In an abandoned house in the second district of the lower city, Quaid's deputy, Nal Rick, looked at Quaid with disgust, clutching a wine bottle in front of him and turning into a puddle of drunken mud. He waved his hand to two young brotherhood members.
Help him down.
"Lock him for a day and let him out when he wakes up."
Drinking like this - it seems he didn't do anything to the child - Rick (who prefers to be called by his last name rather than his first name) smiled mysteriously.
Narrik, unlike Quaid who had declined in strength and was reduced from a gangster to a beggar business and never recovered, he was an ambitious and equally capable member of the Brotherhood.
He once studied at the Accounting College of Shouka City in the southern part of the kingdom. If it weren't for his father who was a scribe, Rick might now be an accountant for a certain city department or even a certain family, or even go one step further and become a certain person.
It is not impossible for a businessman to be a businessman in this industry. When the time comes, he will spend money to buy a lord, and he will be able to enter the first level of the upper class society in the Kingdom of Stars. Three hundred years ago, the Shukarder family, marked by the sunflower, was not
Isn't that how he was born? Isn't he now a prominent and important family in the kingdom?
But even if he became a gangster and cut off his path to the nobility forever, Rick still believed that he was more qualified to become a decisive figure in the brotherhood than his peers whose minds were full of muscles and women.
When the Brotherhood's business expanded to the southern coast of the kingdom, Rick, a gangster from the south, was absorbed. Using his expertise, he planned several human trafficking chains from the south to the capital, and achieved great success. So the Brotherhood's
The higher-ups noticed him, promoted him to Yongxing City - the capital of the kingdom, the heart of the stars, the shining pearl city of the Western Continent - and asked him to manage the Brotherhood's beggar accounts in the capital.
Yes, Rick knew that although the top management asked him to be Quaid's deputy and accountant, it was tantamount to entrusting him with all the Brotherhood's beggar business in Yongxing City. Look at his "boss" Quaid,
A terrifying thug who made a name for himself with swords and axes in the third district of the old downtown has now become a trash who only looks for dignity in beggars. If it weren't for the fact that Quaid was the son of a high-ranking brotherhood, he would have been stepped on long ago.
Drowned and rotted under the sludge of the Yongxing City slums.
What's more, most of the beggar's losses were caused by him.
Of course, fortunately, Quaid's father would give him a lot of money every month, and Rick himself could profit from it.
With such a son, if Quaid's father were not a giant responsible for the arms trade, he would have lost power in the society long ago.
What will happen if a gangster loses power?
Rick shook his head and watched Quaid leave.
The beggar business, compared to the smuggling of drugs and arms, compared to the forever oil and licorice trade, even compared to collecting black accounts and managing the streets, is inconspicuous and humble.
But Rick believes that this is his chance.
The Brotherhood has risen rapidly, but human trafficking has always been the main source of profit. The Brotherhood's human trafficking chain is complete, from babies to old people, humans to elves, and even intelligent creatures in the distant Magic Queen's territory are also involved. But
The most critical thing is actually the source of the Brotherhood's own members. Among them, the "Black-hearted Widow" Beth is responsible for collecting and raising babies. At the same time, some will be sold, and the older ones will be sent to Rick to be "beaten."
When they become beggars, and then when they are older, they will be sent to the hands of "Iron Skin" Locke, who is responsible for training thugs, "Playboy" Belicia, who is responsible for training prostitutes, and some other special bosses, and then they will be trained to become a beggar.
A member of the fraternity.
Therefore, Rick, who manages the beggars, believes that he is in the fundamental chain of the Brotherhood's population business, and is also the delivery node of the Brotherhood's future blood, and is also attached to the gossip network on the streets of the capital. Think about it, he is the future
All the new members of the Brotherhood, the leader of the Brotherhood whom he met when he first remembered them, could see which people were promising seedlings in his childhood, and then bestow favors at the right time, in the future...
See, so, I, Narric, am an ambitious person.
