From dawn till dusk, Grin spent the day amongst the populace of the city. Hiding in the shadows behind every normal occurrence, he patiently watched and learned what he could about how life and death works in the city.

Grin sat near restaurants and bars, walked around marketplaces and loitered about in alleys and other gatherings. Dressed up as a dirty bum on a corner of an alley aided him in not being noticed. It even earned him some useful pocket change on the side. His focus was aimed mostly on important looking men in suits and spent hours listening in on the conversations.

As vague the chats went Grin learned much from it. People of there had no problem keeping quiet with their plans and happenings, their troubles and gossips; and at the sidelines of every discussion, Grin would hear it all.

Amongst the shadows of Roanapur, Grin learned of countless factions that scratch for power and profit in the city. With their own little empires, these international criminals and organizations take profit with most of the businesses in the city both legal and illegal.

Death was a common occurrence in the city as these factions or low-level scum vie to survive in the barren streets. Poverty was also rampant. Beggars littered the streets and pickpockets' bite at every corner and were as common as cockroaches. One pickpocket dared to steel from Grin at one turn.

Grin returned the favor in kind by catching the brat and broke her arm. The little tyke cried over her shattered limb and ran with her tail between her legs. By then, no other thief dared to steal from him.

"Poor souls. The lot of them."

With a crappy police force added to the mix, Grin wondered what kept the entire place standing after all that time. The discovery of the 4 gods of Roanapur answered the question. They were the pillars that kept order amidst the chaos.

It was made up of: The Hong Kong Triads led by a Mr. Chang, The Italian Mafia led by Ronnie "The Jaws", The Colombian Cartel led by Abrego and Hotel Moscow led by Balalaika.

A lot of rumors circulated the streets regarding them. Some were laughable at most and some were almost impossible to believe. Whatever tale was told of them one thing was certain, they were the biggest players of the city.

Akin to gods, they had the authority and power to crush anything or anyone who would dare oppose them. That fact alone kept the population of killers, psychos and thieves in line. Though there are always some who would risk overcoming the system.

Grin heard of other stories apart from the mobs. Tales of certain characters and unbelievable events that does not occur normally in the city was a commonly said story.

Some of the infamous names he came across to was the one they called "Two Hands" and her trigger happy frenzy, the mysterious being known by many as "The Maid" who caused some havoc a few months back and other colorful killers and miscreants who litter the underworld.

The only person different from the others was the man they call "Rock". That man was considered as fresh fish from a clean pond apparently. Despite the oddity though, Grin didn't pay attention to that subject much.

I'd fit well right in. Grin thought. He almost felt at home in the dark city of death. He felt welcomed with open arms amongst the criminals and killers who were just like him.

Learning enough to last a while in the city, Grin abandoned his façade and searched for a place to stay in for the night.

Grin found himself a cheap hotel to stay in. It was an old establishment with its ripped wallpaper and leaky floors. It wasn't his first choice of a hotel but since he was low on money, it was the only one he could afford at the moment.

"Welcome to the Do la Inn where your something is something something." A middle-aged lobbyist announced with a bored tone. She sat behind the glass booth her eyes glued to the newspaper all the while chewing gum. The lobbyist ended her sentences with an annoying pop. "The rooms are 700 Baht."

"Please leave your money on the plate and grab your key. Enjoy your stay sir or ma'am." She pointed at the key rack behind her in the booth.

Grin sheepishly reached into the booth and grabbed a random key. He paused for a moment and simply stood in front of the lobbyist. There was something about the woman that earned his ire. She was quite bad at her job. She didn't make the crappy place any warmer and didn't even raise her eyes to look at him even once.

If the building were to burn down or if he was bashing the woman's head onto the glass, Grin could guess that she wouldn't even notice. She would probably still be popping that stupid gum of hers in hell for all he cared. As appealing as that sounded, Grin restrained himself from fulfilling that fantasy. Grin grabbed his bag from the dirt packed floor and made his way up to his room.

The room was almost as bad as the rest of the building. The place had leaking water from the ceiling, the wallpapers were faded and torn, dried blood stained the corner and he had noisy neighbors fucking next door. As terrible as the lodgings were however, he considered himself lucky to have a place that has a bed and a roof above his head for the night.

Tired from the strenuous activities without rest for almost 2 days, Grin thought it best to get some shut-eye. Dropping his bag on the corner and his weapons on the bedside table, Grin jumped head first into the bed.

The bed was a tad lumpy with a few springs missing but was comfortable enough. Grin wasn't the type for grandeur anyway. In fact, he would prefer something crappy to something so lavish. Over-the-top lodgings would only make him soft, comfortable and vulnerable. For a man of his status and history, that would be a vital weakness.

