Groaning, Sage woke up before sunrise. The bed he was provided at the agency was made of hay and his pillow was often a pile of clothes. He wasn't a big complainer but he did prefer the couch at Miranda's place. Yawning, Sage sat on the floor crossed legged to meditate or to be specific, to perform Cogitation, although it seemed to be tougher for him.
It's like meditation but imagining something that doesn't exist in this world. Only then can you focus on the concept of 'I'.
This was the concept that was taught to him. He imagined a circle made of chrysanthemums which he thought was funny since he was allergic to those yellow flowers. He felt his spirituality flow within and around him but he had no proper understanding on how to use it. He was going to need to find a teacher soon.
He also chose to cogitate every morning to monitor himself but he hasn't detected anything abnormal. After stabilizing his mind, he washed up using a clean cloth and a basin. He heard footsteps first, counting two different patterns meaning two people. One was heavy and the other was light.
"King Oyster wants us at the warehouse. We have to go now." a grump voice called out from outside the door.
From the voice alone, Sage could tell the man outside his door was Amyr and with him would be Henry. Often called the hammer and the scalpel, this duo was King Oyster's personal hitmen. Amyr was a big guy who resorts to brute force while Henry was more like an assassin. Sighing to himself, Sage threw on some loose clothes in case he had to fight before opening the door.
"Lead the way fuckers."
Amyr snickered and grabbed Sage by the collar, slamming him into the wall. "Fuckers? Did you forget who puts you on the floor every night? Maybe I should do something to make you remember me." he said, his eyes lowering.
"Don't damage him. King Oyster specifically asked for him." Henry warned, making the big guy drop Sage with a grunt. Henry put himself between the two as they led the way to the warehouse.
While it was true that Amyr loved to thrash Sage, it was because Sage allowed him to. Fighting back when his status was low would be a bad decision in the long run. But he did not remember him being strong. Sage frowned as he considered the possibility that during his trip out at sea, either Amyr had grown stronger or King Oyster had gotten his hands on beyonder formulas.
For his plan to work, Sage must remove the hammer and the scalpel first.
The warehouse was situated on the Gilded Crossway, a street full of merchants and traders. Sage couldn't help but admire the audacity of King Oyster to rent out a warehouse here. Inside was a load of workers hauling wood and crates around, most likely goods that involved the legitimate side. Sage did recognize a few faces, some of them stayed at the agency. Most of the time five to seven people shared a room at the agency except for a few lucky ones. As for Sage's room, all the previous occupants had killed themselves which spread rumors that the room was haunted. Jumping on that rumor, Sage got the room for himself and not once did he experience anything strange.
The workers ignored the trio and moved out of their way. Soon, Sage found himself entering a basement with two more men that he did not recognize. They were either hired help or personal thugs of King Oyster. The basement was crude but functional. Crates of weapons were stacked against the walls. The crates held pistols and rifles but what got Sage excited was the steam pressured rifle. It was a rifle connected through a pipe to a large mechanical box. This beautiful beast was a military controlled item.
"Stop eye raping the rifle. It's not for you." Henry said, pulling Sage back.
Sage Sage tore his gaze away reluctantly, nodding in acceptance. The five of them surrounded a blueprint that was laid out before Henry started his briefing.
"There's a new drug on the streets called Bliss. Better than opioids, and harder to overdose on, the rich kids love it. Since it's odorless and colorless, the police can't track. Now, the connection contacts the Kings directly through human couriers, all of them poisoned beforehand so they die upon delivery. We got word that King Flying Fish has more of this Bliss in stock and plans to monopolize Bliss by being the sole middleman between the connect and the kings."
Henry tapped on the map, his finger on the Residential Quarter, on Hearthglen street. It was awfully close to King Crab's turf and Tingen street.
