Tenebrous Wolf-Chapter 21: Old Colleagues

The sun had noticeably set, casting the Imperial City in a glow both pleasant and eerie. The year was 2125, and with humanity's latest technological advancements, the Sanctuary stood as a testament to that progress.

Along with the moon's illumination, the city's neon lights pulsed rhythmically, painting the streets in a shifting tapestry of color. Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, displaying holographic billboards flickering with advertisements for cybernetic enhancements, AI-driven services, and the latest virtual experiences. The sound of vehicles moving echoed, blending with the distant chatter of pedestrians navigating the night.

This was the true face of the Sanctuary known as the Imperial City.

Most people avoided venturing out during the day, conserving their energy for the exclusive nightlife that could be experienced nowhere else. Of course, entry into this thriving metropolis was a privilege, reserved only for those with status.

Even then, beneath the dazzling lights, the night carried an entirely different essence.

Love. Secrets. Passion. Sex. Danger. These were the true reflections of the Imperial City. At least, that was none of Klaus' concern. He dismissed the thought, unwilling to waste time on idle musings.

He stood on the road before the department store station, his hood drawn low over his face.

Fortunately, he had managed to convince Briar not to follow him. After listening to all his arguments, she had reluctantly agreed to stay behind, perhaps because she learned he had spent all his money and became depressed. What she didn't know was that Klaus wasn't the type to waste his funds. In reality, he had used them to acquire the equipment necessary for challenging the Shadow Realm.

"She looked rather dejected, even though it wasn't her money..." What a peculiar demoness, he thought. Regardless, he couldn't afford to let her tag along and had left her at home.

His gaze remained fixed on the dark alley ahead. The odds of running into trouble were as high as a third-rate RPG storyline.

Even so, he continued watching, as if expecting something to emerge. Then, in the next instant, a voice drifted from the alley.

"It's been a while, Klaus Martinez."

The phrase 'It's been a while' felt utterly foreign to Klaus. Even before his awakening, he had possessed an exceptional memory, processing information faster than most people, including details in Japanese, English, and German. However, no matter how he searched his recollections, he found no one he had ever shared a casual friendship with.

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So hearing those words 'It's been a while' sent a rigid stiffness throughout his whole body.

Moreover, the fact that this person had identified him in the darkness, despite his hood concealing much of his features, made it clear that the mysterious voice was far from ordinary.

From the shadows of the dark alley, a figure emerged. He was more of a teenager than a man, but calling him a mere teenager felt like an understatement since he was in his early twenties.

He wore a fitted black suit, its western cut giving him an air of refinement. His face bore sharp features, exuding an effortless confidence.

Although he had the pale complexion characteristic of the Sanctuary's Japanese residents, the scent of cologne was overwhelming. His slicked-back hair was dyed green, and dermal implants gleamed on the right side of his face, subtly reflecting the neon glow of the city. His build was lean yet defined, carrying an aura of someone who had long abandoned innocence. The impression he gave was that of a fallen noble who had traded purity for deep corruption.

Despite all that, the mysterious figure left no lasting impression on Klaus Martinez.

Perhaps it was due to his "buddies," clad in the same western suits, who emerged from the alley a moment later.

In total, there were four of them.

One was a slim man with green hair, while the other three had bulky builds. They were nothing more than bodyguards for the cologne-drenched man.

Of course, he recognized each of them, his so-called "colleagues" whom he had once worked alongside. However, he had never bothered to remember their names. Naturally, he had no good memories of those people.

The only name he recalled was the one belonging to the man in the middle, the green-haired one.

"Hmph. How strange. Not even a 'hello' despite standing before your senior."

"I don't remember having that kind of relationship with you, Shin."

"What's with that attitude of yours? Are you tired of living? Hm, that's fine too. That's how our relationship should be. I don't want to be associated with trash that somehow managed to worm his way into the Sanctuary." The cologne-drenched man spoke earnestly, lighting up a cigarette as he did so.

Keh... Who does this guy think he is? Klaus frowned but said nothing.

The green-haired bastard standing before him was Shin Fujita.

Since his high school days, Klaus had been forced to work for this man and his sister, the boss of the operation, who posed as art brokers.

Of course, that was just a front. In reality, they ran a criminal organization. Shin was a 'facer' working under his sister, Reika Fujita, a 'fixer'.

Being a bottom feeder in the Imperial City was unpleasant in every possible sense.

Not only were you forced to work like a street rat, but finding an opportunity to escape that status was nearly impossible.

Landing a well-paying job in the Imperial City was like searching for an oasis in a desert.

Had he relied solely on the meager earnings from his part-time jobs, he would've already starved to death.

As a result, he became desperate for money and fell into their hands. That was the moment everything went to shit.

