The black SUV rumbled smoothly as it navigated the late-afternoon traffic of Duskhaven City. Alexis Mackay, or Tiger as he was whispered about in the darker corners of the city, sat in the front passenger seat, his posture rigid. Behind him, Dominic Mylod sat in silence, cradling the Han Dynasty bronze kettle like a common grocery item. When the vehicle finally pulled up to the curb, they were in front of the modest storefront Jack Yabut had recently leased. It was a humble space, a far cry from the opulent high-rises of the city center, but for Jack, it represented a frantic, last-ditch effort to prove his worth.
Dominic stepped out of the vehicle, the door closing with a heavy, expensive thud. Jack, who had been pacing the sidewalk like a caged animal, nearly jumped out of his skin. His
