It was a quiet night on the streets of London. All were like the usual nights: the dark-blue sky with the faint glimmers of stars, the flickering street lamps, and the occasional sound of scraps of paper and leaves being blown along by the wind. All was normal. As was the Eagle Pub.
The Eagle Pub on first glance looked like any ordinary pub on the front, but it was a well-known gathering spot for the criminal underworld, from all kinds of criminals to even sometimes notable figures of the underworld. Walking into the pub, you would be astonished to find out that the interior was much larger than what it looked outside. It was renowned for its pleasant atmosphere alongside the rather tasteful interior designs. Apart from the iconic spacious hall with tall ceilings, and the large bar beside it, it also came along with a game room, several multi-function rooms for rent and an upstairs area. It was a place ideal for hanging out with others during spare time. Most of the time, the pub was packed full of people, especially during the nights and weekends.
A man came walking down the street where the pub was located. After a while, he was directly at the front of the pub. He gazed upwards at the hanging logo. The Eagle Pub - exactly the place he was visiting. After the confirmation, he stepped into the building.
Upon entering the pub, he was immediately greeted with the bar directly in front of the door, followed by the stares from the drinking customers. For them, he was wayyy overdressed for the occasion.
The man, who stood roughly at 5'11, looked to be around in his 30s and had a rather slim built. He was wearing a full formal suit with a red tie, and it seemed to be one of those tailor-made high-class suits. From head to toe he was dressed neatly. Even his long dark hair was tidily combed. The man clearly cared about fashion and looks, even when he was in a place of low life scums.
Fortunately their attention towards him was brief and they continued minding their own business mere moments later. After all, this was a place with all sorts of people, including strange ones. It wasn't that unfamiliar for a regular visitor.
The suited man was a man of the name Talbot. He paid no attention to the gazes of the men and proceeded to the bar and sat down. He observed the surroundings of the bar in detail for a moment, trying to pick up something useful for his quest. Having no results, he decided the best way was the old-fashion way of chatting with the bartender to scoop up some information.
Talbot ordered a cocktail drink. After taking a sip from his drink, he asked a few things about a person he was looking for. He eventually succeeded in getting the information he needed from the chat with the bartender.
He went on to almost finish his drink and pay his bill.
"Thanks a lot. It was a great chat just now. I've given extra tips. No need for change," Talbot told the bartender and proceeded to leave.
Just as he was walking towards the exit where he came from earlier, two men came up to him, blocking his path.
The two men were both taller and bigger than Talbot, one being 6'1 and the other at least 6'2. They had the typical street thug outfit and look, both equally rough and nasty. Earlier during his chat at the bar, he had already noticed them locking their gazes on him and observing his every movement. He had expected this to happen. One thing was certain, they had some really bad business.
"Hello there gentlemen. What can I help you?", Talbot said with a smile.
"We just want to have some fun with you," the taller man replied sneeringly.
"What if I decline the offer?" Talbot remained calm, unmoved by their intimidation while showing faint scorn in his tone.
"Don't worry. We'll make it quick. It'll be a real pleasure," the other shorter man spoke.
Both men laughed sinisterly upon this.
"There're plenty of other folks around here who would gladly join in the fun. Why have me?"
"You seem like a nice little man for you're kind," the taller man "complimented" him, which was just an explanation on why they picked on him.
"Why thank you." Talbot seemed delighted.
"You'll won't be having that look on your face afterwards." The taller man was clearly displeased with Talbot's unusual attitude.
"You'll be the one instead," Talbot replied piquantly.
Talbot throughout put on a polite, cool and calm manner, but yet he also seemed to be taunting them all along.
"Let us see...," the taller man said while cracking his fists.
"Consider it carefully. I'm afraid you'll regret it later," Talbot now sounded somewhat intimidating.
Both thugs obviously paid no heed to Talbot's words. Their gazes were locked onto him and their whole bodies tightened.