Moreover, Rick is always very excited when he thinks of this: And this is Yongxing City! Star Kingdom - the capital of the second largest kingdom in the Western Continent, the origin of the Black Street Brotherhood, being able to work here means that it means
The big guys in the fraternity can always see it, and being able to see it means you always have a chance of promotion.
Of course, the chance of causing trouble is not small.
Fortunately, Rick put his hands behind his back, looked at the drunken Quaid who was walking away, and raised his eyebrows. Fortunately, this guy was there to bear the trouble.
Under the moonlight, Rick turned his head and continued walking, looking at the more than twenty abandoned houses in front of him. He knew that there were many beggars in each abandoned house, and these were the most important things for him when he climbed up in the future.
seeds and chips.
For example, the black-haired Thales in the sixth house showed a different attitude towards the child when Beth, the babysitter, sent him two years ago.
Sure enough, today, although this child is only eight years old (eight or seven years old?), he is smart and cunning. A week ago, he actually wanted to act out a begging trick - a cute child was beaten by other older children.
After a meal, he robbed money and food, so when he hid in the corner and cried alone, the ladies passing by could not help but give him more compensation - Rick thought, compared to those who cried hoarsely
, these boring beggars, there is a huge shortage of people like this in the gang who can use their brains.
This child will definitely climb higher when he grows up.
I should give him some rewards to win Thales' gratitude. Of course, rewards without contrast will not make people feel grateful.
This is why, when the boy in Thales's room tonight told him that Thales might have hidden money, Rick encouraged Quaid to go find him to settle the score. Wait until Quaid beats Thales to death
, and if he steps in to stop him, even going so far as to confront Quaid (that waste has only this use), then Thales will consciously or unconsciously regard him as his backer.
Rick didn't care whether every beggar paid his due amount in full. This was something only short-sighted people would care about. Compared to a few copper coins, Rick knew that favors were a more important asset.
But that boy - Thales is still too smart. Rick knows that no matter whether Thales has money to give to Quaid or not, the latter will torture him to death (if Thales really gives the money, then Quaid will torture him to death).
It will only get worse), but obviously the boy managed to escape this disaster - according to normal understanding, Quaid, who is in high spirits, will "carefully" concoct these disobedient children for fun, regardless of whether they are real or not
disobedient.
It doesn't matter, what needs to be done is still done, even if the effect is not good, no big deal, just find another reason and let Quaid beat him up.
Rick walked to the sixth room and stepped through the broken door panel.
He saw Thales panting heavily and lying on the ground in a yard overgrown with weeds, while several children next to him were smearing something on him - God, several children aged seven, eight or nine were actually in the yard.
Planting Urdron leaves? Generally, only experienced gang members and poor people who have lived for many years know that this wild plant can be used as a convenient, fast and cheap herb for treating trauma.
"Ah! Mr. Rick!" The cripple Ryan was the first to notice Rick's arrival. The experience of having a leg broken made him more sensitive to the surrounding environment.
Quaid has been gone less than an hour, and the fear in the yard has not dissipated. Ned, the boy who told the story, has tears on his face. Kellett is covering his dark face, and the eldest child, Cindy, is shrinking back.
step.
Especially the youngest girl, she even screamed in fright.
Beth had told her at the beginning that this was a hereditary descendant of a noble family, and it was very likely that she would be a beautiful woman. Don’t ruin her. Belicia could train her in the future and make a lot of profits. What a pity.
When the beggar is ten years old, and at most twelve years old, she will be handed over to the guild. It would be great if we could keep her until she is fifteen years old... and then send her away. Otherwise, she can be thirteen years old.
"Mr. Rick!" Thales interrupted Rick's delicate thoughts, and saw him turn his head with difficulty, which was related to the injury on his back, and he grinned in pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Thales," Rick sighed, showing a pity expression: "I can't stop him - Quaid - after all, I'm just his deputy, and I can't afford to offend his backstage."
