Devious Lick!

After gearing up and meeting in the back alley behind Marco and his crew, Arslan and Ryder observed quietly as they watched the operation unfold. Marco and his crew smoothly exchanged money for Narcotics, showcasing a simple yet clever system. Tony, Marco's trusted right-hand man, handled the cash transactions with customers, while Carlos discreetly delivered the goods around the corner.

Marco, a silent observer with his arms crossed, took in the scene without a word as the transactions unfolded around him.

"What's the plan now?" Ryder inquired, feeling antsy after standing still for more than 30 minutes. He wanted to know when they would put their plan into action. "Are we going to do it today or what?"

"Just wait, they'll have to re-up soon," Arslan assured, knowing that Marco wouldn't have all his merchandise on hand. "When they restock, that's when we make our move," he explained to Ryder, who nodded in understanding. Ryder's hand tapped Arslan's shoulder urgently as Carlos made his way back towards Marco.

"Look," Ryder whispered, excitement evident in his voice. "Is this our moment?"

"Yes. Mask up and follow me," Arslan instructed, pulling his own mask over his face before quietly trailing behind Carlos as he moved away from Marco, who was now regrouping with Tony.

Putting some distance between them, Arslan and Ryder blended in with the bustling crowd, careful not to draw Carlos's attention. They noticed how cautious Carlos was, constantly scanning his surroundings and taking circuitous routes through the alleys, clearly on the lookout for any signs of pursuit.

Despite Carlos's vigilance, Arslan's newly acquired skill, [Locked on Target] came into play. He had selected this skill during a recent level-up he went through, anticipating its usefulness in combat. The skill highlighted his target in a distinct color and revealed vulnerable spots where he could strike to swiftly defeat his adversaries.

After a series of twists and turns, Carlos arrived at an apartment building. Pausing at the entrance, he cast a few more wary glances around before ringing the bell and disappearing inside. Arslan and Ryder discreetly positioned themselves behind a nearby corner, peering cautiously as they awaited Carlos's exit.

As the door clicked shut behind Carlos, Arslan and Ryder moved swiftly towards it, attempting to open it quietly. Finding it locked, Ryder suggested, "Should we kick it in?"

Arslan shook his head, adjusting his mask slightly to avoid drawing attention from passersby. "No, we wait. We'll get him as soon as he steps back outside."

============

Upstairs in the apartment building, Carlos safely reached the third floor and entered the stash house where three armed men awaited him, each holding pistols and shotguns. Despite the modest scale of Marco's operation compared to others, he ensured that his men were well-equipped and prepared for any potential threats.

Young but far from foolish, Marco understood the risks involved in his line of work. He was acutely aware that his stash or his men could be targeted at any moment, so he maintained a vigilant guard presence to defend against such scenarios.

"Hey, we need a re-up," Carlos announced, tossing the bag of cash he had received from Tony onto the table before the group.

"Already?!" a burly man exclaimed, pausing the game he was engrossed in to retrieve the bag from the table. "Seems like our shit is flying off the shelves these days," he remarked casually as he headed towards the back room.

"Yeah, looks like we'll need to call the connect sooner than we thought," Carlos responded, grabbing a cold drink from the fridge and taking a sip.

"What's the word on the expansion?" inquired another man stationed by the door. "Did Marco manage to recruit any promising new members?"

"There are two guys who could be valuable assets, but they're playing hard to get for now," Carlos revealed, alluding to Arslan and Ryder, renowned in the neighborhood for their fighting skills, capable of enhancing any crew they joined.

"How about you invite them to a party one time, it might change their minds when they see how we be living life," suggested the man who had returned with the restock, handing the package to Carlos, who swiftly stowed it in his backpack.

"Great idea, I'll let Marcos Know ," Carlos confirmed, exchanging farewells with the men before leaving the apartment with his backpack slung over his shoulder. "Catch you later."

"Stay sharp out there," one of the men cautioned as Carlos closed the door behind him, venturing back into the bustling city streets.

Carlos made his way down the stairs, opting for the broken elevator, and exited through the familiar back door of the building. As he strolled through the dimly lit alley towards the bustling main street, intending to return to Marco and Tony, he abruptly halted in his tracks upon spotting two familiar figures loitering near the front entrance of the building he had just left.

"WTF!" Carlos muttered under his breath, swiftly ducking out of sight and reaching for his phone to contact Marco.

"Yooooooooooo!" Carlos whispered urgently into the phone, catching Marco's immediate attention.

"What's going on?" Marco inquired tersely.

"You won't believe who I see in front of the stash right now," Carlos relayed to Marco, whose concern heightened at the unexpected news.

"Who?!" Marco pressed for an answer, growing anxious as Carlos fell silent unexpectedly.

