#Location 23rd Street, Atlas City.


    Under the clear night sky, the city was silent. No sound could be heard in the ever-bustling streets and market. The busy day was coming to an end with people preparing to head back to their homes.


    In the heart of the city stood a building, an edifice of medieval grandeur. It was not the grandest nor the most well-lit, but it had a peculiar aura that set it apart.


    It was a place where deals were struck and futures bought and sold. This was the abode of the Riven hands, the infamous money sharks that had woven themselves into the very fabric of Atlas City. The building had a stoic facade, its stones worn by the hands of time, yet the windows glinted with a sharpness that suggested hidden dangers lurking within.


    On the second floor, three men could be found sitting in an office.


    The first was the youngest, Luke his eyes gleaming with ambition and greed. His dark hair was slicked back, and he had the sharp features of a predator, a trait that served him well in his line of work. He was the newest member of the Riven Hands, eager to prove himself.


    The second man, Markus, was middle-aged with a thick beard that had begun to gray. His eyes held a world-weariness that spoke of a life of hard choices and calculated risks. He had been with the Riven Hands for more than a decade and was known for his unyielding negotiation tactics. The lines on his face were a roadmap of his rise to power within the city.


    At the other end of the table sat a man who looked fairly young, yet the wisdom of time couldn''t be hidden in his eyes. He was Kaiser, the leader of Riven Hands and an awakened.


    "So, our money collection has suddenly started to rise and both of you didn''t find it important enough to tell me."


    Kaiser asked with narrowed eyes, his hands tapping the table in a systematic rhythm raising the tension in the room.


    Luke looked at Markus for a moment before saying.


    "But isn''t it a good thing, we are getting our money back much earlier? So, I thought it was a normal thing to happen."


    Markus sighed upon hearing this and nodded. "Yes, it would have been a good thing if the money came from mundane people... but the money is not coming from them."


    Luke frowned in confusion, as he looked at Kaiser for clarification.


    "The money we are getting now is from awakeners, and people like them are not eager to pay back. It means someone has been going to them and collecting money with force just like we do."


    The room grew tense as Kaiser''s voice grew colder, and his eyes sharper.


    "But if someone is doing that why are we getting paid back, why don''t they keep it to themselves."


    Luke muttered understanding the issue now.


    "Who is the one that took these commissions?" Kaiser asked, his tone filled with curiosity.


    Markus thought for a moment before answering.


    "Seeing the sudden raise, I have been investigating it and found out a single person has been taking commission since last week."


    Markus spoke up, his voice heavy with the weight of his findings. He pulled out a scroll from his pocket and unfurled it on the table, revealing a list of names with figures next to them.


    "Albert, he is the one that took these commissions and in no more than two days he also brought the money back."


    Luke tilted his head in confusion at this news, meanwhile Kaiser raised an eyebrow.


    "Albert, the one whose sister went missing, correct."


    Kaiser spoke, his mind racing through the implications. The silence grew heavier as the significance of the name dawned on Luke.


    "Ah, that guy but isn''t he is a mundane person? How did he collect money from the awakeners then?"


    "That''s the question we have been asking genius."


    Markus replied with a hint of sarcasm, his eyes never leaving the scroll.


    At that moment a chilly air entered the room hitting them in the face, they all turned to look at the open window.


    "How did this window open?" Luke muttered as he went to close it, after making sure he locked it he once again sat on his seat.


    "Anyway, go investigate in detail where this money is coming from. I don''t feel well knowing someone could potentially take over our connections."


    Kaiser said as he leaned back on his chair.


    Luke and Marcus went silent as they both looked down giving no response, Kaiser seeing this frowned.


    "Was I not clear enough?"


    Leaning forward toward them he tapped Luke in hand.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Luke who had been facing down suddenly collapsed over Markus as they both fell on the ground, their eyes bleeding.


    "What—!"


    Before Kaiser could have shouted he found himself pressed on his seat and a hand covering his mouth.


    "Don''t move."


    Hearing a voice coming from the back a chill ran down his spine as his eyes widened in fear.


    "If you try to open your mouth, your death will be painful. Blink twice if you understand."


    Kaiser''s heart raced, but he managed to control his panic and blinked twice, feeling the cold hand gripping his neck from behind tighten slightly in response. He knew that any sudden movement could mean his end. The figure remained in the shadows, but Kaiser could feel their presence now.


    "Good, tell me where you keep all the money and documents. I will let you live if you tell the truth."


    The voice was cold and calm, a stark contrast to the chaos that had suddenly enveloped the room. Kaiser''s mind raced, trying to figure out who this intruder could be, but his eyes remained glued to the wall in front of him, unable to make out any details of the shadowy figure.


    "Why are you here?" Kaiser managed to murmur through the hand that muffled his voice.


    "Does it matter more than your life?"


    The cold voice echoed in the room, sending shivers down Kaiser''s spine. He felt the hand tighten around his neck slightly, a silent threat that sent a message loud and clear.


    "Behind the painting is a safe, its key is around my neck"


    As Kaiser said these words he found his heart beating faster than ever, warmth spreading through him as his face turned red. Before he could say anything else he collapsed on the table his eyes and ears bleeding just like the other two.


    All three of them had died.


    Seeing all of them dead, I sighed in relief removing my mask and walked over to the door to close it.


