Rick's Unease

(The first chapter was occasionally reported and blocked.)

"How did he get this drunk again?"

In a dilapidated house in Lower City District Two, Quade's second-in-command—Nal Rick—looked disgustedly at Quade, who clutched a bottle and lay drunk as a puddle of mud.

"Lock him up for a day. Let him out when he sobers up."

He waved a hand, signaling for two young Brotherhood members to carry him away.

Watching their retreating backs, Rick gave a derisive snort.

Drunk like this, it seemed Quade had not done anything to that child.

With that thought, Rick revealed a mysterious smile.

Nal Rick—he preferred people to call him by his surname rather than his given name—was unlike Quade, whose strength had declined and who had fallen from being a thug leader to handling the beggar children business, never recovering from it. Rick was a Brotherhood member with both ambition and ability.

He had once studied at the accounting academy in Shuka City in the south of the kingdom. If not for his clerk father committing a crime, Rick might now have been an accountant for some town department or even a great noble house. He might have gone even further, perhaps becoming a major Merchant in some trade.

Then, if he spent money to buy himself a Lord title, he could step onto the first rung of Starfall Kingdom's upper society. Three hundred years ago, had not the Shukadel Family, marked by the Morning Glory, risen in precisely this way? Were they not now an influential and illustrious family of the kingdom?

But even after falling into the underworld and forever losing his path to nobility, Rick believed he was more qualified than those peers whose minds were full of muscles and women to become someone in the Brotherhood with the power to speak and make decisions.

When the Brotherhood's business expanded to the southern coast of the kingdom, Rick, then a southern street thug, had been recruited. Making use of his talents, he planned several human trafficking routes from the south to the capital, all of which proved hugely successful.

The Brotherhood's upper ranks took notice of him. They promoted and transferred him to Everstar City—the kingdom's capital, the heart of Starfall, the gleaming pearl city of the Western Continent—and put him in charge of the Brotherhood's beggar children accounts in the capital.

Yes, Rick knew that although the higher-ups had made him Quade's deputy and put him in charge of the books, they had effectively entrusted all the Brotherhood's beggar children business in Everstar City to him.

Just look at his "superior," Quade. A terrifying thug who had carved out his reputation with knives and axes in the old Lower City District Three had now become trash who could only find dignity by abusing beggar children. If Quade had not been the son of a Brotherhood higher-up, he would have long since been trampled into the filthy mud of Everstar City's slums, drowned and left to rot.

What was more, he caused most of the losses among the beggar children.

Of course, fortunately for him, Quade's father gave Rick a substantial monthly payoff, allowing Rick to profit from it himself.

With a son like that, if Quade's father had not been a major figure in charge of arms deals, he would have lost his standing in the Brotherhood long ago.

What happened when an underworld boss lost his standing?

Rick shook his head as he watched Quade being taken away.

Compared to smuggling drugs and weapons, trading Eternal Oil and Pitch Crystal Mine products, collecting illicit debts, or even controlling streets, the beggar children business seemed insignificant, humble, and lowly.

But that was precisely his opportunity.

The Black Street Brotherhood had risen quickly—more accurately, too quickly. Faced with an ever-expanding territory and an increasingly complicated underworld situation, they were constantly short-handed. The thugs who joined because of their reputation were unreliable, and the scum who defected halfway through could not be trusted either. As for outsiders from elsewhere? Please. They had only heard of the Blood Bottle Gang.

Compared to the powerful Blood Bottle Gang, the Brotherhood could only rely on itself.

Fortunately, after that great disaster over a decade ago, there was no shortage of orphans and abandoned children throughout the kingdom. Naturally, the Black Street Brotherhood would not overlook such prospects. Infants were taken in and raised by "Blackheart Widow" Beth, with some sold off along the way. Slightly older children were sent to Rick, where they were "hardened" into beggar children. Once they grew older, the beggar children in their teens would be sent to "Tin Hide" Locke, who trained thugs; "Playboy" Belicia, who trained prostitutes; or other specialized leaders, where they would be tempered into Brotherhood members.

Thus, Rick, who managed the beggar children, believed he stood at the foundation of the Brotherhood's operational chain. Those beggar children running wild through the streets were not only the Brotherhood's future blood, but also the capital's most secret network of street-level intelligence.