"I can only come here quietly afterward." Under the cautious eyes of several children, Rick knelt down and looked at Thales's injuries worriedly. "Fortunately, he didn't do anything serious today, otherwise -"
"Mr. Rick, I'm fine," Thales said strugglingly, "I'm just sorry, my payment last week was indeed——"
"Forget about asking for money!" Rick took the broken bowl from Xinti's hand, poured out the water in it, picked off a few Uldron leaves, picked up a stone and started grinding it, "You guys just became sensible.
You were sent to me when you were young. In the past few years, I have watched you grow from trembling little guys to rough-footed kids. To me, you are far more important than a few coins," Rick
There was a trace of pain on his face, "At your age, you shouldn't be begging on the streets, but this is the rule of the brotherhood -"
"Mr. Rick," Thales seemed a little moved. He tightened his fists, "I——"
"Here, use a stone to grind the herbs apart. It's more effective than chewing them with your mouth." Rick wiped the herbs in the bowl and applied them to Thales with his own hands. Kellett next to him bit his lips and whimpered.
"Thank you, Mr. Rick," Kolya said softly, "It would be better if you took care of us instead of Quaid."
"Don't let Quaid hear this," Rick smiled helplessly, "To be honest, I'm very afraid of him."
Several children also smiled heartily - Rick knew that showing common ground and humor at the right time was a good way to make people accept themselves.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Rick." Thales said solemnly. He knew that in the eyes of many people, he looked more mature, so there was no need to act too childlike.
Rick nodded: "Protect yourself, you are a smart boy, I believe you can do a good job."
"By the way," Rick seemed to suddenly remember something. He handed the bowl to Ned, took out a money bag from his waist, and handed it to Cinti, who looked confused: "I have to turn it in every month.
We don’t have much money. Here are thirty coppers. Go to Grove Pharmacy—the one at the junction of Twilight District and Lower City—to buy some medicine for injuries. The money should be enough, if the price of the medicine doesn’t increase.
if."
Of course the money is not enough - Rick thought to himself, he had been to Grove Pharmacy a week ago, and the prices had just increased, so when the children found out that the money was not enough, they would think it was because of a temporary price increase.
If they don't have enough money, what can they do? Of course they can get it from the money they get from begging, so they will definitely not have enough money for next week's surgery. Then -
"Be careful when buying medicine. Don't let others know about it, especially Quaid." Rick said with a smile and stood up.
Of course, Rick thought, Quaid would know.
It would be better if they didn't buy the medicine, Quaid would know that they really hid the money.
The corners of Rick's mouth curled up slightly.
At that time, you can harvest their last loyalty.
"Mr. Rick," Colia looked at the money bag in Cindy's hand and was about to shed tears, "you, you are such a good person."
Ned on the other side bit his lip and nodded sharply.
Even the eldest child Xinti was a little touched. He touched the money bag in his hand and weighed it.
Rick sighed, shook his head and waved his hands: "No, it's me who should apologize. I can only do this for you."
"Mr. Rick," Thales lay on the ground, but looked at Rick hesitantly, "I don't know-"
"Huh?" Rick raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"
"I heard that when we grow up, we will be sent to other places for training," Thales asked cautiously, as if he was afraid of offending Rick, "Then - after we receive training, can we work under you?"
Hearing this, Kellett, Ned and Colia on the other side also looked at Rick expectantly.
Bang, Rick snapped his fingers in his mind.
Score.
Faster than expected.
"Haha, is this true?" Rick smiled, "Don't look at me like this now, in the brotherhood, I am a man with ideals."
Rick smiled and bent down and touched Thales' hair, making him appear more friendly: "My boys will be the best and strongest in the entire brotherhood!"
This is my truth, Rick thought to himself.
"So, if you want to be my subordinate, you have to work hard!"
"Yeah!" The children nodded hopefully, and Thales was no exception.
