Grim City, 2nd District.

The 2nd District, just like the 11th District was known throughout the city for a specific trait and had a fitting nickname.

The nickname of this district was the Party District.

The 2nd District was what you would call the entertainment district of the city.

This district was mostly about the latest trends . It's where mostly kids, teens, and young adults go to have a good time.

There were lots of recreational facilities like water parks, sports centers, game centers, cafes, malls, and day and night clubs.

In such a lively place there was a night club called Black Roses. It was daytime so the club was naturally closed. However, there was one person inside the club.

He was wearing a brown vest suit and glasses that were tinted. His sleeves were rolled up and he had a wedding ring-like ring that was made of black stone and beautiful red gems.

His face was plain and his physique was small. He looked like the type of person that would go unnoticed in a room full of people. He didn't look remarkable in any way.

This unremarkable person was sitting by himself drinking a bottle of red wine with a solemn expression.

That's when he suddenly heard a knock at his door.

“?!”

The man was shocked because he was supposed to be the only one in the building.

“…….”

He didn't respond to the knock right away. Since he wasn't expecting any guests he was on alert.

He silently opened his desk drawer and took out a magic handgun.

He didn't who was at the door, but if it was someone after his life he had no intention of giving it to them so easily.

*Knock Knock*

There was a second knock at the door, before it started to open.

The man gripped his gun and prepared himself for a life and death battle at anytime.

“……?”

However, when the door opened he didn't see anyone come in.

And then-

“Yo!”

Someone appeared right beside him and startled him.

The man on reflex turned the gun to fire at the person.

“I'll take that.”

But before he could, the gun was skillfully snatched from his hands.

Without his weapon the man became defenseless, but he still didn't fall into a pit of despair. He held his ground and looked around.

There were three persons in the room, the man recognized them all.

“The Heavenly Demon King?!”

“That would be me.”

Miko said as he spun the gun in his hand, while leaning on the desk.

“What are you doing here?

The man asked anxiously.

“First, i would like to say that's it's a pleasure meeting you, Edward Akabe.

Miko smiled.

“Or should I call you Code Breaker?”

“I asked what are you doing here?!”

“My, don't be so nervous. Come on, have a seat.”

Code Breaker was suddenly forced to sit by Regis.

“As for why I'm here, I had a bit of a problem and a mutual friend of ours recommend you to me.”

“Mutual friend?”

“Kaido.”

“?!”

Code Breaker was visibly shocked when heard that Kaido was the one who sent Miko to him.

“Impossible. Kaido doesn't make friends and he definitely wouldn't have recommended me to you.”

“Well, he did. The faster you accept that the better.”

Miko spoke with such a tone that Code Breaker could tell that he wasn't lying.

“….What's the problem Kaido told you I could fix?”

Miko smiled mischievously.

“I'm sure a man of your talents must've heard about my recent altercation with the law enforcers of the city as well as the syndicate.”

Miko pointed the gun at the wall.

“Even I have to admit that I might have bitten more than I can chew. So I decided to form a team that could help me with my meal.”

Edward looked confused.

Miko saw that and said with a casual tone.

“To be blunt I want to create a third force in the city that can clash with and destroy the Pillars and the syndicate.”

“?!”

Of course Edward was shocked to hear that.

“Wait, is that what you want me to help you with?”

Miko nodded.

“No way! I refuse, even if you kill me! Moreover, what use would I be to you?!”

Edward shouted.

Miko frowned when he heard that.

“Drop the act, Eddy. I've been following you for over a week now, so I have a good grasp of your personality.”

After agreeing with Kaido's idea to create his own force, Miko asked Kaido for suggestions on anyone he thinks can help speed up the formation of Miko's gang.

After some thought, Kaido recommended Edward “Code Breaker” Akabe.

According to Kaido, other than Blanche Edward was the person he knew with the most information about the city's crime world. He also said that Edward was a great tactician and business man.

After hearing some more interesting stuff about Edward, Miko decided to recruit him.

However, Miko wasn't naïve enough to believe the words of others 100%. Especially that of Kaido, who although he gets along with greatly, he still didn't trust fully.

So Miko decided to tail Edward for a week before approaching him. After a week Miko saw Edward manipulate everything around him like game with almost zero difficulty.

He deemed that Edward was so good at what he does, that his current standing in society was intentionally, and that Edward had almost full control of his life and everything that could possible influence it.

He was like a shadow with little impression because that allowed him to move as he pleases. However, Edward couldn't control everything in his life.

“This type of action is what you crave the most.”

Miko said.

“Your brother is Tommy “Gear” Akabe, the pillar that controls all technology on the city.”

Edward frowned when Miko mentioned his brother.

“You and Gear are both Infecteds with the ability to hack into and ontrol any machinery with a simple touch. You're basically human computers.”

Miko pointed the gun at Edward in a playful manner.

“Gear chose to walk the path of the day and eventually became a Pillar, while you walked the path of the night but was unable to achieve the same success. Doesn't that frustrates you?”

“……”

Edward didn't answer. Miko continued.

“The reason you couldn't reach the top wasn't because of your lack of talent but because your brother held you down. A pillar couldnt have an infamous crime lord as their sibling after all.”

Miko said with a little laugh.

