August 1906
When Pavel left, the room settled into a quiet stillness, broken only by the soft breathing of the sleeping pups in the corner, sounds Alexei could hear clearly despite how faint they were. He leaned back in his chair, propped his feet up on the desk, and willed his hearing to slightly reduce his surrounding noises. His body still felt weak from the extraction of his blood essence, and at this point, every moment of rest mattered if he wanted to recover his strength.
Alexei woke up from his sleep when he heard footsteps walking towards him. He instinctively put his senses in overdrive, slightly opened his eyes and seeing that it was only Sednev, he relaxed.
"What is it?" Alexei asked groggily as he propped himself up and set his feet down on the ground.
"Are you all right, Your Highness? I've been calling your name from the doorway, but you didn't wake up. I thought something might have happened to you." Sednev looked at his tsarevich worriedly.
"I'm okay. Don't worry. It seems the months of travelling really took a toll on my body." Alexei stretched and flexed his body, showing that he was truly alright.
Sednev sighed in relief. "It's time for dinner, your highness."
It was then that Alexei heard his stomach grumble. He subconsciously touched it. "Did you hear that?"
Sednev nodded. "I'll have your dinner ready right away." Sednev bowed and left.
Alexei chuckled and cracked his neck.
That was a good sleep.
Alexei closed his eyes and checked his body condition. He could feel his body healing itself. Not on top of the condition yet, but it was enough to walk, take a stroll around the city and check on his little minions.
Sednev came back with Anya and the maids in tow. Together, they prepared his dinner and night bath. When they were done, only Sednev and Anya remained. Alexei devoured the foods that were served unhurriedly and asked for a refill afterwards. Sednev had to get another batch and when it was delivered. Alexei also finished the food just as calmly.
Sednev and Anya remained unfazed but exchanged glances. They were already used to seeing their tsarevich devour his food as if his stomach was a bottomless pit. But tonight was quite unusual as it was the biggest appetite their tsarevich had devoured since they served him. Their tsarevich even stood up almost immediately after he finished his food and walked around the room a couple of times before heading to the bathroom. They cleaned the table while wondering what other record their tsarevich would break next time.
Alexei stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. The food he had just eaten seemed to be digesting faster than usual. He suspected he might need another meal later, after returning from his little escapade.
He changed into comfortable clothes and went to check on the pups. They were still sleeping and recovering, but at least the trembling had stopped, a good sign in his opinion. Still, he hoped they would heal and recover quickly. The three months his father had granted him would pass in the blink of an eye, and he wanted the pups ready and trained by then.
When the night settled deep and quiet, Alexei slipped out through his room's window, scanned his surroundings, and crossed the lawn separating the palace from its outer walls. He waited until the roaming guards passed him by with their backs turned, then climbed the wall with practiced ease. Once outside, he checked the area again to ensure no one was nearby before strolling off at a casual, unhurried pace. As if he was just another city folks heading for work or wandering about.
The stroll through the city was uneventful, to say the least. A stark contrast when he visited the city before his tour. There were still the occasional scuffles, but they were nothing more than drunkards doing what drunkards do or thieves getting caught and receiving the betting of their lifetime. He knew other cities were still under martial law because of the unrest and chaos but at least the capital of the empire was mildly and fragilely peaceful.
Despite the lack of large protests and chaos in the city, however. Alexei knew that it was just a fragile peace that could be broken anytime if his father's government missteps again. The socialist and other groups would never truly stop their campaign unless they were rooted from the ground up. Unattainable for a short time but could be attainable in the future.
As he arrived at the slums, the territory his little minions guarded with their lives, Alexei almost couldn't recognize it. Gone were the muddy pathways, the collapsing shacks, and the suffocating stench that used to linger no matter the season. The place had once been a chaotic sprawl of desperation, a maze of rotting wood, broken roofs, and shadows where crime thrived. He remembered how even seasoned patrolmen refused to enter without backup. Now, it looked entirely different.
The roads had been cleared and patched down, there were no longer pot holes that could trip someone out if they're not looking. Small oil lamps hung from posts at regular intervals, giving the area a warm dusk glow instead of its usual pitch-black gloom. Some of the old shacks had been repaired, reinforced, or rebuilt entirely while others were replaced with sturdy wooden homes that, while modest, looked safe and deliberately planned.
