Small Price to Pay

Michael just crooks a brow at Loutiel's ominous words, "Yeah, that's great to know, but how does that help me? I've got nowhere near the money to buy that thing." he mutters with a downtrodden expression.

Loutiel walks over to the front desk of the store while humming, book in hand, "Weeelll... Perhaps I could give you a discount. IF, you were willing to help me out with a niggling problem I've been having lately."

Michael gives a slight shrugs, "Er, depending on what it is and how big the discount was, sure...?"

Loutiel's eye's sharpen as they stare at him, "Once I tell you the job, however, you must accept it... I promise, it won't be against your sensibilities." he states.

...

Michael didn't like where this was going, feeling as if Loutiel could see right through him. "...Fine, but I want the book for free... And a magic wand!" he exclaims to try and get one over on Loutiel, but immediately regrets it as the man grins at him.

"Good... 'Mike', are you aware of who is in charge of this area of the city?" he suddenly asks while turning his back to Michael to attend to something.

"Er, it's the Baleine gang, right?" he question.

Loutiel shakes his head, "I mean, officially. Who in the government owns this area."

"No idea." Michael shrugs.

Loutiel nods, "Their name is Anais Nowell, she holds the title of Viscount and is in charge of this area and the coming and goings of airships. More importantly, she's become an increasingly annoying pest. For both me and my business. I need you to do something about her." he states almost dismissively as if he hadn't just ordered Michael to murder a noble.

"You want me to murder her? Why?" he questions as this was far more dangerous than any of his recent nightly excursions.

Loutiel tucks some of his white hair behind his ear, "I don't wish to ah, 'toot my own horn', as it were. But her attempts at wooing me have changed from simple compliments and invitations to tea, to demanding my presence for audits of my business, to sending underlings to sabotage my store... I am not unable to deal with women, but there is a clear distinction between interest, love, and obsession. Anais takes it even further than that however."

...

"So, you want me to kill this woman, because she's too obsessed with you...Tsk." Michael mutters, feeling as if he should punch this guy for every single man who wishes to be in his situation.

"Regardless of your feelings of it, I have given you your task. I would suggest having it done soon, otherwise, it might get in the way of your other duties." Loutiel says as he falls into a nearby chair, checking his nails.

"Other duties?" Michael asks, not really knowing what he's referring to.

Loutiel nods, "Yes, your mission to wipe out the D'argent gang... You must be more careful with your identity in future, Michael."

Alarm bells scream in his mind as he leaps backwards while drawing his blade, "W-what!? How'd you know!?"

Loutiel laughs, "Well, I wasn't sure til now. Besides, you should be thanking that I'm the only one who observed you and your strange magic. It's funny, the only reason I noticed was due to my efforts searching for intruders around my store."

"B-but, this place is on the other side of the city..." Michael mutters.

Loutiel shrugs, "Your magic is rather bright during the night, so with a small scrying spell, it was easy to discover your identity. You should be thankful, had I not warded you against tracking spells, you might've be captured already."

...

"Why are you helping me?" Michael asks cautiously, unsure what this guy's intentions were.

"Just think of it as my attempt to help the city. These gangs have started to become so arrogant, it's better that someone takes them down a peg. You've certainly been doing a good job thus far." he gives a thumbs up, "Keep it up."

...

Michael lets out a sigh, "Where can I find this Viscountess?"

Loutiel grins, "Well you're in luck, as I just so happened to overhear, that Miss Anais will be meeting with the Baleine gang's leader Mary Dieu-Le-Veut, in two days at midnight. I would suggest you deal with her before they meet, but in the end it's up to you. Do this, and you will receive what you asked for." he states.

Michael nods, "I'll try, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to do it..." he admits.

Loutiel shrugs, "Whether you succeed or not is entirely up to you and your abilities. Due to the nature of Miss Anais visit, she will be lacking any official guards, making her an easier target than usual. Just remember before you start resenting your situation... You're the one who came to me, not the other way around."

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Elsewhere :

A tall, bald man covered in scars sits at a desk surrounded by darkness, with only a small candle illuminating the various files and reports littering the desk's surface. "Why is this happening now?... Just when things were going so well?"

"We almost had enough men to attack Salhope's territory... Yet.."

*Bang!*

The man growls as he slams a dagger onto the desk, its blade piercing deeply into the hardwood. "SOME RANDOM FUCKING GUY STARTS KILLING MY MEN OUT OF NOWHERE!?" he shouts, "ONE GUY, KILLING SO MANY IN ONLY THREEEEEEE DAYS!?!?!" his hands wrap around his bald head, "I. CAN'T. FUCKING BELIEVE THIS SHIT!" He roars while sweeping everything onto the floor, all of his plans and preparation had gone out the window as soon as this new person had started killing his men, making them all useless. Thus, he doesn't even glance at the papers as the upturned candle starts burning them.

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHO YOU ARE! I'LL CUT YOUR DAMN HEAD OFF AND CURSE YOU TIL THE DAY I DIE! CHARLIE!"

"Y-yes boss!?"

"GATHER THE MEN! WE'RE TRACKING THIS GUY DOWN NO MATTER WHAT!"

"Ah-Yees boss!" the short man wielding a staff slightly too large for him yelps before rushing out of the room to make preparations.

Marcel scowls as he sits back down at his now-empty desk while retrieving a large canvas paper, he needed to make preparations to combat this new player, it was clear by their tactics that they weren't individually all that strong, so all he needed to do was create a trap next time they go prowling. "You aren't getting away, you fucking cunt!"