In the early hours of the morning, Bayam was at its quietest. Travelers who had reveled deep into the night had already fallen asleep, while the morning's work had yet to begin. The streets lay deathly still, and even the sparse gas lamps had dimmed.
In the sky, a huge carpet swayed as though buffeted by the wind, floating above the streets. Peacock-blue in color, it was larger than an ordinary four-wheeled carriage, its surface covered in mysterious, unusual patterns.
More than a dozen people stood or sat atop it. Most wore no expression, standing in stiff poses like corpses, but five of them had varying expressions as they watched the streets beneath the "Flying Carpet" in different directions.
"Up ahead, a little to the left. We're almost at Xiangshu Avenue."
The speaker was a gaunt man with black hair and green eyes. He was Scaul, the strategist of "Steel" Maviti. Skilled at controlling his emotions, calm and even somewhat cold-blooded, he was known as Calm Skaal and carried a bounty of 1,500 pounds.
Sitting at the very front of the Flying Carpet was Huntley of the Blood-Colored Thorns. He was responsible for controlling the magically enchanted carpet. At Scaul's words, he nodded. Without making any visible movement, the Flying Carpet carried its large load around a corner and descended.
He casually pulled out a black handkerchief and gave it a shake. It transformed into a black curtain that concealed the Flying Carpet's movements. From afar, they had blended into the night sky itself and would be difficult to notice without close observation.
Seated in the center was Steel Maviti himself. His skin was dark, his thick lips tightly pressed together, and his hair curled in strands like beads embedded in his scalp.
"Do you see Flame?"
he asked in