A fight was certainly about to break out. A considerable audience had been formed already. Most of the customers had ceased their current activities and all looked into Talbot and the two men's direction with anticipating eyes, awaiting the grand show of the night. In the early days of its founding, fighting and skirmishes were just a common part of its business operation. Though they had been greatly reduced since after the pub's rise to fame, it didn't mean that there were none once in a while. As in the traditional practices of the pub, rarely would anyone intervene with the ongoing fight. Any consequences were bore by the fighters solely, while the regular folks could mindlessly watch and enjoy a great show at the expense of their suffering.
The taller thug started off by swinging a fist at Talbot. Talbot effortlessly dodged it by stepping back in a quick motion. He was immediately followed by a lunge from the other one, which he also evaded by simply twisting his body to the side.
This continued on for some minutes, with the two men trying to attack Talbot in any way possible. They tried punching, kicking, ramming, elbow-slamming, and a few times even attempted at coordinated attacks, only to strike air. Not one time did the two men touch the man even the slightest, nor did the man ever attacked back once, holding a passive stance through evasion only.
In a desperate attempt, the two thugs tried again a coordinated attack on the man, this time by having the shorter one restraint the man from behind while the big one attacked from the front. Instead, Talbot had anticipated it, and before they knew it, he was already out of the way. The taller man, unable to stop his ongoing attack, accidentally hit his partner in the face clean. Their shocked looks were all too hilarious for men of their kind and it was hard for the spectators watching at the side to not enjoy it, including Talbot himself, though he wasn't exactly an audience member.
The two men, having recovered, turned to face Talbot once more. The slim, shorter man stood there with a smirk, a taunting one indeed. It was obvious he wasn't trying at all, and he was taking in the pleasure of toying with them all along.
Realising this, the two men were now enraged. The man's capability far exceeded their expectations. They had clearly underestimated him, and now, they were serious, for real. They wouldn't hesitate to destroy him.
"Are you sure about continuing on? Give up while you still can," said the man, still in a calm, taunting tone, but now with a slight hint of warning.
This triggered the two men even more, their faces turning into a burning rage.
"You won't get lucky this time!" growled the taller man, and together they both pressed on with pressuring assaults directly in the man's face. When the man had just got hold of his feet after evading, they quickly reached out and tried to tackle him cooperatively. At the same exact moment, the man also reacted with lightning reflexes, throwing himself backwards, and with some impressive athletics, caught himself back on his feet steadily. The two men snarled in dismay at their missing attack.Both parties were now a few feet apart.
"My turn," Talbot said quietly while flashing out a wicked smile.
All of a sudden, the originally passive man now sprung out and swiftly delivered a roundhouse kick at the shorter man, followed by a few well-placed blows to the taller one, sending both of them stumbling back a couple steps.
For Talbot, from his careful observation during the encounter, these two men did have some experience, and were admittedly strong. But, they overly relied on brute strength and their skills were flawed. Their moves were all too predictable. A fatal mistake. They were in the end no more than average street fighters.
The two men were in a state like mad bulls. The taller man grabbed a chair from the side and swung it wildly at the man he was now extremely disgusted of. Talbot dodged the attack, with the chair ending up smashed on the unfortunate table at the side. The longer the fight went on, the man seemed to enjoyed it more, especially his opponents' enraged looks and acts of desperation. A true act of sadism.
After a few more blows and kicks from the two men, which were all successfully countered or evaded by the man, the taller man came charging down from the entrance while swinging a huge blow directly at him. Out of his expectation, the man skillfully got hold of his arm, and using the charging force flung him straight forward. The charging man came colliding full force into his partner who was at the back.
The two men collapsed into a pile, both letting out grunts of pain. Instead of utilizing this opportunity to continue attacking, the man simply stood there crossing his arms and watched them climb back up with difficulty.
The taller man first got back up and after catching his breath, he rushed at Talbot and pressed on with a flurry of attacks. Though Talbot evaded all of them swiftly, the attacks' fierocity was forcing him back towards the wall, where his movements would be greatly limited. When his back touched the wall, it seemed like he was finally in a disadvantage in which he could be easily pinned down. The thug seemed to know it and taking the chance, he rushed at the wall with all his might while charging up a big punch.
