Middle West City

On the next day, Assassin visited Smith very early in morning, as he imagined there was nobody there except the older man. He entered in his shop and saw the old man grumping.

"Hmmm… I suspected that you were going to rest a bit more before going to your next mission," Smith said more to himself than to the young boy.

"I can't rest when I have a mission to do," Assassin said as he followed Smith to his storage.

The older man sighed, "So you are stubborn… Very well…" he then tossed a small glass to Assassin, "When you have time put this potion on the areas that are injured, it will help you to heal faster…"

Assassin nodded and put the glass on his pocket on the back.

"Can you tell me about the mission?"

"Yes… you will travel to Middle West City," Smith pointed to a map that was on the wall, Assassin got to close to the map and look.

"Our spies have confirmed that something very strange in that city is happening. Non-humans have being kidnapped." The older man said as he cracked his own neck, "We don't know who the master mind is or what he is doing with them. We want you to go to this city investigate."

"Shouldn't the soldiers of the city solve this kind of the mystery?"

"The kingdom is not really concerned about what is happening to non-humans, they sent only one soldier to investigate and his report is that is just some casualties."

"I see… Any clue where I should start my investigation?" Assassin said turning to Smith.

"You should investigate the soldier responsible for the investigation. We believe that he knows more that he is telling. Investigate him. Our spies have also discovered that he uses mercenaries, we found one that helped, a Rogue Rhea that lives in the city." Smith took out from his pocket a white feather, "After killing your target you must stained this feather with the blood so that we know that your job is complete."

Assassin had bowed his head in assent and left the old man. And the very next day he had gathered his supplies and set off to his new destination. He took a wagon with a man who was going to the Middle West City, to do some trades. As he travelled to his next destination, he started to think about the city that his was going.

Middle West City was a city wounded by war. Five years ago, the city was attacked by the Demon Lord's personal army. It was a prolonged and bloody battle to expel the invaders. The city was only able to withstand thanks to a group of noble adventurers. Those adventures a few months later would fight against the Demon Lord and kill it. They say that there still holes in the walls of the city thanks to the war.

Two days later, Assassin could see from the wagon imposing gates of Middle West City, they have arrived. He cast his gaze up to the surrounding wall and its ramparts. He could hear the life inside. It was as though the stone hummed with it.

"Well, boy, we finally arrived!" The owner of the wagon said as they passed through the gates of the city.

"That's great… The city seems to be well livid." Said Assassin.

"You can say that. This city, is a great place if you want to profit," He said remembering that he came to this city many times, "is there a place there I should leave you? Perhaps this city guild?"

"I will drop whenever you stop," The young adventurer said taking one final look at his equipment.

As soon as the wagon stopped, Assassin dropped the wagon and gave his goodbye to the man of the wagon. He decided as first act in this new city was to know more about the city. He kept his head down and started to move fast but carefully through the streets, reaching a tower. He cast a swift look around before leaping to a sill, pulling himself up, finding more handholds in the hot stone and climbing higher and higher. Then he was at the very tip of the tower and there he squatted. A bird of prey high above the city, looking around himself, seeing the towers and pointed temples that interrupted an uneven sea of rooftops. He saw marketplaces, courtyards and shrines, as well as the location where the rhea lived.

A sense of exaltation passed through him. Being in a new city with a mission with none one beside him… He scanned the canopies and rooftops, looking for a soft landing, then saw a hay cart. Fixing his eyes on it, taking deep breaths, he stood, feeling the breeze, hearing bells. Then he took a step forward, tumbling gracefully and hitting his target.

'I thought it would be softer…' He thought after landing at the hay, 'At least is safer then landing on a canopy…'

He listened, waiting until the street was quieter, then scrambled from the cart and began his investigations about the city. After a brief walk around the city, Assassin could see that people of this city still suffered by its recent history. A city whose residents knew suffering all too well, whose eyes hid sorrow and whose shoulders were stooped with sadness. There are too many poor citizens sleeping on the street and diseases spreading thanks to the war… But even so, traders came to this city to make business. Somehow this city became the epicenter of the region to trade.

One more thing that he learned was that the city was divided in two districts one for humans and one for non-humans. It was obvious that part of the human side was better treated than the other part where was bordered on all sides by buildings of mud and timber. Thinking that he has seen enough he decided to go after the rhea.

The information that he received said that Rogue Rhea lived in an apartment close to the guild of the city. As he made his way to the guild, he started thinking about his contract and his target. The obvious hypothesis was that a human was responsible for this and that his was hiring mercenaries so that in the non-humans district they wouldn't suspect it since their first suspect would human that walk around that district… but even… so… if that was the case… why?

