone: "Oh, so we have a real player in the shadow? Well, where do we find it?"
Roy replied confidently, "That's the hard part. No one knows exactly where he is, and everyone who tried to get close to the gang disappeared without a trace. But I know some of the places they use, and there is a large colony near this town, rumored to be one of their main strongholds."
Cain chuckled a short laugh, then said in an excited tone: "That's great. Just tell us the location, and we'll take care of the rest."
Roy nodded, then pointed to a man standing next to him. He was tall, with sharp looks, and a cold aura surrounding him. "This is Jane, one of the most powerful fighters of the Blue Bird. Your companions will be in this task. You may need someone with strength."
Cain looked at Jane intently, then smiled, "Okay, let's go."
⸻
At the borders of the colony
The three stood on a rocky hill overlooking a large colony surrounded by high walls, and the random buildings inside them piled up as if they were built on top of each other without planning. However, what shocked them was not the shape of the colony, but the scene in the main square inside it.
The children were led towards a huge stone building, some covered in blood, while the gangsters surrounded them, laughing and talking as if they were dealing with cheap goods.
Cain grabbed the handle of his sword tightly, and a gloomy look appeared in his eyes. "What is this? Do they kidnap children? These bastards..." He whispered in a low tone but couldn't hide his anger.
He moved a step forward as if he was about to jump, but William's hand stretched out in front of him to stop him. "Wait. We don't know their number, nor their strength. If we are reckless, we may end up like those who disappeared before us."
Cain eshaled distressedly, then looked at William with a slight sarcasm. "So, what's your plan, boss?"
Jane finally intervened, in his calm and sharp voice: "We have two options: either sneak in and gather information, or create chaos that forces them to expose everything."
William took a quick look at the buildings, and studied the locations of the guards, before firmly saying: "We will sneak first. We need to know where the children are being held, and who leads the gang. Then we decide how to attack."
Jin nodded in agreement, while an excited smile was drawn on Caen's face. "Okay, let's start the game."
Then, with a quick movement, they set off among the shadows, heading towards the heart of the colony, where the hidden truth awaits them.