Rick was quite satisfied with this. Just think—he was the Brotherhood leader every future new Brotherhood member would meet when they first began forming memories. He could identify promising prospects in their childhood, grant favors at the right time, and draw them in. Later on...

See? That was why I, Nal Rick, was an ambitious man.

And besides, besides...

Whenever he thought of this, Rick became extremely excited. Besides, this was Everstar City!

The capital of Starfall Kingdom—the second-largest kingdom on the Western Continent—and the birthplace of the Black Street Brotherhood.

Being able to work here meant the Brotherhood's bigshots could always see you. And if you could be seen, there would always be opportunities for promotion.

Of course, there were plenty of opportunities to cause trouble too.

Fortunately, Rick clasped his hands behind his back, watching the drunken Quade disappear into the distance as he raised an eyebrow. Fortunately, that fellow could take the blame.

Under the moonlight, Rick turned and continued walking.

Looking at the more than twenty ruined houses before him, he knew every one of them held many beggar children. These were the most important prospects and bargaining chips for his future climb upward.

For example, Tales, the black-haired boy in Sixth House.

When Beth, who handled the infants, had sent him here two years ago, she had shown an unusual attitude toward the child.

Sure enough, although the boy was only eight now—or was he seven?—he was clever and sly. A week ago, he had actually come up with a method of begging through acting: a cute child would be beaten by older children and have his money and food stolen. Then, when he hid in a corner and wept alone, kind Ladies passing by would always be unable to resist giving him more compensation than usual.

Compared to those beggar children who cried themselves hoarse and made people sick of hearing them, Rick thought, the underworld desperately lacked people who knew how to use their brains.

Once this child grew up, he would surely climb even higher.

He ought to give him some reward and earn Tales's gratitude.

Of course, a reward without contrast would not make anyone truly grateful.

That was why, tonight, when the boy from Sixth House told him that Tales might have secretly hidden money, Rick had hinted for Quade to go "settle accounts" with the child.

Once Quade beat Tales until he was barely alive, Rick could step in to stop him. He could even oppose Quade over it—that piece of trash was only useful for this much. Then Tales would consciously or unconsciously see him as someone to rely on.

Rick did not care whether every Beggar Child had paid their full regular contribution. Only short-sighted people cared about such things. Compared to a few copper coins in regular payments, Rick knew that personal favor was the more important asset.

But that boy, that boy called Tales, was still a little too clever.

Rick knew that whether Tales had money to give Quade or not, the latter would torture him to death. In fact, if Tales really had produced money, it would only have been worse.

Clearly, the boy had found some way to escape this ordeal. By custom, Quade, when in high spirits, would "carefully" work over those disobedient children for amusement, whether they had really disobeyed or not.

Rick felt somewhat wistful.

It did not matter. He still had to do what needed doing.

Even if the effect was poor, he could always find an excuse to have Quade beat him again.

Rick arrived at Sixth House and stepped over its broken door panel.

In the weed-choked yard, he saw Tales panting heavily on the ground. Several children beside him were applying something to him. Heavens, were several seven-, eight-, and nine-year-old children actually growing Urdon Leaf in the yard?

Rick frowned. Usually, only experienced gang members and slum dwellers who had lived many years knew that this wild plant could be used as a quick, convenient, and cheap herb for treating external injuries.

"Ah! Mr. Rick!" Lame Lane was the first to spot Rick's arrival. Having once had a leg broken had made him more sensitive to his surroundings.

Less than an hour had passed since Quade left, and the fear in the yard had yet to fade. Nide—the boy who had informed on Tales—still had tear tracks on his face. Kellit held his dark face, while the older child Synti shrank back a step.

The youngest girl in particular was so frightened that she even cried out.

Beth had said before that this girl descended from hereditary nobility and was very likely to grow into a beauty. They must not ruin her. Once Belicia trained her a little later, she could bring in considerable profit.

Rick looked at the girl and clicked his tongue inwardly.

What a pity. His beggar children had to be handed over to the Brotherhood once they reached ten, twelve at most. If only he could keep her until she was fifteen... Though thirteen would do too.

"Mr. Rick!" Tales interrupted Rick's delicate train of thought. He turned his head with difficulty, tugging at the wounds on his back and making him grimace in pain.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Tales." Rick sighed and put on a sympathetic expression.

