Two days later.

  The metallic hum of the medical bay echoed as Assad put on his clothes but not his Sweeper uniform, just his normal clothing that was given to him by Shuren.

  As soon as he was finished he walked out of the room and headed straight for the receptionist room. At the head of the table sat Shuren, a cigarette dangling from her fingers, while Pixia was seated, engrossed in the mission file.

  Taura stood beside Shuren, her left hand resting confidently on her hip. As soon as Shuren spotted Assad, she exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "

  "You took your sweet time, didn't you?"

  Assad shoved his hands into his pockets, unfazed. "Yeah, whatever."

  He walked over to Taura, who gave him a small nod, a mix of encouragement and a silent warning not to mess this up.

  Pixia didn't look up at first, only checking out her strange magazine.

  "Alright, listen up, pupster, you're getting your first field mission. It's a duo-type, which means you ain't gonna be flying solo."she finally said, her tone sharp and professional.

  Assad raised an eyebrow. "Duo? With who?"

  "She is standing—."

  "Right here," Taura chimed in, her face lighting up with pride.

  "Huh."

  Assad looked utterly bewildered, tilting his head as if trying to shake off a dream. But no, he was wide awake.

  "Taura, are you seriously talking about Taura?" Assad asked, still trying to wrap his head around it.

  "Yeah, you got a problem with her?" Shuren shot back

  "No problem at all."

  "Good now Pixia continues."

  "Alright my dear baby-baby."

  She turned the city map over, her eyes locking onto the red district that lit up on Raksa Street.

  "The job's straightforward, a shipment of drugs, a high-grade drug mix called SAZ, is being funneled into the city. It's coming through a front bar on Raksa. Your mission is to take out the supply and anyone guarding it. Quietly, if you can." Pixia said, her tone steady.

  Assad leaned in, studying the map intently. "And what if it's not quiet?"

  Shuren chuckled softly. "Then make sure there's no one left to raise a fuss."

  Pixia shot her a sharp glance but chose not to argue.

  "You'll be heading out in 30 minutes. Taura, as we mentioned, will be your partner. So, have fun."

  Assad nodded once. "Understood."

  Both Assad and Taura made their way out, their footsteps gradually fading as they walked down the hallway.

  The door slid shut behind them, leaving Shuren and Pixia sitting at the table, the faint tendrils of smoke still dancing in the air.

  Pixia leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs with a playful smirk. "Honestly, Shu out of all the missions you could've thrown him into, you chose the SAZ raid?"

  Shuren let out a puff of smoke through her nose. "Yeah, and? You don't get it. It's my way of putting him to the test. Sure, the main case wrapped up four days ago, but this leftover mess? It's the perfect warm-up for him."

  Pixia chuckled softly. "That's my baby-baby always looking out for the hopeless. But even for you, that's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

  "Who cares?If he wants to be part of the Sweepers, he's got to step up. Everyone, even you, went through the same initiation." Shuren shot back, her tone flat.

  Pixia raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Yeah, but our trials were a lot less lukewarm than this one."

  Shuren shot her a sharp look, exhaled one last puff of smoke, and then stood up from her chair. She didn't bother to reply, just turned and started walking down the hallway. Pixia watched her leave, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.

  "Still got that stick up your ass, huh, Shu…" she muttered under her breath, unable to hide her grin.

  Pixia watched as Shuren vanished down the hallway, the sound of her boots gradually fading away. The smile that had been on her lips slowly faded too.

  Leaning forward, she picked up a slender folder from the table that was Assad's profile. Inside, the pages were marked, with blacked-out lines obscuring parts of the text. As her eyes scanned the details, her expression grew more serious.

  "I really wonder…how could that even be explained?"she murmured to herself.

  With a gentle motion, she closed the file, her gaze drifting off into the distance. "Maybe I'll have to mention it to her… when they finally meet."

  The room fell into silence once more, broken only by the soft hum of the lights and the lingering curl of smoke where Shuren had just been sitting.

  The wind gently caressed Assad's face as he stood at the rooftop's edge, gazing down at the vibrant streets below. Even as twilight settled in, the city buzzed with life, neon signs flickered, music spilled from nearby bars, and the mingling scents of smoke and rain hung in the air.

  He couldn't deny it amidst all its chaos, the city was undeniably beautiful.

  "Are you done with your sightseeing, Assad?"

