In Libretãnhya, Slady walked through the silence of the streets, a few murmurs echoing in the distance from the remaining civilians. As he crossed an alley, a colored light hit his feet. He looked up. An abandoned building glowed.
The door creaked. He entered. The smell of alcohol filled his nostrils, making him cover his nose.
Men played cards at tables, while others collapsed on the floor with glass bottles in their hands. Women danced slowly on the floor, spinning around metal poles.
But something stood out in his observation: a man and a woman, both serious.
He sat at the counter. A bartender in short clothes approached, forcing a smile.
"Good evening, dear. Want something? We can offer you VIP service for a good price."
"What would that 'VIP service' be?"
The woman fell silent, discreetly pointing to a man in the corner. Slady turned, seeing a woman dancing closely on his lap while he struck her body, leaving marks.
Slady looked back at the bartender.
"Do you have wine?"
"Of course... we do."
She sighed and grabbed a bottle, pouring a glass. He swirled the liquid between his fingers, brought it to his lips, and closed his eyes.
"Perfect."
He set the glass down, already empty. The woman widened her eyes for a moment, then laughed lightly.
"Impressive, sir. Want more?"
Before Slady could answer, a hand on his shoulder caught his attention.
"Can you come with us?"
It was the serious man. He slightly opened his dark coat and showed identification.
Roger Trager, Criminal Investigator of Libretãnhya.
The woman stood behind him, arms crossed.
Rin Yuang, Criminal Investigator of Libretãnhya.
Slady shrugged and stood, leaving coins on the counter.
"No problem."
In a more isolated area, Rin Yuang kept her hands behind her back and turned to him.
"We are here to deal with a gang we suspect is operating in this place."
"Right. What does that have to do with me?"
Rin Yuang and Roger raised their eyebrows, exchanged a look, and Roger stepped forward.
"We believe you didn't come here just for entertainment. We want to know your intentions. If you're honest, you might go home tonight."
He partially lifted his coat, revealing daggers and handcuffs.
"Should I take that as a threat?"
"No. Just a warning from someone who cares about this beautiful city."
"Well, I have nothing to say. I'm just a normal man satisfying his desires."
They frowned but walked past him toward the door.
"I have something to say."
They turned.
There was nothing.
A sudden exhaustion took over their bodies.
Everything went dark.
***
In a room, several men sat around a table. One of them, the leader, mapped out drug routes. A woman knelt before him.
One of the men crossed his arms, releasing smoke.
"That route isn't good, boss Yai Chang. Too much police there."
"Good observation... hey, you, don't stop!"
He struck the woman. She groaned, tears in her eyes, continuing.
Suddenly, a sound echoed from the ceiling.
Yai Chang growled, pushing the woman aside as he covered himself.
"I told that idiot not to make noise!"
He grabbed metal knuckles and fitted them onto his hands. The others grabbed weapons.
They left the room.
The woman remained behind, trembling, covering herself, her eyes filled with tears.
***
Dragging the unconscious bodies, Slady raised his head as he heard the door burst open.
Yai Chang saw the officers and the unknown man.
"What the hell is this?! You're finished!"
He slammed his metal fists together. The others raised their weapons.
Slady dropped the bodies and pulled a capsule from his coat, throwing it to the ground.
Smoke filled the area. The toxic air made the men cough uncontrollably. Some collapsed. Yai Chang remained standing.
As the smoke cleared, he saw Slady in front of him.
"YOU BASTARD!!"
He charged. The others still standing fired.
Slady spun his pistols and fired back, retreating to the wall.
Yai Chang attacked, striking the wall at head level. Slady ducked and countered with his mechanical arm, hitting his jaw.
Then he pulled another capsule, advanced, and forced his hand into Yai Chang's mouth, releasing the device down his throat.
The capsule burst.
Gas filled his lungs.
Yai Chang fell to his knees, coughing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face. He reached toward Slady.
Slady watched, expressionless.
Until everything went still.
***
At the Criminal Investigation Department of Libretãnhya.
Rin Yuang woke on a soft surface. Her body responded slowly. She grabbed her phone. Three in the morning.
Her memories returned.
She stood, still dressed, unsteady.
In the hallway, she found Roger, also waking.
Without a word, they left.
When they arrived at the scene, Rin Yuang knelt and vomited.
The criminals' bodies were arranged in unnatural positions, forming a scene.
When they opened a door, they found a group of women.
"You..."
It was the bartender.
Roger watched Rin Yuang step away, then knelt before them.
"You are safe."
The women sighed in relief. Some cried, others hugged each other.
Roger sat on the floor.
"Who put you here?"
"I... I don't remember. We passed out... and woke up here."
He nodded.
"Come with me. And close your eyes."
On the second floor, Rin Yuang covered her mouth at the smell.
She walked to a door.
When she opened it, her body froze. Her stomach turned, and she fell, vomiting again.
There was no visible blood.
No clear signs of struggle.
Yai Chang.
His body was severely mutilated, left in a disturbing state.
Empty.