"I'm leaving, Thales, and the kids," Rick turned around, tilted his head, and showed his profile, "Next time you encounter something like this, come and tell me secretly, although I can't directly
It's always possible to stop him, but make some trouble and prevent him from getting close to you."
After saying that, Rick showed his white teeth, flashed them in the moonlight, and left the courtyard of the sixth house without looking back.
"Mr. Rick is such a nice person." The tears on Ned's face dried up, "Not like that bad Quaid."
"Yes." Coria nodded, her eyes full of joy, as if she had eaten candy.
"But," the lame Ryan, who had been in a state of fright, hesitated and said, "I always feel that Mr. Rick scares me more than Quaid."
"So you are a coward!"
"Coward Ryan, how can you get money like this!"
Only Thales, after Rick left, his eyes gradually became calm.
When he saw Xinti counting the thirty coppers in the purse one by one, Thales let out a slight breath.
His back is still hurting, and he knows that regular trauma medicine will be better for his injury. But Thales just went to Grove Pharmacy yesterday morning and took the typhoid medicine from Yanni's hand at the back door.
, I heard her complain that her stingy boss had raised the price of all medicines, and even the trauma medicine had been raised to thirty-five coppers - which happened to be five coppers more than what Rick gave her.
However, he also learned a key point from Yara, the daughter of the owner of the Sunset Bar.
Rick is responsible for Quaid's huge expenses in the bar.
But--
"I have to pay every month, and I don't have much money..."
Rick's words just now echoed in the time traveler's ears, and he couldn't help but look at the bag of copper in his hand.
The beggars have forgotten their fear and are playing with each other.
Only Thales frowned, turned his head with difficulty, glanced at his scarred back, sighed, and hung down heavily.
This damn world.
————————————————————
Rick walked to the tenth room, thinking that there was an eight-year-old kid named Karak here, a ruthless guy at a young age, and when it was time to beat him up and pull him under his command, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.
This is his innate ability.
When it is absolutely calm (absolutely calm, even a slight shift in attention will be ineffective), once a creature approaches within a distance of about five meters, he will feel a chill on the back of his neck.
That's all.
But don't say that he is not a warrior. Even if he is a warrior, compared with the kingdom's powerful and diverse supernatural forces, as well as the powerful terminator swordsmen, knights, and even the mysterious magician, his supernatural abilities are simply
It's not worth mentioning that even interns from major temples can knock him to the ground and beat him.
But Rick feels that one day, this power will save his life.
Such as now.
Rick quickly turned back, searching his surroundings in the moonlight. At the same time, his left hand reached into his pocket and held the small but deadly mini telescopic crossbow.
The bright moonlight.
Empty streets.
Uncovered
But there was no one there.
Rick took a deep breath and kept himself absolutely calm.
He felt it, and the coldness on the back of his neck continued.
Could it be that a mouse crawled through the sewer beneath my feet?
Rick turned in three different directions and ran quickly for a while, but the coldness still lingering on his neck made him dismiss this suspicion.
Which mouse would be right below him, following him for twenty meters in three directions?
Rick became more and more frightened.
He shouldn't have come out alone, even though this was an abandoned house and the territory of the Brotherhood.
He should have brought twenty goons, each with a magic gun, no matter how heavy the damn thing was.
Just like the Brotherhood's boss in charge of drug dealing, Lazanci Fisso, he was followed by thirty people whenever he came in and out.
Even if he had enough money, he should hire two terminator swordsmen, or a supernatural warrior, or even a magician - forget it, the magician is too scary.
Narric, you have to calm down, he told himself. You are the man who will be in charge of the entire Eternal Star City and even the underground world of the Star Kingdom in the future. Calm down, you must calm down.
He forced himself to calmly turn around and walk back the way he came, as if he was just doing some fitness jogging.
Have you offended anyone? Is there anyone who wants to kill you? Is there anything noteworthy in this neighborhood?
He walked several hundred meters, and under the moonlight, there was no one around him.
But the coolness on the back of his neck was still there.