  Assad snapped back to reality just as Taura leaned in, her playful grin sharp as a knife. The light from a nearby billboard danced in her eyes.

  "First mission, let's make it hella fun, don't you think? "she said, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

  Assad remained unfazed, his tone steady and his gaze locked on the streets below.

  "Yeah, if you say so." he replied softly

  That's when the sound of engines roared and the rumble of cars reverberated through the narrow streets. Taura immediately crouched down and gave a clear gaze towards the area.

  "There, Three cars and they are all black vans, the same model and also no plates."she whispered.

  She adjusted her focus and smirked.

  "Bingo. That's our shipment. Looks like they're dropping it off sooner than we thought."

  Assad moved closer, his silver eyes narrowing as the headlights sliced through the smoke and rain below.

  "Then we need to move fast," he said, his voice icy.

  Down below, the scene unfolded.

  Three black vans screeched to a halt outside a rundown bar with a flickering neon sign that read THE HOT SWAN.

  The glowing letters buzzed weakly in the damp night air, a perfect cover for shady dealings. The van doors swung open one after another and men began to spill out,not your typical drunks or street thugs these guys were organized.

  Dark suits with polished shoes each one armed, their weapons concealed but not subtle enough to escape a trained eye.

  Taura adjusted her binoculars again, her playful grin fading into something more serious.

  "Twenty in total, all packing heat. This isn't just a street junk run, this is a full-blown operation."she muttered.

  Assad crouched next to her, his gaze steady yet taking in every little detail the way the cars were lined up, the spacing of the men, their subtle movements. Then, the last van door swung open and a man stepped out and stood apart from the others; his suit was sharper, more tailored.

  In his right hand, he held a black suitcase, gripping it with careful precision.

  Taura's eyes narrowed. "There's our package."

  The man quickly scanned the area before raising two fingers in a deliberate gesture, a silent signal. Immediately, four of his men broke away from the group and trailed behind him toward the entrance of the bar. The Hot Swan's door creaked open, and a dim red light spilled out as they slipped inside.

  "Four inside, sixteen out front, they're keeping watch while he makes the deal." Taura whispered.

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  Assad's silver eyes caught the glow of the bar's neon lights. He slowly cracked his neck, his expression unreadable.

  "Then we take out the head first."

  Inside a dimly lit bar, bathed in a red haze, a man with a suitcase pushed through the creaking doors, flanked by four guards.

  The bass from the old speakers thumped through the floorboards, mingling with the sounds of drunken laughter and the clinking of glasses.

  The guards scanned the room one by the counter, another near the exit, while the rest kept a watchful eye on every face that dared to look their way. The man in the tailored suit paid no mind to the chaos, making a beeline for the VIP section tucked away in the back.

  They halted at a plush, velvet-lined booth. He placed the black suitcase gently on the table, his fingers lingering on the handle for a moment. Then he took a seat. The guards formed a silent, unyielding barrier around him.

  He glanced at his watch.

  "Late," he muttered under his breath.

  The lights flickered briefly, casting a crimson glow across the room before settling back into a dull yellow. Still, there was no sign of the buyer.

  Outside Assad and Taura crouched low, the neon glow from The Hot Swan illuminating their faces in shades of red and violet.

  Assad cracked his knuckles, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

  "He's inside and he has his four guards with him. They're probably waiting for the buyer." Taura whispered,

  Assad nodded slightly. "We should move now before backup arrives."

  A sharp, lively grin returned to Taura's face. "Finally!"

  She stood, stretching her arms like a predator ready to strike. Assad's silver eyes glimmered in the rain as he checked his gear.

  "Keep it quiet and clean," he instructed.

  "Yeah, yeah,no promises." Taura replied, preparing herself.

  With that, both of them melted into the shadows.

  Assad and Taura made their way down from the rooftop. The night air was thick with smoke, perfume, and the distant hum of music. At the end of the street stood The Hot Swan, its neon sign flickering like a fading heartbeat. It was the perfect spot to blend in and disappear.

  "Remember, we're not Sweepers tonight. Just two idiots looking to blow our paychecks." Taura said, casually sliding her jacket off one shoulder as they got closer.

  Assad shot her a sideways glance. "I've never been to a place like this before."

  Taura halted, a smirk spreading across her face. "Wait, seriously? Not even once?"