As he got deeper into the heart of the slums. He got called out by one of the gangman patrolling the area.
"Halt."
The leader of the group approached together with his lackeys. He scrutinized Alexei at first before saying, "Who are you, and what are you doing here? We don't recommend wearing a cloak here. Let us see your face."
Alexei looked up. He had been so caught up with the changes in his territory that he'd forgotten to hide himself to avoid misunderstandings like this. Still, he just sighed and explained, "I'm friends with your gang leader, Nikolai. You can escort me to him if you want."
The gangman, however, didn't listen and got angry instead. "How dare you lie to us. There have been many people recently who impersonated our leader and his brothers by wearing a mask. Remove your mask this instant and show us your face. If not…" The gangman started cracking his knuckles and got into a fighting stance, his lackeys following suit.
Alexei chuckled at their postures. It was the basic fighting stance he'd had Nikolai teach his gang members. Still, judging by the way these goons performed it, he was sure they'd been slacking during training.
"How dare you laugh at us!"
The gangman charged forward with his fist ready. But when he punched, he hit nothing but air, and a moment later, something struck the side of his rib cage.
"Ugh." He buckled instantly, dropping to his knees and vomiting the dinner he had just eaten.
Seeing their leader defeated in one move, the lackeys hesitated at first, but eventually decided to fight back. They knew they'd be reprimanded if they didn't help him. They rushed toward Alexei, but before they could reach him, someone shouted behind them.
"Stop!"
The lackeys couldn't stop their momentum and stumbled forward. A few even managed to reach Alexei, only to strike nothing but air just like their leader. Fortunately for them, they didn't get their rib caged punch or something.
They eventually gathered themselves and looked behind them. They recognized the voice that had shouted, one they heard every time they trained. The man they secretly called "the demon," thanks to the harsh drills and punishments he had put them through. When they identified him by his posture and the mask he wore, they shuddered.
One of them pointed accusingly at Alexei and blurted out, "It's him, sir! He was checking out the area and pretending to be one of your brothers. He even hit our leader, look!" He gestured toward their leader, who was still hunched over, vomiting the last bits of his dinner.
Oskar was the one patrolling the territory tonight, handling anything the regular gang members couldn't. They usually patrolled in pairs, but Stepan, his partner, had been called away to spy on several members of the Soviets. They were monitoring so many of them now that, sooner or later, they'd run out of manpower to do so. They would need to recruit more members into their inner circle if things continued like this. He reminded himself to report the issue to his master, though he was certain the others and Anna had already noticed the problem and would bring it up once their master returned.
He had just been about to check another alley when he heard a commotion. He immediately rushed toward the noise. By the time he arrived, he saw the hooligans he himself had trained charging at someone he recognized instantly. He shouted for them to stop, but it was too late. Most managed to halt, but a few still reached his master.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his master had gone easy on them. They weren't the best fighters he'd trained, but they had been his trainees once, and he couldn't help but feel some attachment to them.
He was about to greet his master and reprimand the fools who dared to pick a fight with the devil when one of them pointed at Alexei and said something so reckless it could've sent the man straight to his grave.
He sneaked a glance at his master, who just stood there and looked at him. He couldn't see his master's face but he could still see the eyes and from what he could glean from it was amusement? He was not sure. Still, he ignored the fool who spouted nonsense and greeted his master.
"Welcome master. I'm glad you're back." He inclined his head downward slightly. His master didn't like it when they bowed but they just couldn't help it. The man was just an enigma that they couldn't help but respect. They eventually settled for just a nod or bow their head a little when greeting.
The hooligans couldn't help but give Alexei a once-over. If the man they had been about to fight was the demon's master… didn't that mean they'd nearly picked a fight with a greater demon? The thought sent a collective shiver through them all.
Alexei ignored the hooligans' reactions and nodded at Oskar. "Don't blame them. They're just doing their job."
Oskar let out a small breath of relief. "Thank you, master. I'll inform the men about your mask and clothes so that they can recognize you next time."
Alexei shook his head. "Don't. Just leave it as it is. I'll handle myself in the future. Come with me." With that, he turned and walked away. Ignoring the scuffle he had just caused.
