Author's Preface
The alley was little more than a narrow crack between two rows of aging buildings, yet it buzzed with quiet business. Men and women lingered against the walls in small groups, speaking in low voices that rarely lasted more than a few seconds. Every so often, one would slip a small cloth pouch into another's sleeve before both walked away in opposite directions as though they had never met.
Dark Root tattoos peeked from beneath rolled sleeves, climbed along exposed calves, or disappeared beneath open collars. None were large. None needed to be. They were subtle marks, enough for those who belonged to recognize one another without drawing unwanted attention.
Perched atop a crooked wooden sign by an old house was an emerald-green parrot with a crimson crown and bright golden rings around its eyes. Tiny leather pouches hung from the harness fastened around its chest. It hopped from shoulder to shoulder, occasionally accepting a pouch before taking flight toward another waiting customer. It was quite chunky too. Customers would grimace when it landed upon them.
A young woman, with dark features and dark curls, dressed in plain clothes, stopped a short distance away.
She raised a hand, revealing a pale white crystal no longer than her thumb. Cut into a slender six-sided prism, its translucent depths swirling with faint strands of luminous magical twirling mist.
The parrot's head immediately snapped toward it.
It fluttered down without hesitation, landing neatly upon her forearm.
The moment it reached for the spirit stone, the stone disappeared, and her two hands closed gently around its body. "What are they feeding you?" She mumbled, making no attempt to pay or release it.
The parrot let out a shrill series of offended squawks, flapping its wings furiously.
"What is the problem?" A broad-shouldered man strode over with an impatient frown. Dark roots climbing along his neck, twisting around his ears.
"Pay and move along." He spat.
The young woman glanced at the pouch hanging from the bird's harness before shaking her head. "It's too little."
"What?"
"I used to receive twice this much."
The man's expression didn't change. "Things have changed. Security's tighter than before. Deliveries carry more risk now, so prices went up. When things settle down again, they'll naturally come back down."
"You always say that," she replied evenly. "Somehow they never do."
The thug's patience finally wore thin. "Woman, I said let it go."
He reached over, snatched the spirit stone that had once again appeared from her hand, and pocketed it without the slightest shame. "Now get lost. Even that little bit you didn't want is gone."
Silence lingered for a heartbeat.
"You really thought," the woman asked quietly, "that because I'm buying from you, you could push me around?"
A thread of grey Qi flowed beyond her body.
The thug's expression froze. Qi Condensation.
Without another word, he jerked two fingers toward the parrot. "Nest." He commanded.
The bird immediately launched into the air, getting out of the evil woman's clutches with no issue. Swiftly disappearing between the rooftops.
Only once it was gone did the woman let out a faint sigh. The timid customer vanished. Something long and black stirred behind her. A dark shadow dominated the wall.
A thorn-covered vine unfurled from her back like a living serpent, its countless barbs glinting beneath the moonlight. Before the thug could react, it wrapped itself around his torso and effortlessly lifted him clear off the ground.
"W-Wait!" His legs kicked helplessly. "That's not what I meant! I was joking!!"
"I'll give it back! I'll even get you twice the usual amount!"
Seeing her expression remain utterly indifferent, he immediately shifted his tone.
"You know... you're absolutely right." A strained smile spread across his face. "Might makes right. You're strong. I'll go get you twice what you used to take. On me."
"Oh?"
Sienna tilted her head slightly. "Now you've changed your tune." She looked almost amused. "People really are fickle creatures."
The thorn-vine tightened just enough to steal the color from his face. "But I'm not interested in you. I simply needed to lure out the other little rat hiding behind this operation." Her eyes drifted toward the building beside them.
"You guys may be little street rats who bring no value to the city, but I have to admit. You do know how to set up an array."
Inside one of the buildings nearby, the atmosphere couldn't have contrasted from the wild drug-infested, violence-invested that was outside.
Laughter echoed between crowded tables where gamblers shouted over dice and cards. Serving girls weaved effortlessly through the room with trays balanced upon one hand, while exotic beasts lounged lazily beside Dark Root members.
Along the walls, illusion arrays projected moving scenes of famous cultivators crossing blades, drawing cheers whenever a particularly dazzling exchange unfolded.
Seated at the center of it all was The Boss.
His tattoo stretched from the back of his hands to the base of his neck, darker and far more detailed than those sketched on his subordinates, making his rank immediately obvious. Though short and thick around the waist, there was nothing sluggish about the man. A sleeveless black tunic strained slightly across his stomach as he calmly counted spirit stones upon the table before him.
The parrot burst through an open window above him.
It landed squarely on the table, squawking frantically as it sent spirit stones off the surface.
The man's brows furrowed.
"Gidou." He clicked his tongue. "Another troublesome customer? I'll handle it. No need to get so angry about it." He let out a sigh. "If only everyone were as loyal and hard-working as you."
