In the underworld, there's no room for mistakes — only blood, betrayal, and dice that always tell the truth.
The first location was an underground gambling den disguised as a laundromat. Inside, a crowd was lost in gambling, strong liquor, and cheap affection. Kaien posed as an up-and-coming gambler, while Cindra played the role of his mysterious lover — a slender knife hidden behind her belt.
They reached the manager with little effort. But something was off — he was too cautious. Every glance from him felt like it was dissecting them millimeter by millimeter. Cindra's instincts flared.
"Too alert. Doesn't act like your regular gambler," she whispered.
Kaien gave a subtle nod, then suddenly threw a pair of dice on the table. One tumbled unevenly before stopping — with a faint dried bloodstain on the number six. The manager noticed it and turned pale in an instant. Cindra didn't miss that fleeting reaction.
---
In a private room with just the three of them, Kaien took a friendly tone, luring the man into a trap:
"Hey buddy, Aigris sends his regards. Any idea who's been leaking to the government?"
The manager smirked — then stepped half a pace back. His hand dipped into his coat — for a gun.
But before he could draw it, a sharp pain burst through his right hand. He gasped, looking down — a small, clean blade had pierced the flesh between his thumb and index finger. Blood dripped silently to the floor, like a secret being choked to death.
Cindra was already at his side. She whispered in his ear, her voice soft enough to chill bones:
"We don't like noise."
She pulled the blade free, swiftly covering his mouth with her left hand. Kaien grabbed the gun. Together, they led the man to a quiet back room — where only a flickering ceiling light and damp concrete walls bore witness.
Less than ten minutes later, they walked out. The room was still. As if nothing had happened.
Only the two dice remained on the table — one still stained with blood — rolling ever so slowly, like a ghostly reminder that a fool once sat there.
---
On their way out, Cindra glanced at her blood-stained hand, then silently wiped it clean with a white handkerchief. Kaien gave a crooked half-smile.
"You do that kind of thing a lot, don't you?"
Cindra didn't answer. But in her eyes, the coldness had given way to something else — a killer's instinct, honed and sharp like forged steel.
The very instinct Aigris was grooming her for.