The night was still young but the industrial district had become something else.
Unlike in the day where it was bustling with factories churning,the sounds of machines echoing and endless chatter from hundreds of workers.
The night was calm, bordering on hollow. There was almost literally no one aroun, just darkness and silence that brought chills to bones.
Negan drove slowly along the cobblestone roads. Roads covered in refuse and coal.
The few working gas lamps on the sides assisted in navigating the narrower district as the car moved around.
Negan who still had his eyes on the road finally broke the silence in the car.
"The bastard's we are hunting is Fred Hutchins. He borrowed about twenty thousand crowns three months ago. Claiming he would pay back in six weeks"
"And?"
"And he had been dodging me ever since. He has changed addresses twice already, he thought I wouldn't find him" Negan's tone cold.
"He was dead wrong"
it wasn't long again , when the car began to slow down and then parked close to a seemingly abandoned warehouse.
It looked at first glance like no one would be here but the fresh tire marks on the muddy terrain said otherwise.
"He's in there?" Kyrie asked.
"The information says so. He and whoever he hired for protection "
"Protection huh? Seems this might get messy "
"Always expect a fight in this business, K.Y."
Negan said, reaching for his revolver, inspecting the cylinder before concealing it again.
"That's how you stay alive."
Even as they made preparations. a notification flashed into Kyrie's vision
[ New Mission ]
[Objective: Assist Negan in collecting the debt from Fred Hutchins ]
[Optional Objective: Defeat enemies without sustaining major injuries]
[Rewards: +500 EXP, +2 Attribute points(to be assigned)]
Kyrie's eyes only lingered for a second before dismissing it.
They stepped out of the car and the air around the district was cold. Filled with the smell of rust.
Negan didn't waste time as he approached the entrance of the warehouse.
He began using his legs to pry open the damaged doors slowly and silently.
But while he did this, the hinges of the metallic door screamed in protest, echoing in the space.
There goes our element of surprise Kyrie thought as they entered all the same.
The interior of the warehouse was just darkness with only sparsely placed lanterns opposing the darkness.
Within the warehouse were crates and several machineries that formed odd looking shadows stretching out in different directions.
"Hutchins" Negan's actual soft call echoed throughout the warehouse.
"I know you are here! Let's talk"
Silence followed, even as Kyrie's eyes wandered left to right.
"Fuck off, Cross! I don't have your fucking money "
A voice emerged from somewhere deep in the warehouse.
"That's disappointing" Negan responded as he walked deeper in. Kyrie trailing just behind him.
"I said Fuck off bastard "
A bottle flying across the air smashing against a crate near Negan with pieces of glass spraying around.
Negan who was nimble, avoiding any damage as he chuckled.
"Atleast I tried talking."
The words were still rolling off his tongue when he noticed movement.
Three men suddenly emerged with one of the lanterns highlighting them.
Fred stood in the middle with hair disheveled. Bags under his eyes. On his flanks were two larger men both holding steel pipes.
"You should have just fucked off Cross " Fred said with a nervous tone.
" I've got protection now "
Negan smirked. " I can see that. Nice work" his tone obviously mocking him.
The two enforcers suddenly charged at Negan but unfortunately for them, Negan moved first.
He pulled his revolver out, squeezing on the trigger as he fired a single shot.
Bang
The shot echoed in the abandoned warehouse like a thunderclap.
One of the guards went down immediately.
Clutching his right leg in obvious agony.
The other guard had succeeded in clearing the distance, swinging his pipe at Negan's head.
Negan nimbly ducked and in a single fluid motion drove his fist into the man's kidney disorienting him.
He swiftly brought the length of the revolver on the back of the man's skull causing his eyes to roll back.
Fred's eyes widened in shock as he began to run, the entire exchange didn't take up to ten seconds and his guards were on the floor.
"He's all yours " Negan said to Kyrie while he punched the man he shot in the leg.
Kyrie didn't hesitate, sprinting after fred. manoeuvring around crates as he finally caught up to him.
He slammed into the man from behind, sending him flying into a nearby steel beam.
Thud
"Please!" Fred gasped, trying to stand.
"Please, I just need more time."
"You got three months" Kyrie said coldly. Walking towards him like a predator.
Suddenly from behind came noises—more footsteps.
Kyrie turned in that direction and saw three more men emerging from the back room.
They looked more professional than the earlier ones. They looked trained. Probably ex-military.
One of the men had a scar running down his face.The other was built like an olympic bodybuilder.
The three men showed their intelligence as they began flanking them.
The man with a scar pulled out a knife even as the bodybuilder cracked his neck and knuckles.
The last man was much leaner, just coming into the light. A lengthy chain in hand.
Their eyes focusing on their targets as they enclosed further.
"You can just walk away, Cross…" Fred spoke more confidently this time.
Kyrie, whose back faced the man, simply half-turned with crimson slitted eyes almost consuming the man's very soul.
"Shut it," he said menacingly.
Negan smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Seems the bastard brought extras."
Kyrie's eyes gleamed in the darkness. "This should be fun."