???: "I don't know why you've chosen to meet with me here."

???: "You are one to ask questions, perhaps you can help yourself by shutting up."

Two figures are revealed to be standing in opposition to each other. One is right outside a dock warehouse during twilight, the other is shrouded in shadows inside. The distant waves of the sea sloshed against Vale's vast coasts as the man outside of the meeting building began to speak again. Desperation was easily heard from his voice.

Man: "I've done what you asked, my surveillance of Beacon is through. C-can you let my family go now sir?"

???: "Such needless matters don't worry me."

The younger sounding figure dismissed.

Man: "I swear I haven't told anyone of this, you're the only man I've talked to since this morning!"

???: "So you request that you are given freedom because of your ability to follow my orders to the letter is it not?"

The male figure said, walking towards the man, almost revealing himself. But stopping only a few feet from the light that found it's way into the shadowed sanctuary. The man began to stutter a bit, as his hands began to quiver.

Man: "Y-yes, why do you ask me this now?"

The boy now stepped out into the light, his boots created rhythmic pounds to the ground, a black hoodie obscured his face while hiding an angry frown. Disappointment and dissatisfaction riddled his hidden facade, the man felt shivers down his spine as the Ace of Spades, Remnant's newest greatest threat, and his recent contractor revealed himself so confidently. So calming, yet disturbing.

(Y/N): "You're a thief, thieves are considered the most basic of criminals. Their ability to infiltrate and take is superb and almost inconceivable, which is why I hired you. You're considered one of the best thieves Vale has to offer. A man capable of cracking even the best layers of security. I admire your skill... yet, there is something I despise against thieves. Do you want to know what that is?"

The man looked up, gulping as he asked Spade exactly as he requested.

Man: "W-what is that?"

(Y/N): "Thieves, are the lowest forms of liars!..."

The man felt his heart leap into his throat as the normally calm voice of the Ace of Spades raised itself in fury.

(Y/N): "Did you not think I would anticipate your eventual betrayal?... You're a smart man, yet so foolish. Do you remember that Ace of Spades card I gave you? The one I told you to keep in your pocket, with my anonymous scroll number? Which you would use to call me whenever I requested an hourly status report on your mappings?"

The man felt his right pocket, feeling the card that indeed was still there.

(Y/N): "That card had a tracking device in it! I saw as you walked into the police station and gave them wind on our meeting!"

The man gritted his teeth, as sirens could be heard in the distance though they sounded too far away.

Man: "You, you bastard! I swear, the police are coming right now! You'll be arrested and hanged!"

(Y/N): "I don't fear the police, you fool. It is the police who fear me."

(Y/N) smirked, letting down his hood. Revealing his ebony hair, his confident yet furious stare and his right glowing crimson eye. Hinting at his possible inhuman origins.

(Y/N): "As for you, you'll get what you deserved..."

The man attempted to pull out the pistol he kept with him at all times, but blundered on the first second. (Y/N) was quicker on the draw with his revolver, the man fired once as the Ace of Spades took the bullet with his aura, not even bothering to use his semblance on such an unnecessary move. He charged as he made sure to hit a headshot with his gun. The man, with no aura to protect himself, fell to the ground onto his back, dead.

The Ace of Spades then took out a piece of paper, he then reached into his pocket, before grunting. Realizing that he did not bring a pencil.

Then he stared at the gunshot in his victim's head, improvising on the spot. As his gloved index finger reached for the wound inflicted by the gunshot, rubbing out a portion of the blood that had begun leaking out of the hole.

Scribbling some words on the piece of paper before he left, Ace was sure to pull out an Ace of Spades card from one of his other various pockets. He grinned as he placed it into the breast-pocket of the now dead man's jacket, dropping the piece of paper as well.

"You've found this man dead, I know you did. You have two options now, frame it as a suicide and you keep your lives, decide to post it onto the news. Hundreds of people will die in the next few weeks including you poor fools, you'd like to prevent that would you?"

- ♠️

- 3 Weeks Later - (Y/N)'s POV -

Walking down the ghetto areas of Vale seemed like a field stroll, considering that nothing felt dangerous to me. The cigar I was smoking provided some ample light during this satisfactory New Moon, alongside the streetlights illuminating the darkness that seemed to be closing in from every side. That was eventually overtaken when I saw an establishment is bright neon lights, open 24/7. Junior's Bar. 18+ Only!

(Y/N): "Just turned 18 yesterday, can't hurt to have a drink. Might as well run this boring night away with some whisky. Nothing left to plan anyways,"

I began walking into the bar, tossing my cigar in front of me. Butting it out on the pavement. Tossing my hoodie onto my head, I made my way through the doors. The whole place was alive with dancers rocking the floor, henchmen on guard with guns and swords for those who failed to pay. The bartender himself, along with two young cute looking women by his side.

Henchman: "Hey kid, you gotta pay up 20 to enter."

One of them walked over to me with his hand outstretched asking for money, I grabbed his arm. Twisting it behind his back, I heard him cry out as he held his wrist with a pained expression. He backed off and ran into the nearby washroom in shock, while I continued my stride towards the bar table.

Junior: "Who are you? Never seen you 'round these parts."

(Y/N): "Evening Mister...Ladies..."

I saluted them, they both stood rooted to their seats beside the Bartender, with that significant bitchy look about them, just as I expected. Though the one in red had a little twinkle of desire in her eyes... curious.

