A boy stands beside a white horse. He sprinkles grain on his palm; the horse nips at it while his gentle fingers stroke its sleek back.
A man strides toward the boy. "Prince Chille! Sir."
"Hey, Peter. Good of you to come."
"What's our next move? More enemies will stroll into our kingdom, sir."
The boy laughs. "They come, I'm ready."
"But my prince—"
"I've had enough. Just leave. I'm busy right now."
"Sir."
A figure materialises from the nearby shadow. "Prince Chille, sir," he kneels.
"Ha! Daniel. What's the verdict?"
Daniel's mouth twists, unsteady. "My Prince, you must leave. Jager sent two of his demons for the Chuppah."
"Oh. My body already feels the warning. My kingdom needs me. I stay."
Daniel's eyes widen. "You can't face these enemies, my prince! They're his top mercenary and assassin."
"Names?"
"Satan's Soul. Antar Joa."
"Jager is ruthless. He thinks little of me because of my age," the boy chuckles, lips curling in mockery. "That's where he is wrong."
"Got a strategy?"
"Yes. But I'm not stupid enough to face those two head-on. They're walking genocides. Intellect alone won't save me."
"Daniel — no one saw you come here?"
"No eyes could catch me, sir. Jager will never know I serve you."
"Good. Be careful. Tell Copi to ready the horse. I leave now."
"What about—"
"Stop shivering. I'm already ten steps ahead. Jager won't know what hit him."
"Right."
"Tell Copi… just tell her to wait for me. Stay safe."
"Aye, sir."
---------------------------------------
The council hall stands empty. Eight figures wait in silence, faces stone-still, for judgment.
"Machi Kuli asks, "Moon Black, what do you think the council will say?"
Moon Black stays silent, gaze locked forward.
"Machi Kuli calls again. "Moon Black! Hey!"
She blinks, dragged from a void. "Sorry. What?"
"Never mind…"
The door creaks — Creeeak! — echoing like a dying breath. The council enters.
They settle around the oak table. Hammer slams.
"Moon Black!" Lady Jane's voice cuts the air.
Moon Black steps forward. "Ma'am."
"Report. Nightshade Keep."
"We failed. An agent appeared. Battle erupted. Chuppah shattered. Guards swarmed. We ran."
Pink-eye mom sneers. "Sneaky Birds have been slacking lately." Her face twists.
"If I may," Moon Black says, "the Chuppah was fake. Smoke, light, alarm — a trap."
"What makes you think so?" Yemen asks.
"Its particles were smoke, light, and alarm. Built to lure and kill."
"Moon Black has never been incompetent? Never. She always delivers," Lady Jane says.
Moon Black snaps. "I told you — it's not our fault! How were we supposed to know?"
Lady Jane points at Helma. "This newbie. Who is she?"
"Our saviour," Daisy answers.
"Explain."
"She pulled us from the guards. Got us out alive."
"Woman. Name," Mr John demands.
"Helma Herra. I've been running for a long time."
"Run from who?"
"Blue Whales kept me prisoner. I escaped. Wanted list. Kept my head down until tonight."
Old man Tom leans forward, eyes like knives. "What made you risk everything for strangers?"
"I saw them running. I opened my hideout. Then I learned…" She looks at Scarface. "…he's my husband."
The council freezes. Shock ripples.
"Scarface," Lady Jane calls.
"Ma'am."
"Is this true?"
"Every word."
Lady Jane nods slowly. "Helma Herra joins the Sneaky Birds. Objections?"
Silence.
Hammer slams. "Settled. Moon Black — your proposal?"
"We hit Nightshade Keep tonight. Iron against iron."
"Plan?"
"We go hard. No mercy."
"Kid, don't charge blind—"
"Fire doesn't fight fire," Moon Black cuts in. "But iron bends iron. We prove who's stronger."
Pink-eye mom smiles. "I'm with the girl."
Lady Jane raises her voice. "All in favor?"
No dissent.
"Then it's war. Momo! Jude! Migo! Lewa!"
Four figures burst through the door. "Boss!"
"You're with the Sneaky Birds tonight. I want the Keep in ashes."
"Roger."
Yemen grins. " Pride Lands Level-5 mercenaries. Same level as mid-tier assassins. Joins sneaky birds. Perfect."
Lady Jane's eyes burn. "Victory. Or don't come back."
"Right."
Later that night.
A woman in black crouches on a seven-foot fence at the edge of Nightshade Keep. Telescope pressed to her eye.
"What's taking them so long… Who will Jager send this time?"
Shapes appear in the lens — Sneaky Birds charging, more than before.
She swings the scope toward the city's entrance.
Seven figures.
A woman with a 4'3 machine gun.
Another with a sword across her back.
Five men with rifles.
The telescope almost falls from her hands.
"Satan's Soul… and Antar Joa."
She drops from the fence.
"It's going to be bloody tonight."