Hollywood Zenith

" Are you going to let him go like this?" Steve was surprised. It was not how they used to deal with enemies in the past.

" There are too many anomalies surrounding that person. Observing is better; maybe we can find out who was behind this. Master said young master Samuel would not like it if the chief of police disappeared while investigating his case." Five replied.

" It makes sense. Young master would become an obvious suspect. Everything is under wraps for now, but if anyone else finds out what he is working on when he disappears, it will become a problem for us." Arthur supported his idea.

" Whatever you say, old man. It's not like we can ask the young master personally, right?"

" That's true."

" What about the trafficking suspects? We can lend a hand."

" Master had told me about it."

" hmm? What?"

" That you guys basically lied about everything, and now you are waiting for your eventual punishment. It was also one of the reasons why we chose to hit them at night."

"Hahaha, that's funny. I am not afraid of the young master!" Steve said confidently.

" Really? So why are you making small talk like this when you know who was in charge of investigating that case?" Five was very thorough with his answers.

" He is only making a valid inquiry. Don't forget we are in this together." Arthur added.

" We are investigating, but nothing has come up so far. But I am sure something will by morning." Five said with a flat tone voice. Hearing Five's response, Seven behind him flinched slightly like it caught her off guard.

" We can help."

" No need. We promise to extract every bit of information out of them." Five rejected their proposal.

" Alright, fine. No need to be that harsh with us." Steve pouted and focused on driving. Arthur stared for a few more seconds before focusing on the road too.

Soon they reached the drop point, and the two groups promptly separated, not before promising to meet again tomorrow.

" Master, what should we do with him?" Seven bowed and asked while Zero removed his disguise. He was merely borrowing his appearance to mingle with the crowd.

" Do you even realize your mistake!?" He caught Seven's throat and picked her up like a ragdoll.

" I...am...sorry-" She struggled to get anything out of her mouth.

" That old foggy definitely sensed your hesitation! I have taught you countless times to control your emotions!" He threw her down, and she immediately took the kowtow position asking for forgiveness.

" M-master! Please f-forgive my i-insolence, but I didn't know we were keeping it a secret!"

" We only work for young master Samuel, not for his lackeys or the Rothschild family! That was the deal! If we go around telling them everything, doesn't that make us the same as them!"

" I am sorry!"

" hah... Go take him to the island. You will personally transport him to our base." Zero asked her suppressing his anger. He had to devise a strategy to get Arthur off the scent. He had heard about his strength, and he was sure that the old man was not any weaker than him.

" the island, sir? Alive-"I think you should take a look at

" Fool! Do as I say! If you question me again, I will hang your head on the pipe outside our door!" He screamed, which made her flee in fear.

Seven was a novice promoted to the seventh position in the guild when they lost many members in the past war with the Rothschild family. Everyone adored her, but Zero couldn't stand her incompetence when dealing discreetly. She was very skilled but also anti-social, which made her a liability.

The secret that the captives of the trafficking were dead was only known to a few guild members. They already had all the information, so there was no need to fuss about their whereabouts.

He made extra particular that no one could find them. If anyone ever investigated their disappearance, they would only learn about millions of dollars they embezzled from the foundation fund and an unmistakable lead to tickets for their private flight to a non-extradition country.

Any further deviation could require his direct hand, but he was not too worried. They found their next target, which would be good enough for Samuel and his team.

Zero looked at the rising sun in the distance, his mind was preoccupied with numerous thoughts, but one idea was more prominent than the other.

"What are you thinking, my lord?" He sighed and walked back toward their base.

...

...

...

" Old man, we are here," Steve called for Arthur as they arrived at their base, but Arthur didn't hear him.

" Old man?"

" Yes?"

" What's gotten into you?" Steve asked; it was not like Arthur, who was always alert to be so deep in his thought.

" Did something feel off to you?" Arthur asked.

" What do you mean?"

" Those two, I feel like they were hiding something, especially that Five fellows."

" Now that you mention it. It definitely felt wrong."

" Right!"

" Yeah, I can't guess if he was a man or a woman. I never understood their will to hide their faces that thoroughly." Steve shrugged.

" This idiot!" Arthur facepalmed hearing his reply.

" What? I am telling the truth! We have gone on many missions with them, but I have never seen one of their faces! And what's with that strange codenames? We also have our own, but only when we are in fields!" Steve began blabbering, seeing Arthur's response.

" Fine.. forget that I even asked." Arthur tried to change the subject.

" If you are suspicious of them, you should know that young master trusts them fully. We have to do the same, right?" Steve didn't know what Arthur was talking about but added his point to the conversation.

" Yeah, we should." Despite Arthur's positive response, He was not sure anymore.

He knew the AXA guild liked to be secretive, but he was sure he felt something back then, and the insistence of Five to let Mason go and take the prisoner was also peculiar. It was only a hunch, but he promised himself to go through with it on their subsequent encounter.