The echoing of hissing breath filled the room as Grin slowly falls to slumber.

Grin was thankful getting a dreamless sleep. He had killed so many all his life that their faces appear in the dark whenever he closes his eye.

Their ghosts appear and reminded him of all that he had done to them. They would hound him as he slept and spoke of their last requests and regrets.

Try as he might to shut them out, they are always there with their half dead eyes. They are all nothing to him, as much as everything else there was in his sad life. Let them visit him in the dark he couldn't care less. But that never stopped them for being there, much to Grin's displeasure.

He woke up suddenly a few hours or so later abruptly. His hands and body started to shake slightly uncontrollably. Cramps and muscle spasms jolted into his body like electricity.

His body was moving by a will of his own and was crushing him from the inside. Pain was the only sensation he could sense. It was all agony and excruciating. Sweat beaded from his skin.

Grin took a few deep breaths and noticed something was amiss. Somehow the air was a bit different. It smelled different and unfamiliar. His mask was out of gas. Grin forced his way up and hobbled towards his bag across the room.

Each step shared its own share of pain. His legs began cramping and he fell to the floor. Struggling to a crawl, he finally reached his bag after what felt like an eternity. Shuffled through its contents he found himself a small spare gas container.

Frantically reloading his gasmask, he hastily breathed in up until the pain was washed away. It took a few seconds of breathing before Grin felt like himself again. He was in control.

Grin berated himself for being so careless. He was fortunate that he was in a safe situation for that to occur. Cursing under his breath, he looked into the empty can of gas and threw it outside the window.

The gas was a mixture of various painkillers and anesthetics that he makes himself. Being a killer for hire is a dangerous trade with wounds and injuries were commonly received. The gas helped keep the pain at bay, an increase in endurance and gave him the ability not to feel pain though at great cost lest he succumb to the pain dealt by his wounds.

The gas eliminates the sensation of pain and the sense of touch but also does not eliminate it. If Grin's hand would be burning and Grin would only notice when something started smelling like burning flesh.

Pain kept the body alive and tells it of its limits. Without it, the risk of dying increases especially since Grin had the penchant of overdoing things.

He also is forced to keep a regular dose of the gas. If not, his wounds would start acting up and would incapacitate Grin due to the strain. It was a drug that he is addicted to and a lifeline that kept him alive. Grin hated being so dependent on something so desperately.

After feeling like himself again, Grin made his way to the shower. It was fortunate for him to have running water. Taking everything off except for his mask, he stepped into the freezing shower. Standing there under the stream Grin fell silent and meditated.

It helped. Both the gas and the shower have. Refreshed and renewed, Grin felt satisfied. Passing by a mirror, Grin looked at himself in the flesh. There was not much to see nor to bask on as it was just a grotesque patchwork of flesh and scars.

Even Grin is disgusted by what he saw. Every scar had a story and he recalled it all as he traced his fingers on them. Painful memories that haunt him and imbedded their stories on him.

Changing to fresh new clothes, Grin looked around the room for something to do. The room itself had hardly any furniture apart from a cabinet on the corner, a bed and a table next to it. Grin looked inside the table's drawer and was surprised to find something of interest.

Inside was a large revolver pistol and some spare rounds scattered about with it. Grin guessed that the previous owner wouldn't mind him taking it for himself. The owner probably won't come back for it. Grin figured that the bloodstain on the side of the wall was probably him.

He was no Clint Eastwood but he could tell that the gun was a .44 Magnum Revolver. It was a work of art and a truly powerful gun that would make Dirty Harry proud. Grin was fortunate to find it still in good condition. With a well aimed shot, he could pop heads like R. Lee Erney's watermelons.

Peering inside, Grin found it empty. Taking 3 bullets, he placed it in random cartridges. Spinning the cartridge case like a badass, Grin pointed it to himself and pulled the trigger.

CLICK!

"Damn." said Grin, a tad disappointed. He could always try tomorrow.

Grin took with him his Bowie knife and strapped around his belt. The .44 Magnum was loaded in full and placed the spare rounds in his pocket. The need for sleep was gone. He needed some air.

Retracing his steps through the narrow halls and down to the lobby he felt something amiss. Peering by the wall that overlooked the lobby, he found three men standing by the entrance of the hotel.

The men wore good fitting suits and armed by the looks of the bumps in their suits. They also looked reasonably fit by their thick necks and the way they carried themselves.

Grin didn't know who they are or from what organization, but they are a potential threat. There isn't that many nor important guests in the hotel as Grin checked that out earlier.

Grin deduced that the men are specialists and most likely are looking for him. Who else would send well-outfitted professionals for a small time crook in the city? Grin decided to meet them head on and think of the consequences later. He guessed that he could probably take them out if he needs to.

