Devil May Cry: Volume 1 (OFFICIAL NOVEL)

Phase 4: Part 1

"All the people who get involved with Tony meet with a sticky end."

No one could say for certain where this latest rumor had originated. But the story fanned fears throughout the underworld, gaining credibility as mercenary's swapped embroidered tales of Tony's past exploits. It wasn't long before every dive with one foot on the wrong side of the law was rife with gossip about him.

Bobby's Cellar was no exception.

"Our Tony, huh?"

"Ever notice how the scab Grue just disappeared? I heard he got involved with Tony and that was that."

"You know they never found a single body in that hospital fire."

"That place had been hacked apart. The cops said the cuts matched his sword exactly."

"Now that you mention it, Mad Dog Denvers disappeared after he got mixed up with Tony."

"Remember Kerry? After Tony dumped her, she slit open her wrists."

Underworld types were a cowardly, superstitious lot. If something sinister was on the wind, it had to reek of Tony. Every mercenary in every bar in the city agreed.

"Well, that's how it is, Tony. I don't personally have anything against you, but..."

"Don't worry about it, Bobby. It's only natural that the other guys are going to be superstitious. Nothing we can do about it."

Tony had just arrived and was talking to Bobby at the entrance to the bar. The sun set and there was a merry feeling flowing out from Bobby's Cellar. But the proprietor had spotted Tony just before he had come through the door and hurried out to meet him.

"It's more than just the rumors. Gilver's reputation as a cutthroat just keeps growing. All the old troublemakers throw their weight around thanks to him. I'm mopping up blood every day now." Bobby's sickly pallor reflected his fatigue.

"They think you're a coward, Tony. You walk in there, someone's gonna pick a fight with you."

"Bobby, you got the wrong idea. All I want is a strawberry sundae. I haven't had one for a while." Tony waved brusquely and set off down the alley. His stomach gurgled with hunger. He had used up most of his savings opening bank accounts for Grue's two remaining daughters. The rest had been spent replacing his beloved red coat. But the rumors had been taking their toll. Night after night, agents and middlemen passed him over for work.

Now his wallet was as empty as his stomach.

Tony set off towards Goldstein's place. She always had time for him, even if she didn't like to show it. The rumbling of his stomach was a pathetic soundtrack scoring his journey.

Gilver passed Tony on his way to the Cellar. He radiated vitality and health, despite the bandages that covered his face. Gilver had become such a fixture in the local underworld scene that the mercenaries scarcely noticed the rags anymore. He swept into the bar with an elegant confidence.

"Everyone's here?" As ever, he was a man of few words.

The men gathered responded enthusiastically. "This is almost all of us."

The usual mercenaries and middlemen were clustered around Gilver, who had smoothly taken the reins as the Cellar's leader. The auction system employed by the absent Enzo had been replaced by a free-for-all grab for any jobs Gilver decided he didn't want. The slender warrior took the lion's share of work, leaving the rest of the mercenaries to fight over the scraps.

"Tonight I have prepared a plan."

A buzz broke out among the crowd. Gilver rarely spoke more than was necessary. He gestured for the lights to be dimmed and then surveyed his audience.