The Klaus of the past had worked himself to the bone like a slave under these bastards.

There were times when they even stole the money he had earned and forced him to do things he didn't want to do. But he had never considered running away. He had no idea what kind of retaliation the gang would resort to if he tried running away. Apparently, they had no intentions of letting him since he was resourceful and got the job done, as well as avoiding the sight of the authorities with his acting.

Klaus sighed. He knew this truth better than anyone else.

He scratched the back of his head and said impatiently, "What is it this time? Another job?"

One of the lackeys bristled at his tone and shouted, "Fuck. You poor orphan bastard. You should greet your seniors the moment you see us!"

"If I remember correctly, your name isn't Shin Fujita, is it? So why are you running your mouth? Also, what was your name again?"

"You bastard! You dare...! You dare...!"

"Hey, calm down. Are you trying to cause a scene?"

"Ah, sorry..."

At Shin's words, the lackey quickly backed down, though his glare lingered on Klaus, clearly displeased with the confident look in his eyes.

Even Shin gave Klaus a glance before exhaling a slow puff of smoke, rolling the cigarette between his fingers. Perhaps he was trying to figure out what made Klaus so self-assured, but in the end, he casually shrugged it off.

"My, my, could it be that our little Klaus-san has grown a backbone? Such a sight truly warms my heart."

"What do you want? I doubt you called me out here just to chat."

"Hmm..."

Shin frowned briefly before his casual smile returned.

"So you want to get straight to the point, huh? I suppose that can't be helped. After all, you're not much of a night owl, so it's natural for you to be gloomy. Did I perhaps interrupt your beauty sleep? Tch. In any case, you're right. I didn't call you out here just to chat. We have a job for you."

He gestured to his lackeys, and one of them stepped forward, holding a small wooden box. Klaus narrowed his eyes. So that was it. They were looking for him because of whatever was inside.

Needless to say, he already knew what was inside.

"This is..."

"Yes, this is the product you'll be delivering to the designated client," Shin replied nonchalantly. "No need to worry about the details. I'm sure my sister already sent you the address. Just make the drop, no questions asked, okay?"

"Oi. What's up with this? You still haven't paid me for my last gig. Why the hell should I take this one?"

"Ah, are you still salty about that? Haha! You worry too much. We've been busy, you know... ran into a little trouble with eddies. Let's see... How about this? You finish this last gig, and we'll pay you for both this job and what we still owe you. Sounds fair, doesn't it?"

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything? Aren't you gonna accept? This is a pretty sweet deal, right? There are people out there desperately looking for work, but you're so lucky. You get paid so much despite still being an intern. Honestly, shouldn't you be paying us for giving you such a precious opportunity?"

Klaus scoffed, wondering if he truly believed the nonsense he was spewing.

To begin with, he hadn't come here to accept any gig from these people. In fact, he had no desire to work under them any longer.

So why come here at all?

The answer was simple. He was here to settle loose ends.

Well, calling it settling loose ends might have been putting it too nicely.

For example—

"Hurry up and accept this gig if you kno—ugh!"

A scream tore through the night. The lackey who had stepped forward to threaten Klaus was sent flying, his teeth scattering across the pavement.

The man rotated like a bamboo copter and the back of his head struck the floor with a loud thud.

It had happened so quickly that none of them had even processed what occurred.

At least, not until Klaus let out a low chuckle and made a comment.

"What a bunch of idiots."

"What?!"

"You must have misunderstood the situation. I didn't come here to accept whatever lousy gig you cooked up. I came here to collect my fucking money. You understand?"

"Th... Th... bastard?!"

"Son of a bitch! Do you want to die?!"

Klaus ignored their outrage and brushed dust off his sleeve as he spoke again. This time, his words carried the crisp pronunciation of native Japanese.

"I don't have a resignation letter on me, so go ahead and deliver my notice to the boss verbally. Tell that bitch I'm done working for you guys. Oh, and make sure to send her my kisses too."

"W-what did you just say?"

"This guy... Did you just insult the madam?"

"Do you want to lose all your limbs, crazy bastard!"

The men started to wonder if Klaus had lost his mind. The bastard who used to grovel at their feet was acting completely out of character.

But Klaus just cracked his knuckles, and his lips curled into a wicked grin.

"Oh, before I officially resign."

"?"

"Do you guys have any money on you? I think I'll be taking my overdue pay right now. Scratch that, I would also taking the compensation for the 'love' you guys showed me throughout the years. You don't mind, right?"

The atmosphere completely changed with just those words.

Although the men were confused, they all realised that Klaus Martinez was being serious, especially the facer known as Shin Fujita.

What the hell was that just now? Shin thought in shock as a bead of sweat ran down his forehead.