    "So nerve-racking to talk in a heavy voice," I mumbled reaching for the key, wrapped in a thread around his neck.


    I turned to the painting, depicting the city in its former glory. It swung open revealing a safe, the metal gleaming under the moonlight seeping through the window. I inserted the key and turned it with a smooth click.


    Inside the safe were bundles of money and gold coins, along with many documents safely sealed.


    "I am rich."


    I whispered to myself as I filled my storage bracelet with the gold and documents. The sound of paper rustling and coins clinking seemed too loud in the quiet room.


    The three bodies lay motionless. They should not be found till morning hopefully. If I had targeted this place only, I would have killed everyone but my targets are the big shots of the city tonight. Wasting my origin reserves will be a bad move.


    ''And I don’t want to kill too many... not yet.''


    With a sigh, I again equipped the mask of Panoply.


    It was a weird sensation to wear this and describing it was hard. Sometimes I felt nothing while at other times a tingling sensation spread throughout my face.


    If I don''t reject it every single moment a burning sensation and weakness come over me. Overall this artifact was not for a weak mind.


    Walking toward the window I gave a glance toward the dead bodies, as I had promised they died without too much pain.


    Jumping out of the window I stood mid-air and closed it quickly.


    I had to be quick, my presence here was risky and the longer I stayed the higher the chance of getting caught.


    Using the sky as my stairs I jumped over the rooftop of a building and looked at the city.


    "So... quiet."


    The voice was a whisper in the night, yet it echoed through the silent streets of Atlas City.


    I jumped mid-air once again heading for my next target.


    ******


    In an alleyway, a drunk man could be seen walking with a woman in his arms.


    The woman''s face looked pale and tired, yet she didn''t seem to be resisting the man''s grasp. She had accepted her fate.


    "I will make sure you have a good time tonight." The man laughed while saying, his grip tightening on her waist.


    The woman flinched, her legs started shaking with fear but she didn''t run. Her family life depends upon it.


    Suddenly the man stopped turning his head he looked back, following his lead she also turned her head to look back.


    In the alley above the small stairs stood a figure shrouded in shadows. Taking a step forward he moves towards them.


    His face was hidden behind a white faceless mask and a cloak covering his body, the figure from the shadows descended the stairs with a grace that seemed unnatural in the grimy alley. The drunk man felt a shiver run down his spine, a sense of dread he couldn''t explain, and he froze.


    She felt the tension in the air rise due to this mysterious figure, the man grabbing her frowned as he suddenly started laughing.


    "What is this clown doing? A late-night show?"


    The drunk man''s voice broke the silence, his laughter echoing off the alley walls. The woman looked at the figure with hope in her eyes, the tension in her body unwinding slightly.


    Seeing the masked figure not moving, the man shouted.


    "Hey, fucker leave! I don''t have money for the likes of you."


    Seeing the figure not moving, the man conjured a ball of fire in his hands and shot it forward with a grin.


    Then it happened– Bright flames covered the alley as a loud noise echoed due to the blast.


    "Kyaaa!"


    The woman covered her ears as she shouted at the sudden turn of events in fear.


    The figure in the mask didn''t flinch before the conjured fire could hit him, he moved at a surreal speed moving past the alley, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.


    The man eyes widened as he threw the woman on the ground and tried to attack the masked figure.


    Behind the mask, I grinned. Before the man could strike me. My palm connected with his chest sending him flying back. He smacked into the alley wall with a thud, his eyes wide with shock as the wind was knocked out of him.


    Now that the woman was out of the way, I didn''t hold back anymore.


    Without wasting any time I was again near him using ''Kairosflow''.


    As an experienced awakened the man also didn''t wait, as soon as he opened his eyes, he got ready to throw another ball of fire.


    But that was a mistake.


    Not expecting me to come near him so soon, he flinched. The ball of flame remained over his hand, as he pointed it in my direction, I caught his wrist and turned it toward his face.


    Boom—!


    The alley was momentarily engulfed in flames as the fireball exploded right in the drunk man''s face. His screams of pain pierced the night as he stumbled back, his hair and clothes ablaze. The woman on the ground looked up in horror, her eyes wide with shock.


    Confirming the man was dead I searched his pocket, looking for any money I could find.


    After a rigorous search, I finally found his wallet.


    Holding it in my palm, it felt warm and a bit burned due to the flames, tossing it over to the woman I got ready to walk past her.


    "Here, you should go home now."


    I whispered to the trembling woman, tossing the burned wallet in her direction. She caught it with shaking hands, looking up at me with a mix of fear and confusion.


    "Who– Who are you?"


    The woman''s voice was barely audible, choked with fear and a hint of hope. She stared at the masked figure, her eyes wide with disbelief at what had just transpired.


    I turned around to face her with a bit of excitement in my voice I said.


    "For tonight, I am your guardian," I said, my voice muffled by the mask. "Use this to get home safely, and tell no one of what you''ve seen."


    Before she could respond, the mysterious figure vanished.


    The woman looked around, her eyes wide with astonishment and fear. The alley was eerily silent again, the only sound being the distant wails of the city watchmen. The body of her attacker lay a few feet away, his clothes still smoldering.


    She didn''t dare move for a few moments, the heat from the flames still dancing in her vision.