“Fresh fruits from the south! Only 3 copper Azul per piece." It was a bustling and peaceful morning in the market. Hazen, being one of the major port towns located in the south of Gulf of Azalia are often used by traders and merchants as a resupplying point and place to sell their more perishable goods. A lot of goods from both the North and the south can often be found in the market for a reasonable price. “Get some fine Jewels from the North! Get them for your wives! Get them for your spo…”

  “GET THOSE FUCKERS!”

  The hustle and bustle of the merchants were interrupted by the hustle and bustle of big burlies gangsters chasing a bunch of street urchins in the street. For the merchants and residents of West Hazen, they know who these people are, members of the Burhan gang and a bunch of pickpockets. This was why they, including the city guards chose to ignore adults chasing a bunch of children. It was not their business, it was not their problems, it was not their life.

  But this was life for Cooper, a boy, 15 years in age, 13 years in stature. As one of the more resourceful kids, he was considered as John's left-hand man. Today, he decided to check if a rumor he heard in the streets, that the gang of street urchins killed 2 of Burhan gang’s members. 2 of their members were missing after last seen chasing child pick pockets, and now the Burhan gang was in an uproar.

  Normally, the adult gang will just leave the children gang alone after some beating and mugging if they ever steal from them. But if the rumour was true, and the children killed their members … they might decide to round up all the street urchins and sell them. For street urchins, being sold could mean getting sent to the mines, prostitution, or the worst option, lab rats for some mad mages. Death was more preferable than that.

  Per John’s order, Cooper and his clique went to confirm the validity of the rumor. He spread his clique all around the district to either spy on the Burhan or eavesdrop on tavern gossip. It was a good plan, if only his underlings were not being followed to the meeting place. Now, they’re being chased all over the street … At least he now knows that the rumour held some weight.

  “Cooper help”, Cooper’s clique members were being caught one by one. All he could afford was a glance, being caught was not an option. After a long chase through crowds, alleys, and rooftops, Cooper’s clique was down from having seven members to just three left, including himself.

  “All right, they no longer chasing us anymore. Let’s split up, If you find John or D’aka, tell them that the Burhan are after us.” The remaining members nodded. Even if they were worried about the captured children's safety, they knew a bunch of kids could not do anything to save them … Not without D’aka at least.

  All three of them split up, looking for John. Cooper traversed West Hazen rooftop and alleyways, avoiding people’s sight as he went. As his body raced, so did his mind. He imagined all the worst case scenarios and what he should do to avoid them. Whatever his future move is, right now, he’s hoping to find John without D’aka next to him.

  If it was just John, then he would likely agree with Cooper to run away as soon as possible, abandoning everything, including members of his clique that was just captured. But that suggestion was not possible if D’aka was present. D’aka would want to save those captured kids, and John would try to placate him as D’aka was their strongest muscle.

  “There they are”, Cooper found John in one of their usual meeting spots. Predictably, D’aka was there with him. Cooper racks his brain on how to deliver the news to them in a way not to agitate D’aka to quickly rescue the captured kids.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “John, I have a very bad …” Before he could finish his sentence, he was stopped by a very pungent smell. The smell was so bad it almost made him gag, and it made him instinctively look for the source of the smell. All he could see was a bunch of kids who probably there to get some rations and a hairy … black thing?

  “Cooper, you got news for me.” John immediately approached Cooper, wanting to know whether the rumor was true. The future of the gang, his future, depends on this news.

  “Uhhm, yeah, but … what is that?” Cooper points at Regulus, he could not beat his curiosity.

  “Oh… that… That’s Regulus… It’s human, I think.” John was still unsure what exactly Regulus is. “Never mind that. Tell me, is it true?”

  “It’s probably true. The Burhan found us and they …” Cooper hesitated a bit. He glanced at D’aka who was busy chatting with the kids and the black thing. “...they captured four of us.”