"I couldn't stop him... Quade... I'm only his deputy, after all, and I can't afford to offend the people behind him."

"I could only come over quietly afterward." Under the wary gazes of the children, Rick crouched down and examined Tales's injuries with concern. "Fortunately, he didn't hit too hard today. Otherwise..."

"Mr. Rick, I'm fine," Tales struggled to say. "I'm just sorry. My regular payment from last week really..."

"Forget about the payment!"

Rick took the broken bowl from Synti's hand, poured out the water inside, plucked several Urdon Leaves, and began grinding them with a stone.

"You were sent here to me when you had only just begun to understand things. Over the years, I watched you grow from little ones trembling in fear into rough-handed, rough-footed children. To me, you are far more important than a few copper coins."

A trace of pain appeared on Rick's face. "At your age, you shouldn't have to beg on the streets at all. But these are Brotherhood rules..."

"Mr. Rick," Tales seemed somewhat moved. He clenched his fists. "I..."

"Here, grind the herbs with a stone. It works better than chewing them." Rick smeared the ground herbs from the bowl onto Tales himself. Beside them, Kellit bit his lip and let out a choked sob.

"Thank you, Mr. Rick," Colia said softly. "It would be wonderful if you were the one managing us instead of Quade."

Thank you, dear, Rick snorted inwardly.

"Don't let Quade hear you say that." He smiled helplessly on the surface. "To be honest, I'm very afraid of him."

The children smiled knowingly as well. Rick knew that displaying common ground and a sense of humor at the right moment was a good way to make people accept you.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Rick," Tales said solemnly. He knew that many people considered him more mature than the others, so there was no need to act overly childish.

Rick nodded.

"Protect yourself. You're a smart child. I believe you can do it."

Tales nodded with difficulty.

"Oh, right." As if suddenly remembering something, Rick handed the bowl to Nide, took a purse from his waist, and passed it to the bewildered Synti.

"I have to turn in payments every month, and I don't have much money myself. There are thirty copper coins here. Go to Grove Apothecary—the one at the border between Twilight District and the Lower City District—and buy some medicine for his injuries. This should be enough, unless the prices have gone up."

Of course it was not enough, Rick thought.

He had gone to Grove Apothecary a week ago. Most of the medicine had increased in price considerably.

What could they do if they did not have enough money?

Naturally, they would take it from the regular money they begged for. Then they definitely would not have enough for next week's payment, and then...

"Be careful when you buy the medicine. Don't let anyone else know, especially Quade."

Rick said with a smile as he stood up.

Of course, Rick thought, Quade would definitely find out.

If they did not use the money to buy medicine, that would be even better.

Quade would know that they had truly hidden money.

The corners of Rick's lips lifted slightly.

At that time, he would gain their final loyalty.

"Mr. Rick," Colia said, looking at the purse in Synti's hand with tears nearly falling from her eyes, "you... you really are a good person."

Beside her, Nide bit his lip and nodded furiously.

Even the older child Synti was somewhat moved. He touched the purse in his hand and weighed it.

Rick sighed, shaking his head even as he felt somewhat touched.

"No, I should be the one apologizing. This is all I can do for you."

"Mr. Rick," Tales said, lying on the ground but looking at Rick with hesitation, "I was wondering..."

"Hm?" Rick raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I heard that if we aren't sold to an orphanage or someone else, then when we grow up, we'll be assigned somewhere else for training," Tales asked carefully, as though afraid of offending Rick.

"Then... once we finish our training, can we work under you?"

Upon hearing that, Kellit, Nide, and Colia also looked at Rick hopefully.

Snap. Rick snapped his fingers in his heart.

Score.

Faster than expected.

"Hehe, as for that..." Rick broke into a bright, optimistic smile.

"Don't be fooled by how I look now. In the Brotherhood, I'm a man with dreams."

Rick bent down with a smile and patted Tales's hair, making himself seem even more approachable.

"The boys under me will become the best, strongest people in the entire Brotherhood!"

That was the truth, Rick thought.

"So if you want to work under me, you'll have to work hard!"

"Yes!"

The children all nodded eagerly, Tales included.