"Understood, master," Oskar replied. Then he faced the frozen hooligans. "Continue with the patrol tonight. If I catch any of you slacking even a little, hmmp…"
They straightened immediately and shouted in unison, "Yes, sir!"
Oskar nodded sharply. "Then what are you waiting for? Scram!"
The hooligans scrambled, dragging their leader to his feet before running off as fast as they could. Only then did Oskar follow after his master.
"Is it true?" Alexei asked the moment he noticed Oskar catching up to him.
"What is, master?" Oskar replied.
"That there were people impersonating us with their masks on?"
"Ah, that." Oskar nodded. "There were a few we caught snooping around our territory wearing masks. Some even claimed to be one of us, but we dealt with them. There aren't many of us to begin with, and we know each member from head to toe. Still, I suppose it'll become a real problem once we expand in the future, master."
Anna had ordered them to patrol in pairs afterward, and they'd even created a few crude hand signs to identify each other while masked. It wasn't elegant and certainly not a long–term solution, but they had decided to wait for their master's guidance.
"Hmmm…" Alexei frowned, deep in thought. He hadn't considered this issue before, and he needed a proper solution soon or infiltrators would inevitably slip through.
He was thinking so hard that he didn't even notice they had already arrived at their destination.
They arrived in front of the iron gate. It looked aged with rust and grime, even the brick walls flanking it appeared old and weathered but Alexei knew the effect was intentional, they were actually newly built yet purposely disguised, meant to blend in with the surrounding slum houses. He had no idea how they managed that, but they had certainly overdone the camouflage. Whether it would actually fool anyone, he wasn't sure, all he could do was hope for the better.
After Oskar verified their identities, they stepped through the gate and were greeted by a small courtyard filled with flowers. It seemed Anna still had enough energy and ladylike flair to decorate their base according to her tastes. They crossed the courtyard and approached the main house. Its facade also looked worn and aged, but just like the gate and the walls. The building had been recently renovated and carefully styled on the inside and at the back.
Behind the main house, they had added three more similar structures built like a dormitory, all arranged around a wide central space large enough for training and exercises. Alexei didn't bother inspecting them yet and headed straight for Anna's office.
He found Anna hunched over her desk, scribbling something down. She looked exhausted, dark eye bags clearly visible from where he stood. As their organization expanded, so did the administrative workload. He had insisted from the beginning that they keep records of every transaction made within the organization. That way, they could track their progress more clearly and keep their operations organized. It was an investment for the future, something that would benefit them in the long run if they ever aimed to grow beyond this city.
Alexei glanced at Oskar behind him and whispered, "Call everyone who's available. Don't disturb those who have missions tonight. We're having a short meeting later."
"Yes, Master." Oskar nodded, shot a quick look at Anna, and left.
Once Alexei confirmed Oskar was gone, he knocked lightly on the already open door and greeted her. "Hello Anna. Busy?"
Anna lifted her head slowly. The moment she saw Alexei, she froze for a heartbeat before smiling. "You're back?" She made to stand, but Alexei's small gesture stopped her.
"Don't bother. I'm sitting down anyway." He moved to her desk and took the chair opposite her. His gaze drifted over the mountain of papers piled on her workspace, and his brows pulled together.
"What's all this?"
Anna followed his gaze and couldn't help but chuckle. "These are the names of the Jackals' members and their family members. We've grown quite a bit, you know. The city doesn't have enough jobs to keep up with the number of people looking for work, so some have no choice but to join us. We're pretty generous with wages too, which, if you ask me, is still an unnecessary expense at this stage."
"If we want to keep our people away from those socialists and the revolutionary ideas spreading through the city, then this is necessary. We're feeding them and their families, so they'd better not even think about joining that group and stirring up trouble in our peaceful business. Or else."
Alexei closed his eyes for a moment, reining in his emotions before opening them again and adding quietly. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "Don't be. I understand. I saw the trouble those people caused during the chaos in the city. I don't want them stirring up problems for our business either. Speaking of which, some of them actually tried to recruit our members. A few even agreed to join, so we sent them and their families away. It was chaotic at first, but we handled it. We made it very clear that we don't employ anyone with socialist or revolutionary leanings. Business is business, after all. We don't need the authorities breathing down our necks right now. Right?"
Alexei chuckled, clearly amused. "Business is business? And where did you pick that up?"
