It was the year 1835. Black Hat managed to sneak into the mansion of esteem town Hero, Sir Reginald Mathews, who managed to save the town from a fire. Black Hat was the one who started the flames as a distraction to pillage the only bank in the town. While the Hero managed to put out the fire, the buildings would not be rebuilt without any funds.

Black Hat snickered when he saw the whole time attending Sir Reginald's house party, celebrating his achievement and everyone unaware of their empty bank vault.

Black Hat tipped his top hat forward and pressed himself close to the brick walls of the home. He hid in the shadows which was easy due to his dark attire. He was at the 3rd floor and was making his way to Sir Reginald's treasure room, where he kept his most personal treasure...a faberge egg. Black Hat wanted to steal it as a souvenir, a way to remember the cocky man's defeat.

Black Hat peeked into the window, to check if no one was in the room but growled in annoyance when he found a woman in a red gown and black hair. He did not recognize her as being part of the town. In fact, he had never seen her before. He had been watching the town and its people for years, long enough to memorize their faces and he was certain, she was a stranger.

She was strolling around the room curiously and was grabbing little things on the shelves, like necklaces and jewel. He was mildly surprised when she put them into her a stachel.

She was a thief! A source of competition against Black Hat or perhaps...an allie. When her back was turned he carefully and silently opened the large window and stepped inside. He sat at the window, watching her in interest as she grabbed a small emerald out of the personal jewerly box of Sir Reginald's wife. Black Hat dusted off his white shirt and cleared his throat loudly, making the women whirl in surprise.

"My, my...how bold of you to be stealing during a party." Black Hat said with a slight growl in his voice.

"Who are you?" The women demanded, moving her bag behind her.

He smirked when he stood up. "Call me Black Hat." He said, tipping his hat to her. She raised a brow by his sudden formality, until Black Hat snapped his fingers. The emerald suddenly appear in between his fingers. The women eyes widened and opened her bag as if expecting the jewel to still be inside. She turned back to him and to her precious jewel.

Black hat hummed when he rubbed his chin. His thumb ran against the smooth jewel when he spoke. "You know that Reginald's dear dead mother gave this to his wife when they got married, right?"

"A folly gift. " The women replied swiftly. "She won't miss it."

Black Hat blinked from her response and chuckled in agreement. "How right you are." He tossed the emerald back to her. She caught it with her both hands. "What's your name?" He asked when he walked up to her. She was wary, as she should be against him and backed away.

"Eliza, that's all you need to know." She shoved the emerald back into her bag and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. He began to circle around her with interest.

"What are you?" Eliza asked softly. Black Hat only chuckled and gave her a shrug.

"My dear...wouldn't you like to know?" He grinned, his teeth dripping with secrecy. Eliza gave him a hum and turned away. Black Hat immediately took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are not like the other humans..." he mused.

Eliza gave him a chuckle. "What makes you think I am one of them?"

"What makes you believe that you are not?" He asked, his grin widening. Eliza gave out a sigh and shooed his hands away.

"They are so imperfect, selfish, self-centered...and they pretend they are not. I don't pretend." She said as she strolled up to a faberge' egg, sitting on a pedestal. She picked it up, taking a moment to admire its jeweled beauty before placing it into her bag. "I'm greedy."

Black Hat gave her a toothy smile. "Indeed you are...as I'm I." He put out his hand to her, motioning his fingers at her. She raised a brow and softly scoffed.

"Do you expect for me to give you the egg?" She asked, taking a step back.

He stepped forward. "That would be the easiest. Yes."

"Perhaps not, Sir, I pillaged it first...as the saying goes, "finders keepers"." She backed away, moving her bag behind her. Black Hat chuckled and tightens his bow tie.

"Than how about a trade?" He said slyly, weaving around like a snake. Eliza sniffed and tossed her hair back.

"What type of trade?"

"Why don't you work for me?" He started. She let out a laugh but stopped when he rotated his wrist, making a bag of money appear in his hand. She blinked in surprise of how it appeared out of nothing. He really was a demon. "You did say you were greedy...how about it? Work with me and we can steal all we can from these pompous aristocrats."

She glanced at her bag and looked back up at Black Hat. "What if we get caught, we could get hang for this..."

Black Hat let out a dark chuckle. "That won't be a problem. How about it?" He rotated his wrist again, making the bag of money disappear and reappear in her other hand. She gasped as she raise the leather bag up to her eyes. Black Hat put out his hand. "Do we have an accord?"

Eliza bit her bottom lip in thought. She reached into her bag, taking out the egg. Black Hat stuck out his tongue in anticipation and gleamed when she placed it into his hand.

"We have an accord."

Black Hat raised the egg towards his face, chuckling to himself as smoke began to enveloped the egg. Eliza watched in fascination as the colorful egg transformed into black and red. When the smoke disappeared, it had a black hat insignia on it. Black Hat grinned at the young women, who would work alongside him for years to come.

"You won't regret it."

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Black Hat snapped the locket shut when he heard Dr.Flug stumble inside his office. He shoved the locket into the desk drawer and shouted at Flug.

"What on earth are you doing?" He demanded. Flug stammered when he started picking up the fallen papers.

"S-sorry Sir! But you wanted to see my reports?"

"Ah, yes..." he motioned to him boredly to sit down. "But make it quick! I have a meeting with a client soon."