The bandit was running to give news to his boss about the incident, he was one of the men that Altair escaped with from prison, and also one of his men. but was also a spy for the true leader of the group.

Since the beginning, Altair was just a scapegoat, a distraction for people while the real ones who hold the power were getting rich. He was chosen by the Leader as a pawn.

He needed to give the report to him right away, a devastating weapon was used against them, and completely eliminated their band of thieves.

“The boss told me to report anything suspicious like ths.” he thought, as he reached the gates of Lersche. Two guard were currently guarding the gate, one was familiar while the other seems to be a new recruit.

“Halt, who goes there.” the guard asked

“Let him though Jarlmond.” the older of the two said, which the younger man obliged.

After the man has been a few feet away.

“That guy works for the Subterrano, we wouldn’t live tomorrow if we tried to stop him.” the older man said.

He hated the idea of letting a criminal to his beloved city, but who was he anyways? Jarlmond was just a young man, and was just a new recruit to the town’s guard. And didn’t hold any power.

“That’s just wrong…” was the only thing he said. Sulking about his uselessness.

“...Don’t let it get to you too much, who knows how many spies are around us right now. Just let it be, and don’t try to be a hero, because heroes have power, and we don’t have power.” The old man retorted.

They just watched the bandit from behind.

‘that young guard is dangerous, I must tell the boss about him too.’ the bandit said to himself.

Reaching the building where the boss was, he was greeted by a familiar man.

“Why it isn’t Mandrak, here to give a report? How’s that Bandit Leader of yours?” the Bulky man asked.

“That’s why I’m here, Altair, and most of the group are dead or captured.” he answered.

The Bulky man was wide eyed. And quickly ran with Mandrak to the boss’ room. He knocked the door and it was opened by the one of the boss’ personal guard.

“The boss is busy Leandro…” he said

“Just let him in, he wouldn’t have knocked like that if it wasn’t an emergency.” the man inside shouted.

He let the the men in, inside was an a middle aged man, around 40 years of age and had a balding head. He wore a bath robe made of the finest silk and was in the bed with two women by his side, they were the daughters of men who had debts and didn’t pay in time.

“Ah, Mandrak! You’re a bit early this week, did something happened?” the boss said.

“Sorry boss, Altair and most of the band are dead, a few captured.”

“What? How could that be? Only that blasted Captain Valen and his men were in that area, they couldn’t have been the ones to attack you right? How did that happen!”

“We were attacking Traveling merchants and killed their guards, but one of the Army’s soldiers passed by and saw us, so some of the men chased him. They came upon a house in the Valark Meadows, where the Captain and his men were camped out around It’s walls on. It was the first time I saw a house there. The Captain and his men were trapped inside the house and we attacked it but suddenly there was explosions every where and most of the men died from that, then a few other men suddenly had their heads exploded and died in the spot. I quickly ran to a hill and stayed on top of a tree where I watched as the few remaining men either killed, escaped or captured. I ran as quickly as I can afterwards.” he explained.

Explosions? He’s only heard that a few mages with sound magic can decimate a army like that, but none of the mages he knows are in the province. Was there an error? The only mage that the Captain had was a female cleric, she couldn’t have killed them right? He was thinking about it, what could have decimated the bandit group? That was on his mind.

“Okay Mandrak, for now, go find a new potential bandit leader.” the Boss then said.

“There was also another matter that I was going to say boss.”

“What!”

“Well… there was that new guard at the gates earlier, I think he’s dangerous.” he said.

“Hah! Young men have hot blood, just leave them be, they will all cool down after a few months, if not we could ask some of our contacts in the army to have him be recruited to the front lines. If there is nothing else, go.”

The men then got out of the room.

“Vasil, kindly take these girls to their rooms and lock the door, I need to do something.” he then said.

He was now alone in the room, of so other would’ve thought.

“Kyura, come out.” he said.

