"My employer's sent me to assist you. I believe you know who I'm talking about."

I approached the man Leon had told me about. I was dressed in my usual enforcer outfit, all black clothes with a black half mask. I guess I looked kinda shady.

"Truth be told, I'm returning from-"

My eyes glazed over as I paused mid sentence. Flashes of my torturous training went through my mind. For a moment, my face was lifeless, my breathing stopped altogether. Then color slowly returned as my eyes returned to the previous serious look.

"Tahiti. Leon told me you had something you wanted to take care of and that you'd provide as much detail as you though necessary."

I nodded to the warning. So Leon wanted to test my unknown power growth against an enemy of unknown strength. Seemed about par for Lightning Gang. I followed Rai as he began to head towards the alley. While I didn't spend much time in the Western District, some of my masked extra curriculars brought me out to a few shady locations.

"I know a few. Why don't we work down them from most shady to least."

If Rai agreed, I would begin leading us to the first location. It was a side door in a small alley, close to the border of Old Town. A man outside looked at the two of them. "Cover's 20 bucks." I patiently waited with my hands in my pocket for Rai to pay the fee.

They spoke in some hushed tones. I guess it was some info that I wasn't going to be privy to. I began to wonder just who exactly this mark was and what Rai planned to do to him when we found em.  I tried my best not to let the suspicion show in my eyes. At least the lower half of my face was covered so it made it a little easier.

"Understood."

I set out once more following Rai.

I found we were headed towards a place I knew number 2 on the list. When Rai began looking around the alley, I walked over towards a side door.

"I think this place might be what we're looking for."

I nodded my head toward the door. If Rai agreed, I'd knock on the door, showing my eyes and half mask through the visor in the door. A man nodded before opening the door to us. If Rai agreed to enter, he would find we were in some sort of strip club. Illicit activity was pretty rampant and open through out as illegal drugs were taken in the open, and quite a few shady people sat through out it.

My eyes narrowed towards Rai. Was this a test? Or was Leon ready to tie up some loose ends. Well I guess I hadn't grown that strong in the past few months since he let me go train. Maybe this was his way of wiping the slate clean and trying again with someone else.

"Handsome guy. I think he goes to the local community college."

Luckily there were two local community colleges. Maybe I could lose him at one before taking the fight to Leon. Of course, that was only if Leon hadn't revealed to Rai who I was already.

"I was hoping to take the fight directly to Leon if he was planning on betraying me. I'd like to avoid collateral damage, but I don't mind going through you to get to him."

I spoke rather nonchalantly. Anger showed in my eyes, but I kept a lid on it. He blackmailed me into working for him. I answered every call. In fact despite the circumstances that brought me to work for him, I was even starting to trust him. But if this was how it was going to be, I was more than willing to fight.

I took in a deep breath. I took my stance, left foot forward, right swung back at 90 degrees, left toe pointed towards Rai, right toe pointed perpendicular to him. My left arm came up in front of my chest, my fist balled up a good distance away but at level with my chin. Mean while my right arm came pulled back by my side just underneath my chest. I exhaled, my eyes resolved.