"This place is something else… every single building is as intricately designed as the statues we saw earlier… and, not to mention, the artistry around here is outstanding…" Scott said.
"Artistry…? I agree. This place is really…"
Scott glanced at him and suddenly felt inclined to ask him a question about his fighting skills, just before a newspaper flew into his face, carried by the wind.
"Ack! Ugh…" Scott groaned, "A flying newspaper? Really?"
"What does it say on it?" Michael asked.
"…Well… something about some monster nest being discovered… forget it…" Scott said, tossing the newspaper away.
But, as he did, he barely caught something out of the corner of his eye, scrambling away from the two of them and into a nearby alley. Something small, but strangely…
"Hold on…"
"What?" Michael replied as Scott quickly ran off.
Michael soon followed him into the dim alley, but, to Scott's surprise, they only saw a small black kitty playing in garbage cans, instead of whatever he thought he noticed.
"What was that about?" Michael asked, tapping Scott on the shoulder.
"I don't know. I thought I noticed something…"
At that moment, a cheeky feline voice could be heard:
"Hehehe, you mean, me?"
And then, a fleet-footed human figure quickly wall-hopped and blitzed their way out of the alley with atrocious levels of speed, leaving the two of them behind in the dust. And, where the small kitty was, a note was left behind.
"…You two seem promising. Meet me at Sherbet Road at 5 o'clock tomorrow. We're gonna track down all the guys that owe me my money, one by one, and by the end of it, maybe…"
"…Holy crap."
On the rooftop of a large building, a short, skinny figure with blonde hair stood wearing the clothes of a thief, with gloved hands but bare feet, and a small cat-like tail flowing from behind, while holding a sharp dagger.
They also held a ball of string in their left hand, tossing it around playfully as if they were bored.
"…Heh. I was only taking a stroll tonight, and I found two useful tools." The skinny figure spoke.
"They both look strong enough to help me, and I know my senses are never wrong."
The skinny figure grinned and stretched, preparing to jump from building to building.
"I have a foolproof plan, too! And, even if they don't fall for it, there's nothing that I, Felix, the ultimate trickster, cannot fabricate!" Felix, the youngest trickster and pickpocketer to have ever lived, declared openly.
Then, with his incredible speed, the tanned little trickster leapt onto another building in an instant, heading back to his hideout.
Meanwhile, a few streets away and down below in an alley, Scott stood there, jaw almost hanging wide, as he stared at the note.
"What is it?" Michael asked before Scott passed it.
"You two seem promising. Meet me at Sherbet Road at 5 o'clock tomorrow. We're gonna track down all the guys that owe me my money, one by one, and by the end of it, maybe… I won't kill you two while you sleep! Hehe!"
~From, Felix…"
"…A death threat. What a mess." Michael uttered.
"But, I think I already have an idea of how to deal with this Felix guy."
"What is it?"
"…We trick him. We meet up with him at the place he mentioned in the note tomorrow, and then, once we get him to lower his guard, we tackle him and make him feel sorry for threatening us. Shouldn't be too hard, right?"
Scott shrugged. "I don't know about that… did you see how he dashed past us?"
"So? We weren't prepared last time. It's two guys against one, so the odds are in our favour." Michael replied.
"Anyway, there's something else we should be worried about as well…"
"Yep, I've noticed. We have nowhere to sleep tonight."
Michael waved his hand. "Nah, that's nothing, I'm sure the cathedral will allow us to stay the night. What I meant is the fact that I'm hungry, and I'm sure you are too. Let's go get some food before we go."
"…Alright."
***
After a full twelve hours of sleep, Scott and Michael awaited the time of meeting with this so-called Felix for another few hours on Sherbet Road. And then finally, the city's clocks all simultaneously struck at 5.
"…Is he here yet?" Scott asked, leaning on a nearby wall. By this time, the sun was beginning to set, so they made sure to be extra aware.
"I don't think so… oh, hold on…" Michael said as he noticed a small individual slowly approaching.
"…Hehe. I didn't expect you two to come here before I did."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Michael asked.
Though, Felix, ignoring his question, walked towards Scott, with a fascinated expression on his face.
"You… you've got something interesting, don't you?" He asked Scott.
"What?" Scott questioned.
"Hmph! Don't worry, I won't pry…" Felix said, earning the equally bewildered glances of the many people nearby, "But, just so you know, I could tell from your eyes and your oddly perfect face that you're special. And, it's the same for you, too!"
Felix pointed at Michael as he said that.
Michael's breathing slowed. Felix had only just let down his guard, and at that precise moment, he pounced at him and almost managed to subdue him too, however, Felix's quick movements allowed him to evade gracefully, and, soon after, run away.
"Damn it! Scott, chase after him!"
"Ah, alright…?!" Scott replied, who was also half-caught by surprise by Michael's surprise attack.
They barely managed to follow behind Felix's tracks and tried to predict where he was going to cut him off first. But, all their attempts failed.
And then, finally, they ended up at a bar on Cradle Street, one that was named Pugsley's Wines & Alcohol, where Felix seemed to have carelessly dashed into.
"Phew… phew... how the hell is he so damn fast?!" Scott grunted, feeling the small cuts and bruises all over his body, "And, he even had enough space between us to even plant traps…?!"
"Damn it… as a follower of the Chained God of Beasts, I shouldn't be publicly embarrassed like this," Michael said, huffing and puffing.
And then, after a moment of waiting, they entered the bar. Yet, they were met with major astonishment.
"—You cat bastard!"
"I told you not to come back here until you collect all of the money you owe us! This is not a hideout for you anymore, petty thief!" A gruff, tall and muscular man exclaimed, holding Felix by the neck.
"And, who told you to take this?" He asked menacingly, snatching a strange, cat-shaped coin from Felix's pocket.
"Aah…! I'm so sorry!" Felix whimpered as he was being choked half to death, "I'll—"
"HEY!" A loud yell interrupted him, followed by a powerful, red-blazing fist to the muscular brute's face.
"Woah…!" Felix cried out, as he landed on the ground hard.
"Argh! Who the hell…?!"
Michael and Scott walked over, stood above the now-injured muscular brute and looked around. Every single person there looked like typical bandits, with their irate mugs and scruffed attires. Not to mention, this whole place seemed shady, as there wasn't even a bartender around.
"Whew… so… I don't get what exactly the situation is right now, but it seems in this case, you guys are the ones who put him up to his shenanigans, huh?" Scott asked.
There was no answer, but instead, every single person in that bar picked up their weapons and got ready to fight, including the brute with a fist-shaped imprint engraved on his cheek.
"…You pack a fiery punch, for a guy like you," The brutish chief bandit spoke, picking up an axe while flexing his fist.
"I won't get hit again, so this time, I'll put you in your grave, with that petty thief, and your little buddy!"
Scott and Michael glanced at each other and grinned. The two of them weren't exactly intending on losing a fight today.
"…Alright, so you guys want a fight, huh?" Scott asked.
"Bring it on! And, get ready for the beatings of your life!"