Suddenly a woman wearing a black ninja suit suddenly showed up beside his bed.

“Things look interesting right, mr. Leader?” she said mockingly.

“Stop dilly dallying, the Governor needs to know about this, his bandit ‘distraction’ was just eliminated, go tell him now Kyura.” he ordered.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go, how about Mandrak, what do you want me to do with him.” she asked.

“Just leave him be, let pawns be pawns, we could just have another man replace him if he fails in finding a new Bandit Leader.” he answered.

The female ninja then disappeared and he was finally left alone in his room.

Was there and error in his calculation? He knew that the bandits would’ve engaged the Captain and his company, and knew that the bandit’s would’ve won because of their superior numbers, but something just didn’t add up.

Was there someone or something he didn’t know? He could just speculate. Maybe there was something in that house in the meadows, some kind of magical weapon, or a mage? He didn’t know, but he knew that it was a problem. There was a knock on his door, and Vasil came in.

“Mi lord.” Vasil said

“Vasil, I want you to personally go to that house in the meadows, I want to know who or what is there that was able to destroy those bandits.” he ordered, Vasil then bowed and went out.

‘The governor wasn’t going to be happy to hear this’

The governor was currently inside his room, reading reports from his spies that were delivered by his most trusted aides.

“Looks like Valen sent a messenger to Captain Ishvala of Stromwind Company, the bandits are going to have a hard time then if they come help Captain Valen.” he said to himself

He hated Captain Valen, he was a dangerous man. He was one of the men who he couldn’t control. He hated him since he was sent here.

The governor was a noble from Aldrain, since the kingdom was formed, their family were already nobles of the Province, but due to the kingdoms reforms in stripping the nobles from positions of power, noble families, including his has felt the damage.

After his family was stripped of the title of Baron of the province, he made his way back up to claim the position of Governor, which he still holds up until now.

“Master, I have an emergency to report.” a female rouge said as she suddenly appeared beside him.

It’s was just Kyura, his best rouge, she and her family were rouges that served the governor’s family since the olden days. They were almost disbanded by the king, because of the king’s policy of removing private armies and groups controlled by Nobles. The only reason for them not being disbanded was because they were only known inside the inner circle of the family.

“Kyura, what is it now?”

“Well I would like to report that the Bandits were just eliminated, only a few have survived and some captured.”

He was stunned, how could that measly company destroy that bandit group?

“what the fuck happened? Tell me Kyura.” he asked

Kyura then detailed the report said by Mandrak.

He was shocked, he never heard of anyone who made a house in that area. And something that they found there was able to destroy the bandits, he needed to be careful for anything.

“You are dismissed then Kyura.” he said

Kyura then wrapped her arms around the Governor and kissed his cheek.

“C’mon Suna, cheer up, we can still manage to get the Captain killed. Nothing can stop us now from reclaiming the family’s power.” she the exclaimed.

To him she was the most beautiful girl, he has loved him since they were children, but he can’t marry someone of her status. She was a subordinate, and she was only half human. He then kissed her back in the lips and she started to undress, her tail then poked out and he started stroking the tail.

“...Nyaahn!!” she said, she was now aroused.

“Kyura, I love you, and if I am able to get more power, I will become the next head of the family. My Eldest brother is in the front-lines and I plan on getting him killed when he comes back to claim his right to be the head. And no one will question me for choosing you as my wife.” he said while caressing the half human, half cat-woman that was with him.

The rogue was elated, she really wanted to be his wife, and he her husband. But for that to work, Suna needed to become the head of the house. His father was already old and bedridden, and has paid one of the nurses that take care of him to slowly poison his meals, and as such, his health has steadily declined.

“i’ve heard the your father is now slowly dying, one of my sisters said that he was coughing blood last week.” she said

“Well that’s just how the poison works, I don’t know what its called, but it looks harmless, and he doesn’t even notice a thing.” he said as he laid on top of her and they enjoyed their night away.