To Be a Power in the shadows part 2

chapter 149

Through empty hallways, Zack headed towards the basement.

Going past aged corridors that stank of rusted iron, he stopped before a large door. He retrieved a key from his breast pocket and turned the lock. Checking behind him to make sure he hadn't been tailed, Zack entered the room.

I heard the lock click as soon as the door was closed.

I too checked my surroundings and seeing no one there, I revealed myself.

I turned the door handle. Locked, as expected.

I jutted some slime into the keyhole and picked the lock. Lockpicking is something I learned in my past life so it was a breeze. What's a power in the shadows if he can't open a few closed doors?

Incidentally, I have my slimes hidden inside my body so they won't find anything even with a full pat down.

I checked the presences on the other side and, determining it to be safe, stealthily entered the room.

It was a large, dimly-lit room. A celler of sorts.

At the back of the room, there was a lit lamp with a number of men gathered around it.

I sneaked closer and hid behind a crate. I checked and the crate was empty.

The men were discussing something in the dark room. Zack was among them.

"Boss, we're all here like you ordered."

"Seems so..."

The man who the others seemed to defer to as their boss stepped forward. I'd imagined him to be something like a boss grunt, but he turned out to be a lot younger.

In his early 20s, most likely.

He had gray hair extending down to his shoulders and was well featured. He was no grunt. In fact, he even looked sort of intelligent.

From his musculature and posture, I could tell that he was trained in martial arts.

He didn't have the air of an prisoner at all.

I like it. Breaking the mold and all that.

"Well met, brothers. The Doem Faction is pleased with your various contributions."

The boss said with a practiced voice, casting his gaze over the surrounding men.

He then proceeded to ask each one of them what he desired.

I see, so the thing about giving it to a guard was a lie.

"Zack, what about you?"

"I want— food. Good food and more of it. Enough for two people at least."

Nicely done Mr. Zack!

"Gonna put on 'em pounds, Zack!"

Zack cringed from the surrounding jeers.

"Boss, let's have another stripper show with the boys!"

"That shit's great, boss!"

"Again? ...Try to keep it in moderation, men."

Like that, Mr. handsome bossman listened to everyone's requests one by one.

And once he was done, his face turned serious for the first time.

"Brothers, we are in difficult times. Lately, there have been more attempts to cull our numbers. Why only yesterday, a coach carrying officers was assaulted, resulting in 7 dead."

For a moment, I thought that was talking about me, but I didn't leave the camp yesterday, so it must be someone else.

"He's skilled. Every time he's killed, he's done so without a sound. We've taken to calling him OWL."