— Meanwhile - Sector Alpha City Police HQ —
In the evening hours, the Sector Alpha City Police HQ was still bustling with activity, albeit more contained within the main floors. Deep in the basement, where the holding cell area was situated, it was noticeably quieter and isolated. The only sounds that resonated through the dimly lit corridors were the distant footsteps of the occasional jailor, who diligently guarded the area.
Amidst the subdued atmosphere, Sokolov, the Russian mafia boss, sat alone in his cell. The flickering fluorescent lights cast haunting shadows across the narrow hallways, emphasizing the reclusive nature of his confinement. The absence of surveillance cameras in this hidden part of the station granted him an added sense of security, knowing that his actions remained unseen.
But his current state of solitude was a result of a violent incident that occurred barely an hour ago. Sokolov had found himself at the mercy of crooked police and fellow inmates who despised him. The orchestration of this brutal attack was carried out by none other than Prescott, who not only hated Sokolov guts but also feared that he might expose his involvement in hiring him to steal a new technology from Astral Tech Corporation.
In the main cell, a savage altercation had broken out, with Sokolov becoming the target of their collective wrath. Despite being outnumbered and severely beaten, Sokolov refused to succumb to his assailants. In a desperate struggle for survival, he managed to seize a makeshift shank knife from one of the inmates, turning the tables on his attackers.
The fight ended with two of Sokolov's assailants dead, a horrifying sight that left the rest of the cellmates in shock. Sokolov's display of deadly force was enough to make even the most hardened criminals wary of him. In response, the authorities had no choice but to relocate him to this secluded cell in the basement, away from prying eyes and any potential threats.
Now, as Sokolov sat in the darkness of his new cell, nursing his wounds and contemplating his next move, he knew that surviving in this hellish place would require cunning and resilience. The events that had transpired only fueled his determination to escape and take revenge on those who had orchestrated his downfall. In this isolated corner of the police station, Sokolov was left to brood over his fate, waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables once more.
Tap… Tap…
A few moments passed, and the sound of footsteps reverberated within the cold hallway, bringing Sokolov out of his thoughts. The owners of the footsteps slowly walked toward his cell and stopped in front of it.
The two newcomers were dressed in large black trench coats—one a bald black man and the other a Caucasian man with a large knife scar on his throat. If Ragnar Stenmark were here, he would have recognized them as the mage hunters he had encountered.
"Oh? Viper and Silencer, I didn't expect to attract the attention of big names like you guys," Sokolov said, though his smile was constrained by the pain he felt on his face and his bleeding lip.
Sokolov anticipated Viper, renowned for his loudmouth and carefree attitude towards anyone he contacted. As for Silencer? Well, his code name said it all—he never uttered a word, a true stoic who communicated through actions alone.
But contrary to Sokolov's expectation, Viper's face remained stoic, devoid of his usual carefreeness, as he spoke.
"Valadimir Sokolov, you have violated the first of the Iron Rules of the Syndicate Union, attempting to expose the existence of the Curtained World to the masses and those deemed undesirable by the Syndicate Union and the Hightower—people like Prescott," said Viper as he read the content from the scroll he had just taken out of his trench coat.
"What!? Expose the existence of the Curtained World!? Are you crazy!? I wouldn't dare to do that!" Sokolov was startled and panicked. His rank in the hierarchy was too low to know many things, such as the connection of Astral Tech Corporation to the Curtained World. But at least, he knew that the Curtained World, where magic and mythology mingle and are hidden in plain sight, is real.
Sokolov may be crazy, crazy enough to provoke the Romanov Royal Dynasty, one of the powerful mage families in Russia, by stealing their magic artifact and selling it in the Syndicate Union's black market. But he wouldn't be crazy enough to go against the Syndicate Union Iron Law! That was a death sentence!
But despite Sokolov's shock and panic, Viper continued reading the contents of the paper.
