The heavy scent of saltwater and a cool evening breeze drifted through the half-open windows of their car, hidden out of sight.
They'd co straight here from the hotel, not wanting to waste any ti.
Asher leaned back in his seat, his eyes fixed on the large warehouse ahead.
It was full of activity. Trucks unloaded goods, forklifts moved crates, and shadows darted in and out of sight.
Lucy sat beside him, staying quiet for a mont, letting him take in the view.
She knew this mission wasn't going to be easy. Ideally, she would have started him off with sothing smaller, —an easier target to build his confidence, then gradually increase the challenge.
But circumstances forced her hand.
Every day that passed brought her closer to being found, and the people after her weren't going to stop. She needed him to get stronger, and fast.
"This is where we deal with the Tiger Gang," she broke the silence, her eyes still on the warehouse.
'The Tiger Gang, huh,' he muttered, recognizing the na imdiately.
They were well-known in the city for their ruthlessness and control over certain territories.
If he rembered right, they were also the ones who had killed him.
During his last mission, when he'd dealt with so of their n, he'd noticed that sa tiger logo sprayed on a wall.
Back then, he'd brushed it off, figuring it didn't matter. But now it seed like his path was more entwined with this gang than he wanted.
Or maybe they were just that big—enough that every ti he went after criminals, there was a good chance they'd be connected to them.
Lucy shifted in her seat, her gaze fixed on the warehouse.
"They've been stirring up trouble for a while . A few weeks ago, they started making demands on the Yamagi family, trying to take a cut of their business. When that didn't work, they went further, sabotaging the two power plant. All of it just to push them out of a deal."
"I see," Asher just nodded, not really interested with the details. Experience tales at empire
To him, it was just another job—a wealthy family trying to silence another wealthy organization. In the end, it's all about who's got the money and the power.
However—
The Tiger Gang had made a fatal mistake. The Yamagi's weren't just rich and influential; they had a powerful demon standing behind them.
Lucy continued, hoping to give him so context.
"The place is filled with ard n. There are at least fifty inside, probably more hiding around the area. They've got high-caliber guns and even grenades. This won't be easy like last ti."
Asher's gaze flickered over the warehouse again, considering the risk. She wasn't exaggerating—this was a different level entirely.
But that didn't make him nervous. All he needed to do was follow whatever plan she had in mind and get it done.
However, her next words finally got a reaction out of him. "You handle it alone."
"What?" Asher opened his mouth, lost for words.
She had just said there were at least fifty ard n in there, and now she expected him to do a solo job.
Little did he know, Lucy had originally planned to help him right from the start, to make the mission safer.
But seeing his calm, almost indifferent attitude, she began to understand just how dangerous that mindset could be.
He was underestimating the danger, and if she didn't snap him out of it, he would end up dead the mont he stepped into the Demon world.
"I'll do it," Asher opened the car door, feeling the cool evening air against his skin as he stepped out.
Reaching into the car compartnt behind, he pulled out the neatly organized weapons.
High-caliber guns—courtesy of Nakata—lined the case, their tal reflecting the dim light.
But he didn't go for the weapons first.
Instead, he grabbed a set of tactical gear . They weren't the sa ones Nakata had worn while sparring with Lucy, but they still offered so protection against stabs. The color sche was also ideal for blending into the night.
Once he finished putting it on, he looked like soone straight out of a special forces unit.
Asher then turned his attention to the weapons before him, quickly evaluating each one.
His hand moved as he secured the sleek, black Beretta pistol, its weight comfortable in his grip.
Next, he grabbed a Banish .45 pistol suppressor—silent and deadly. He attached it to the barrel with ease, the Beretta's threaded barrel making the connection smooth.
He also slid extra magazines into his utility belt, making sure everything was within easy reach.
But he wasn't finished yet. He reached for a short submachine gun, an Uzi.
Its compact design made it perfect for close quarters. It was lightweight, easy to maneuver, and would give him more firepower when needed.
He slung it over his shoulder, the strap settling comfortably against his chest.
To finish his preparation, he grabbed two military-grade knives, each with a sturdy black handle, and a flashbang.
He slid the knives into the sheath strapped to his legs and tucked the flashbang into a secure pouch.
'Better to be prepared for anything,' he muttered to himself.
"I'm ready," he walked away, knowing that he had to handle this himself.
Lucy watched quietly from behind, her eyes fixed on Asher's back as he walked further into the shadows, the distance between them growing.
She knew the risks. Though part of her wanted to call him back, she understood there was no ti to be soft. If she had it, she'd train him more, teach him so basic magic, but even that would take weeks.
For now, he had to rely on his weapons to pull through.
'But just in case things get bad, I'll be ready,' she added.
As Asher approached the entrance, a thought struck him.
Rushing straight in would only draw attention. With so many people inside, it would quickly escalate into a shootout.
'I need to be smarter about this,'
He scanned the area, eyes landing on a large shipping container near the side of the warehouse. It was big enough to hide behind, and more importantly, it offered the cover he needed to plan his next move.
With quick, silent steps, he veered off course, heading toward the container.
He crouched low, making sure the shadows hid his movents.
From behind the tal walls, he peered around, taking in the layout of the warehouse.
He counted the shadows in the distance—at least a dozen n near the entrance, with more scattered further inside. There were crates piled high and narrow walkways between them, perfect for ambushes.
'Too many enemies upfront. The smarter move would be to thin their numbers first.' he mused to himself.
The key was to take out the guards on the periter without alerting the others.
Asher pulled out his knife, his fingers running over the dark blade.
It had a matte finish, designed to avoid reflecting light in the darkness.. The grip felt steady in his hand, the weight balanced just right.
With the blade in hand, he moved deeper into the crates, using the darkness to his advantage.
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