The setting sun cast its glow over the shantytown on the edge of Fresh Fish Town. Hom walked anxiously along the muddy path.
The closer he got to home, the faster his heart pounded.
Before he even turned into the familiar, ramshackle alley, two dark figures leaning against the wall made his heart skip a beat.
They were the two River Claw thugs who had dragged him to the cellar yesterday.
"Mudfoot, Boss Jeff wants to see you." One of them reached out to grab Hom by the arm as he spoke.
Hom instinctively tried to dodge, but remembering Kane was right behind him, he forced himself to hold still and let them shove him along. "Y-you two, isn't this... isn't this a bit urgent? I haven't even eaten yet..."
"Hahaha, what do you need food for?" The thug patted his cheek. "If you botch the job, you won't need to eat ever again."
The two men escorted Hom through several winding streets to an unremarkable wooden shack in the northwest corner of town.
It wasn't far from the casino run by the River Claw, but the surrounding area was very quiet.
The wooden door creaked open a crack. Someone inside checked who they were through the gap before letting them in.
Just as the door was about to close, the other thug standing guard outside felt a chill at the back of his neck.
He puzzledly rubbed his neck and muttered, "Damn weather," but thought nothing more of it.
A few dim oil lamps lit the room, and smoke hung in the air.
Jeff sat behind a battered table, a dagger stuck into its surface.
When Hom was shoved inside, he raised his eyelids and gave him a cold glance.
"Mudfoot, how did it go?"
"I-I got it done,