The only thing that was bugging Grin was on how they managed to find him in short time. He thought about it a while as he made his way down the stairs. He tried to recall every move he made that day, trying to find a simple mistake he made. A pop soon broke his concentration. That lobby girl isn't as clueless as he expected.

"Ah, Mr. Grin. We were just on our way to see you." The lead man said with a thick Russian accent.

Grin saw that the men around him showed no sign of fear or anxiety as compared to how most react to him. They professionals indeed as Grin could not deduce their emotions or intentions.

"It was just as lucky for us to find you ready to leave. Please come with us if you will." The man continued pointing to the car parked outside.

Grin refused the man's greeting with utter silence. His breathing was the only voice heard in the awkward stillness. Taking a moment to look at the men standing in front of him, Grin weighed his options.

Grin walked to what seemed to be the leader of the men. His eye pointed straight at the man and didn't care to blink as he gave a nod. The men showed slight signs of relief by the time Grin made his way out. He gave himself a small smile and was satisfied that they know what he was capable of by presence alone and looked at him with fear.

"We are on our way to HQ Kapitan with the package in tow." The man called in his phone.

"…"

"Yes Kapitan. Thank you. We will be there in a bit."

The road was quiet after that. Grin said not a word the entire trip and neither did the men surrounding him. It was an awkward silence throughout the trip. Grin was confident that all would be made clear when he arrived to their destination. He spent the rest of the trip wondering what kind of person this Kapitan Balalaika would be?

Grin and his escorts soon arrived to their destination, a large red skyscraper in the far side of town with the logo of the local Bougainvillea Trading Company; a cover for the infamous Hotel Moscow. Before Grin could see more of the building a security team eyed him with prejudice greeted him.

"With all due respect sir, but would you kindly leave your weapons here?"

Grin was forced to comply begrudgingly and surrendered to them his knife and gun. As skillful as Grin was without those weapons, losing them increased his chances of waking up in a ditch somewhere. However, they wouldn't bring him all the way here in such style to just kill him though. That gave him slight comfort. Slight.

Grin was also asked to empty pockets and place it on a tray provided for an ex-ray check up and go through a metal detector. He deposited his wallet, passport, ammunition, a pocket notebook and a coin purse. The place reminded Grin of a bloody airport. He hated those check ups as much as he hated flying.

"Excuse me sir, but would you please remove all metallic devices, gadgets and other items." The security guard said after the alarms for the metal detector went off.

This would take a while. Grin thought a tad annoyed as he dug into his pockets.

The room was covered with the scent of smoke and ash the moment the doors opened. Though it did not trouble him in breathing, it did block some of his vision as he made his way inside.

As soon as the smoke cleared came to view a scarred blonde woman sat in one end of the table with a cigar in her hand. She was Hotel Moscow's Balalaika. It was a fitting name for a lovely but dangerous woman. Next to her was a large similarly scarred man on a corner. If Grin would guess, that person must be her right hand man Boris.

The woman was beautiful despite the scars that etched itself all over her face even by Grin's standards. The streets weren't exaggerated when they called her by the moniker of "Fry-face". The fact that they also call her that in a hushed tone proved how this woman wasn't a push over.

Grin recounted the woman's reputation of being a veteran and a war hero. From that to a mob boss only proves her formidability for the position. This woman would be capable of kicking Grin's ass herself if given a chance.

"Please have a seat Mr. Reaper." The woman said with a puff of smoke. "Quite an entrance you brought in yesterday. You have personally caught my full attention."

"Am well aware." Grin replied with a nod. "Else you wont bring me here. In style. Surprised at how you found me. Good spies."

"Thank you. I pride myself to have a good set of eyes in the gutters." Balalaika gave a smug smile. "I am quite pleased to have found you in short notice especially in these dire times. It isn't easy being a mob boss in this kind of environment, you know."

"Hmmm."

Grin thought his words well. Being in the lion's den without any means of escape increased his chances for getting the boot. Grin observed the woman in front of him. She was manipulative and calculating and is apparently looking for a possible weakness in him. The type to exploit as so many had tried before.

"My word!" Balalaika exclaimed cynically. "We haven't been properly introduced now haven't we? How rude of me. They call me here as Balalaika and remember it well since I could be your best friend or worst enemy. Believe me when I say that this town won't be looking down on any stranger."

"Am not here for pleasantries. Madam." Grin blankly interrupted. He wasn't going to let play under her tune. He knows that this was no ordinary small talk. It was a risky game of life and death. "Let's get to business."

"Perceptive one aren't you? Very well." Balalaika said. She was beginning to like this man. "I am in need of someone with your special expertise. The type that could silence any busy bee that tries leaving the hive."

