It took her three years living and training in the deep forest to gain control over her dragon skin and her phoenix wings.  For the past three years, the towns and village around the forest that she lived in was the safest it has been in several hundred years.  Hongmo had kept watch over each and every town and village, ensuring every citizen lived a peaceful life away from thieves, murderers, and rapist.  Anyone who she caught committing a heinous crime she killed.  The towns and village called her the Red Angel that watched over them.  

Hongmo also learned that since the Goryo had infused itself into her soul, she too did not need to eat or drink like a regular human being, nor did she need to sleep like a normal human being. She only ate and drank once every couple of days.  The souls she took would feed her for a longer period of time.  And with every soul she took, she became stronger.  She became addicted to the power.  And she knew, she couldn't stay in the area much longer.  Her greed for power grew with every soul she took.  

Hongmo had lived in solitude for three years, never getting close to anyone.  Never talking to the citizens.  Always keeping her distance.  Now she she was 21 years old, her scars have healed.  And now she needed to leave the small home she created for herself and seek out her own future somewhere else.  

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Hongmo had made her way to the royal city of Bido Kingdom, the city of Obe.  Hongmo spent three weeks exploring each section of the city from the small river rat alleys to the rich courtyards of the nobility.  She even flew overhead the royal palace and studied the royal gardens and the royal guards.  She knew the city of Obe like the back of her hand.  

She came into the city with no money, so when she needed to rest, she just laid down on top of one of the roofs within the royal palace and closed her eyes for a while and left before anyone could feel her presence.  

One morning, Hongmo walked into a freshly painted building.  The busy tea house bustled with patrons of the noble class even in the early morning as waitresses ran to and fro to do the patron's bidding.  

"Good morning, Miss.  Would you like to sit in the main sitting room or would you like a private room?"  The hostess asked as Hongmo stopped at the entrance of the tea house.  

"I would like to talk to the owner of this establishment."  Hongmo said softly.  

The hostess looked at Hongmo with questioning eyes.  Hongmo wore a plain red silk dress.  The quality to the silk dress was neither low quality nor was it high quality.  It had no embroidery and no gems sewn on the dress. She wore no jewels or fancy hair pins. However, she stood with the confidence of someone with power.  Her luxurious red hair laid flat, down her back, reaching past her butt.   Her navy blue eyes with flecks of gold held shadows and secrets behind them. Her eyes also reflected a hint of wildness.  Her tan skin looked smooth and healthy.  There was something about her that made her seem sleek and dangerous.   

It was hard for the hostess to decide if the woman was an important person or not. She didn't want to insult the woman in any way so instead she invited Hongmo to the back of the tea house and sat her in an open office where the manager and owner would use during meetings.  

"Please sit, the owner will arrive shortly.  Is there something you would like to drink while you wait?"  The hostess asked.  

"Nothing for now."  Hongmo said as she sat down with her back to the wall.  

She waited in silence for a long time before the door slid open and a tall, silver hair and silver eyed man entered.  His cocky attitude could be seen and felt as he walked in as if he owned everything in the world.  Even the affections of every women, married or maiden. He owned their attraction towards him.  He knew he had handsome features and he knew how to use it to his advantage.  

"You asked for an audience with the owner of this establishment, so here I am."  Mace said as he sat down with a flourish.  He signaled for his best tea to be served to the beautiful woman that sat silently across from him.  He had sat behind the room watching her the moment she entered the room.  He wanted to watch how she conducted herself, if there was anything she did or said that could give her characteristics away or the reason why she was there.  

However, the whole time, she sat still and stared at one spot the whole time. Her perseverance surprised him.  Whoever trained her did well.  He couldn't get a read off of her and it frustrated him to no end.  

"My name is Mace.  Welcome to my tea house, please drink."  Mace said as he smiled at her. He waved his hand out to invite her to drink the tea first.    

"No thank you."  Hongmo said.  

Her soft voice captured Mace's attention.  It was like an intoxicating song that reached his soul.  It wrapped itself around his heart as it tied itself to him.  His heart skipped for the unknown woman who spoke three words to him.  

"How can I help you."  Mace asked as he stared memorizing at her. 

"The question should be, how can we help each other."  Hongmo told him.  "In addition to this fine tea establishment, you also run a darker and more hidden business.  I would like to get paid for the job I do."  

Mace's eyebrow twitched in surprise as he held the smiling mask on his face.  "I don't know what you're talking about."  

"Let us cut through all the crap and speak plainly and to the point.  I have a certain set of skills that you are in need of.  You have a certain set of jobs that I'm in need of.  Let us work together to ensure a successful business relationship."  Hongmo told him as she sat back.  Her shoulders relaxing as she watched his mask start to fall.  

Mace had been in the hidden assassin world for all his life.  He inherited the business from his family.  They have worked hard, for over 100 years, to not expose themselves to the public.  And suddenly, this woman shows up asking for a job as an assassin. 

Mace's mask came off and a hard scowl replaced his smile.  His eyes that lit up with joy turned dull and hard as he stared at the young woman.  She was a beautiful woman, but not one who could start wars and burn cities.  Her red hair was the first thing he noticed, while her navy blue eyes held secrets behind them.  

"How can I help?"  Mace asked.  

"You should have a list of jobs.  I would like to see them and pick out which job best fits me.  I get the job done, we both get paid.  Should I feel like taking another job, I will do it.  You are not to control or influence which job I take.  You are not to demand or threaten which job I take. But most of all, I do not answer to you."  Hongmo tells Mace.  "Will there be a problem?"