September 1907
"What do you think?" Ivan asked as he settled on one of the railings on the rooftop, one block away from the Garnizon Tavern, which was having its opening night tonight. Beside him, his master stood with his arms crossed. They hadn't gone near the tavern, as they knew some of their minions had already been deployed nearby, along with the Jackals, to ensure everything was in order for the grand opening. His master preferred to observe the tavern and its security without their people knowing he was there. So here they were, a short distance away from the tavern.
Alexei did not reply to Ivan; he did not even look at him. Instead, he focused on everything happening at the tavern, from the people going in and out to the security checking each person before they were allowed inside. He had made it clear that no firearms were allowed in any of their taverns, and he wanted to ensure that rule was strictly followed. He had no intention of allowing drunken men to start a firefight in any establishment under their company, if it could be avoided. Seeing the guards conduct thorough checks on every man entering, he nodded in approval. Only then did he glance at Ivan and reply, "So far, so good. We'll observe a little longer." With that, he turned his attention back to the tavern and resumed his watch.
He saw a few men denied entry for carrying firearms attempt to cause trouble, but they were swiftly dealt with by the Jackals. Some people would not like the rules he had imposed in his taverns, but he deemed them necessary for security. It would not make the tavern completely safe, but at the very least, no guns would be allowed inside, aside from those carried by his minions, or so he hoped in the future.
His gaze settled on the second and third floors of the tavern, which housed rooms that could be rented by drunkards and travelers alike. He had made sure the rooms were spacious enough, and each with its own bathroom. Anna had nearly collapsed at the cost of his demands during the rebuilding, but he had made her understand that it was necessary to attract more customers in the future. After all, earning money from the rooms and drinks was one of their taverns main income, aside from funneling their illegal income into it, of course. And more customers meant they could gather more information.
The exterior of the tavern did not differ much from the surrounding buildings, and Alexei had allowed it to remain that way. He had no intention of introducing modern designs that would feel out of place in the era he currently lived in.
Alexei shifted slightly to get more comfortable. This was only the first of the four taverns he and Ivan planned to inspect tonight, and he was already feeling groggy from his lessons and training earlier in the day. Still, he forced himself to stay awake. This was the first venture of his Minions Company Limited, and he wanted to see for himself that everything was in order on its grand opening. Moreover, he still had someone to kill tonight after this.
"Are you alright, Master?" Ivan said quietly at his side. "I can handle the rest of the inspection tonight if you'd like. I can also take care of the task you plan to carry out. You can trust me to finish it cleanly, Master."
Alexei shook his head, still watching the people going in and out of the tavern without looking at Ivan as he replied. "I'm alright. You don't need to worry about me, Ivan. We'll finish inspecting all of our taverns tonight. And…" He paused before continuing, "I'll handle the task myself. My body needs real action from time to time to stay in top condition. Just follow and guide me tonight."
The truth was, he still did not trust his minions enough to handle high-profile targets, especially when he wanted the job done cleanly and quietly, without the authorities or the target's relatives or friends suspecting foul play. Tonight, he intended for his target to die in their sleep, without blood and without leaving any trace of homicide in place.
Ivan looked at his master for a moment before sighing and nodding. "Alright."
He then shifted his gaze toward the tavern, just as his master did.
Alexei watched as one of the tavern guards dragged out a drunk man who was loudly cursing. The man must have been causing trouble inside, he guessed. He shifted slightly in his position again and took out his pocket watch. He had allotted thirty minutes to inspect each of their taverns, and seeing that he still had ten minutes left, he slipped the watch back into his pocket and continued observing.
When nothing of note happened for a while, he stole a glance at Ivan, who remained focused on the minions stationed on nearby rooftops, ready to act if any real trouble arose. To pass the time, Alexei asked, "How's your brother?"
"Which one?" Ivan asked, unsure which brother his master meant this time.
"Petrov. How is he?" Alexei replied.
