The Emissary Of The Night Shadow
Tragedies.

A small room accompanies a warm conversation. Rito felt like living in this place, even though there was no mattress and very narrow, but at least this place is much better.

Unfortunately, Rito could not do that. He had to come back soon or something that felt threatening to him would actually happen.

"Are you going home? Rest even if it's just for last night." Alesha, the girl who saved him, stared indecisively at Rito.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have to come back soon." Rito stood up from his sitting position, greeting by bowing his body as a thank you.

"Wait, do you know the way home?" Alesha slightly shouted, trying to stop Rito's new steps a few meters from the doorway.

"As long as this place is still in the underworld, I can find a way to go home." Rito put his foot back on. He did not look at it the least while talking. If he did that, then he was afraid that he would feel comfortable and forget everything. The place home that was like a dream for Rito, now right behind him.

Rito circulated his gaze at the unkempt slum buildings. At once he realized that now he was in the most remote place of the underworld. A place where there was no imperial interference because it had its own leader. This place is called the Ghetto.

For the inhabitants of the upper world and the underworld directly under the empire, entering the Ghetto was a trivial act with severe punishment. No matter for any reason entering the place, it would at least get the punishment of taking one limb.

"Am I gonna be okay?" Rito muttered softly, stepping his feet towards a place he did not want to go. Rito knows that soon someone will report about his whereabouts in the current Ghetto. But Rito doesn't care much. Now he just wants to meet his two little angels.

Many things that Rito muttered during the trip. Although he never cursed his fate, but there was no harm in complaining when no one was listening.

"May you guys be okay." Rito looked up, imagining the faces of Molly and Kelly who would welcome him. Though the sky was bright rejoicing, but his heart was filled with sorrow. There was an uneasy feeling that continued to haunt his calmness. However, he brushed aside all the bad prejudices and thought that nothing had happened and would still be fine.

A few hours walking in the hot sun, Rito finally reached the place he had been living in. The smile of the sumringah was already engraved on his face before he even entered the house. Without him knowing that tragedy is waiting for him behind the door.

About five adult men in royal guard clothes were already in the living room when Rito opened the door. Two of them hold the unconscious bodies of Molly and Kelly.

"Look, the main cast has arrived." Claire walked up to him with a smile she had never seen before.

"What's going on? Why are there palace guards here? Did they make a mistake?" Rito's voice sounded trembling. Right now his mind is in chaos. Between anger and confusion mixed into one. Claire laughed for a moment before answering Rito's question.

"It's only been a few hours and the information has reached the ears of the kingdom?" Rito clenched his fingers. If only he had come sooner, maybe none of this would have happened.

"But why Kelly and Molly? They were taken hostage for fear that I would run away? Untie them! I'm not gonna run away from punishment." Rito stared intently at the two guards carrying his sister's body. He's not a coward who runs away from consequences, Rito would never do that.

"It seems you misunderstood. You can't accept punishment for being underage, instead they ask me for a fine. Of course I don't want to! Why take out my precious treasure only for useless brats like you? So I offered them to sell your little brother." Claire smiled with a look of guiltlessness. The woman continued to provoke as if feeling satisfied seeing Rito's expression all along.

It was true that the woman was enjoying Rito's tangled face that she had never seen before. All this time he had only seen her flat face emotionlessly, and now the woman had discovered something new.

"Look down, Molly's only gonna be working in the night city. They say there's a customer who wants a twelve-year-old. Even though Molly is two years younger, I'm sure the customer will still be satisfied."

"How can a ten-year-old work in a night town? If I was a minor to receive punishment, so why would Molly even work at an adult's place? Isn't she still a minor for that?" The sound of Rito's breathing rang out gasping for breath. Unknowingly her tears flowed down her cheeks, making a clean line on Rito's dirty face.

Claire grew even more excited as she saw the arrogant child before her showing tears and feeling helpless. The woman brought the tip of her lips closer to Rito's earlobe.

"It's actually a secret, but I'll tell you something. The customer I was referring to was no ordinary customer. Where do you think the kingdom can get so much money? Most of it was produced in the night town and that was thanks to customers who now wanted Molly. So, surrender. They're still gonna take Molly because it's more profitable than making a kid like you disabled." Claire gives a kiss on the tip of the earlobe.

Hearing that sentence Rito darkened his eyes. He wants to get rid of them. Get rid of everything that is broken. Though all this time he deliberately endured the suffering he experienced for the sake of his sisters. It was fine if it was only him who was suffering, but currently his two little sisters would bear the same with him.

It was only a few days ago that he promised not to let them experience the way he had, but now was that promise unfulfilled? At least he should be able to save one of them. Although it feels unfair, but Rito can save the rest when he has become stronger. Strong enough to fight against one Empire.

"If Molly's the only one working, why was Kelly brought in? There's no way a toddler would also be a night worker, right?"

"Of course not! There are others who want it. You know the Ghetto leader? He wants a child to take care of. I think the leader over there is crazy. How could he want a toddler to be cared for? Maybe just for his anger. You also know what kind of bad rumors are about him." Claire laughed with satisfaction. The woman knew that now Rito must be holding back his own resentment for not being able to do anything to help them.

"Then send me with Kelly. No problem, right?"