"We have suspicions that King Crab and King Flying Fish are working together. King Oyster wants us to burn their stash house down along with a few houses on Tingen street." Amyr added as he circled a few blocks. "Henry will infiltrate the stash house, removing any obstacles in front so Vira and Balen can set fire. Me and Sage will be on Tingen Street, ready to set the blocks ablaze as soon as we see Hearthglen Street burning."
Looking at the chosen blocks to burn, one in particular stood out to Sage,
Miranda's block.
An eerie calmness flooded his body as he looked at the four people around him. He had to make the first move today and when he does,
They must die.
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The safe house on Tingen street was stacked with kerosene and flares. "The plan is simple. We got a few safe houses packed with kerosene just like this. As soon as Hearthglen is on fire, we take the flares and chuck them in." Amyr explained as he gave Sage a list of unit numbers. All of them were low leveled and near the street, making it easy to throw the flares in. But this would also make escaping without injury for those living on upper levels impossible. This plan was reckless and stupid. There was too much destruction and casualties over something so minor.
No. There must be an ulterior motive to this. Something that involved Sage.
King Oyster had exclusively told them not to give him a weapon also. His mind raced to piece together the puzzle. He still had time. It was only three in the afternoon and Henry said the earliest he could start was five in the evening.
"So what are we looking out for?" Sage asked as he peeked out the window, watching the people below scurry around, avoiding the carriages and cars. His body froze as he heard a click, the pullback of a hammer on a revolver.
"Just the fire. Those crab fuckers won't be able to catch Henry. I just wanted to pass the time with you."
Sage didn't move as he felt the muzzle press against his back. Attempting to disarm Amyr would put a hole in him.
"For five years, I always wondered how tight you would be. I wanted you screaming my name but King Oyster said it was off limits. Do you think you're special because your brother is the Silver Saint?"
"So why am I here, big boy? For you to gloat?"
"Nah. You're going to bend over for me and beg for your life. And maybe, I'll talk to King Oyster."
Sage took a deep inhale and suddenly twisted his body, pulling the curtain to rip it off the hinges.
BANG!
The bullet scraped against Sage's back, leaving a path of searing pain. The curtain ripped apart, that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted the curtain bar to tear out of the wall and hit Amyr on the head. Maybe that was unrealistic. Without hesitating, Sage adapted to what he had, throwing the curtain in Amyr's face to block his vision and kicked his gun hand to knock the gun away.
Amyr swung wide and Sage ducked to avoid it. Anticipating it, Amyr threw his knee up, striking Sage's forearms that he held up in an attempt to block. Sage felt his arms tremble from the impact but this confirmed something for him.
The slight increase in height and size, the bear-like strength and proper combat skills. Amyr was a Sequence 9 Warrior.
"Where did you get the potion formula from?" Sage asked but Amyr roared in response after throwing the curtain away. Each punch Amyr threw, Sage would deflect or dodge. In terms of pure strength, Amyr had the upper hand but when it came down to skills, Sage was far more superior. But what could skills do when he was fighting a wall? He would love to tease and taunt Amyr but he couldn't. Miranda's house was on the line. His home was on the line.
If he had to throw away his honor, his pride and his dignity to win?
So be it.
He wasn't a warrior. He never was.
That is the truth he must use.
Amyr charged straight at Sage but Sage rolled away, picking up a flare.
"RAT." Amyr roared
"Wrong."
Amyr swung again, a crushing blow that connected to Sage's ribs. Cracking them. Sage smiled through the pain and activated the flare. Grabbing Amyr's collar for a firm grip, Sage plunged the flaring end into Amyr's eye. The giant would scream in pain.
Sage did not let go. Forcing the burning light deeper until the screaming stopped. Amyr dropped with a thud. He stood over the body, breathing heavily. He allowed himself a minute or two to let myself settle. If he had dragged it out any longer, it would be Sage on the floor. He had two hours before Henry reached Hearthglen street.
"Fuck me." He whispered as he eyed the kerosene cans, formulating a plan.