The Black Teeth

I - Clyde

"Good evening Clyde, you can assume why I called you here?"

"New job?"

"A .eNot exactly."

The man placed his hands on the desk, feeling the dark stained wood, he pulled a drawer towards himself and began routing around. Finally satisfied, he pulled out a small stack of papers.

"You see, I've served long enough with the Black Teeth. My time here is over, and I can't simply disband the gang, I need someone to take over."

"Hardam, you can't simply be thinking of leaving. You started this gang. You brought me in from the streets, you trained me, showed me how to be a a proper thief."

"And you've done well, which is why I want you to take over. I raised you under my wing, but I think you can handle."

"And what are you to do."

"I've made quite a decent stash. Never to late to start gambling," He chuckled and shuffled the papers in his hands before passing them towards Clyde. "Look Clyde, I'm getting old and am in no shape to continue. I've made my dent on the economy, but I can't do any more."

-

"So, the new leader of the Black Teeth? What happened to Hardam?" Jasmine asked. Like Clyde, she was a veteran of the gang always worked with Clyde on any job.

"Yeah. Hardam left this morning. Took off to Dirk I think." Clyde seated across from Jasmine.

"What's so amazing there?" She said disgusted. She was never a huge fan of anywhere but crime infested cities.

"Not sure. I can't recall anything significant he said he was going their for."

"So what's your plan for the gang?" She asked cautiously.

"I don't know, half the gang has already given their notice of leave, said it's not the same without Hardam." Clyde said regretfully.

"Your kidding. Who's all leaving?"

Clyde tapped his fingers on the table for a few moments. "Ethan, Lyle, Zari, Malco, Jark, and Polly."

"So basically everyone we need. Lyle's the best demolition we have, Zari is great under pressure, Malco has been of assistance of Hardam since we broke him out of prison. What about Jonas?"

"He's considering leaving. There's no other brawler like him either. We need him for our next job."

"How do we convince him to stay?" Jasmine asked. She leaned over a counter and grabbed a few glasses before pouring a sticky sap into each one and passing one to Clyde. She took a sip, downing the liquid.

"I have a few ideas. Most of the crew won't stay no matter if I convince or not, so I'm going to try some luck."

"You can't win by luck alone Clyde, soon it will run out." Jasmine said warningly.

"We need the crew Jasmine, so luck may be the only way." Clyde wrapped his fingers around the drink, raising it up to his lips, and allowing it to flow down his throat. It had a small tingle to it as he drank.

"I just want you to be careful."

"When has that ever been a priority." Clyde said sternly.

Jasmine rose from the table, drinking the last few drops of the drink and departed from the conversation. Clyde sat for a few moments, eventually finding himself having the energy to  read the papers Hardam gave him earlier.

The Black Teeth, Grim,

As you probably know already at the time of reading, I have departed to Polim by ship.
As the new Leader of the Gang, all my possessions in the hideout are yours, as well as access to everyone's safes. Other secret Black Teeth hideaways have been listed below with their locations. Keys have been packaged in the envelope.
I wish you luck building the gang even more. I will send more mail if I get anymore information.

PS: Colour of difference shows the way when the path is unclear

Live alone,
Or Die Together

- Hardam

    Clyde gave a curious look towards the envelope before ripping it open with one of his hidden knives on his personal. Inside were as stated; a group of keys labeled with their uses. He pocketed them for save keeping. He re-read the letter multiple times to see if I was missing any riddles or secret messages which are commonly hidden in letters between the Black Teeth, but only noticed the obvious one,
Colour of difference shows the way when the path is unclear.
Obviously this was something Clyde was supposed to solve. Overseas mail transportation is commonly looked over by Grimards, so hiding riddles is the only way to say something secret between letters. Ultimately deciding that it could wait till later, he snatched the key to Hardam's old safe and headed to his old Office Headquarters, which he now owned. Unlocking the series of locks, he finally rolled the handle and entered the room. It was lit darkly with few lamps, with statues of wolves and wolf heads scattered throughout. A singular desk sat the end of the room with a painting overtop. The smell like a musky cabinet filled the room lurking from the black carpets.
"I know your secrets Hardam."
He pulled the painting forwards and released it from the wall. A sturdy metal safe was implanted in the wall.
"You knew I would find this, so you had no point mentioning it in your letter."
Clyde have a small chuckle to himself before stuffing the key into the hole until he heard a satisfying click and preceded his search. Inside held a small variety of items which included a small stack of money, a cane with engravings and a wolf head as the handle, some other things, but what caught Clyde's eye the most was another letter. Without a thought he slit it open. It contained no address, no name, but a few simple sentences, like

The stick of the devil, in the depths of hell leads to the belly of the beast.

Another riddle. Clyde committed it to memory. He kept the money and other various belongings inside the safe but pulled out the cane. The placed the painting back over the safe, and sat down at the best observing the cane.
"Who departs an old man from his cane?"

Clyde knew the answer though. The cane is passed down from Leader to Leader from the gang and it was now in his possession, each name of the holder scratched on the cane. The handle was that of a wolf, open mouthed. The symbol of the Black Teeth regarded a wolf, or multiple. Known for their trickery, bravery, loyalty, companionship, betrayal, and strength, each as reminder of what is expected of the gang.

     Although Clyde had no leads on jobs or hits on anyone, he knew what Hardam left behind was important. The gang was crumbling beneath his feet as more people left, he needed trustworthy people for the right clue, if he was even close to being able to figure out what Hardam left behind, if it's anything at all.