His questions would be left for later, since now he would have to deal with a rhea. He was standing in front of his apartment, he looked around and waited for the moment when the streets were more empty. And then…

Knock* Knock*

A few seconds later, a rhea wearing a black scarf, a white t-shirt and black pants opened the door. He was small but Assassin could see that he knew how to care of himself. The rhea looked in a very bad moon, he raised one eyebrow and looked at the eyes at the Assassin.

"What do you want?" Rogue Rhea asked annoyed.

"Tell me what you know about the kidnaps of non-humans?" Assassin asked with a serious voice.

"I don't know nothing about-" Before he could finish Assassin punched in his guts.

Assassin glanced behind him making sure there were no witnesses, then took a quick step forward, grasped the rhea by the shoulder, tossed him on the ground of the apartment.

Rogue Rhea slowly got up, gasping for breath, his mouth working like that of a grounded fish and looking the taller man closing the door. Assassin then stepped forward, pivoted on one foot and kicked the rhea in the throat.

He fell back messily, his thawb twisted around his legs. Now his hands went to where Assassin had kicked him and he rolled in the ground. Assassin moved forward and stepped the rhea's head.

"Let's try this again!" Assassin said serious and very intimidating. "Tell me about the kidnaps of non-humans that you participated!"

"Okay, okay! I'm starting to remember some things," groaned the rhea shaking his hands for him to stop, "you stop hitting me and I will talk."

"Someone with brown hood hired me, he marks a location and we kidnap a non-human! It doesn't matter if I tell you where we left the victim, he changed where he lived. I know that because I tried to go yesterday to the place where we left the half-elf and there was no one there."

"A pity. If you only have this to say to me, there's no reason to let you live if you've nothing to offer in return."

"Wait. Wait." The rhea held up a trembling hand. "There is one thing…"

"Continue."

"He is… not normal… first by his smell his not human… and I looked inside before we delivered the half-elf… there were marks all over the place… marks of a ritual… I don't know much… but those symbols, I-I think I saw that symbol once on a gate scroll."

'A gate spell?' Assassin thought surprised, 'A gate spell it's a very hard spell to be able to perform. A scroll gate is limited to one person but if someone can perform… depending the person you can even bring a small army."

"Is that all?" he asked.

"Yes. Yes. I've told you everything I know."

"Then it's time for you to rest." Assassin said.

"No, I'm innocent," began Rogue Rhea, but Assassin released his blade then drove it through the rhea's sternum. The rhea wasn't able to do anything anymore, as blood foamed from the corners of his mouth and his eyes glazed. A quick death. A clean death.

Assassin reached to close his eyes and then stood.

"Someone who lives by kidnapping other individuals is hardly innocent, may your soul rest in peace," He said as his blade slid back into place, then he turned and left the apartment.

Next step was the guard, trying to gain as little attention as he could; he decided to make his way through the roof. He jumped from roof to roof until he arrived at the center of the city which, according to the Smith, he could find the guard. He crouched for a moment and waited until he saw a soldier's uniform. He activated his eagle vision and found it was the guard responsible for the investigation. He dropped in an alley that was empty and walked to the guard.

"Excuse me," Assassin said as he walked in the direction of the guard.

"GAAAAH! Get away from me!" The soldier shouted as soon as he saw Assassin.

The assassin was surprised as he saw the guard heading towards one of the narrow streets that led off the square and started running after him. Seeing him chasing after, the guard doubled his pace, but Assassin managed to keep him in sight and ran after him, catching up with him at last and collaring him as he was about to enter a tall building.

"Please, I did just as you said! I didn't tell anyone!" The guard pleaded showing his empty hands.

"What are you talking about?" Assassin asked trying not to sound surprised.

"You work with the guy with a hood don't you?" The guard asked confused.

"Tell me what you know?" Assassin asked impatience.

"I don't know about him, I was conducting my investigations when his mercenaries attacked me, he said that he would let me live, if the guards of the city didn't patrol this area!" The guard said in panic.

"What area?" Assassin asked impatience.

"Here is the location!" Guard gave him a paper with the location and with that he released the guard.

The young man looked at the paper before putting in his pocket… He didn't like where this going. Whoever he was dealing was someone dangerous. He needed to be stopped. Quickly. He made his way to the rooftops and set off at a jog, barely pausing for the leap to the next building. The sun was almost setting he needed to be in position or else… one more innocent would die.

Elsewhere in the city.

"So… you guys are ready to go?" A hooded person asked folding his arms.

"Yes. As you asked, we just need to take a non-human person, is that correct?" The shorter individual asked.

The hooded person nodded before handing the bag of gold to the duo and dispatching them. He closed the door and smirked.

'My training is almost complete… soon my masters… your vision… our chaos will be reborn…' He thought as he looked at a magic circle drawn in the floor, 'I mean a city invaded by goblins should be a great entertainment.'

NOTE: Thank you for the reviews and your opinions about the Harem and yes, GS will have increase his equipment change his robes but that's something that will be revealed in the future.