"Speak up! Who's out there?" Marco's tone sharpened, his focus shifting from his concerns for his merchandise to the unsettling silence from Carlos.

It took Marco about five seconds to hear a response on the other end of the line. A strange voice emanated from the phone call, catching Marco off guard.

"It's your mom, Bitch," Arslan taunted with a disguised voice, before abruptly ending the call.

Without hesitation, Arslan swiftly sprinted towards Ryder, who was already Dragging Carlos towards the back door of the building that he just came from.

"Listen up. You either comply, or you'll meet your maker right here and now," Arslan asserted, taking the gun from Carlos' back and aiming it at him. "Nod if you understand."

Carlos, though gagged by Ryder, managed to nod in compliance, prompting Ryder to release his grip as Arslan continued issuing orders. "I know everyone upstairs already knows about us after that phone call. No need for you to be a hero or act smart. Just guide us to the stash location," Arslan directed as Carlos used his key to unlock the back door, allowing them entry to the building.

"How many are we dealing with?" Arslan inquired, wanting to know if they had a chance or not.

"Three," Carlos responded.

"Which floor?" Arslan pressed for details.

"Third," Carlos confirmed, prompting the two intruders to swiftly drag Carlos alongside them as they ascended the stairs, aware that time was of the essence following the ill-timed call to Marco.

Upon reaching the third floor, Arslan halted Ryder from emerging from the staircase, wary of potential ambush. Placing Carlos at the forefront, Arslan questioned, "Right or left?" seeking direction to the target apartment.

"Right," Carlos promptly replied without knowing what Arslan was cooking for him.

"Good," Arslan acknowledged, removing his mask and positioning it over Carlos's face.

"What's going on?" Carlos demanded, but Arslan remained silent, gently nudging Carlos into the hallway, facing the right side.

As Carlos stepped into the hallway, the trio guarding the stash unleashed a barrage of gunfire, riddling Carlos with bullets. Despite their preparedness, it was their first encounter with an intruder, leaving them unsettled and trigger-happy, prepared to shoot anyone that was unfamiliar to them emerging from the stairwell.

"STOP! STOP!" a voice cried out as one of the men recognized the clothing of the man they had been firing upon, prompting an immediate ceasefire among the shooters.

However, seizing the moment they had been waiting for, Arslan and Ryder sprang from their hiding spots without hesitation, opening fire on the unsuspecting trio who were caught off guard and swiftly struck down.

"Agh!"

"Ugh!"

"Ack!"

The assailants crumpled to the ground, and Ryder and Arslan swiftly moved to disarm them, kicking their weapons out of reach.

"Are they done for?" Masked Ryder inquired, but Arslan brushed off the question, focused on the task at hand as he dashed towards the targeted apartment without hesitation.

"Forget about them. We don't have time to waste at all," Arslan urged, aware that Marco as a back up and the law enforcement would soon arrive in response to the gunfire that just occurred.

The two hurried into the apartment, ensuring it was clear of danger before swiftly scouring the premises for the sought-after goods.

"Found it!" Arslan exclaimed triumphantly as he entered a back room, discovering the stash of Narcotics, and Money all stashed in the same spot. Upon hearing the news, Ryder dashed over, swiftly unzipping the duffle bags they had brought along.

Working in tandem, Ryder and Arslan hurriedly gathered the illicit items, stuffing them into the bags as the distant sound of sirens grew louder.

"We need to go," Arslan urged, but Ryder, engrossed in the task, continued to fill his bag. Ignoring the urgency, Arslan forcibly pulled Ryder away from the room with a determined grip, propelling them towards the exit.

"Wait, there's more in there we can take with us," Ryder protested, attempting to return, only to be met with a sharp slap from Arslan, who fixed him with a stern gaze. "You can't enjoy it from behind bars, you idiot. Now, move," Arslan commanded, prompting Ryder to comply and follow swiftly in his wake.

The two emerged from the building, observing that two of the downed men were still showing signs of life. Ryder hesitated, contemplating finishing them off, but Arslan, unwavering in his determination, pressed on, urging Ryder to follow.

Bounding down the staircase, they made a swift exit through the familiar back door, the blare of sirens growing ever closer. Despite the mounting threat, they navigated fences and alleyways, returning to the safety of their neighborhood and Arslan's apartment.

Breathless and adrenaline-fueled, they shut the door behind them, collapsing in a mix of relief and exhilaration. Locking eyes, they shared a moment of silent understanding before erupting into uproarious, almost manic laughter, the intensity of their shared experience finally breaking through the tension of the day.

[Level up +6]

[Congratulations on Reaching level 10]

[All of the system features are available to you now!]