"Oh." Ivan thought of his youngest brother, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "The last I heard from my sister, he's doing well. He's always asking if he can come home from his boarding school. He says in his letters that he misses us."
Alexei chuckled lightly. "I can imagine. I still don't understand why your sister sent him so far away. She could have enrolled him in a school here, within our territory, but instead she chose somewhere on the other side of the city, where we don't even know the ground yet."
Ivan shifted and stretched his arms before slipping his hands into his pockets. "My sister said she didn't want Petrov to grow up like us. Sergey and I agreed with her on that. But I do think she didn't need to send him so far away, especially into unfamiliar territory. She visits him once a month and says he's doing well there, doing great academically, unlike us." He chuckled at that.
"I still remember how you and Sergey used to groan and complain whenever it was time for reading and writing lessons," Alexei said, patting Ivan on the shoulder. "How time flies. At least you two learned something. And I'm sure Petrov will do well, whatever he decides to become in the future. I'll support him. Don't worry."
Ivan looked at his master with gratitude. "Thank you, Master. Really. Thank you for everything."
Alexei glanced at the tavern before looking up at the night sky, his gaze settling on nothing in particular. "I did nothing, Ivan. What you and your siblings have now is the result of your own effort and hard work. I merely guided you guys along the way."
"Still," Ivan said, following his master's gaze, "when I think about it, I don't know if we would have survived if you hadn't come to us all those years ago and offered us food in exchange for work. Truly… thank you, Master."
Alexei looked at him, then shook his head with a faint smile behind his mask as he patted Ivan's shoulder. "Alright. You're welcome. It seems I won't be able to stop you from saying thank you unless I accept it."
After a moment, his tone turned firmer. "But remember this. Everything the Minions have now, and everything you and your siblings have, is because of your own effort and hard work. Do you understand?"
Ivan straightened at the shift in tone and nodded immediately. "Yes, Master. I understand."
"Good." Alexei chuckled lightly. He took out his pocket watch again and, seeing that exactly thirty minutes had passed since he began observing the tavern, stood up at once.
"Let's go. Let's check the others." He did not wait for a reply before leaping onto the next building.
Ivan shook his head to steady his emotions. It seemed that thinking about those years, when they barely had anything to eat, had stirred something within him. He quickly pushed it aside, returning to work mode. Rising at once, he followed silently behind his master.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at another tavern within their territory, which was also holding its grand opening. It wasn't as large as the first one they had inspected, but it was more than sufficient for the surrounding area. It, too, had three floors, with the upper levels intended for lodging and secret rooms for the minions to rest in. As with the first, they observed everything for thirty minutes before moving on to the next tavern. And after an hour, their inspection of the four taverns opening at the same night came to an end.
Alexei now walked leisurely along the street at the farmers' market, with Ivan beside him. They avoided crowded areas along the way and made sure to stay within the shadows, keeping their faces hidden even with their masks and coats. Their appearance was already suspicious enough, and he did not want any delays in their final task for the night.
Fortunately, their walk was uneventful, and they made it to the noble district of the city. From that point on, Alexei followed Ivan, as it was Ivan who knew the area well from his nightly escapades, spying on anyone worth watching.
How ironic, Alexei thought. It should have been him who knew this place better, not Ivan. He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. He could hardly blame his mother for not allowing him to visit his friends' mansions at a time like this, could he? In fact, this was his first time here, and not as the Tsarevich of the empire, but as a killer.
He chuckled quietly at the thought, though Ivan, who was walking ahead, still heard him and stopped. "What's funny, Master?"
"Hm?" Alexei shook his head. "Nothing. Go on."
Ivan studied him for a second before nodding. "Alright. We're not far now, Master. A few more turns, and we'll arrive at the target's location."
Alexei simply nodded and gestured for him to continue. And Ivan did.
After another fifteen minutes of walking, and avoiding anyone patrolling the roads of the noble district, they arrived at the house where their target had been staying for the past few weeks since returning to the city.
"We've arrived, Master."