"From you, of course. You said it during one of our meetings, I just can't remember which." Anna let out a small laugh at her own words.
He nodded, but Anna's smile faded, replaced by a worried frown.
"We also have a problem you might be able to solve. Some people have started copying your minions' masks and pretending to be part of our group. We can identify them easily for now, we all know each other well, and there are only about thirty of us. But it's going to turn into a real issue once the Jackals and the people in the slums start believing those fakes are actually us. They could order them to do something that might harm us or, worse, damage our reputation."
She sighed. "I had the minions use hand signs and patrol in pairs, but that's not going to work long-term if we plan to expand our numbers."
Alexei frowned deeply. "I know. I heard about it on the way here. I just haven't come up with a solution yet. I told Oskar to call in the others who aren't busy. Still have the energy for a meeting?"
Anna glanced at the pile of documents on her desk before reluctantly nodding. "Alright. Let me just finish this one."
"Why are you doing all of this anyway? Aren't these documents supposed to stay with the Jackals?" Alexei asked.
"These are just copies. I have them send updated versions here every week so we don't have to go to their office whenever we need something. Most of our money goes into their wages. I don't want any corruption happening right under my nose," Anna replied, her tone serious. She trusted Nikolai, but she didn't trust the people under him who handled the money distribution and the records.
She intended to keep a close eye on them and would deal a heavy punishment to those she found out that was stealing from them.
Alexei couldn't help lifting an eyebrow at her. It seemed she'd become quite a miser in his absence, but he decided it wasn't a bad thing. They are still not at the point yet where they could spend their money lavishly. Alexei asked about how their businesses were going and Anna answered everything enthusiastically.
They now had about five gambling dens and three pleasure houses scattered throughout the slums. The number of people eager to take over these businesses skyrocketed the moment they announced that they wouldn't personally manage them and would instead collect protection fees and thirty percent of the monthly profits. Because of that, they had to screen out most applicants and only approved those they believed could actually run the establishments well, and thankfully, those they chose truly did.
Anna established a strict set of rules the operators had to follow. Some people backed out immediately, unable to understand how they could make money while sticking to the guidelines. Others were hesitant at first but eventually agreed. Most of the ones who agreed to the rules had previously worked under the old owner of the dens and pleasure houses. They already knew how profitable the businesses were, and even if the rules would cut into most of their earnings, they understood there was still plenty to be made. They also knew that if they managed these places successfully, they might finally have a real chance to rise in life.
Before the businesses opened, Alexei ordered the establishments to be renovated and thoroughly cleaned. He knew how much the ambiance and cleanliness could affect their success. Of course, he had the newly appointed owners take a loan from the Jackals to cover the expenses, he wasn't a saint who would hand out free money for renovations. However, Alexei did give them free advice on how to run the businesses well, including new card games and other ideas he believed would attract more gamblers to their establishments.
As for the pleasure houses, even though they operated under strict guidelines and were closely monitored by Anna, many of the women still chose to sell their bodies for money. Especially now, with their salaries nearly doubled and full ownership of any tips their patrons gave them. Anna had been quite disappointed at first, she thought her rules and guidelines would be enough to stop it, but they weren't, it seemed it only made the women more eager for the job. She eventually managed to accept it and move on.
There were still a few unusual businesses that Alexei had the people on the slums take on, like cleaning services, delivery services, protection services, and even a newly established agency where job seekers could submit their résumés, and the agency would find work for them in exchange for a small percentage of their salary. Their very first partner happened to be Alexei's own publishing house. Anna didn't know that he owned that particular publishing house, but Alexei knew he would have to come clean eventually. Just… not yet. Naturally, all of these businesses had to pay protection fees and thirty percent of the profits to the Jackals.
Overall, the businesses were on the right track. Profits had been steadily rising every month now that the chaos in the city had died down. Some owners had even grown bold enough to request permission to expand into areas outside their current influence. Anna had to shut down those dreams quickly. But Alexei already had plans for expansion, now that they'd consolidated their strength. He knew growth was the only way forward, he just hadn't figured out how to make it happen yet.
Their conversation was cut short when someone knocked on the door and Oskar stepped inside. "Master, everyone available is in the meeting room now."
Alexei nodded to Oskar, then glanced at Anna. "Shall we?"
Together, they left the room.