"Shut up, Niar! They're going to be fine!" Another tried to assure the young man named Niar.
"But, ehem, what if… What if that's the case? I mean, Kaya Bladeheart isn't some small fry. We're targeting the big deal."
"They aren't going to fight her face to face. All they need is one bullet and everything is going to be over."
The group kept arguing about whether that was a possibility or not. What differentiates the Black Cats from any other group of bandits is their family-like environment. Everyone cared for one another like a big family.
Ever since they ran away, they made sure to create an enclosed society for themselves. They would marry into each other to keep their lineage going. So, the death of ten people would be a devastating hit to their group, mentally and strategically.
*KNOCK*
Suddenly, a strong knock on the door disturbed them and made them all look back.
Then, someone rushed inside. It was a young woman with a distressed look on her face. Her breathing was erratic and her skin was pale as a sheet of paper. Niar stood up and rushed toward her.
"What's wrong, Emi?"
"It's… Someone… Someone has infiltrated the place!"
Niar's face frowned as he quickly rushed outside. There, he saw a sight that horrified him to no extent. Dead corpses of men riddled the entrance of the cave. Blood was seeping out of every one of them.
Tracing their appearances with his eyes, he recognized them all. They were his friends, people he had known for years and had grown to love. Now, they're all dead.
His eyes then moved to the man that was responsible for this and his eyes turned blind with rage. He stared daggers into the man's creepy white mask as he yelled.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!!"
Kai turned around and looked at the man with an apathetic look. He then released the man he was holding by the neck. The latter fell down to the ground, motionless, like everyone else.
"..."
Niar was about to rush toward this mysterious killer. However, the arrival of the rest of the group made him halt. Everyone had the same terrified look on their faces.
"I came here to talk. Your men didn't listen." Kai replied coldly as he looked around.
He wasn't intending to kill them but because they didn't even stop to entertain talking to him, he decided to stop wasting time. He wasn't in the mood nor the situation where he could waste time trying to talk sense into a bunch of fools.
"TALK?! YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!"
"Wait! Niar! You will get yourself killed." An older man grabbed Niar by the shoulder.
"Don't stop me, Dad! He killed them!! I can't just stand still and let him off unscathed."
"Very ironic coming from people that kill for a living."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"I say, if you dare to kill, you should expect to be killed," Kai replied coldly as he unleashed his aura on them, making everyone cower away.
"What do you want from us?" Niar's father stepped forward and asked.
"I will ask a few questions and then leave. Also, if you don't tell the man who is aiming for my head from the peak of that mountain, I will kill him." Kai said as he pointed behind him.
Niar clicked his tongue in anger before he closed his eyes. He could already see that they were nowhere as strong as this man.
He knew his choices were few, either he accepted or another one of his beloved family would be killed without mercy. So, he signaled with his hand to the sniper to not do anything. Tears welled up in his eyes as he asked.
"... What do you want?"
Kai didn't reply immediately as he walked deeper into the cave. He reached the bandits before he passed through them as if they were nothing. The bandits quickly retreated, creating a way for him to move.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
"Lead me to where you do your meetings." He said.
Niar was about to refuse when he felt his father squeeze his shoulder. He looked up, only to see the old man shake his head.
***
Kai was then guided to the meeting chamber. Walking inside, the place was minimalistic with some wooden furniture and rocks that were carved into small vases and other decorations.
He then strode toward a random chair and sat down.
"Now what?"
"Sit down."
The leaders couldn't refute his absolute order and quickly sat down.
"Who is the one that asked you to assassinate Mikayla and Kaya?" He asked.
"Our clients' information is confide-" Niar tried to speak but then was shut down by the sound of something clicking.
*Click*
Kai suddenly pulled the gun and aimed it at Niar.
"You were saying?"
"Please excuse him, sir. We really don't know anything about our client. He didn't give us any information about himself. He just sent us the money and told us to assassinate Kaya Bladeheart and Mikayla Raullot."
Kai looked at Niar's father for a second before he put down the gun on the table.
"Did he give a reason for this assassination?"
The old man shook his head again.
"Did he tell you to attack the birthday?"
"Yes, we were told that there would be a chance that we would have to kill Mikayla Raullot during his birthday celebration. But, at first, the client said that it was simply a plan B. But, we've received a notice yesterday that the plan B will be in order."
"..." Kai stayed silent. The old man assumed that he was annoyed so he quickly added.
"That's really the truth. We really apologize but we were simply doing a job. If you want, we won't attack the birthday!"
"No… Continue according to your plans." Kai shook his head.
"Huh?"
Sounds of confusion filled the room as if they didn't understand what he said. Didn't he attack them because they tried to assassinate those two? Now he wants them to continue on with their plan?
"What do you mean, sir?"
"I said continue the plan as if nothing happened. But, this time… I want you to target someone else instead of Mikayla."
The group looked at him silently as Kai explained what they had to do.
When he finished, they all looked at him with even more confusion.
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Yes."
Even though it sounded odd, they could only accept it.
"I don't need to remind you what will happen if any of you try to do something different."
When Kai saw the fear in their eyes, he was certain that they wouldn't dare to do anything against him. So, he stood up, intending to leave.
However, before leaving, he heard Niar's voice.
"Did you… Did you kill those ten people?!"
"Yes," Kai replied. "However, I don't suggest you try to seek revenge. If you want to keep your family intact and your bandit group alive, that is."
Niar clenched his fists as tears spilled out of his eyes.
"Goddamit… Goddamit!!"
"Niar."
"Leave me alone!" He covered his face as he continued to cry.
Meanwhile, Kai gave the young man one last glance before he left. Even outside the cave, the cries of a broken man could be heard loud and clear.