"You had risked war between the Syndicate Union and the Hightower by trying to steal the technology from the Astral Tech Corporation, which was owned by a powerful Artificer code-named 'Magitek'. After a short deliberation, the board directors decided to execute you, but due to your history of serving the Syndicate Union, they also decided to grant you 1 favor that we will help you accomplish, as long as it's not against the Syndicate Union's interest or contradicts the Syndicate Union Iron Rules." The Viper said.
"What!? Why? I never knew that this company was under the protection of a mage! No! Wait! You guys didn't even bother me when I stole an artifact from the Romanovs to sell it to you guys! What about this time!? Why did you guys act like I just blew a new hole in your ass!?" Sokolov asked with a hint of unwillingness.
When he stole the magic artifact from the Romanovs for the Syndicate Union, they didn't even blink an eye. So why are they now treating him as if he had killed their family when he tried to steal technology from a company protected by a mage!
After hearing what Sokolov said, a trace of sympathy appeared within the eyes of both Viper and Silencer.
"I don't know, brother, this order comes from The Founder himself. This means you must have fucked up big time somewhere along the line, or you're just ignorant, or unlucky, or both," said Viper.
"Tell us your favor, brother." Viper asked as he took out a smartphone with a connected line from his trench coat.
Sokolov let out a sigh and then told them his wish.
"Then, can you guys tell me why I need to be executed? I was just trying to steal technology from a tech company owned by a mage. I don't think it's equal to me exposing the existence of the Curtained World." Sokolov asked in confusion.
He still couldn't fathom why he would be subjected to such harsh punishment. In his mind, he had even provoked a long line of mage families, such as the Romanovs, and hadn't received a scolding from the Syndicate Union. So why is it different this time?
After hearing Sokolov's wish, the voice on the other side of the phone fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"The problem lies in your behavior of ignoring our regulations. When you received the mission to steal from the Romanovs, we didn't pursue you because the mission had already been completed, and it did not impact our interests or violate any Iron Rule. But after that, you decided to once again ignore our regulations and take a mission from Benjamin Prescott without our agreement. While this may not seem like a big deal, as long as it doesn't break any Iron Rule, at most, we would just scold you.
However, this time, the problem is the technology you try to steal—the blueprint of a power plant created with magical technology. This technology is disguised as modern-day technology to conceal its magical nature. If you were to succeed in your theft, the Curtained World would have a very high chance of being exposed." The man on the phone explained the reason, which calmed Sokolov down a lot as he understood the gravity of the situation.
"So, it's because of this..." The revelation dawned on Sokolov as he accepted his impending death.
Viper pulled out a can of beer from his trench coat and offered it to Sokolov.
"Here... drink," Viper said.
Sokolov took the can of beer from Viper's outstretched hand. He opened it, savoring the aroma before speaking, "I never thought I would die the same way as many nobles in the past, drinking a poisoned wine... even though it's a beer, its quality is way better than any beer on the market." Sokolov then gulped down all of the beer.
As Sokolov indulged in the taste of the poisoned beer, his mind tried to absorb every detail of his last moments. Throughout his life, he had engaged in unsavory deeds, and while he regretted very little, there were times when he did things he wasn't proud of. Yet, he always faced the consequences like a true man, never bending his knee to anyone.
Soon after, the poison took its toll, and Sokolov's heart stopped, as if he had suffered a sudden heart failure. This poison was the Syndicate Union's deadly method of executing those who served them loyally. A cruel fate for those who dared cross their ironclad rules.
A group of police officers arrived to collect the lifeless body, proceeding with the necessary protocols. Meanwhile, Viper and Silencer stood in respect for the dead Sokolov for five minutes before quietly departing. Their grim duty completed, they would return to the Syndicate Union to report the outcome of their mission.
In the quiet confines of the police station's basement, Sokolov's life had come to an end, leaving behind only echoes of the ruthless world he once thrived in. The wheels of fate turned on, uncaring and relentless, as the city of Sector Alpha continued its bustling existence, largely unaware of the secretive powers that lurked in the shadows.
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