Alexei did not reply. Instead, he moved to inspect the walls. Climbing them would not be difficult, but the problem was that he did not know the layout of the house beyond them. Still, he had no choice but to proceed with the plan.
They circled the mansion's perimeter before climbing a nearby tree tall enough to give them a view inside. From there, Alexei observed the positions of the guards. After checking several times to ensure he had everything he needed, he gave a small nod and turned to Ivan. "I'll go in now. Wait for me here. If you notice anything amiss or if my cover is blown, leave immediately and wait for me at headquarters. Understood?"
Ivan nodded at once. "I understand, Master. Be careful."
He trusted that his master would complete the task and return unharmed. He always did.
Alexei waved a hand to indicate that he would be careful. After that, he steadied himself, then moved, fast and silent, toward the wall. With a single leap, he reached the top, but he did not cross immediately. Instead, he paused and checked the guards' positions. Once he was certain they would not see him, he slipped over the wall and dropped to the other side, immediately lowering his posture as he ran toward the shrubs.
He checked his surroundings again after taking cover in the shrubs and relaxed slightly when no one had noticed him. Staying low, he moved in a crouch toward the main house and reached it without being seen. Once he was pressed against the wall, safely out of sight, he straightened his posture and stretched his back for a moment before focusing, glancing left and right. He thought for a moment, before deciding to check every room in the house, he had no choice. He only knew that the target was here and nothing more, so he would have to search room by room and proceed from there.
Without wasting time, he moved. He checked the door first and found it locked. He had already spotted an open window on the first floor while observing the house from the trees outside, so he wasn't disappointed, he had only checked the door for convenience, and even if he managed to unlock it, he was sure there were bolts or padlocks secured behind the main door. He wasted no time and made his way toward the window he had seen earlier. Carefully avoiding the guards, he reached it in no time and gently eased it open further. After checking his surroundings one last time, he slipped inside.
The first floor was dimly lit, the faint glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the halls, just enough for the maids, or whoever was still awake, to see where they were walking. He looked around first before moving to the nearest room. Pressing his ear against the door, he listened and heard nothing from within. Slowly and carefully, he turned the doorknob. Thankfully, it wasn't locked. He pushed the door open.
A study and it was empty. He closed the door just as carefully as he had opened it.
He moved on to the other rooms, checking each one in turn until he had cleared the entire floor. Some of the doors were locked, but he had brought tools with him, tools capable of opening any lock in his hands, so they posed no real obstacle. What truly concerned him were rooms secured with padlocks or bolts; fortunately, he had not encountered any, yet.
With the first floor cleared, he moved toward the second floor. But before he could climb the stairs, a servant emerged from the kitchen. Fortunately, Alexei remained within the shadows and had not yet stepped out. The servant looked around briefly before spotting what he was looking for. He walked over to a chair, picked up a container filled with water, and left without another glance.
Alexei exhaled quietly in relief. This time, he sharpened his senses to their limit, listening for any sign of movement. Finding none, he moved at once and ascended the stairs.
Once he reached the second floor, he began searching each room just as he had on the first. He moved to the door he assumed was the master bedroom, who knew, his target might be having an affair with the mistress of the house. He pressed his ear against the door and, hearing nothing but the steady sound of breathing, carefully unlocked it and eased it open. Slipping inside, he closed the door behind him.
He approached the bed first and found the mistress of the house, Princess Milica of Montenegro, sleeping alone. So, no affair then. He scanned the room, searching for anything of interest, but found nothing. Without wasting any time, he slipped out as quietly as he had entered.
The rest of the rooms on the second floor were quietly entered and searched by him. In one of them, he even found his friend, Marina, sleeping soundly. Now down to the last two rooms, he began to doubt that Ivan's intelligence might have been wrong. Still, he proceeded to check the second-to-last room before drawing any conclusions. When he saw who was sleeping inside, he let out a quiet sigh of relief, he had finally found him. He slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
He moved closer and double-checked to ensure that the man sleeping before him was indeed his target. Once confirmed, he relaxed slightly, the tension in his nerves easing. He then stepped back into the shadows, making sure the man would not see him even if he stirred awake. Alexei needed a moment to recover before carrying out the kill. Using his enhanced senses for nearly an hour had given him a headache, and he needed to ensure he was in proper condition to leave the scene afterward.
