Su Ping was silent for a mont, his gaze drifting around the bar. The morning patrons, mostly night workers ending their shifts or day drinkers beginning theirs, were trying not to stare while staring intently.
It seed the fact that the peace keeper and bar woman coming to personally greet him had attracted their attention.
In a place like this, whenever such a thing happened, the custors believed that it usually preceded either trendous profit for the establishnt or a premonition for violence.
When Su Ping finally spoke, his voice carried through the suddenly quiet space, though he hadn't raised it above conversational volu. Yet every word seed to echo in the stillness.
"I need the both of you to get rid of every scummy gang or ruffian in this wretched city."
The silence that followed was stifling. Even the usual background noise of Rose city seed to turn quiet montarily, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
"G-Get rid of every g-gang?" This ti around, the expressions of both humans paled greatly. It took them a while to fully grasp what he'd just said.
Vivian's professional composure cracked for just an instant, her eyes widening fractionally. anwhile, Ranger actually took half a step back, as if physically pushed by the weight of the command.
This wasn't so simple mission or task like running a business or collecting debts. He was basically asking them to challenge the very underworld that ruled a good number of the city from within the shadows. Rose city's criminal ecosystem was complex, ancient, and deeply entrenched, like a hydra with dozens of heads, each more vicious than the last.
The southern, Northern, West and east gangs ruled over everything. Housing several strong mbers capable of frightening even the most fearso of rebels.
And those were just the major players; beneath them flourished dozens of smaller crews, gangs, and independent operators, all interconnected in a web of alliances, betrayals, and carefully maintained territories.
To "get rid" of them wasn't a task, it was a declaration of war against the city's very foundations.
"If you're worried about getting killed, I'd advise you to just lead the way and let her do all the work," Su Ping waved his hands dismissively.
Of course, he knew they were frightened, and he understood that they had reason enough to be. But his expression showed no sympathy, only a serene calm.
'Let do all the work?' The Wolf King's eyes narrowed slightly. She was one who wouldn't shy away from a battle, in truth, she lived for the thrill of combat, for the testing of her limits against worthy opponents.
But the way he was putting it was a tad annoying. To her, it sounded more like he was punishing her rather than giving her a task. As if she were so common enforcer to be pointed at problems.
Yet, even as the thought crossed her mind, she recognized the strategic wisdom behind his words. Him having her work with Ranger ant that he knew a thing or two about the city's underbelly.
its hierarchies, hideouts and maybe even vulnerabilities.
She possessed the power to exploit those vulnerabilities. Together, they ford a perfect instrunt for the kind of sweeping purge Su Ping was demanding.
' Is that why he said I wouldn't be able to know the place even if he told . Was he hinting about why he asked to co in the first place.' the thought suddenly crossed the wolf kings mind making her ponder on it with a hint of amazent.
"Define 'get rid of,'" the Wolf King said after contemplating, her voice cutting through the tension. "Do you an kill? Incapacitate? Or Dismantle? There's a difference between cutting off a hand and tearing out the roots."
Su Ping turned to look at her directly. "I an remove them as factors. Permanently. However you deem most efficient. I don't particularly care about thods, only results. The gangs are a disease on this city, and I'm tired of watching it fester."
' He's really letting act as I please?!'
A slow, dangerous smile spread across the Wolf King's face. It wasn't a pleasant expression, but quite the contrary, the smile of a predator finally unleashed.
"Say no more. Consider it done." She replied amicably.
' Just who the heck is this lady the master brought over.' the poor necromancer felt an ominous chill when he saw that smile of hers.
He swallowed visibly right after. He had seen enough of Su Ping's capabilities to know that refusal wasn't an option.
But the scale of what was being asked... "Master, even with her considerable abilities, the gangs number in the hundreds, possibly thousands. They have eyes everywhere, even lots of resources at their disposal."
" Not to ntion that so of them even possess connections with the city guard and even so noble houses. A direct assault—"
"Who said anything about direct?" Su Ping interrupted. "As a forr gang mber yourself, Ranger. I expect you to already understand their systems, hierarchies and chains of command."
" Unlike you, the only thing she understands is force." He casually pointed at the Wolf King.
" Between the two of you, you should be able to devise sothing more elegant than marching down the street challenging people to open brawls."
He paused,thinking that he might not have been clear enough.
" Listen... I want you both to start with the smaller groups. Think of it as sending a ssage."
" Let the larger organizations see what's coming. I'm sure they won't let such a thing stand and will send so of their forces to deal with you both. But that's what I want. "
" The more they send, the more the both of you can eradicate, and by the ti they realise their blunder, it'll already be too late."
" By then, I'm sure so will flee, while so will try to consolidate power. And others might even co to you both with offers of alliance or surrender."
" That's when I want you to completely eradicate every single one of them." The trio all stared at Su Ping with astonished eyes, not expecting his plan to be so detailed.
' The master mus
t really dislike these guys if he's going so far.' they all thought within their minds.
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