"I'm listening." Grin growled.

"There is a traitor in our midst here in Hotel Moscow. "Balalaika spoke in an indifferent tone. The one you would hear from a military briefing. "He is embezzling funds and stealing contrabands from our own warehouses and selling them off on the side. I want him and whoever else he is dealing with stopped and made an example of."

"That's it?" Grin asked incredulity. "Take out a thief? Rather have a challenge. Give this to your errand boys. You are Spetsnaz. Are you?"

Grin made the last point looking at Boris. He must have popped a chord on the man as he heard a faint grown coming from him. Looking back at Balalaika, Grin was taken aback when she started laughing for some reason. It unnerved him a little.

"You have quite some balls saying that Reaper. And more so that you say that to me." Balalaika exclaimed with a breath of smoke. "Your reputation indeed says much about you."

"And that is?" Grin asked.

"That you would face death in the face and spit on her without qualm." Balalaika said coldly. Her eyes then changed to a darker tone. "I would shoot you right now if I could but I happen to need someone of your skills in this job. As much as I would like to make this personal, my hands are tied and cannot make any move that might risk my organization. This is due to the man being a Spetsnaz himself."

"And that is where YOU come in." Balalaika continued. She noticed the interest that glint in Grin's eye "I want you to hunt down this traitor. $85,000 – Dead or $145,000 – alive so I could teach him some manners. Only the people inside this room know this information and we would prefer to keep it that way. Do I make myself clear?"

Grin understood. A man from the inside would know how Hotel Moscow would operate and could counter any move they play against them. The anonymity of the man makes him dangerous. They also need to keep this quiet so that it won't leak out to the other factions and use it to their own advantage. This person is also ex-Spetsnaz so he would be difficult to catch and take down. Exciting.

"I accept." Grin replied without hesitation. "See him in a week."

"I will hold you to that and I hope that your confidence would prove you wise. If you fail to accomplish this mission however, hope that you die by this traitor's hand than face mine." Said Balalaika, her eyes grew large and mad with a sinister smile to match her cold icy breath.

"I won't." Grin growled. He knew the risks and he was confident of his own abilities. The woman does not scare him either. It wasn't his first rodeo with the devil.

"Before you leave however, might I ask you a question?" Balalaika called out as Grin was making his way out the door. Grin stopped to turn and replied to her with a curt nod.

"Yes, I was led to believe that you had a both limbs intact but here I see you only with your right arm. Was there a recent accident or do my contacts need a new set of eyes?" the blonde woman asked curiously.

Grin calmly faced the Russian and removed his leather jacket and showed her his empty and limbless left forearm. It was an old wound he received from long ago. The skin at the elbow was already closed the stump shut with only a cross-shaped welt to show where his front limb was.

"The rest is downstairs." Grin replied nonchalantly as he wore his jacket again to hide his disfigurement. "Anything else?"

"None at all Mr. Reaper. You are dismissed."

"He is an odd one, that man." Said Boris, who spoke as soon as Grin left the premises.

"He says few but his actions says more. I don't like him"

"You hardly like anyone, Sargent." Balalaika replied as she lit herself a cigar. "I on the other had, am starting to get fond of him. A very interesting character, that man."

"Only the ones I don't know much of, Kapitan." Boris replied with a small smile. His face quickly turned serious as he continued. "The Reaper is an unpredictable man. Someone we cannot control so easily. He is also known to be an opportunist who would turn on a contract and his clients if another would suit him better. Are you sure you want to give THAT man a dangerous task such as this?"

"Yes." Balalaika said casually. Boris kept silent and waited for Balalaika's explanation as she lit herself another smoke. "A fickle man, this Reaper would be, but he is not without a small sense of honor. A VERY small sense of honor at best. No, I don't believe he would turn on us. Not even if someone would give him a better deal."

"How would you know that, Kapitan?" Boris was still not convinced. "We have only met that man just now."

"You're getting old Boris. You're beginning to lose your edge." Balalaika answered. "It only took me a second to see what that man was. The look on that person's eye was all too obvious."

"And that is?"

"He's a man just like us, Sargent." Balalaika answered with pride. "A soldier looking for an honorable death in the highest point. This oh so difficult task we're giving him would just be too good for him to resist. Betraying us is the least of his options. He will do us well."

"There is but one thing that bothered me about him, Sargant." Balalaika said in a serious tone.

"What would that be, Kapitan?"

"During our meeting when the two of you traded faces, I saw a glint in his eye. Almost as if he discovered something about us." Balalaika blew a stream of smoke. "The man appears to be smarter than I expected to find something so small and brief during a quick exchange. Lets treat that man in caution, he's still a threat and could disturb the balance of this city."

"Yes, Kapitan."