Junior: "You're a confident one, what is your name?"

I tilted my head, unsure of what to make of this. I lowered my hood, smirking as the twins gasped at my appearance.

Red: "You're the Ace of Spades."

She held a surprised, yet welcoming look. Even to this revelation which would sent even the bravest of huntsmen running for the hills.

Light-Teal: "You, you're that criminal that's been appearing on news lately."

Junior: "So that's who you are. Seems like a risky move showing your face in here."

(Y/N): "What's life without a little risk, am I wrong my good friend?"

I asked, grabbing a flask. Junior grabbed a bottle of whiskey sitting right behind him. Filling up my drink. Meanwhile, the red twin came around the bar table, she sat right next to me as I drank. I set my eyes on her, she had black hair, green eyes and her claws looked dangerously sharp.

(Y/N): "There something you want to ask me?"

Melanie: "My name's Melanie. What's yours?"

(Y/N): "Why do you wanna know?"

I ask, my red eye glaring somewhat cruelly.

Melanie: "You seem like an interesting man."

She boasted, tracing my flask glass with the edge of one of her claws.

(Y/N): "Really? What might I ask is so interesting about me?"

Melanie: "How you pull off these feats of yours... and why you do what you do."

(Y/N): "Mysteriousness intrigues you, Melanie?"

I ask again. She nods slowly.

Melanie: "I find it, sexy..."

She bit her lip, I thought about her. She had a thin figure, nice legs, too much makeup though...

(Y/N): "You want me don't you?"

I ask, smiling gently. She inched closer to me, now tracing my shoulder with her finger. I then lost my smile, firmly grabbing her wrist and moving it away.

(Y/N): "I can't say the same about myself..."

Her shocked expression entertained me. She began blushing with embarrassment, her twin sister giggling behind her.

Melanie: "Rude..."

(Y/N): "Mister... Uhhh. Who the hell are you again?"

The bearded man, who witnessed all of that. Gave me a stern stare, signifying that he wanted me gone.

Junior: "My nickname is Junior, I don't like giving out my real name."

(Y/N): "Ahh, so we do share something alike. Funny, because I thought the intelligence gap was too far between us to even have something in common with you."

Junior's stare only got even angrier. He slammed his hand on the table as I chuckled.

Junior: "Enough! You, you come into my bar! Injure one of my henchmen, don't think I didn't see that, and you insult my women!"

I gave a half-assed surprised gasp.

(Y/N): "Your women? I thought women weren't property to he owned. Surely, sweet young Melanie over there didn't seem like she wanted to be your woman anymore."

I only smiled even more as Junior pulled out a rocket launcher out from under his desk. It transformed into a melee object, he growled as he leapt over his desk. Guests began to leave as they saw conflict begin to escalate.

(Y/N): "Temper, temper..."

Junior: "I'm gonna beat you to pulp!"

He swung his club at me, I took it. Sustaining aura damage.

(Y/N): "You hit hard, but do you hit fast?"

I began to utilize my semblance. Dusting and re-forming all around Junior as he tried in vain to hit me. Once he was left open, I punched him in the stomach, kicking him as he then went down.

(Y/N): "Weak..."

Junior: "W-what unholy semblance is that?"

(Y/N): "It's the Devil's Ashes. Perhaps now you'll think twice before challenging me."

Junior: "Girls! Kill him!"

I kept my back against the twins as they both leapt for me. Melanie and her sister hit air as they only passed by my dusty form. I re-formed right on top of the desk, pulling out my revolver and twirling out my butterfly knife.

(Y/N): "Let's tango!"

Melanie was the first to charge at me, predictable. Her claws made her slower than me, who used speed and precision to my advantage. Her teal sister was faster, Melanie fell back to let herself recover form lost energy as her sister took over the fighting for her. Her high heels made it difficult to predict her attacks, as she used them to confuse her opponents as she faked them out to divert them from the real attacks.

I was hit twice from both sides as, I caught her trying to punch me. Catching her fist, I flung her onto the ground. But then I heard Melanie charging in to attack me once more, I blocked one of her slashes with my knife, parrying her other attack before pistol-whipping her in the head.

Using my gun as a melee weapon, I smacked her temple and slashed her arm with my butterfly knife, before doing the same to her leg. She fell screaming from pain, as the wounds then began to bleed.

(Y/N): "Here's my card, learn to fight better."

I tossed her an Ace of Spades. Before turning my attention back to her sister, who was charging in. Enraged by her sibling's injury. I grabbed my watch, clicking the reset knob. She was getting closer until I sidestepped, tripping her in her high heels.

I then kicked her in the stomach with full force, my boot knife having extended due to me activating it through my watch detonator.

She lay down on the floor, trying to stop her deep wound from bleeding.

The henchmen who surrounded me, then stepped back. Forming a path towards the door, Junior was able to get back up from his beating. I turned my head to him, backhanding my butterfly knife in s threatening manner.

Junior: "Fine Spade, you win. J-just... please. Go."

He begged, clutching his arm.

(Y/N): "I'll remember this Junior... this hospitality was most delightful. Perhaps I'll even cone back, maybe next time. You and your harem won't be so lucky."

I saluted, retracting my boot knife, holstering my pistol, and folding up my butterfly knife before I shifted to semblance form and zipped out of there in the blink of an eye. The door behind me closing shut as I exited.