3 Sand Syndicate

"I'm selling meat"

"Really? Let me have a look"

Kai reached into his bag and showed Nina a slab of meat.

"Hog- unranked beast but still has delicious meat. How did you kill it? Even unranked beats are still a threat to ungifted humans." Nina questioned

Kai gave a nervous laugh, "All luck, and what do you lean by unranked beats?"

"In this world there are normal beats and beasts that have surpassed their limits. They are even able to match gifted humans. Rank 10 is the lowest but could destroy a village while rank 1 is the highest and could be a threat to all of humanity."

"What rank would a golden eight legged sand scorpion be"

Nina gasped in shock " How do you know about that beast, it's a legendary rank 3 creature! Just giving out it's location could make you billions of credits! Do you know something about it."

Kai began to sweat nervously "of course not, if I knew where a creature like that was I would not be here right now. Why is it so valuable."

Nina began to calm down, of course a street orphan would not know the whereabouts of the Golden eight legged sand scorpion let alone a ranked creature.

"Not only does it have one of the most unique taste in the world eating it offers tremendous strength bost! You won't feel that much stronger at first but over the course of a month you will change rapidly."

Kai felt excited knowing that his power has yet to come. As he looked up he felt Nina was scanning him a little too much so he changed the topic.

"I also came here for one more thing. I..I decided to take up your offer." Kai said hesitantly.

Nina let out a twisted laugh "I knew you would turn around. So you finally want to join the sand syndicate."

Kai shook his head, he decided to join the sand syndicate. An assassins organization in order to become a gourmet hunter faster. Nina is a recruiter for the organization and had always wanted him to join.

"But I'm doing this for a couple of conditions. I'm only joining because I want to become a gourmet hunter so you need to get me in the Hotel Bandel restaurant as an apprentice chef. I also need a weapon suitable for war and cooking."

"You do know Hotel Bandel is in the upper district right. Only the most influential criminal leaders are allowed there, they could order your death for even looking at them. I can help you with the weapon but are you sure you want to work there."

"Yes, Nina" Kai said "He was determined to become a gourmet hunter no matter the risks."

"Okay, Then I'll take you to the headquarters. But one more thing." She hissed as the room suddenly felt darker.

Kai heart lurched against his chest and his breathing became heavy. A primal fear began to consume his soul and he began to panic.

"Since I am a gifted human now you refer to me as Mistress or Madam Nina. Even though I used to know you before I became a gifted were on different levels now. You got it?"

As Kai quickly nodded the darkness left his heart and he began to calm down.

"Good" Nina smiled. "Now follow me to headquarters"

For the first time Kai began to truly begin to understand the power difference between gifted and normal humans. Nina simply letting out her aura had almost caused his mind to collapse. A growing sense of urgency came to his mind as he realized he needed to increase his power quicker.

Kai followed after Nina but was quickly surprised to find out they weren't leaving the black market as she went through another door in the office.

A long dark corridor came into view and the duo traversed it for 15 more minutes. At the end they reached a dead end.

Nina reached into her bosom and took out an amulet. She walked over to the wall and pressed the amulet against it. Starting from the amulet the wall became brighter and brighter until they were transported into a white area.

"Where are we" Kai questioned.

"Were in a man-made dimension. This is the gate to the sands syndicate, without a personal amulet even a high grade beast or gifted human would find it near impossible to get in."

"Identify yourselves or we will attack!"

A deep voice declared

"Recruiter Nina first division!" Nina said

The voice paused for a couple minutes

"You many enter" it finally said.

Suddenly the white space split into two halves and an empty room came into view.

"Who was that?" Kai asked

"Warden Vellian, he's in charge of Bandel city's entrance to the syndicate."

"Where is the syndicated located then"

"That is information is extremely classified, even I don't know where it is. They only told us the syndicated is connected to all major cities and trading hubs and we can come to the headquarters through those designated checkpoints." Nina chuckled

"The security here is insane" Kai remarked

"Of course it would be, this is an international criminal organization, the bounties here alone account for 10% of the dark continents credit value."

Kai gasped in shock, 10% of the currency value would exceed trillions of credits. It was unfathomable number.

"Ok you are just in time for the recruitment orientation where you will meet the other new members and sign the employment contracts. You'll you the money for the hog and choose your weapon if you make the trial. Good luck, hopefully I'll see you soon Kai" Nina said as she walked away.

But why would he need luck? What trial would he be going through? These questions would be soon answered as Kai opened the door and walked into the main hall.