A towering bald man rose from his chair, rolling his shoulders as he reached for an iron-studded cudgel leaning against the wall. Feeling slightly attacked by the Boss's mutterings.
The boss waved him back down. "Sit."
His tone wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. "Things are unstable enough already." He stood, fastening the cudgel to his belt. "I've been meaning to send a message anyway."
"Gidou."
The parrot leapt from the table, effortlessly hovering in front of him.
"Lead the way."
The bird darted out through the window, and the boss followed without haste. After weaving through a pair of narrow alleys, he rounded one final corner...and froze. Eyes widening in disbelief. A trap!!
Inspector Sienna stood waiting beneath the shade of the opposite wall.
The moment his eyes met hers, instinct took over, and he spun to flee.
His foot never left the ground.
Looking down, he found black thorned vines silently wrapped around both ankles.
Sienna didn't even look at him.
"You." She addressed the thug still hanging helplessly behind her. "Leave." She dropped him to the ground.
The man hesitated. Fear flashed across his face, yet he remained rooted in place. Loyalty had won over survival. At least, a show of it.
The boss let out a weary sigh. "Stubby." The subordinate immediately looked over. "Get the hell away from here."
Without another word, the thug broke into a sprint, disappearing down the alley as though afraid Sienna might change her mind.
The thorn-vine slithered across the ground before lifting the gang boss into the air as effortlessly as it had the previous thug. His feet dangled a handspan above the stones while the cruel barbs rested lightly against his clothes, close enough to remind him they could sink in at any moment.
"Inspector..." he said through a strained smile. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much." Sienna folded her arms. "Just some information."
He let out an aggrieved sigh. "You've already dragged me into enough trouble the last time. Do you have no shame? Nobody squeezes a favor dry the way you do. You helped me, true, but I paid my debt."
Sienna's expression remained unchanged. "Shut up. Annoying cretin." The vine tightened ever so slightly.
He winced.
"That was hardly a favor. It's not my fault you couldn't even keep your own people under control. The moment we spoke, half your organization knew about it."
He opened his mouth to argue.
"I'm not interested in hearing your excuses." The interruption was so swift that he immediately thought better of speaking.
"The sooner you answer my questions, the sooner you'll be back on your feet, and no one will ever know you spoke to me."
His jaw tightened. "...What do you want to know?"
Two drawn sketches materialized before Sienna, suspended in the air between them.
The charcoal drawings were remarkably lifelike. Two unfamiliar faces.
"Have you ever seen either of these men?"
The boss studied them carefully before slowly shaking his head. "Never, and I haven't heard anything about new recruits either. As far as I know, there haven't been any."
Sienna's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
He shifted uneasily within the thorn-vine. "Things have been... strange lately. The big boss hasn't been showing himself nearly as often. The others hadn't reached out to me in quite a while." He forced out a bitter laugh. "Though maybe that's because of you. They might think I'm a traitor now."
"If they did, sunny boy..." Sienna replied flatly, "You wouldn't be hanging here talking to me."
The man fell silent. "Anything else?"
She studied him for another moment before asking,
"Did you hear about two Dark Root members slaughtering a one-star patrol team on the Riverglass Bend? Well, close to it at least."
"What?" His eyes widened. "I haven't heard a word about that. I swear."
Both the surprise and fear looked genuine. The Guards' Office had a vengeful habit. They always struck back ten times as hard.
"I really don't know much more than I did the last time we spoke." He hesitated, knowing he had to give her at least something. "Although..."
Sienna gave the vine a subtle twitch. "What? I'm running out of patience. Spit it out."
He gulped. "I didn't hear this from anyone important. Just street talk. Word gets around."
"But...The Brotherhood has been pushing into Dark Root territory around the docks. I don't know anything beyond that. It's simply what people have been whispering."
"Hmm..." Sienna considered his words for a long moment before the thorn-vine slowly lowered him back onto the ground. "Very well. You may leave."
The man rubbed his aching ribs, clearly relieved.
As he turned to go, Sienna spoke once more. "And stop talking about debts."
He froze.
"A debt is repaid when a life is saved." Her gaze pinned him in place. "I saved yours. So far, you've given me nothing of equal value."
A long silence passed between them.
Finally, she jerked her chin toward the alley. "Go."
He needed no further encouragement.
The boss practically scurried down the alley, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to put as much distance between himself and the inspector as possible.
Sienna watched him disappear around the corner before letting out a quiet breath.
"Piece of crap. Just wasted my time."
Before Sienna could leave the alley, a brilliant streak of golden light descended from the night sky.
The talisman shot past the fleeing gang boss in a flash so bright that the narrow alley was momentarily bathed in daylight. Somewhere beneath a pile of broken crates, a rat bolted in blind panic, disappearing through a crack in the wall.
The gang boss never even noticed.
A faint smile tugged at Sienna's lips. "Just in time."