Chapter 41: Chapter 41: First Costumer (part 1)

He walked deeper inside, his footsteps echoing softly through the empty halls. In his mind, he was already rearranging the space, where contracts would be handled, where his people would stay.

Hidden. Spacious. Secure.

A perfect foundation.

Standing in the center of the main hall, Aiden allowed himself a faint smile beneath his mask.

After spending some time inspecting the hideout, Aiden returned to the house to fetch the three brothers.

They didn’t waste any time. Once they heard they were moving to a new base, Reth practically dragged Kain out the door, while Harlan hurried after them, still wiping flour from his hands.

By the time they arrived at the hidden location, all three froze at the entrance.

Their eyes widened as they stepped inside.

“Boss…” Harlan breathed, slowly turning in place. “This place is huge.”

He headed straight for the kitchen, pushing open the doors and peeking inside. A second later, his voice echoed back down the hall.

“It’s fully equipped too! There’s storage space, proper counters, even a stone stove. Everything I need is here!”

Reth let out a low whistle while walking along the main corridor. “This is way better than that old house.”

Kain checked one of the side rooms, then another, opening doors like a curious child. “There are so many rooms… Boss, we could fit a whole squad in here.”

Aiden watched them quietly, hands behind his back.

Once they’d finished exploring, he gathered them in the main hall.

“Alright,” Aiden said. “We’re going to turn this place into our base of operation. But first, we need supplies.”

He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of paper, then handed it to Reth.

Reth unfolded it and started reading.

Lighting stones. Extra bedding. Locking mechanisms. Storage crates. Cleaning supplies. Curtains. Basic furniture. Writing desks. Ink and paper.

Reth blinked. “That’s… a lot.”

Aiden nodded. “That’s why both of you are going.”

He turned to Reth and Kain.

“You two will handle everything on that list. Buy decent quality, but don’t overpay. If someone tries to cheat you, walk away.”

Kain straightened immediately. “Yes, boss.”

Reth grinned. “Leave it to us.”

Aiden then looked at Harlan.

“Harlan, you stay here. Start cleaning the kitchen and see what ingredients we still need. Tonight, I want a proper meal.”

Harlan placed a fist over his chest. “Got it, boss.”

Aiden handed Reth a pouch of gold coins.

“This should cover it. If it’s not enough, come back and tell me.”

Reth weighed the pouch in his hand, eyes lighting up. “With this much, we’ll have the place looking brand new.”

The two brothers headed out together, already arguing about who would carry what.

Aiden watched them leave, then turned back toward the empty hall.

Slowly, the silent hideout began to feel alive.

They didn’t return until late in the evening.

By the time Aiden heard footsteps in the corridor, the sky outside had already darkened, and lantern light spilled softly through the windows.

Reth and Kain came in first, both carrying bulging sacks over their shoulders. Behind them were two hired porters struggling under wooden crates and bundled furniture. After that the two hired porters left immediately.

“It took the whole day,” Reth said, dropping his load with a heavy thud. “Central district prices are no joke.”

Kain stretched his sore arms. “And everyone suddenly wants to haggle when they see gold.”

One by one, the supplies were brought inside.

Locking mechanisms were installed on every entrance. Storage crates were stacked neatly along the walls. Simple but sturdy tables and chairs filled the main hall. Fresh bedding replaced the old, dusty mats in the side rooms.

Within minutes, the dull, empty cooking space transformed. He organized spices on the shelves, sorted vegetables into baskets, and lined up knives with almost ceremonial care. Before long, the sound of chopping echoed through the hideout, followed by the comforting scent of simmering broth.

Aiden walked through each room in silence.

What had once been a cold, abandoned hideout now carried warmth.

Clean floors reflected lantern light. Writing desks stood ready with ink and paper. Even the air felt different, no longer stale, but alive with movement and purpose.

Reth leaned against a doorway, wiping sweat from his brow. “Boss, now it really feels like someone lives here.”

Kain nodded. “Yeah. Before, it was just a building. Now it’s… ours.”

Bone Contract Hall finally had a home.

When Harlan called everyone to eat, they gathered around the table, tired but satisfied. Steam rose from freshly cooked dishes, filling the hall with warmth.

Aiden took his seat and glanced at the three brothers.

They were exhausted.

But they were smiling.

—-

Outside the hideout, a lone woman stood beneath the moonlight.

She moved carefully, eyes sweeping across the narrow street and the rows of aging buildings. Most of them looked abandoned, cracked walls, peeling paint, doors hanging crooked on rusted hinges. It was hard to believe anything important could be hidden here.

Yet she was certain.

She adjusted the cloak around her shoulders and unfolded a small, worn map. Her finger traced a circle marked in red.

“…It should be around here,” she murmured.

She had come on Goro’s recommendation.

That alone carried weight.

Over the past few months, she had commissioned every assassin hall in Breim City. Each one had taken her gold with confident smiles and empty promises. Some failed outright. Others never even returned. Her patience had long since worn thin.

This new hall was her last option.

Bone Contract Hall.

A strange name, but Goro had spoken of it with rare seriousness.

She folded the map and took a slow breath, trying to steady herself.

Just as she was about to move on, a faint sound reached her ears.

Click.

Her head snapped toward the noise.

It was soft, mechanical, almost swallowed by the distant bustle of the city. She followed the sound to what looked like nothing more than a crumbling wall on the side of an abandoned building.

Then, right in front of her eyes, the stone shifted.

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