I sat in the new steam engine car, not feeling the bump or jerking motions of the old steam engine carriages. It felt wonderfully smooth.

Nancy passed over a file. She looked a tad bit hesitant about something but I ignored it. When didn’t she feel overwhelmed by her job?

I flipped the file open and studied the pictures and corresponding documents behind them. These were all photos of women that came from humble backgrounds but with film actress looks. I studied them for a while before picking out three due to the location of where the former victims were found.

To me, it seemed the guy was bragging about his victory over the police force. This had a kind of psychological effect called inferiority complex but there were a lot of dogs with similar issues. It would be hard to point out one or two people who were just this dog shit. Plust this guy couldn’t have been just any old sinner, he had to be a young fellow.

Probably someone that awakened his power in the slums and was often shunned by these pretty girls. Kids could be devastatingly fuck up.

I passed the three photos to Nancy.

“How is your project coming along? Last I heard from you was that you managed to create something new but not what it is or could do.”

Nancy shifted awkwardly as she slid the three photos into a different part of her briefcase.

“I had some failures.”

She spoke in concise sentences to illustrate her mysterious project. I could only let it go, it didn’t tug at my heart strings enough to make me curious. She isn’t at a high enough level where I would jump with joy if she worked on a project secretly.

“There is a gala coming up soon, yes? I think winter gala or ball. Have Jeanne go out and purchase a few formal dresses.” I opened the door and put my leg out when I added on, “Let her hang out as long as she wants.”

I climbed out of the car and was immediately buffeted by the cold breath of November. I stared at my mansion, looking at the greenery that climbed up the beautiful red bricks beside the white marble front entrances.

My ancestors really knew how to live in luxury.

I took several steps forward when the phone rang. I paused on my ninth step and flipped it open.

Mission Objective: Tracy Nixon of the Nixon’s oil refinery, requested protections for the duration of two weeks.

Mission Reward: One Million and Hundred-Twenty thousand credits

Mission Difficulty: Rated A

Tsk, why would they send me such a lousy missision? Who would want to protect some fat joker for two weeks? That’s two weeks of listening to his nonsense while watching him slobber on his pretty secretary like he was handsome.

Sickening..

I tapped accept and got the mission details. I headed inside and got one of the servants to prepare ten knights and the airship.

Cough, it’s a million credits. Even though they couldn’t do much for me now. It will come in handy sooner or later, just depends on the situation. Plus credits could be interchanged for any country currency one to ten ratio, one currency dollar to ten credits.

It might not have been a fair exchange but it is still great. Missions were aplenty, so one couldn’t necessarily complain.

***

I sat on the airship, shuffling a deck of cards. Something my butler bought off the underworld market. They were ingenious designs of mother and child. The Mother were called Aces and the child cards were everything under Aces, kings, queens, knights, then two through ten.

The Aces could be placed in specific locations and the child's cards depending on their numbers or title could take you directly to the Aces. However, title cards had a distance and number of usage allotment whole numbers detailing how many people could go through that card. Titles were single person.

I felt the ship land, I jumped up and walked towards the ramp. I felt like my choice was not the brightest when the ramp lowered and the gush of November air rushed in like kids being told the parents had presents.

I tapped my cane and a thin red film covered me from head to toe, casting me in warm embrace.

Much, much better.

Me and my knights walked off the airship to take a gander at our employer waiting in his steam carriage. If the guy was a sack of shit, he wouldn’t even get out. If he was worth working with, he would face the cold even if his belly protrude out more than pregnant women near the end term.

As I guess, he didn’t get out but a man of average height did. He bundled up in his brown overcoat and rushed towards us.

“We brought carriages to pick you up and they have been heating while awaiting your coming. Please, come and get out of this blasted weather.” he spoke fast and without manners but I let it slide due to the cold not being the friend of mankind.

I motioned for my men to load up first before climbing into one myself. The ride was every bit as bumpy and hard on the bottom as I remember. Even though the roads were flat and had very few cracks, the wheels still felt like it was slamming into boulders instead of little crevices.

I enjoyed the view of farmland as we rolled to a countryside manor. To be honest, it looked slightly bigger than mine but that could have been due to the fact, I lived in the capital and this slum sucker lived in a vast country-side.

I can say with certainty that my own country-side mansion is ten times larger with full staff and knights to garrison. We could withstand a siege for a year without any problems.

Here, haha, I already noticed as we pulled up, that the guards were sparse with the workers looking like they would die of hypothermia as they groom the land. What kind of man didn’t even provide his housekeepers with proper gear to fend of the weather?

This is the mark between a man of lesser birth and a great man. I couldn’t help the pride that filled my chest like a water balloon.

I got down from the curse old model and walked around to get the feeling back into my legs. It has only been a week in the new model and I could very well say with a pleased smile, that I am spoiled. Hahaha, spoiled!

The fat scumlord alighted from his carriage, I was sure it rocked a little as he got his fat tub out of it. He didn’t speak much but hurried into his home like winter was coming for him.

My knights looked at me with a mixture of teasingly proud looks. I could positively say they were comparing us and I came out on top.

The knight Captain, Clay, walked over to me with his long legs. Inhumanely tall, I think he was measured at six foot four last check up. Abnormal considering his parents were midgets compared to him.

Ah, how dare the heavens create such monstrosities.

“My lord, do you want us to scout the surroundings? Establish patrol route or..” he left the rest unsaid, awaiting for my instructions that might go counter to his training.

I glanced around and thought about it for a second. His rival is from another kingdom but to kill this fat lard of shat, they would higher a team of assassins that they have faith in. That being said, if I had to attack someone with nearly fifty guards with thirty round rifles, I would attack during the night.