"I'm leaving, Tales, and the rest of you children." Rick turned around, tilting his head to reveal his profile. "If something like this happens again, come tell me secretly. I may not be able to stop Quade directly, but I can always create some trouble to keep him away from you."

After saying that, Rick flashed his white teeth beneath the moonlight.

Without looking back, he left the yard of Sixth House.

"Mr. Rick is such a good person." The tears on Nide's face had dried. "Not like that awful Quade."

"Mm." Colia nodded, her eyes full of delight, as if she had eaten candy.

"But..." Lame Lane, who had remained frightened all this time, hesitated before speaking. "I always feel like Mr. Rick scares me even more than Quade."

"That's because you're a coward!"

"Coward Lane, how are you supposed to beg for money looking like that?"

Only Tales's gaze gradually calmed after Rick left.

When he saw Synti counting the thirty copper coins in the purse one by one, Tales let out a faint breath.

His back still hurt.

He knew proper medicine for external injuries would be better for his wounds.

But Tales had gone to Grove Apothecary only yesterday morning. He had collected medicine for chills from Jenny at the back door and heard her complain that her stingy boss had raised the prices on everything. Even medicine for external injuries now cost forty copper coins—exactly ten more than Rick had given them.

However, he had also learned from Yala, the daughter of the Sunset Tavern's owner...

That Rick handled Quade's considerable spending at the tavern.

But...

"I have to turn in payments every month, and I don't have much money myself."

Rick's words from moments ago echoed in the boy's ears.

Tales could not help looking at the bag of copper coins beside him.

The beggar children had already forgotten their fear and were playing around with one another.

Only Tales frowned and turned his head with difficulty.

After looking once at his scarred back, he sighed and lowered his head heavily again.

This damned world.

In a cheerful mood, Rick had just arrived at Tenth House.

He was considering when to knock down and then recruit an eight-year-old child named Karak, a ruthless little fellow despite his age, when the back of his neck suddenly turned cold.

Rick froze.

This was the Psion ability he had been born with.

In a state of absolute calm—absolute calm, because even the slightest distraction would render it ineffective—if a living creature came within about five meters of him, the back of his neck would turn cold.

That was all it did.

But never mind that he was not a Warrior. Even if he were, compared to the formidable Terminus Swordsmen of the kingdom's Vigilant Hall, the wealthy Knights of the great noble houses, the veteran soldiers discharged from military service in the Blood Bottle Gang, or even other Psions, his little ability was not worth mentioning.

Even the somewhat stronger thugs in the Brotherhood could pin him to the ground and beat him.

But Rick believed that one day, this Psion ability would save his life.

For example, right now.

Rick quickly turned around, scanning the surroundings under the moonlight as he slipped his left hand into his pocket and gripped a tiny but lethal miniature folding crossbow.

Bright moonlight.

Empty streets.

No cover anywhere.

Yet not a soul in sight.

Slightly puzzled, Rick drew a deep breath and kept himself absolutely calm.

The chill at the back of his neck persisted.

Could a rat have crawled through the sewer beneath his feet?

Rick turned in three different directions and ran swiftly for a stretch.

But the lingering chill on his neck made him dismiss that guess.

What rat could stay directly beneath him and follow him through three turns over twenty meters?

Rick grew increasingly terrified.

He should not have come out alone.

Even if this was the Ruined House, Brotherhood territory.

He should have brought twenty thugs, each armed with a Magic Energy Gun, no matter how heavy the damn thing was.

Just like Razangi Fesso, the Brotherhood boss in charge of drug trafficking, who always had thirty men following him wherever he went.

Better yet, if he had enough money, he should have hired two Terminus Swordsmen, or a Psychic Warrior, even a Magic User—forget it. Boss Morris had said that Magic Users were beyond his ability to provoke.

Nall Rick, calm down.

He told himself, You're the man who will one day control Everstar City, even the entire underworld of the Starfall Kingdom.

Calm down. You have to stay calm.

Forcing himself to remain composed, he turned around and headed back the way he had come, as though he had merely been out for a fitness jog.

Had he offended someone?

Did someone want him dead?

Was there anything in this neighborhood worth noticing?

Rick walked several hundred meters. Under the moonlight, the surroundings remained empty and deserted.

But the chill at the back of his neck remained.