Jade City belonged to the night. On that point, the killers in Stone Fortress on the mountain and the revelers in South City below were of one mind. Only North City, wedged between them and keeping to a normal schedule, was the freak.
He stood atop the towering wall dividing North and South City. He glanced at North City, his heart full of contempt. The wealthy weaklings huddled there, living off their dwindling fortunes. When they had nothing left, they would be tossed into South City and devoured by a pack of beasts with sharp teeth and claws.
Competition was always cruel. Better to risk your life and enter the fray early than cling to wishful thinking and hide away for one more day.
He looked toward South City again, silently savoring the pleasure of looking down on all creation. To him, the casinos, brothels, and taverns scattered across the city were merely an abundant supply of bait, drawing plump prey from every corner of the land.
South City was a hunting ground. The most thrilling part was that he wasn't the only hunter.
There was no pair of lovers more sublime than killing and being killed. The thought that some pair of eyes might be watching him from the darkness sent a thrill through him.
To prey who knew nothing and sensed nothing, killing was utterly random, like the capricious Divine Will inexplicably descending upon someone.
In the eyes of hunters who stayed alert every moment, it was precisely the opposite. The chaotic South City was orderly, with different districts and routes suited to different hunters.
Newcomers chose the streets lined with taverns. The blades who emerged from there would have numb limbs and muddled minds. They either hurried to the casinos to try their luck again or threw