The sun treaded its path toward the west, eventually sinking and drowning beneath the distant horizon, leaving behind final yellow rays before vanishing upon its departure.
Some hid in their homes, fearing for their pockets from theft or their souls from harm, for criminals and thieves spread incredibly at night. As for the poor and the homeless, they could be found in the same numbers day and night, begging to satisfy their empty stomachs.
Despite the absence of the sun and the lack of shimmering moonlight in the sky, the city was lit with radiant yellow lights mounted on sturdy, elongated poles. This type of lighting was not spread throughout all parts of the city; it was as pervasive as germs in the North, thinning out as one moved South, until reaching the area of abandoned buildings which was devoid of any light source.
Except for one light that emerged from that deep darkness.
A golden light erupted like the rays of a rising sun from a towering building, abandoned like the rest. Facing that immense glow was a group of people. Looking at them, one could realize they were the scum of society at the bottom of the pyramid—tattered, torn clothes and filthy bodies reeking of garbage. No passerby would realize they were members of the Royal Skull gang, yet they occupied the lowest tier within it.
Delivery Day
Among the crowd stood Koji, holding a tattered white bag. Whenever he moved, the sound of clashing coins rang out. He wasn't the only one; most in the area carried the same, and the heavier and louder the clashing, the less the anxiety and fear. They had to pay this amount today—the day known to the gang as Delivery Day.
None of the gang members present could pass this day and night without being seized by an overwhelming anxiety that nearly made them wet their pants; it was prominent on their features. Even those who had gathered the full amount had a certain type of worry etched onto their faces.
Koji was of this type. After robbing Scorpion, he had harvested an incredibly large sum, enough to satisfy everyone here for days; he had 194 gold pieces in his possession. Of course, they were hidden in a place known only to him. He now carried the required amount, which was only 7 gold pieces (equivalent to 70 silver pieces or 700 copper pieces). Nevertheless, this amount would be enough for a highly frugal person for a month or less.
Despite possessing a fortune compared to many, he remained in the gang for a reason. He wasn't the only one; all who were here stayed. For those who tried to flee and leave the gang were never seen again.
Koji moved forward to get a clear look at any signal, as he was surrounded by massive, tall men who made seeing difficult. However, on his way, he was interrupted by two men.
One was short but powerfully built, covered in wounds and scars across his entire body as if he had been raised amidst battles and spent his life bringing trouble upon himself. The other was slightly taller, with an average body unlike the other. The common factor between them was the shiny baldness of their heads.
The short man stepped forward, extending his rough hand and spitting saliva with every word.
"It seems you brought a paltry sum, Mountain Rat! Lucky for you, I am merciful and won't have to take the entire amount you apparently stole from an old man or a woman."
He noticed Koji's features were somewhat calm, so he realized he had gathered the required amount. However, Koji didn't care for him and refused directly.
"You won't take a single coin from me."
Then he added with a sarcastic smile drawn on his face.
"It seems you couldn't gather the full amount, unlike this Mountain Rat."
Koji was nicknamed this among some gang members because he was raised in the mountains located behind the mountain range facing them, situated behind the abandoned buildings area they were currently in. The man did not move the hand he had previously extended; instead, he moved his other hand and pulled a knife from under his shabby shirt, saying:
"Do you want to know my way of making money?"
Koji swallowed his saliva, trying to summon courage.
"By attacking the weak like me? You told me you don't want the full amount, meaning it's clear you earned the rest by intercepting someone weak. Who was it? A woman? An old man? Or a child?"
The short man gritted his teeth and slowly raised the knife toward Koji's jaw, saying:
"Don't worry, we've gathered our required amount in full. We just want to enjoy a luxurious meal for dinner. I understand from your words that the answer is yes..."
The other man moved from his spot and reached out, trying to snatch the bag from Koji's tight grip. Before his hand could reach its goal, Koji spoke.
"If you're going to take this money from me for the purpose of filling your bellies, know that the price is my soul and the soul of someone else dear to me—"
"As if I care?"
The short man shouted loudly, drawing all eyes toward him. At the same time, the other man successfully yanked the bag from Koji's hand. The short man lowered his small knife and looked at Koji with a gaze of belittlement, saying:
"Try to better yourself, you weak coward. Hiding behind the reality of your death like a fool—"
"Rather, the fools are the two of you..."
Without warning, his words were cut off by another voice from behind. The two men turned immediately toward the owner of that familiar voice to see Shader standing with his vacant features behind them, a faint smile on his pale face. Shader slowly extended his hand toward the two men and said without moving his gaze:
"The bag..."
Without thinking, the two men responded to Shader's words and placed the bag on the palm of his extended hand, then left immediately with steps as fast as their heartbeats.
Shader was the most friendly high-tier person toward those in the lower tier. He was specifically friendly with the kind and good people who joined the gang due to their poor financial circumstances, rather than a love for violence and crime.
The life returned to Shader's eyes once more, and he stepped toward Koji, offering the bag to him with a wider smile, saying:
"These fools love harassing kind people like you—"
"Rather, the weak like me..."
Koji interrupted him, lowering his head toward the ground.
"They are right. If I weren't weak, I wouldn't have had to join you, and I would have been able to take care of my sister on my own..."
More than 60% of those in the lower tier joined the gang with the goal of providing for their families, or for one or more members who suffered from an illness whose treatment was costly. Koji was part of this percentage. Shader moved his hand lightly toward all those present and said in a faint voice that only Koji heard:
"So you describe all these people as weak? If you see yourself as weak, then everyone here is as weak as you. And if you see yourself as strong, then everyone here is at your level of strength!"
Shader turned, giving his back to Koji, and raised his hand, ready to depart.
"Think about it, Koji."
The Call of the Vice Leader
Such a scene was a common occurrence for everyone here; Shader helping someone and also rebuking them for guidance. Therefore, eyes did not linger on the confused Koji. He didn't see himself as that weak, and certainly not strong; rather, he saw himself as nothing more than an ordinary person, someone who relied on theft to pay what the gang demanded to heal his sister, without getting into troubles that might put him in danger.
Everyone in the lower tier was free in their method of earning money, provided it did not harm the gang or its personal information. Like the usual theft Koji performed.
While Koji was lost in his thoughts about what he should do tomorrow, someone emerged from that towering building from which the raging yellow light erupted. It was Greid, the Vice Leader to Rastan, the leader of the Royal Skull gang. But unlike usual, Greid was wearing the white gang uniform instead of those shabby black clothes.
All eyes turned toward him immediately, waiting for any word or action from him. Suddenly, Greid turned inward, heading toward the bright light, and said:
"You may enter now."