Chapter 4:
A Cornered Rat Bites Back
THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF HALIAN WAS under the rule of the Bazarta Family, one of the two great mafias of the city. The streets were lined with men of an unscrupulous persuasion and shady shops whose wares were kept hidden. On the surface, it was a pleasure district with brothels, gambling clubs, and fighting arenas as its primary draws.
Zig headed for the northern district after he left the armory. He had patronized the brothel several times and gone through the district on his morning runs. The district was popular among the people of Halian. Everyone needed entertainment every once in a while. Some adventurers came every day, satisfying their desires after returning from a dangerous job.
The southern district was notably also a pleasure district, similarly structured albeit with a different feel.
“People sure are up early. Sun hasn’t even set yet.”
Pleasure districts usually started their business at sundown, but it was still quite crowded during the day.
In a dark alley, a man and a woman were arguing with each other over a cheap hotel bill. Some people were leaning against the walls, smoking sticks of something as they laughed with and at each other.
There were no barkers yet, but some of the stores were open.
The sight was familiar to Zig, and crossing a deadly ocean did little to change it. Exchange the adventurers for soldiers and mercenaries, and it would’ve been like he never left.
It went without saying that it wasn’t the safest district by a long shot. Pickpockets eyed potential prey and anyone who failed to be on guard was fair game.
Zig felt grateful for his stature and appearance. His naturally mean-looking mug acted as a repellant against pickpockets and thugs. Though, he still needed to keep his guard up.
He wasn’t there for entertainment—he was looking for someone. A friendly neighborhood mobster he ran into along the way had told him where he could find his person of interest, so he didn’t need to worry about getting lost.
Zig followed the mobster’s directions until he reached a bar. He walked through the parlor doors and looked around. Perhaps it was the time of day, but only one table was occupied. The men seated there were already drinking.
“Huh? Sorry, buddy, but there’s a private party going on tonight.”
One of them shooed Zig away when he noticed him. Judging by his muscular body and violent disposition, he was likely a mobster. Zig paid him no mind and walked toward them.
The man clicked his tongue. He got up in a fit and stood in Zig’s path.
“Listen… I thought I made myself clear, but I’ll say it again because I feel like being nice today. Fuck off.”
He didn’t immediately resort to violence, but his tone made it undeniably clear that they didn’t want Zig here. As far as mobsters went, this one was quite polite.
The mobster motioned for his friends to stay back as they were about to get up from their seats. He looked at Zig, stunned by his size, and raised his eyebrows at his weapon. Finally, he looked into his eyes and decided from his stare that Zig wasn’t someone he wanted to mess with.
He reached for the weapon at his waist and readied himself, signaling to his comrades with his other hand.
“I’m looking for someone,” Zig said. “Heard this is where I can find them.”
“Really? Any luck?”
The other mobsters stood and slowly surrounded Zig.
“Not yet, no.”
“Too bad. You should go look somewhere else.”
“Can’t do that. I haven’t finished with this place.”
“Use your eyes. We’re the only ones here.”
The air was becoming thick with tension. Zig remained unfazed and cast his gaze at the bar. Behind the bartender was a door for employees.
“You have one more person with you. I’d like to see her.”
“Cheeky bastard.”
The man’s expression twisted, and he bared his teeth when he noticed Zig look at the back door. The mobsters were about to become violent. They whipped out knives, daggers, and other hidden weapons as they slowly approached Zig.
“A hit man, huh? Who sent you? Cantarella?”
“Slow down. I’m just here to ask for a favor. Actually, no. I’m here to file a complaint.”
Zig slowly put his hand into his pocket and took out a letter. He didn’t want to escalate the situation.
The man in front of him looked at the letter before taking it in his hand. Seeing the sender, the man sighed, put away his weapon, and scratched his chin.
“Come on,” he said.
“Boss?”
The man regarded as the boss waved to the rest of the mobsters, signaling them to stand down.
“Look, this guy’s a guest. I’ll take care of him, so all of you can go back to drinking.”
“Okay…”
The mobsters seemed disappointed by their enemy suddenly becoming a guest but followed orders nonetheless.
Zig followed the man.
When the man saw the weapon on Zig’s back, he finally put two and two together.
“That’s a weird weapon you got… Hang on, are you the merc who protected the Miss during that whole Aggretia fiasco? You fit Albano’s description.”
“Were you there too?”
“Yeah… Man, you really should’ve led with that,” the man complained as he went behind the bar and unlocked the door to the back. “I didn’t wanna go up against the monster who cut down those drugged up Aggretias while protecting the Miss at the same time.”
Inside was a storage area for alcohol as well as a room which seemed to be the employee quarters.
“Miss, it’s me. Mind if I come in?”
The man knocked on the door, and rustling could be heard from the inside.
“Yeah, door’s unlocked,” came a voice from inside the room.
“Excuse me.” He opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was smaller than Zig’s quarters at the inn, but it was furnished with expensive items, making it feel lopsided and cluttered.
The owner of the room wasn’t very good at keeping it clean. Articles of clothing were strewn across the floor, and cutlery with sauce still stuck on them were on the table. The room could easily be mistaken for a bachelor’s den.
However, the girl inside the room was currently on the bed looking for something, her clothes dangling haphazardly on her body.
“Uhhh, where’d I put my panties?”
“Miss, can’t you just clean up after yourself for once?”
She was the type of person who slept in the nude. Although she was wearing her jacket, she was missing her panties and was currently looking for them under the bed. Her short chestnut brown hair was turned upside down as she hung from the edge of the bed, scanning beneath it.
The jacket draped over her shoulders fell to the floor, revealing her back and small butt.
“Quit being a hard ass… You’ve seen me naked since I was a baby, so why should you care? Oh, there it is!”
Grabbing the piece of cloth, Katia popped her head out from under the bed.
“Wha?”
When she emerged, she noticed that her caretaker wasn’t the only one in the room. Next to him was a stone-faced mercenary whose eyes were glued to Katia’s naked body.
He merely nodded while Katia remained frozen.
“Don’t mind me.” The mercenary was bold in his peeping.
As flustered as the maiden was, she was still a mafia princess. She let out a loud sigh, put on her underwear, and draped her coat over her shoulders.