[Night time]
Darren guzzled down a deep blue potion, and as soon as he swallowed the last drop, the potion did its magic. The bruise on his side and the broken rib instantly healed, bringing him back to full health once again.
"You had the money for a potion?"
Gus questioned, his eyes staring at Darren with an unhidden hostility.
"Nah, it was something I had stashed somewhere in my room."
Darren answered, lying through his teeth with ease. One had to develop great lying skills if they were to live in the slums. He had chosen to ignore the obvious hostility Gus sent his way.
Although Darren couldn't help but be grateful that Bulat hadn't called him to collect his money but for something else. He was certain Gus had told Bulat about the incident at the inn yesterday. However, Bulat either didn't care or was waiting for later to talk about it.
Regardless of what it was, that meant Darren was able to pawn off the necklace for a reasonable price, and with that money, he was able to get a potion from Doc McAllister
'And I still have some money left over'
The young man couldn't help but be ecstatic. Although the fact that he was going back to the house he robbed yesterday was something not to be happy about, hopefully he won't be recognised. His hair was different as he hadn't dyed it today.
"Don't think you got away with that little stunt, the boss will demand his money soon"
Gus warned, it was obvious to see that Gus was not happy at all. Getting kicked in the scrotum was an unpleasant experience, and Gus wanted to get his revenge by all means.
He wanted to drive Darren's face into the hard ground and stomp on it with his boot, however, he was a debt collector and he was only supposed to rough up the clients when Bulat said so and until they finished with the current issue Gus would have to tolerate Darren a little more.
"What exactly is the plan? Do we just beat the husband up, or are we supposed to harass them by breaking their windows?"
Another voice made itself known to them. It was the voice of another young man, with dirty blonde hair, amber eyes, and a scar above his left eyelid. He was a head shorter than the other two.
The three men were currently walking towards Arthur's home, taking their time to reach it, mostly because they needed to get there as late as possible.
"The boss said teach them a lesson, that can be anything from just threatening them to cutting their limbs off. We are free to do almost anything to them"
Answered Gus, responding to Leo's question, who hummed hearing the response. He took out the twin daggers at his waist and spun them around before he spoke again.
"So a little stabbing is okay?"
He asked with a small smile on his face, and Darren couldn't help but glance at him. Amongst the three of them, Darren was the only one feeling nervous.
They were told the target was a husband who probably had a mercenary background. If it was just one of them, he could be dangerous, however, if it's three of them then they should be able to get the job done, although Darren still felt nervous, he just couldn't be confident even with the presence of two more people.
"They should be, just don't kill him. He has a wife too…."
Gus did not finish that sentence, but Darren and Leo had no problem understanding what he meant.
"If you want to wet your cock that badly there's plenty of women who'd be happy to do that for free, why a random man's wife?"
It was Leo who asked that question however it wasn't his way of trying to deter Gus from that option but a curiosity of his. As a henchman for Bulat, Gus should have all the necessary money to hire a prostitute.
In fact, women from the slums should be throwing themselves at him, like they do with Charlie and Big Mike, and even if they aren't, Bulat usually has some "merchandise" being transported in and out of the capital, so Gus could use said merchandise to relieve himself anytime.
"Curiosity, I want to know what a woman from the inner parts of the capital tastes like"
"So what? You're going to force yourself on her"
Darren questioned, his tone expressing a hint of disgust but he maintained his neutrality. Gus shook his head.
"I'm not a savage, we just beat up her husband, and if she wants us to stop we present an ultimatum"
Leo let out a hearty and amused laugh before he responded to Gus.
"You're sick in the head! haha"
Gus simply shrugged at that response, he's been called worse. Darren seemed to be the only one who was not amused by the conversation however he said nothing nor did he show his disapproval.
The trio walked together, slowly making their way to their target. Two out of the three were convinced that this would not be a big deal and that it would be an easy thing to deal with.
Gus, although not the strongest, had decent natural strength, and as a debt collector for Bulat he was an incredibly skilled brawler, he often used his strength to intimidate whenever he collected money.
Gus also happened to have a bronze strength-enhancing ring, that increased his overall physical strength not just his arm strength, making him a rather formidable fighter when it came to unarmed combat.
Leo unlike Gus, was more agile and nimble, preferring bladed weapons over hand-to-hand, he was skilled with daggers and was decent with the sword. His daggers were ordinary weapons, but he wore a cloak that offered resistance against bladed weapons.
On top of his natural agility, Leo also wore boots that boosted his agility and he had a silver ring that made his senses sharper than normal, a bronze ring that enhanced his reflexes. As a thief like Darren, Leo tended to prioritise escape over everything else.
Unlike the other two, Darren did not solely focus on one thing but was more like a jack of all trades, he was a thief as well however he didn't wish to limit himself so he tended to try a bit of everything.
This was largely because he wasn't very skilled, he wasn't strong like Gus, and wasn't agile like Leo but he had the items to compensate.
He had the strength-enhancing arm bracers [Bracers of strength] that also doubled as good defence against sword and blunt weapons, plus [boots of wind] that aided in his running speed. His [earings of silence] made all his movements silent..
He wore the same items he wore last time, he didn't really have any more and unless he pays Bulat the money he owes him, Darren will eventually have no items left.
This was true for Leo as well, much like how Darren had lost his [daylight monocle] to Bulat, Leo had lost his twin daggers to the same man. They were expensive items that had a paralysis and drain effect, if they so much as scratched you.
Overall in terms of fighting power, the trio would be considered a little bit too much for just a single mercenary but that was fine, Bulat was prepared for the mercenary to be stronger than average so the trio would do.
After several more minutes of walking, the three men had reached their destination and Arthur's home was within their sights.
Leo wasted zero time, he leapt over the fence and landed on a patch of grass, he had an eager grin etched on his face.
"Finally, let's get this over with."