I would first scout out all the entrances and look for the tunnel that definitely goes under the mansion and into the center of the house. My guess, his library and bedroom, would be two of the main entry points to this tunnel. As for the exit..

I glanced around the relative flat landscape and realized you could make out a small village not far away. It’s like looking at a blurry mirage but it’s there.

I pulled out my binoculars and took a closer look.

My exit point would be a house in that village. Probably owned by a guard with two more surrounding it. This is if the guy is smart, if he is dumb, then there is a river town to the west of us. I remember there being a small forest in between these two points.

“Take a carriage and head to that village. Take a look around, see if there's any empty homes available. If so, buy it, also,” I pointed in the opposite direction. “Send a group that way and check out the rivertown. Buy some supplies.”

Clay bowed and split his team into five before jacking two carriages. I shook my head and made my way in to see the man from before sitting in the foyer with a group of other people I took as comrades on this very crappy mission.

Most of them wore a mask or something to cover their face. The only two who did not, were women. With one I could feel an oppressive type of energy, while the other I felt could easily be killed by me.

However, upon thinking about it. The one with oppressive force actually resembles an FSB agent that I saw in a file recently. A very strong agent with an impressive record. Comes from a small town that was set aflame by some kind of otherworlder feud. She lived with her aunt until she joined the Agency and racked up records that put her on the radar of all major families as potential partners.

“I am the Steward of Mr. Nixon’s household, Steward Stanton. I will be available to handle your needs and requests during this two week journey. As for your lodging, due to the circumstances. Mr. Nixon’s immediate family members are living under this one roof. Thus we have to apologize for making you sleep in the troops barracks.”

Two people stood up and walked out immediately. The Steward forced a smile and gestured for us to follow him.

The barracks look like it could protect you from the weather, a concrete building of two stories. Looks like it has room for hundred to hundred and fifty men. However, upon walking in, the first thing you notice is a wide foyer, then two branches of doors. Peaking your head into one door, showcased a line of double stacked beds.

The cheap kind that is held together by metal. I would never make my knights sleep in such a low quality environment.

“The second floor is where the officers sleep and it has more private rooms.” Steward spoke as if this is a big concession.

The second floor looked to be better but it still wasn’t better by much. The rooms might have had walls and a single bed but it is kind of small, tight fit. The bathroom had a row of toilets and the shower is an open area basically.

The Steward walked up to the window in the center of the building. I assumed the lounging area is for the officer due to the furniture and tv stand. He pointed at a smaller building behind this one.

“That’s the dining hall. If you have any questions, please ask them now.”

Steward rubbed his hands as if they were cold but I could tell he was hiding this nervous tick. The corner of his eyes were twitching like they wanted to close but he was fighting it.

The weak maskless woman decided to be the first to put out a question.

“You expect us women to live in the same area as these men? Use the same bathroom and shower? Does your employer not want to live that bad?” she sounded all kinds of angry.

The steward laughed nervously, “It’s not that we don’t want your protection. It is simply that Mr. Nixon must also cater to members of his family who are successful. They all put in the money to hire a team to protect them. Sadly, they also have a mindset that is not progressive thus we must ask for your forgiveness for the wrong we have done you.”

He bowed his head for a minute before awaiting our judgement. The mask men didn’t care much about the conditions, I noted a variety of enchantments on their bodies.

The FSB agent likewise had artifacts that regulated temperature along with ones that probably provide a high level of comfort.

Ignoring this, everyone else's dressing style compared to the outspoken woman happened to be at a higher level. When they walked off and picked a room, they began cleaning it out.

The woman could say nothing more, though her face held disappointment as she looked at the FSB agent who was the first to pick out her room. I grabbed the one beside her as I am interested in getting to know someone who is capable of being the face of the Agency.

By the time the sun fell and the moon rose into the sky, Clay came back to tell me the task I assigned was done.

I tossed folders and turned to him while ignoring the complaints of those trying to goad me into losing my wealth.

“Split the group, five in the village, five in the rivertown. Oh,” I pulled out the ace of spade and diamond and passed it to him. “Place these in the living room. They will allow us to retreat or attack easier. I’ll stay here and keep a lookout. Okay, you got your task.”

Clay bowed and left. I turned to the guys who were looking at me with fierce looks.

“What, they are artifacts. Surely, you don’t think I cheated you with artifacts costing more than the wealth here combined?” I raised my eyebrow as I spread my hands out in a, what can you do, gesture.

The big man opposite of me shifted his hand into his pocket.

“How do you expect us to believe that?” he growled.

I chuckled, launching out of the chair over the table. He jumped up to catch a knee to the chin, sitting right back down. I rain down punches into his fat face until someone else swung at me.

I threw myself out of the chair and came up leaning against the wall. I crossed my feet and took out a pipe like I was about to light it.

Both men who were going to attack me paused and grunted. Taking their money and walking away. I turned to the FSB agent watching us with an unamused look.

“You did cheat.”

I raised an eyebrow as I tugged off the mask and pocket it, then lit up the pipe.

Her eyes widen upon seeing my face. I guess she had a record of all the heads of the major families.

“How did you catch me cheating?” I asked, then took a puff.

She sidestep the animal shaped white smoke and I force down a laugh.

“You use the arcane to mark the cards.”

I rolled my eyes, “You are wrong. I used my greater perception ability to pick up the tails of each man. The cards are old and probably have been used a lot. The owner has a nervous tick to rub the card closest to his thumb and index. He does it if it's a good hand, if it's a bad hand then he constantly opens and closes the cards as if he is trying to punk someone.”

I walked off feeling disappointed.

Cough, I ran back and collected my winnings before walking off again.