In the flash of an eye, Talbot managed to grab a glass bottle, conveniently placed on the table nearby, and smashed it into the man's head. The attack effectively tampered with the man's attack, enabling Talbot to slip to the side and send out a powerful spin kick that knocked the man onto the bar counter side. The man landed on with a thump and gave out a deep moan. Talbot couldn't help letting out a light chuckle to this sight.
It was time to finish this.
The taller man swung out another blow, this time a weaker and sloppier one due to him being weakened by the punishment endured, which Talbot blocked with ease. Before the man could react, he was met with a chain combo of fast, nimble attacks from Talbot, being punched, kneed into the abdomen and elbow-slamped. Talbot then jabbed at the man's lower leg with his foot when the man was stumbling backwards, causing him to lose his balance and fall onto the side of the table right behind him. He tried to lift himself up but before he could, Talbot leapt up and slammed down his elbow onto the man's head with all his weight. The man's head violently crashed down onto the table face first, leaving him motionless.
One down. Another more to go.
The taller man's accompany had got himself up a while ago and was forced to watch his partner's horrible fate helplessly. His face now couldn't conceal his fear towards the man's terrifying capabilities. But still, he continued to hold his ground by lunging at Talbot and attempting to grab hold of him. Talbot ducked down away from the grab and rose up to deliver an upper cut to the man's jaw. The man groaned loudly as Talbot went behind him at a distance. They were now distanced a few feet away from each other once more. The man paid no attention to this strange act and with sheer determination to avenge his fallen partner, he charged at Talbot at full speed.
It was exactly as what Talbot had predicted.
He tackled the man's arm and shoulder while lifting him across his back. With precise skill and footwork he manipulated the charging force and sent the man flying a few feet across the hall. The man dropped on a table so hard that the thing broke apart. The poor man splattered onto the floor and rolled along the wreckage for a short distance until coming to a hault at last. The man was wounded and battered and laid there, unable to stand up again.
The originally exicited crowd stopped their chanting. The whole pub was instantly quiet upon witnessing this moment. Apart from the abrupt silence, the other thing that came upon Talbot were the eyes of the countless spectators present. The victorious man, even after the lengthy fight, didn't break a sweat at all. The whole fight was merely a fun game for him. No one expected this suited man to be such a reckoning force, easily taking down two stronger foes at the same time.
The man seemed to pay no attention to the awe of the crowd. He tidied up his slightly messed up hair and suit, then proceeded to the bar, taking out a considerable amount of bank notes and placing them onto the counter.
"Sorry for the mess. I hope this is more than enough," apologised the man softly to the bartender. With that settled, he casually strolled out of the pub like nothing had happened.
He had surely left a mark in the pub's history.
Talbot returned to the path he previously came from. It was supposed to be a simple mission of getting hold of some information about a person, and somehow the process turned out to involve a big skirmish. But, it was all worth it for Talbot. He had a lot of fun with those two idiots. It was just all pleasuring. At least, for him…
Well, if that woman knew about this, she definitely wouldn't be very happy about it.
Marlowe had always been an efficient and serious person. Though she had the somewhat similar shrewdness and pleasure for sadism of his, she had always insisted on doing things the straightest way with no whatsoever nonsense. Talbot, who in fact had a fondness of wicked pranks, in other words, doing things that fulfilled his sadistic pleasure in a cheeky, playful manner like it was something innocent, hadn't always abided by her rules and ways obediently.
Well, she would never know it without him telling her. Even if she knew it, what could she do? He had undoubtedly finished the job after all. Just with some slight 'occurrence'.
Talbot ridiculed at these thoughts. In the end, having fun was all he needed.
He trotted back to his own place along the empty streets. The night was oddly pleasant, with the only sound being the blowing wind in the hollow alleyways. All just seemed normal…