Black Hood: Season Two by Nick Venom (management books to read txt) 📕

Blue waited for them, opening the door as they approached. Summer nodded at her before going inside. She walked towards the king, kneeling fifteen feet away from the throne. Milena copied her, lowering her head in submission.

“Summer, Milena, raise your heads.” He ordered. They raised their heads at the same time. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not here to scold you. Instead, I wish to see how you’re adjusting to your new life.”

“Uh,” Summer was trying her best to speak as politely as a person from the Slums could. “We've been doing good.”

“Excellent, I heard from the other maids that you two have become popular. Summer, the beam of light for the tired guards, and Milena, the older sibling to the nearby orphanage. What a delightful surprise.”

“Uh, thank you for your compliment, your majesty.” She lowered her head.

“Good, now onto my second topic. I’ve heard that you've been wishing to see your savior.”

Summer raised her head, delight apparent in her eyes. Milena glanced at her, copying her movements. Jayden cracked a smile, feeling a healing aura from the pair. However, the smile disappeared as quickly as it arrived. “I’m afraid we can’t do that, at least not yet.”

“I understand, your majesty. Thank you for considering my wish.” 

Jayden rose from his throne, approaching the pair. Summer’s nerves went everywhere, afraid she spoke out of line. However, the king didn’t scold or punish her. He grabbed her head and pointed it at him. “I did say ‘not yet, didn’t I?”

“Y-Yeah, you did.”

“That means you’ll see him soon. Right now, he’s performing a crucial task, so we can’t afford to interrupt his progress.”

“Yes, your majesty. I apologize for the burden I put on you.”

Jayden shook his head. “You two have been splendid in performing your tasks. Don’t forget that.” He turned around and sat down on his throne. “I’ll establish a meeting between the two of you when I can. For now, continue with your daily lives.” He glanced at Milena, who didn’t understand most of what they were saying, watching Summer’s face for intel.

“Although I can’t grant that wish, I will grant a different wish of yours. Milena will be sent to school alongside peers her age. As for you, you’ll be attending a high school. You’ll start next week, so begin studying when you can. A tutor will be assigned to help with your studies, but self-studying, before you enter, won’t hurt.” He gave her advice before asking for them to leave. Summer thanked the king multiple times before grabbing Milena and almost running out of the throne room. However, she remembered her manners, slowing her pace, briskly walking out of the room. Jayden watched the pair, chuckling softly to himself.

“I wonder if I’m doing the right thing.” He muttered to himself. He enslaved a person, temporarily, to free tens as many. Who knew if he was walking on the righteous path, but Jayden didn’t care about that anymore. He had to do what he could for his citizens, even if he had to strip a man of his freedom.

TBC…

Rock watched from the rooftop of a three-story building towards the neighboring building. It was the headquarters of Miss Stars, the owner of all of the brothels in the Slums. A feisty lady with an iron will; not somebody to mess with.

Even so, here she was, ready to mess with her. Why did it have to be her? She thought. Why couldn’t it be somebody else?

She rattled her head for an answer to solve her current dilemma. She was good friends with Miss Stars---colleagues even---but now they were on opposites sides. One of them had to die.

Rock descended from the three-story residential building to the two-story headquarters. She dropped onto the roof of the building, discovering a hatch and jumping inside.

Now inside, she looked around in search of her prey. Her eyes lingered around the hallway before tracking her. She went on the prowl, tracking Miss Stars. Her years of being a professional assassin had granted her numerous skills and intelligence. 

“Go, go, go.” Rock heard Miss Stars tell one of her workers, an old street rat. Old as in how dirty they were and less about their age.

“Yes, ma’am.” The street rat muttered before leaving. Miss Stars watched as the rat left her sight before trying to run around. She had a dagger choking her, the culprit standing behind her.

“Ugh, an assassin?” She asked herself. “And I’m not dead yet, so it’s Rock.” She deducted quickly.

“Smart as usual.”

“It’s not hard to hear your heavy panting. Don’t tell me the day has finally arrived?” Miss Stars asked, feeling the dagger inch closer.

“I’m afraid so,” With one arm holding the dagger, she wiped her tears on the sleeve of the other arm. “I've been tasked to collect your head.”

“It’s fine, honey.” She said in his soothing voice. She had been famed for her appearance and voice. Her voice, especially. It always calmed people’s nerves and worked well in negotiations. “You do what you need to in the Slums. I’ve done worse, anyways.”

“But…” Her voice began trembling. “... I don’t want to do this.” 

“Nobody does, hun. However-” She brandished a knife, ducking her head and spinning on her heels. She faced Rock, holding her knife tightly. “-I won’t go down without a fight.”

Rock smiled, tears streaming down her face. “Why is it like this? I’m fine with killing the others, but the thought of killing you, it-”

“I know. The royal family is forcing your hand. It’s the same situation Wick was in.”

Rock wiped away her tears. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry it had to be like this.”