“From what I heard, you're surprisingly stubborn. Even when no crime organization will work with you, even whenever you created your own group they were instantly destroyed by your brother, even when you were shun by all the top dogs, you still gathered information, create strategies and plot your rise to the top. You're tenacity is commendable.”

Regis and Ishma started applauding Edward which made him more angry than happy.

“So you want me to partner with you, and if I do I'll be able to reach the top?”

Miko nodded.

“Ha! What makes you think ill team up with someone like you?”

“It's because of who I am, you'll team up with me.”

Miko said with confidence.

“As you know, I'm the hottest topic in the city at moment. Everyone is anticipating my next move to see whether I'll rise or fall. Among them are a lot of criminals who are cheering for the enforcers’ defeat. I'm sure that you would get lots of people to follow you if word gets out that you've teamed up with me.”

“…….”

Edward didn't deny what Miko said, because it was a possibility.

There were lots of people who admired criminals and outlaws and wish to join them or be like them. It goes without saying that with Miko's current status as well as his background, lots of people would be willing to follow him.

And Edward in extension, if he joined Miko.

“Tempting, right?”

Miko turned the gun and gave it back to Edward.

“You've done everything else you could but still couldn't rise in the underworld, then why not give your soul to the devil?”

The moment Miko said that Edward looked at him.

Miko's eyes were crimson, his fangs were showing, and his body was giving off a dark and evil aura.

He looked like a real demon trying to steal Edward’s soul.

Miko stretched his hand towards Edward.

“Give me your allegiance, your talents, your soul and I'll bring you to the top where you deserve.”

Miko's words were sweet in Edward’s ears. The temptation was eventually too much.

Edward reached out and took Miko's hand.

Miko smiled and said-

“Wise choice, Code Breaker. You're as smart as Kaido says.”

“I hope so.”

Edward said with a wry smile.

“So, what now?”

“Now we begin preparations for our debut on the big stage. First I'll like acquire a suitable place that can be used as our base of of operations. Preferably somewhere impossible to find by normal means and well fortified.”

“If that's the case, I have somewhere in mind.”

Miko smiled when he heard that.

“Please, go into details.”

17th District, one of the so-called Slumps of the city.

To many, it didn't really qualify as a slump because all the buildings were above average and modern, the streets were also clean, and there weren't any beggars anywhere to be seen.

The 11th District had more qualification to be called a slump than this.

Then why was it called a slump?

That was because this place was greatly depraved from the futuristic technology of Grim City.

The technology was on the level of a third world country, meaning that it wasn't anything special compared to the rest of the city.

This was reason it was considered a slump. It was a technological slump.

Edward led Miko and the girls to an ordinary looking house in the district.

“This is the place you had in mind?”

Ishma said with a skeptic tone.

Miko focused his mind and spread his Qi throughout his surroundings.

“?!”

The information he got back shocked him so much that he couldn't help but whistle.

“There's a huge space underground that stretches for several square miles.”

“That's right. This place originally belonged to an old widow who died from a heart attack last year; well she died physically anyway.”

Edward smiled mischievously.

“I tempered with her data and made it like her death didn't happened and she merely moved to a retirement home. I even planted a double to take her place at the retirement center.”

“Let me guess, you're posing as her grandson who she left the house to?”

Said Miko.

“Close. I'm her grandnephew. She doesn't have any grandchildren, and it would draw too much attention if I tempered with too much of her data.”

Miko was once again impressed with Edward’s intelligence.

“Shall we go in?”

Miko nodded and they entered the house.

The interior of the house was very plain and old fashion, it was fitting for the image of an old woman.

“There's dust but not much.”

Regis commented after swiping her finger on the furniture.

“Of course. I have to make it look like a young bachelor lives here. Too much dust would make it look abandoned and too little dust would make it look like it's being preserved and not used.”

Edward replied.

Regis was surprised by how much he stuck to detail.

They then walked towards the stairway and stopped at it.

Edward tapped the second step with his feet several times. If one listened closely they could hear a certain rhythm.

After a few seconds of playing this rhythm, the stairway suddenly sunk into the floor and revealed an elevator.

“Even though I wasn't able to reach the top of the underworld, I still made tons of money. I'm about to show you, just what that money was used on.”

Edward walked up and entered the elevator.

Miko followed him and entered the elevator with the girls.

After everyone got on, Edward pressed a button and they all descended underground.

After nearly a minute, the elevator stopped and it's doors opened.

“Wow!”

Ishma exclaimed.

What she saw was a miniature town.

There were dozens of houses and other buildings. There was even lots of vehicles scattered about.

“I created this place with the intent of housing around a thousand people but until now it all went to waste.”

Said Edward.

“Went to waste? No, you were simply preserving it until this moment.”

Miko said with a smile.

He used his eyes to scan the place again.

“Good. Really good. This place will do fine.”

He said with a satisfied tone.

“Do you have any weapons?”

Regis who was also satisfied asked.

“Follow me.”

Edward led them into the town and brought them to a huge building that looked like some kind of facility.

“This where I keep my toys.”

Edward placed his hand on the building and the wall disappeared as if it faded away.

Miko saw tanks, armored vehicles, missiles, guns, electronic swords, etc.

“Is this enough?”

Edward asked with a smile.

Surprisingly Miko shook his head.

“It’s a good start, but not nearly enough.”

He then had a weird look in his eyes.

“Okay, let's go get some weapons.”