[Twenty Minutes Earlier - Outside the Iron Barrel]
The rain had intensified, turning the streets into rivers of filth and debris.
Outside the Iron Barrel pub, roughly twenty men stood guard in various positions.
Some huddled under the building's awning, trying to stay dry. Others patrolled the perimeter despite the downpour, their Auras providing some protection from the cold.
They were a mixed group from all five organizations, sent to ensure their leaders could meet without interruption.
Alexei, one of Viktor's enforcers, stood closest to the entrance. He was D rank, experienced and cautious by nature. He'd been doing this kind of work for years and had survived by never underestimating potential threats.
"This weather is absolute shit."
One of Chen Wei's men, a skinny guy with a perpetual cigarette, complained from beneath the awning.
"We could be inside somewhere warm, but no, we have to stand out here like idiots while they drink expensive alcohol and plan strategies."