“Don’t apologize now, do it after I beat you.” She said with her usual overconfidence. She was rarely crossed and those that did were often killed immediately. 

She was a wicked woman, surviving through Wick’s reign by using her body. By doing that, her business prospered and expanded. However, everything she worked for would crash if she died. 

She couldn’t let that happen.

Miss Stars charged forward, gripping the knife tightly. Rock took the attack head-on, parrying the attack with her circular blade She used the entire circumference to parry the blade. Both competitors switched sides, facing each other. 

Rock ran towards Miss Stars, one hand gripping her blade and the other reaching into her pockets. She carried daggers, brandishing them and throwing them at lightspeed. Miss Stars expected the attack, ducking and dodging the daggers, but taking Rock head-on. They clashed, the metal bouncing off each other initially before grinding each other to bluntness. 

“You’ve gotten better. I can’t believe you’ve grown into a fine woman.” Miss Stars commented while a few inches from her face. She stared deeply into Rock’s eyes, amazed by them. They were eyes full of hesitation, but they were slowly being drained and replaced by her fighting spirit.

The two broke apart, staring at each other. They both waited for the other to strike, hoping to find a weakness. 

“Keep staring and you’ll see my beauty. You might’ve grown up, but, compared to me, you’re still a kid.” Miss Stars mocked her. Rock, however, ignored the obvious provocation and focused on finding a place to strike.

Miss Stars opened her mouth to speak, granting Rock the opportunity. She struck quickly and caught Miss Stars off-guard, knocking the overconfident woman off a peg. However, this sudden attack didn’t work for long. The attack wasn’t deep enough to cause real damage. Instead, Miss Stars ripped the blade out using her bare hands, cutting into her flesh, and splattering blood on the ground. 

“Not so easy to get me like that.” She threw Rock’s weapon aside and charged her, knocking her to the ground. Now on the ground, she threw a wild left punch that struck Rock’s jaw, nearly knocking her out. “You’re still green behind the ears. Return when you’re stronger.” 

Rock stared at her, dizzy from the punch. A tear escaped her eyes, falling behind her ear. “I’m not a kid.” She began chanting something under her breath, a small grin appearing as daggers appeared over Miss Stars. These daggers were made of light, hovering as if waiting for an order. 

“Wow, you got a skill.” Miss Stars said, staring at the light daggers. “You have changed.”

“Go!” Rock ordered, watching as Miss Stars was penetrated by the daggers. She collapsed on top of Rock, her blood flowing onto her. She threw her body off her, jumping up.

Miss Stars stared at Rock with delighted eyes. “Your father was my favorite, you know that? Even after his death, he’s been the only man dear to my heart.”

“And I thank you for that. I thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my family. Don’t think I never noticed the care packages waiting for me. We wouldn’t have survived without you.”

“Does it matter anymore? Wick still got your family, yet here am I. Perched at the top of a rickety pillar.” She lamented. “If I was a good person, I would’ve let your family move in with me. However, my pride got to me.” She held out her knife. “End my life.”

“I can’t.” Rock instantly said. 

Miss Stars grabbed Rock’s hands and wrapped them around the knife’s handle. She then dug the blade into her body, tempting her heart. “Tell your father I’m sorry for all of the trouble.”

Rock shook her head, trying to rip the knife out of her, but to no avail. It sunk deep enough to kill her, leaving Rock with a bloody friend.

“Why!” She shouted. “We could’ve faked your death!”

“You wouldn’t be able to.” It was Miss Stars’ final words.

***

“Damn them!” Spec exclaimed. “You force me to work with you, yet you don’t trust me. You gave me the task of clearing the Slums, yet you don’t want a massacre. Ha! I’ll do what I have to.” He looked around. He sat on top of a two-story building, staring at his next target---the headquarters of the Blue Demons gang.

“I’ll paint the port with their blood. I’ll-”

“You’re my only family! You can’t leave me!” He heard Lin’s voice rattle around in his mind. He wanted to see his sister and see how she progressed, see Matt and Maddie live normal middle-class lives - however, his hands were dirty and would remain so for three years. Until he dropped the life as an assassin, would he be able to see his sister?

“I’ll meet with you as soon as I can. Our family will be reunited. First, let me clear out the Slums, Lin.” He remarked, imagining he was talking with her. “I’ll be by your side.”

He dropped to the ground, scurrying towards the port. He masked himself in his cloak, utilizing the dim sunlight to approach with ease. He entered through the backdoor, crouching down and sneaking towards Cherry’s location. Most offices of gang leaders were on the highest floor of the headquarters and Blue Demons weren’t any different.

Spec quickly climbed the stairs, peeking out into the hallways. They were strangely empty, emitting an eerily silence. Even so, Spec trudged forward. He carefully checked the rooms of the hallway, finding them to be empty. He then went to the pair of rooms, finding the same situation there. Everything was too empty to be real.

He