As he rested, his gaze settled on the man lying in the bed, Grigori Rasputin.
A name that had risen far too quickly. A man who had come from nothing; no title, no wealth, and no proper education, yet had managed to weave himself into the high society of the empire in such a short span of time. That alone spoke volumes. Men like that were dangerous, not because of what they were, but because of what they could become if left unchecked. Influence, once rooted, was difficult to tear out. It spread quietly, invisibly, until one day it was too deeply embedded to remove without consequences.
Whether the method the man had used was cunning, charisma, manipulation… or something else entirely, Alexei did not know and did not care.
What mattered was the result. Rasputin had gained influence, far too much of it. He had even managed to draw Marina's mother into inviting him into her home, presenting himself as her spiritual healer. What was more troubling was… three days from now, Princess Milica and the others in her circle planned to introduce Rasputin to the Tsar and Tsarina. They were scheduled to attend a ball at the palace together.
When Alexei heard of it, he knew he had to end this folly as soon as possible. His mother and father were devout and religious to the core, and he had no doubt they would take a liking to Rasputin once they met, perhaps even more in time. But he had no intention of leaving such matters to fate. He would cut this rising tumor from society at its root. That was why he was here.
Alexei had no problems with men who were religious, but when men presented themselves as holy and used their cunning and wits to gain followers and influence, that was where he drew the line. He couldn't let men like this run rampant, especially here in the capital. He saw how dangerous men like this were, when they decided to use their followers and influence to their advantage. Chaos and instability were the result.
He steadied his breathing, and when he felt he had recovered enough, he moved. He walked closer to the man lying in bed and reached for the node at the back of his neck, pressing just enough to render him unconscious. Even if the man had already been asleep, Alexei had no intention of risking him waking suddenly, so he ensured it.
He then unfastened the upper buttons of the man's clothes. Once the chest was sufficiently exposed, he stopped. Raising his hand, he guided his qi into it, letting it gather and settle. He looked at the man one last time before placing his palm against his chest.
Just as blood essence could be dangerous when consumed by others, qi was equally lethal when infused into a body not one's own. In excess, it could corrode the internal organs from within, and that was exactly what he intended. Slowly, he guided the qi toward the man's heart.
The body jerked once. Then twice. Then it stilled.
Alexei withdrew his hand and checked for any sign of breathing. There was none. Had he not verified it himself, he might have thought the man was merely asleep. That was how cleanly it had been done, no bruises, no marks, and nothing to suggest violence. The man had simply died in his sleep, just as Alexei intended.
He buttoned the man's clothes back up and even pulled the covers neatly over him. After a final glance around the room, he moved to the door. He listened for any sound beyond it, and hearing none, he opened it as carefully as he had before. Before slipping out, he cast one last look at the man on the bed, then stepped into the corridor and closed the door quietly behind him.
Alexei found Ivan crouched beneath a tree. He deliberately made a small sound as he approached, so as not to startle him.
Ivan noticed him soon after, alert and cautious at first, but once he recognized his master, his posture relaxed and he rose to his feet. When Alexei was close enough for their voices to carry in low tones, Ivan spoke. "Is it done, Master?"
Alexei glanced around their surroundings before nodding. "Done. Anything amiss while I was gone?"
Ivan shook his head. "Nothing. Just the occasional patrol making noise as they passed. Nothing else." He paused, then asked, "What now, Master?"
Alexei took out his pocket watch. Seeing that he still had time to spare, he decided to check the taverns once more. They had invested too much into them for anything to go wrong, especially on their opening night. "Let's check the taverns one last time."
Without waiting for a reply, he began walking.
And Ivan simply followed behind his master.
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Thank you. Your supports are deeply appreciated.