  He shrugged, hands shoved deep in his pockets. "Yeah, I've been too busy outside, you know, killing people instead of having fun drinking."

  "Figures,it's a bit sad, but you really don't look like the type who drinks every week." she replied, rolling her eyes.

  "Okay, that was a bit harsh, even for you."

  Taura flashed him a warm smile.

  He brushed off the comment. "So what's the plan? We go in, find the target, and—"

  Before he could finish, Taura stepped in close and Assad tensed for a bit.

  "What are you—"

  "Chill, if we walk in like we're on a mission, everyone's gonna catch on. Act like you just hit on me. Like we're… on a date or something."she whispered, pressing a hand against his chest.

  Assad blinked, caught between confusion and understanding but then a faint smirk appeared on his face.

  "Not a bad cover."

  "Exactly. Now, smile or at least pretend you're not plotting ten different ways to snap someone's neck." She linked her arm through his

  The bass thumped from inside the Hot Swan, vibrating through the ground like a heartbeat as Assad and Taura approached the entrance. Neon lights splashed across the slick pavement, casting them in ever-changing hues of crimson and blue.

  Just as they were about to reach the door, one of the guards in a sharp suit stepped in their way. His hand hovered near his coat pocket, a clear warning that he meant business.

  "Hold it," "Private party. What brings you here?" he said, his voice flat.

  Assad kept his mouth shut, his icy gaze darting from the guard's weapon to the radio clipped to his belt. One wrong move, and the rest of the guards outside would be on them in a flash.

  Taura, however, quickly shifted gears, her face transformed into a playful grin as she wrapped her arm around Assad's shoulder, pulling him in close.

  "Oh, come on~" "We're just here for a drink.she purred, her voice oozing charm.

  " My newly accepted boyfriend here asked me out. Just look at that baby face, how could I say no?"she said, emphasizing the word while tracing a finger along Assad's chest, "

  Assad blinked once but quickly caught on. "Yeah,you're not going to ruin our first date, are you?" he replied smoothly, casually resting a hand on her waist.

  The guard's brow furrowed, his eyes darting between them. Taura leaned in closer, her grin widening.

  "He's going to spoil me tonight. Drinks, dancing the whole shebang. Pretty sexy, right?" She giggled, letting out a low laugh that caught the attention of a few nearby onlookers.

  Assad tilted his head, locking eyes with the guard, his tone calm but with an underlying sharpness.

  "Unless you plan on stopping our date…?"

  The guard hesitated, taken aback by their boldness. After a moment, he sighed and stepped aside.

  "Tch… fine. Go ahead. Just don't cause any trouble."

  Taura winked as they walked past. "Thanks, sweetheart."

  As soon as they crossed the threshold and stepped into the smoky warmth of the bar, Assad muttered under his breath, "You really love that, don't you?"

  "Acting?" she replied with a grin. "Nah. I just like watching you squirm."

  "That's gross even for you and we met like a day ago so don't forget about that." Assad said.

  "Don't be such a spoil sport." Taura shot back.

  The Hot Swan was alive and buzzing.

  Music pulsed through the walls, the beat reverberating underfoot with every thump. Strobe lights sliced through the haze of cigarette smoke and perfume, sending quick flashes dancing across the crowd.

  Bodies swayed like waves drunk, wild, and utterly free. Taura flashed a grin, her eyes sparkling under the neon glow.

  "Well damn, honestly I didn't think the lowlifes would throw down like this."she said, almost to herself.

  Assad's gaze roamed the room, not for fun but with a sharp focus. He took in every exit, every camera, every guy with a hand suspiciously close to his jacket. Nothing slipped past him then his eyes locked onto something.

  Upstairs, beyond the velvet rope and tinted glass, in the VIP section, a man with a suitcase lounged comfortably, flanked by his guards he looked to be in his mid-thirties, with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor, a glass of whiskey rested in his hand, the amber liquid glinting in the light.

  "There," Assad said quietly, his voice slicing through the music.

  Taura followed his gaze, her smirk widening as she spotted the man. "Bingo."

  He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper. "That's our target. Suitcase guy, upper deck, middle booth."

  Taura nodded, adjusting her jacket as if she were just fixing her look, but Assad caught the subtle shift in her tone, that spark of excitement.

  "Guess it's showtime," she said, her lips curling into a wolfish grin.

  Assad didn't respond. His silver eyes remained fixed on the target, cold and calculating.