In the lower city existed a certain renowned district.

  Clubs and os made up the sery. Despite the bright neon lights, it was one of the darkest pces iy.

  Everyone could live out their primitive desires here, sometimes eveig upper-css citizens like the whisper of a devil.

  In a dim strip club geared towards the middle-css a man was seated in a private both.

  He proudly showed off the scars ad his bare upper body. His eyes were cloudy as they sed the curves of the graceful girl dang before him.

  Many lower-css citizens would flee in fear when they spotted his bearded face, reizing one of the most ruthless crime bosses in Red Oak, Sericher.

  Ironically the man didn’t get his niame from his deeds but because he worked as a butcher before one day burning the hole pce down.

  Suddenly a kno the door drew Serin’s attention. He huffed in displeasure as his rough voice rang out:

  “What is it?”

  “Boss, important news.”

  “e in.”

  The door opened as a thin woman with burn marks on her skiered.

  “Boss, news about Liam Varsmith.”

  “Who? Never heard of it. If you came to waste my time, just leave your head behind!”

  Serin’s assistant knew her boss’s temper, tinuing without fault.

  “The target our VIP ts asked us to keep a look at.”

  “Oh? That homeless boy?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s the news?”

  “He became a huoday ahe city for the first time.”

  “Is he still alive?”

  “Yes.”

  Bang!

  Suddenly Serin’s hand hit the table, cracks spreading on its surface. A low cry escaped the dancer’s mouth, but she didn’t dare to stop.

  “That boy left the city and we didn’t get rid of him? Who was it that saw him?! Cut off two of his fingers! If I hate something the most it’s useless subordinates!”

  “The Levrowska twins saw him leave the city but didn’t dare to act without guarahus they came to inform me.”

  “Hmpf. Excuses.”

  “Don’t worry boss. My predi was already correct. The target eventually couldn’t hold on and became a hunter. Now we just o tinue .

  The ime that kid leaves the city we will follow with a dozen people, and nothing will g!”

  “So much effort for a kid! Why not just end him right now?!”

  “Boss, we already analyzed it. If not even our VIPs dare to give the order to kill him withiy, then they fear something.

  The only one able to restrain them is the army.

  I’m certain the kid isn’t simple.

  Even after more than a year our ts don’t urge us, meaning they acquiesce with our as.

  Thus, let’s py it safe a him die outside. Let some beasts feed on his corpse so no one find any evidence.”

  “Whatever. I let you hahis matter.”

  “Don’t worry boss. I won’t disappoint you.”

  “I know.”

  Serin exged an ambiguous look with his assistant before the woma.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Liam was ba the lower city with a lot of money on his bck card.

  He scurried through the alley as he pnned for the few days.

  After a few minutes of walking, he reached a shabby metallice. The gate opened with a sound which begged for some oil, drawing a few people’s attention.

  Liam sighed as he looked into a bunch of hopeless eyes. People huddled around fires in barrels, rugged and dirty clothes. All of them were beggars, gathering in this spot below a highway for some fort.

  Liam khis pce from his memories as he and his sister had called it home for the st four years.

  Suddenly a surprised voice reached Liam’s ears.

  “Liam?! Ish id you?! Wow I didn’d even reie you in dish fandcy geddup!”

  Liam looked at the middle-aged man who had approached him. The man had graying hair, wearing a bck robe. He looked somewhat healthier than most others despite his mouth swollen from an illness.

  “It’s me Pastor Frey.”

  The man had always insisted on being called pastor. No one knew if he really held this profession in the past, but he indeed served as a spiritual pilr for the beggars gathered here.

  “Wow. Look ad you! Where did all dish e from?”

  “Ahh nothing, I just had some luck.”

  Liam smiled, not daring to mention Ben’s. He khat it would only lead to a tirade about the sin of theft form the pastor.

  But this was also the reason why Liam could feel at ease in this small unity. The people here stuck together, not robbing each other.

  Furthermore, it wasn’t as if others never gained a windfall through some sudden luck. Unfortunately, clubs and os had a tight grip on most of the homeless, sug the credits out of their pockets.

  Pastor Frey showed a friendly smile as he led Liam to one of the fires.

  A young man was already waiting for them.

  A lot of fond memories came to Liam’s mind as he looked at the boy one year older than him.

  “Trey!”

  “Liam! Damn, you look so cool! Like a warrior!”

  Liam chuckled as his best friend greeted him excitedly. Knowing that Trey always dreamed of being a warrior, Liam’s outfit naturally surprised him.

  “But where did you leave Serena? Don’t tell me you sold her!”

  “Hey, what are you thinking of me? She is with Doctor Hearley!”

  As he joked around with Trey, Liam felt a surprising warmth in his chest. He could hardly remember the st time he was able to have such a genuine versation with his peers.

  In his former life Liam had to realize early on that people got close to him because of his parents. Even when he grew up other always treated him different because of his aplishments.

  Many only saw a ‘mister perfect’ instead of Liam Varsmith.

  “She is still with the doctor? Was her health worse thahought?”

  “Not quite. To be ho, we were lucky, and Doctor Hearley offered us a room in her apartment. We moved there.”

  The surrounding beggars overhearing Liam’s words were surprised. Quickly, gratutions came from their mouths. Most sounded genuine, with only a few of them revealing jealousy.

  Liam smiled kindly looking into the dirty faces.

  “Thank you, guys. Don’t worry, after earning some money I won’t fet you!”

  Liam meant what he said. When he and his sister became homeless, Trey’s parents found them and introduced them to the unity.

  But only after a vote were they allowed to stay.

  Surprisingly the vote was overwhelmingly positive, with not a single voice disagreeing.

  As these memories appeared one by one in his mind, Liam couldn’t help but feel touched. These people at the bottom of the food were generous enough to take in some kids, teag them how to survive oreets.

  However, the homeless didn’t expect much, politely deing Liam’s offer.

  Even Trey’s mother sittio her son shook her head.

  “Don’t worry about us little Liam. We are already happy if you’re doing fine. Just try to find a stable job a your own life ba track.”

  Liam held back a tear as he looked at the older woman.

  “No. I really mean it! In fact, I already have a bit of money.

  Trey, do you have a bck card?”

  “Ehm. Yes.”

  Liam took the card from his friend, holding it against his own. Immediately 400 credits were transferred.

  trary tur cards, bes didn’t show the money ohus, no one could figure out what had happened.

  The only one in the unity with a device to check the amount was the pastor. But before the man could act, Liam quickly stood up.

  He dashed towards a spot protected from wind to the side. Two dirty mattresses covered the ground.

  This was Liam’s and Serena’s ‘home’.

  Liam stared at the ground with a dazed look, w how people could live in such a dition.

  Gng at the other homeless he could only let out a sigh.

  Soon, Liam did what he came here for. He took off his equipment, st it among a pile of bags o the beds.

  His eyes fell on the wound on his hand. Liam tore off something form an old shirt, loosely bandaging his wound.

  , he rummaged through the bags. After a moment he pulled out a stuffed animal. It was a small brown bear in surprisingly good dition.

  Looking at it with a smile, Liam could already hear hurried steps ing from behind his back.

  “Liam! Liam! Wait!”

  But Liam didn’t ply. He khat Trey’s mother came to give him back the money.

  Liam turned around, dashing past the thin woman.

  “Sorry Miss Ecras, I o go! If you don’t want the money, give it to Pastor Frey for emergencies!”

  “You!”

  Trey’s mother could only watch helplessly as Liam escaped through the gate.