The Mercenary Slayer Of Holy Knights

As soon as I cross the doors of the City of Pleasures, a notification appeared before my eyes.

「Réputation increased in the City of Pleasures」

The reputation, huh? I hadn't done anything special, but my name was already circulating in the depths of the criminal world.

The city swarmed with life. Illuminated taverns, itinerant merchants selling rare objects, bewitching dancers that attracted looks ... Unlike the city of bandits, where survival dictated the law here, luxury and excess dominated.

I was walking quietly, observing the animation around me.

My system also notified me something else: the effect of my Omni charm cape was in full activation.

Almost all the women I met gave me intrigued looks. Some stopped clean on my way, their slightly reddened cheeks. Others challenged me directly.

"Hey, handsome man, do you want to have a drink with me?"

"If you are looking for a good company for the night, I'm yours ..."

Some even went so far as to come close to me by missing me, their clearly displayed intentions.

This cape ... She is more dangerous than I imagined.

If I did not have a desire to steel, I would have already succumbed to their advances.

But while I was going to ignore yet another approach, my gaze came across a woman different from others.

She stood near a fountain, a cup of wine in hand. Her long black hair cascaded on her shoulders, contrasting with her split dress which revealed a perfect silhouette. His golden eyes shone with malicious intelligence.

She hadn't noticed me yet, but her aura was different.

Without hesitation, I headed for her.

"Beautiful night, I whispered, stopping by his side."

She looked up at me, a smirk.

"You too, you are under the effect of this bewitching moon ... or do you have another reason to approach me?"

I smile slightly.

"Let's say that I appreciate beautiful things ... and you're part of it."

She shrugged an eyebrow, amused.

"Charming and daring. I like that."

Our eyes met, and without one more word being necessary, we both knew how this night was going to end.

Tonight, I intended to take full advantage of the city of pleasures.

The young woman turned to me, a provocative smile on her lips.

"My name is Selene. And you, beautiful stranger?"

"Arhon Kurogane."

"HM ... this name tells me something. But whatever. I hope you are not the type to speak for too long ..."

She approached slightly, her sweet scent touching my nostrils.

"That's good, I too prefer action."

Selene gave me an accomplice look before I grant me by the arm.

"Come on, we're going to an inn."

She trained me through the illuminated alleys of the Cité des Plaisirs, to a solid wood building decorated with red lanterns. The brand indicated: "The Auberge du Lotus Pourpre".

As soon as we entered, a stocky man, with a bald skull and the ridiculous mustache, welcomed us with an exaggerated smile.

"Welcome, welcome! Oh, but what a magnificent client we have tonight! And you, sir, you are lucky, really a lot of luck ... Ah ah ah! "

His thunderous laughter echoed throughout the room.

This innkeeper has a clown qi ... It's fascinating.

He continued his absurd monologue, praising the "best reinforced beds in the city" and "the sheets flavored with rose", until I decided to ignore it completely.

I put a few gold coins on the counter.

"One room for two."

"Ohohoho! But of course, sir! "

He gave us the key, always with his exaggerated smile.

Once in the room, barely the door closed, Selene pushed me against the wall and kissed me wildly.

Her burning breath, her demanding lips ... She was not wasting time.

And either.

The night was a real sensory carnage.

Each movement, each groan, each sensation ... This woman was a demon in an angel body.

The bed, however massive, crumbled under our intensity.

On several occasions, he failed to collapse.

"If you continue like that, he will really break ... whispered Selene, breathless."

"So we will end up on the ground."

She burst out laughing before riding me again.

That night, I understood why the City of Pleasures bears its name so well.

Lying on the defeated bed, I let out a sigh, fixing the ceiling. Selene was lying on the side, her black hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing still slightly jerky.

"Tell me, Selene ... Do you know this symbol?"

I released the contract sheet of my pocket and hold it out. She grabbed it nonchalantly, her fingers touching my hand. Her eyes traveled the parchment, and she slightly folded her eyebrows, seeing a little acronym at the bottom of the document.

"HM ... This snake ..."

She straightened up slightly, pressing her back against the wall.

"I have already seen it somewhere ..."

A snake wrapped around a sword. It was not a simple reason, but an emblem. A coded message.

"This symbol belongs to the Black Fangs, an organization that works exclusively for the elites of the City of Pleasures. They take care of the "sensitive" affairs of the rich, in other words, the assassinations and the silent purges."

"So ... is my sponsor one of their own?"

Selene nodded.

"Probably. If this contract was written by them, then the man who asked for the execution of the fallen knights must be one of the most influential in the city."

The black fangs ... a guild of discreet killers, known to leave no trace. Their leader, a certain Darius Venmorm, is an untouchable businessman. His name never appears on contracts, but everyone knows that he shoots the strings from the shadows.

"Darius Venmorm… Do you know him?"

Selene drove a smirk.

"Who does not know Darius in this city? He has several brothels, clandestine arenas, and above all, he has links with the underworld. If it was he who commanded the execution of the fallen knights, then that means that they represented a threat to his business."

I put my head on the pillow, reflecting.

Why would a man as he want to eliminate the fallen knights?

"Interesting…"

I took the contract of the contract from the hands of Selene and folded her carefully.

"And now, what are you going to do? she asked, drawing circles on my chest with my fingertips."

I slowly turned my head towards her, an enigmatic smile on his lips.

"Find Darius. And understand why he wants these dead knights."

Selene burst out laughing.

"Ah ... you are much more interesting than I imagined, Arhon Kurogane."

Lying in the bed with disorderly sheets, I let my mind drift for a moment. Selene was always by my side, short, playing distractedly with a wick of her hair.

Darius Venmorm ... This name was not unknown. A simple merchant who has become one of the most powerful men in the City of Pleasures. Her ascent was not a miracle: she was the fruit of blood, intrigue and manipulation.

Twenty years ago, Darius was just a minor businessman, a cunning but influence. He had a simple trading counter, dealing with mercenaries and adventurers. However, everything changed the day he put his hand on an artifact prohibited: the seal of the black snake.

This seal, according to rumors, would have belonged to an ancient fallen nobleman, a sorcerer sentenced by the Church of Solaria. He conferred on his wearer a formidable power: the absolute influence on weak minds. With this artifact, Darius no longer needed to convince his rivals ... He simply ordered them to submit.

In less than five years, he controlled the entire clandestine trade in the city.

He bought the brothels, grabbed the clandestine arenas, and placed his pawns in every corner of the city. Even the governors closed their eyes on his activities, terrified about meeting his gaze.

But what made him a real legend was his agreement with the black fangs.

The black fangs ... a guild of elite assassins. Officially, they did not exist. Unofficially, they were responsible for more than half of the region's assassinations. Thanks to them, Darius had no competitors.

He did not buy his enemies. He made them disappear.

I let out a little laugh by thinking about his career.

"What makes you smile like that?" Selene asked, her soft and amused voice.

I turned my head towards her, my eyes staring at her family.

"I was just thinking of Darius Venmorm… and how dangerous this man is."

Selene haussed an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Do you really plan to work for him?"

I stayed silent for a moment, before going up slightly.

"I plan to discover what he hides."

The night was calm, but in my mind, a storm was preparing.