The air in the brothel was thick with incense and cheap makeup. On the first floor, forced laughter and the clinking of glasses blended with the soft music of flutes and strings. Semi-naked courtesans danced gracefully on stage, while the clients watched them between sips of liquor and glances.
Upstairs, behind red curtains and slightly ajar doors, the feigned moans barely masked the low murmur of men who weren't laughing.
In a private room, three figures gathered around a low table. An oil lamp cast shadows over their faces. None of them were drinking. They weren't there for pleasure.
The leader diverted his gaze to the door just as it closed. The back of a man draped in dark robes disappeared into the shadows of the hallway. Then he returned his attention to the group.
He was an older man, known as the Black Centipede, with a weathered face and a fierce expression. A tattoo in the shape of a centipede crossed his face, from his cheek to his jaw.
"Does the Xuan family want us to move against mere mortals? Isn't that a waste of time? They could hire any band of bandits for that," said a bald man with a fierce face, sitting at the table.
"Do you know something, boss?" asked the youngest of the group, with long hair loose and eyebrows sharp like swords. His aggressive expression contrasted with his fine features.
The Black Centipede drummed his fingers on the table before speaking. His voice sounded rough, like dry wood under pressure.
"Rumors are circulating... they say the Xuan family suffered casualties recently. Apparently, they had to withdraw their men."
"So they were defeated by common mortals? Hahaha! Pathetic scum," the bald man burst into laughter, slamming his hand on the table as if he had just heard a great joke.
The young man furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
The Black Centipede looked at the youngest member of the group and continued:
"Then, as agreed. Gather the men. We'll head to the location immediately," he ordered as he stood up and walked toward the door.
"Boss... don't you think there's something strange about this?" asked the young man cautiously, his brow furrowed more than before.
"Hmph," snorted the bald man. "What else could there be? They're mere mortals. Only the pampered children of noble families would be defeated by that trash."
"Don't worry too much," the Black Centipede intervened without stopping. "The Xuan family doesn't want to attract attention with the war in the east. If they act openly against mortals of the dynasty, others might use it as an excuse to frame them. That's why they're sending us."
He said it as if it were a routine task. Of no importance. But the young man didn't take his eyes off the leader's back as he opened the door. Something didn't add up.
In the afternoon, as the sky began to darken, the Black Centipede's group arrived near the city. There were more than twenty men: fugitive criminals, wandering cultivators, mercenaries—united not by loyalty, but by respect or fear.
With weapons hanging from their belts and arrogant smiles on their faces, they gathered on top of a hill with a direct view of the outskirts of the city.
From that distance, the city lights shone brightly. Some were still working in the construction areas, others moved through the streets under the dim lighting of improvised lanterns. The system organized by Ethan allowed rotating shifts, so there was activity even at night, though on a smaller scale.
"Is this the place?" murmured the bald man as he looked at the city.
"Hmm," nodded the Black Centipede without lifting his gaze. In the shadows, something stirred under the wide sleeves of his robe.
If one paid enough attention, they could notice an elongated shape, like a dark rope moving fluidly. It was a Venomous Ebony Centipede, an extremely aggressive demonic insect. Its venom paralyzed the meridians and caused necrosis within minutes.
The Black Centipede had tamed it during his early days as a cultivator, using forbidden insect control techniques. Since then, his fame had grown. Few dared to confront him at his level. The insect was not only lethal, but it attacked from unexpected angles, ambushing with precision and speed before the enemy even noticed its presence.
"You know what to do. The employer doesn't want anyone left alive. Let's go," ordered the Black Centipede before activating a stealth technique. His figure vanished into the shadows as he leaped into the trees, disappearing without a trace.
"Hmph. I'll go first," grunted the bald man, charging forward behind his leader.
"Hahaha! Let's have a drink after we're done."
"The easiest spirit stones I've gotten in years!" another man said, laughing.
One by one, the men began to move, slipping through the trees like a confident horde. Smiles, mockery, and an air of carefree attitude spread among them. No one was taking the mission seriously. After all, the order was simply to eradicate a group of mortals gathered in the city.
Though some had investigated along the way, what they found wasn't enough to worry them. Rumors, that was all. Exaggerations from peasants and charlatans.
The young man with long hair remained silent. He frowned, uneasy. There was something in the air.
But he said nothing. He simply followed them, like another shadow among the trees.
In the heart of the city, in a well-lit room, Ethan sat at his desk. On the surface, a large sheet of paper unfolded, showing detailed plans, notes on measurements, and mechanical diagrams in black ink.
"AION, create a railway route for a steam train from the black iron mine to the new area, using the current map. Prioritize energy efficiency and logistics."
[Processing topography, estimated slope, and potential geological interferences.]
In front of him, the design of a steam engine occupied half of the blueprint. It was complex but efficient, a combination of ancient ideas and modern solutions. Connecting both areas with a railway route would not only increase production but also reduce the risk of attacks during conventional land transport.
While Ethan fine-tuned the details of the layout with a pencil in hand, Eclipse lay next to the open window, enjoying the night breeze.
Then, without warning, the wolf's ears shot up like springs. They stayed rigid for a moment, oriented towards the east. He slowly opened his eyes, cautiously.
Without making a sound, he rose to all fours and sniffed the air attentively. His whole body tensed as if something invisible had brushed against the edges of his instinct.
Ethan lifted his gaze.
"...Eclipse?"
The wolf barked in response. His gaze was fixed on the distance, beyond the walls. Something was approaching.
Ethan furrowed his brow for a moment… but didn't hesitate. He stood up abruptly and shouted toward the door:
"Come in!"
The door opened immediately. The Hu brothers burst into the room as one body.
"Master, what orders do you have?" they asked in unison.
"Possible enemy attack in the east. Give the signal immediately," he replied with complete calm, walking to his bed. There, he lifted a steel-forged armored vest with overlapping scale patterns and began to put it on without haste.
Hu Jian nodded in silence and dashed out. Seconds later, the sound of a bell rang out across the city, shattering the night. Soon after, a column of red smoke began to rise into the sky, spreading over the area like a signal of blood.
Ethan opened the lower drawer of his desk, took out the Mauser C96, loaded it with precision, and positioned himself behind Hu Zhan, who stood in front of him like a sentinel.
They were in the center of the city— the theoretically safest place— but Ethan left nothing to chance.
Moments later, Hu Jian returned, carrying two black steel shields, each the size of a door, specially reinforced. Without saying a word, he placed himself next to his brother, shielding Ethan between them.
(Note: If you've ever played Rainbow Six Siege, this scene is inspired by Montagne. The Hu brothers are shielding Ethan with heavy tower-type shields, providing full front armor.)