"How long have you been here, Matsuo?"
"I've just been chilling around the area, you know…enjoying the time away from ordering you rascals around."
The group of officers chuckled at that answer while Matsuo Yamamoto cracked a smile.
"Anyway, I know this kid," he stated while walking up and embracing Liohime with his right hand, causing the latter to stiffen up even more. "He's just a little reckless but he always does his best in order to improve himself. I can attest to that. Right….Lio?"
Shihon froze, confused about the relationship status of the two as he called his name out in its shortened form.
Meanwhile, Liohime quickly adjusted to the uncomfortable situation as soon as the grip on his shoulder tightened.
"Y-Yes! Once again, I'm very sorry for the trouble that I caused!" He quickly apologized with the fakest smile that he could muster up.
"Nah, it's all good, kid. Since you're close with Matsuo here, we know you'll be in great hands.
They easily look Matsuo's statements as facts, not judging anything else and proceeded to move onto the next step.
"Alright boys,"the man in charge shouted out, "You two, give this poor woman a ride home. She's been through enough. The rest of you, follow me and search for those men and provide necessary feedback. Let's go."
Everyone else waved their goodbyes, soon leaving Liojime Kitagami, Shihon and the man known as Matsuo Yamamoto alone in the compound.
The latter took a few steps forward and then stopped, with his back facing the tense young man.
"I thought you didn't like the concept of taking care of a Magical Beast," he grumbled.
Before Liohime could muster a response-
"Shadow Thief."
-Matsuo spat out those two words, and Liohime immediately improved his standing posture, putting down the shopping bags that he had been holding the entire time and saluting at once.
"S-Sir!"
The older man turned around.
And with a glint in his eye, he blitzed forward and spun a powerful kick at Liohime's head.
Blocked just barely with his left arm, Liohime bit down on his molars as fresh pain surmounted on impact.
However, he could not show that he was hurt. Neither could he fail to block the strikes that followed.
Dodging a right hook, he caught a left punch.
Shihon, finally realizing the situation, snarled at Matauo, and the beast stepped forward.
"SHIHON, STAND DOWN!" came the immediate agitated command out of her Master's lips, causing her to shudder. "THAT IS A SPECIAL ORDER!"
H-Huh?
Her eyes wavered.
A Special Order had emerged, limiting her movement to advance further. If she still decided to come closer, there would be life-threatening consequences.
Just what was happening?
Crouching to dodge another kick was Liohime, before doing a backflip onto his bare hands to launch himself further away from a punch that nearly smashed into his forehead on impact.
However, his opponent immediately closed the gap, and with his own two rough arms, he slammed Liohime into the concrete pillar of the unfinished building, and held him firmly in place.
The two men glared at each other, with their bodies so close to each other that one strike could decide the match.
Then, Matsuo grinned while Liohime continued to frown.
"You're losing your touch, Lio."
"Seriously, Chief?"
"I need all of my workers to continue to be sharp in combat. Is this Magical Beast starting to dull your senses already?"
Liohime averted his eyes, his heart still pounding quickly.
"N….No sir."
"Very well then. Still, continue to train. I don't care that you are in the Thief-For-Hire department of the Shinigami Soldiers, you must be just as combat-trained as Jolene from the Murder-For-Hire department."
"Yes sir," he quietly answered. "Were you following me and spying on me?"
Matsuo snickered. "It's actually by coincidence that we met here. This is a meeting place for a client that I will see in a few minutes, actually. I hid myself from the Luna Gang that almost threw off the meeting plans, but I see that it has been handled."
"I see…"
"Well, you two better get going, before you spoil the plans as well. Ah, also, this is important, Lio…"
A serious expression formed, and Liohime clenched his fist, preparing for an order, but…
"In about two months, there will be an important mission for you and Jolene. This mission will also be relayed to all workers in a special meeting that will be held at that time."
"Eh…Jolene…"
I know that you two have some history, but she is needed just as much as you for this mission. Please understand."
"Y-Yes sir!" Liohime declared, and saluted once more.
There was no way that he could say no to him, anyway.
Not after everything that Matsuo did for him in the past.
"Good," the older man nodded. "I will call you soon regarding the location. Anyway, goodbye for now.
With that, the younger man left with his Magical Beast, and Matsuo Yamamoto, the chief of the criminal group known as the Shinigami Soldiers, was now left alone. He quickly pulled out a silver face mask from his right pocket and put it over his face as he waited.
Finally, a few minutes later…
"So you've arrived. Welcome, you two," he spoke in a lighter, comedic tone and pitch, feigning his identity.
He greeted two men with large black hats that covered the upper parts of their face, while the shadow of the crane that they stood by obscured the bottom part.
With both of them wearing dark suits, they slightly bowed as they showed off their formality.
"You know," Matsuo declared with a sneer, "This is still a rare occasion. You know, of having to meet clients who don't reveal their identities. No names, nothing. I don't even know if you guys are the true clients who I've talked with in our first physical meeting-"
"Rest assured that we are," one harshly hissed. "We're low on time, so make this quick, Devil."
"Hehe…alright. Rigal!"
Summoning a morphed, unidentified Magical Beast of yellow goo and a deformed circular face, Matsuo continued, "Spit her out."
And with no hesitation, the beast vomited out the young girl in slimy, transparent saliva-like fluid.
"Well, there you have it. Noir Bayley. Twenty-one year-old woman."
"Huh. You did it," the other man spoke up with surprise. "You didn't have your way with her while we waited for her, right? We hate spoiled goods, you know."
Matsuo turned away from them and sighed, preparing to leave the scene.
"You're also wasting my time by chatting like this. I got the payment, and you got what you wanted. My work is done here."
"You're right. Thank you, Devil."
With that, Matsuo left with another successful mission, although he himself was confused with how it unfolded.
Why did they specifically ask me to kidnap someone? Kidnapping falls under Lio's Thief-For-Hire department.
Despite the men mentioning that they had the Shadow Thief's contact in a previous meeting, they chose not to contact him. Matsuo was paid double, so he accepted.
Still something was off, and little did the chief of the Shinigami Soldiers know that he had unknowingly contributed to the beginning of the end.