Scum Of The Earth : System Of Dominion

The car ride to the docks was suffocatingly silent, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional sound of tires splashing through puddles. Arthur leaned against the window, staring out at the city as it faded into industrial ruins, but his attention kept wandering back to Lena King. 

She was stunning, far too much for a man like Victor King. Her long raven hair framed sharp cheekbones, and her perfectly arched brows gave her an air of elegance that was rare in someone who frequented the criminal underworld. Despite her polished composure, her youth was unmistakable. 

"She can't be older than me," Arthur thought, stealing another glance. He was 23, but Lena had a youthful glow that made her seem close in age, even if her commanding demeanor suggested years of experience. 

As he studied her, she caught him looking and raised an eyebrow. "See something you like, Sterling?" 

Arthur smirked, leaning back against the seat. "Just wondering how someone like you ends up with Victor King. No offense, but you seem a little… out of his league." 

Lena's lips curved into a cold smile, but she didn't answer. Instead, she turned her attention to the window, her expression was unreadable. 

"Right," Arthur muttered. "Not much of a talker. Got it." 

The docks were shrouded in an eerie quiet as they arrived. The air was thick with the smell of salt and rust, and the water lapped lazily against the pier. As they stepped out of the car, Arthur adjusted his leather jacket, the cool morning breeze brushed against his face. 

From a distance, he spotted movement on the water. Three sleek speedboats broke the stillness, cutting through the waves as they approached. Each boat carried a group of men, their black uniforms and visible firearms gleamed under the pale sunlight. 

Arthur shifted slightly, unease creeping into his chest. Lena noticed and gave him a faint, knowing smile. 

"Nervous, Sterling?" 

He straightened up, brushing off the comment. "Not at all. I just prefer deals that don't involve enough firepower to start a war." 

Lena chuckled softly. "Get used to it." 

As the boats docked, Arthur turned to Lena. "Who are we dealing with here, anyway?" 

Her smile faded. "I don't know. Victor didn't tell me." 

Arthur frowned, his unease growing. "That's reassuring. Great to know we're both in the dark." 

Lena shrugged. "You're being paid to do your part. That's all you need to worry about." 

Arthur opened his mouth to argue but stopped. That same nagging feeling crept up his spine again, like someone was watching him. This time, he didn't dismiss it. 

"Hold on," he said, glancing over his shoulder. 

Lena raised an eyebrow. "What is it now?" 

Ignoring her, Arthur closed his eyes and activated [Clairvoyance]. 

The world around him blurred and twisted for a moment before snapping into focus. He saw a brief glimpse of himself standing at the dock as one of the men from the yacht approached, handing him a suitcase. 

The vision ended as quickly as it began. Arthur blinked and shook his head, clearing the disorientation. 

"Well, that's boring," he muttered. 

"What is?" Lena asked. 

Arthur didn't answer. Just as he had foreseen, one of the armed men from the speedboats approached, a silver suitcase in hand. The man's expression was unreadable, his movements were brisk and efficient. Unlike Arthur, this was not the first time he had done this.

When he reached Arthur, he extended the suitcase without a word. 

Arthur hesitated, glancing at Lena. She nodded. 

Taking the suitcase, Arthur felt its weight—surprisingly heavy for its size. He looked back at the man. "That's it? No instructions? No pleasantries?" 

The man's voice was cold and clipped. "Everything has already been arranged. We wouldn't be here if there was anything left to discuss." 

Arthur watched as the man turned and walked back to the speedboats. The others followed, engines roaring as they sped off toward the yacht. 

Arthur turned to Lena. "Is it always this… anti-climactic?" 

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I wouldn't know. This is my first time handling business on Victor's behalf." 

Arthur's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? First time babysitting, and you're already playing with the big boys. Color me impressed." 

Lena didn't respond, her sharp eyes fixed on the suitcase in Arthur's hands. 

Arthur examined it more closely, noticing the combination lock. "Of course," he muttered, scowling. "King keeps everything close to his chest, doesn't he?" 

Lena said nothing, but the faintest smirk tugged at her lips. 

As they turned to leave, that same creeping sensation crawled up Arthur's spine again. He froze, his instincts were screaming at him. 

"Wait," he said, holding up a hand. 

"What now?" Lena asked, exasperated. 

Arthur tried activating [Clairvoyance] again, but the cooldown hadn't expired yet. Just a few seconds left. He cursed under his breath. 

Before he could react, a loud sneeze echoed from behind one of the boats. 

The armed men immediately sprang into action, guns drawn as they moved toward the sound. Moments later, they emerged from the shadows, dragging a young woman into the open. 

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance. She was petite, wearing a long, flowing floral gown that seemed wildly out of place at the docks and donned on a round frame glasses . A camera hung around her neck, and her face was pale with terror. 

When her eyes landed on Lena, she froze as beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. 

Lena's gaze swept over the woman, from head to toe. Then, with a simple wave of her hand, she gave the order: "Dispose of her." 

The command was ice-cold, and the response was immediate. King's men leveled their weapons at the woman, their expressions were blank but resolute. 

Overwhelmed by the fear of death, the woman immediately dropped to her knees, her glasses fell to the floor and her eyes began to water

Arthur's stomach churned. 

As much as he was a con artist—a liar, a manipulator—he wasn't a killer. Watching a defenseless woman be gunned down in cold blood wasn't something he could stomach. 

"Wait!" Arthur called out, stepping forward. 

His eyes locked on the camera that hung from her neck, he inferred that she was either a reporter or a detective.

"Based on her outfit, I'm leaning towards reporter. No detective would dress that restrictive to spy on someone," He thought to himself, "As stupid as she is, I can't let her die"

Lena's head snapped toward him, her expression sharp. "What is it, Sterling?" 

Arthur plastered on his trademark smirk, even as his heart raced. He activated [Silver Tongue], feeling the familiar rush of confidence wash over him. 

"Now, now, Lena," he began smoothly, his voice filled with charm. "Let's not be so hasty. Surely we can come to a more... creative solution."