  “What!?” Before John could react to the news, D’aka heard Cooper. ‘Oh shit’ thought John and Cooper simultaneously. Both of them did not want D’aka to get agitated. “John. We have to rescue them.”

  “Calm down D’aka. This is the Burhan gang we’re dealing with.” John tried to calm D’aka down. He even had to put his hand on him.

  “Why are those fuckers suddenly messing with us? They usually left us alone” D’aka snapped.

  “Well, there’s a rumor that one of our kids … killed some of their members.” John tried to explain to D’aka. He’s worried that he’ll act rash and charge at Burhan gang’s hideout,

  “Oh shit” John, Cooper, and D’aka were surprised by that sudden blurt. They turned around and saw Eda who covered her mouth. “You know something about it … uhhm, Eda?”

  “Uuuhm, yeah.” Both Eda’s and Grigori's eyes wandered around . They knew the source of the rumours.

  “Wait wait wait. You guys killed some Burhans?” asked D’aka. He couldn’t believe they were capable of killing an adult, let alone a gang member.

  “No no no, not us.” Both of them vehemently denied the idea they were capable of killing a gang member. They immediately glance at the real culprit, who looked unbothered and busy playing with Azali, they were glancing at Regulus.

  “Ah… shit.” it clicked for both John and D’aka. They could probably guess the chain of events that led to Regulus killing members of the Burhan gang. John however wasn’t fully convinced. “Is it really possible D’aka? For Regulus, to kill adult gangsters?”

  John was doubtful, after all he never saw Regulus’ combat capabilities.

  “Yeah, I think so.” D’aka also never saw Regulus’ combat capabilities, but he instinctively knew that Regulus was an extraordinary being. He could easily take on a bunch of ordinary thugs.

  “Uuhm wait. Is that … thing, responsible for all this mess? Shouldn’t we just hand him over to the Burhan as a peace offering?” suggested Cooper. To him, giving up Regulus was the most rational move. But John wasn’t so sure, he’s not quite sure what Regulus is. He felt like that would lead to disaster. While D’aka gut feeling told him that was a bad move.

  Before either John or D’aka voiced their objection, someone already did. “NOOOO! Regulus is one of us. You don’t give up one of us!” Screamed Azali. She proudly looked at D’aka, looking for approval.

  “yeah , we don’t give up on one of us.” D’aka answered firmly. Azali’s voice gave him enough confidence that that was the right choice.

  Cooper looked at John. He knew John is more realistic than D’aka, and as the leader, he would make the right choice. But for once, John looked unsure.

  “Guys, I got an idea.” said Grigori confidently. “Why don’t we just unleash Regulus on the Burhan? He’s very strong, he could take on all of them.”

  “Yep yep, he even ate a Sewer King when we met him.” Eda backed up Grigori’s idea.

  “Sewer King!? You’re joking.” Cooper didn’t believe their claim. Every Vagrants, Urchins, and thugs in Hazen knew of Sewer Kings. They’re salt water Crocodiles that made the Hazen’s sewer system their nest. Creatures with hide strong enough to repel bullets and bites strong enough to destroy iron grates. They’re the reason why Hazen’s outcasts did not dare to enter the sewer.

  “No. We’re not lying.” Both Eda and Grigori tried to convince the older kids of Regulus’ strength. And then an idea clicked in Eda’s head. “I’ll just show you. Regulus! Dig!”

  Hearing that command, Regulus gently put away Azali who was resting on top of him.

  Regulus raised his hand, and slammed it to the ground.

  The ground quakes and crumbles, opening its mouth to Regulus. Regulus fell to the sewer below him.

  The older kids were flabbergasted. Even the younger kids who knew of Regulus’ strength was a bit shocked.

  “See, we're not lying.” Said Eda proudly at the older boys.

  John, Cooper, and D’aka looked at each other. Without uttering a single word at each other, they knew.

  Regulus might be the source of their trouble …

  He might also be the solution.