After the merchants closed their carts and people headed to their homes to sleep, the golden sun rose, announcing a new day.
The markets flourished as residents and merchants woke from a deep sleep. The most sold goods these days were winter clothes, as the season was approaching.
In the middle of the market stood a worn-out cart carrying piles of hay, and a young man's voice echoed from in front of it:
"Come buy some hay for your animals!"
Everyone looked at him in confusion—some laughed, others ignored him.
The small merchant was Sota, and it looked like he was working at full power, especially since his pockets were completely empty.
"Come on, we have high-quality hay at an excellent price!"
Despite his shouting, no one was attracted to Sota. There were many reasons: his miserable appearance, his old and dirty clothes, and his tiny cart that shared the same condition.
'Damn it! This is really exhausting… but I have to work hard, even under someone like the Scorpion. Takeshi talked so many times about goals. I have a goal too, and I'll achieve it!!'
He sat on his chair lost in thought, wiping the sweat dripping down his face. Only seconds passed before he heard heavy, fast footsteps shaking the ground beneath him.
A person covered in a cloak to hide his identity ran past him, followed by four merchants.
"Someone catch him! He's a thief!!"
"You idiots, don't let him escape!"
"Damn it, he's faster than us!!"
No one tried to catch the thief. They all moved out of his way despite the merchants' shouting, which was even louder than Sota's.
The thief managed to get away, only a few more light steps before he escaped completely—
Suddenly, someone threw a foot in his path. The thief failed to avoid it, crashed into it, and fell to the ground.
"He fell! Hurry!"
The person who tripped him walked toward the thief and spoke loudly—loud enough for everyone around to hear—before the merchants reached them:
"Do you have any information about the King Skull Gang? Are you even one of them?"
The thief shook his head beneath his cloak and answered harshly while trying to escape:
"I'm not stupid enough to join a gang that kills its own members if they make a mistake!"
Takeshi let him go, but it was too late—the merchants grabbed him forcefully. One shoved his hand into the thief's cloak and pulled out four full pouches, one of them open.
"Thank goodness!!"
One of them spoke while panting heavily, then turned to Takeshi, grabbed his hand, and said:
"Thank you! If you hadn't interfered, that bastard would've escaped."
The four left, dragging the thief to the police station.
As for Takeshi, he pulled out several silver and copper coins he had secretly taken from one of the pouches while talking to the thief.
'I guess this is my reward for catching him.'
Takeshi walked away from the scene. People continued moving as usual—except for one man who had heard what Takeshi told the thief.
That man was Koji, a member of the King Skull Gang.
Takeshi headed toward a cart selling glossy grilled meat that reflected sunlight, its smell attracting every hungry passerby. The vendor grabbed five sticks full of fresh lamb meat and placed them over the fire.
"How much for one stick?"
Someone standing next to Takeshi asked. His stomach gave off faint rumbling sounds.
The vendor replied instantly:
"20 silver coins per stick."
Compared to the other merchants, the price was good and affordable.
But Takeshi froze in place. He pulled a pouch from his right, uninjured hand and opened it. Inside were 60 silver coins and 17 copper coins. A large part of it had been given to him by the man with glasses he had saved yesterday from two thieves. The man had also given him valuable information.
[yesterday]
"I only know one thing."
Takeshi tilted his head and said:
"Tell me what you know."
The man replied with a hesitant tone that never left him:
"Uhmm— there are many thieves from the King Skull Gang roaming around and stealing from people. So if you're lucky, you might run into one of them there."
Takeshi smiled:
"Thank you."
Then he turned toward the thief who tried to rob the man with glasses and added:
"What about him? Should I take him to the police station?"
The man with glasses nodded:
"If they see his injuries and his mouth like that, they might think you're the one who attacked him. I can testify for you, but his friend who ran away could also testify for him."
The man bowed to Takeshi, tears streaming down his face:
"I didn't expect someone strong like you to save trash like me—"
Takeshi patted his shoulder:
"There's no need to thank someone like me. I'm not the strongest, and you're not trash. The two who attacked you are the real trash."
***
[present]
Takeshi hesitated to buy even one stick of grilled meat. He knew that once he tasted it, he'd end up spending all his money.
"I'll take 10 sticks—and give this guy 10 sticks too!"
Someone else stood next to Takeshi. When Takeshi turned, he saw Koji.
"For me?"
Twenty sticks of premium grilled meat with an irresistible smell were prepared and placed on two plates—ten each—set before Takeshi and Koji.
Koji took out four gold coins and handed them to the vendor. He turned toward Takeshi, only to find that Takeshi had already finished half his plate.
"Enjoy!"
Takeshi swallowed the bite in his mouth, turned toward Koji, and said:
"I don't understand why you spent all that money on me—"
Koji cut him off with a smile:
"I saw you staring at the grilled meat while looking at the pouch in your hand—"
This answer didn't convince Takeshi, who interrupted him in return:
"Don't lie. Foolish reasons always hide heavier motives."
Koji stood up, despite not finishing his plate:
"I can't tell you here. Meet me this evening before sunset, in front of the bank at the Cloud River's shore. I'll tell you."
The sun slid across the sky alongside the roaring clouds, shining golden rays signaling the approach of dusk.
Koji was on his way to the meeting spot, passing through one of the worst neighborhoods in the eastern side of the city.
It was called the Orphan District—because most who lived there were orphans, homeless people, or the extremely poor.
This was clear from the ancient buildings: cracked stone walls on the verge of collapse, and tin rooftops barely holding out against heavy rain.
Koji reached a large square. Once inside, he saw three of his gang members wearing pure white cloaks, standing before a group of poor people: two men, a woman, and a child. They wear the worst, dirtiest clothes, and their faces show signs of grief and sadness.
"Hand over what you have. Now."
The one from the King Skull Gang spoke with a provoking, rough voice, and a disgusting smile stretched across his wrinkled face.
It was Yamikaji. With him were Fard and Josu.
The man leading the poor group extended his dirty hand into his pocket, pulling out four gold coins. He dropped to his knees and said painfully:
"We couldn't gather the full amount… please forgive us—"
Kick!!
The poor man couldn't finish his sentence. He took a kick to the face that broke his nose and knocked him to the ground, the gold coins scattering everywhere.
"Father!"
The boy with them shouted, but the woman—his mother—held him back to stop him from doing something reckless.
Yamikaji turned around to leave, followed by Fard and Josu:
"I'll be back tomorrow. If the amount isn't doubled, I'll separate your heads from your bodies!"
The poor group walked away in confusion and sorrow, all under Koji's watchful eyes.
He stared at Yamikaji until he disappeared and muttered to himself:
"Yamikaji, you damn bastard… ever since you brought that sword, you've been doing whatever you want. But that'll stop soon…"