Kayne was having a headache. He put his hand into his head of black hair and sighed.
If they didn't know about the threat....this would become even more difficult.
"The Dustano Empire....How exactly do you, a peasant in an orphanage, want to take down an empire?" he asked, still annoyed by the news.
"Thats....When I get older Ill be able to fight them all!" Said Rei childishly.
"We both know that'll just end in your death." Kayne said with apathy. "It'd be funny to watch though."
"What would you know! You're like 6!" shouted Rei, alerting everyone.
"5 actually. Besides, I'm not saying you shouldn't have revenge. I'm saying your method is wrong." Kayne retorted.
"Method?"
"Your plan."
"You got a better one?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"..."
"Are you sure you're five?" asked Rei, skeptical of the kid's age after witnessing his grammar and thought process.
"Positive. But I'll only tell you the plan once you join my group."
"What's the name of your group?" asked the white haired lad.
Kayne hadn't made one yet. But he had to make one on the spot, lest he lose a potential member.
"Blood Moon."
"Hell no"
"Haha you fell for that!" Dodged a bullet there.
Nothing obviously evil.
"Crimson Hounds."
"...For real?" Said Rei with skepticism.
"100%" said Kayne, holding back his sweat through sheer willpower.
"Alright. Sounds pretty manly....now what do you need me for?"
"I need all your information on available kid friendly networks and your personal services." Kayne said, not being one to beat around the bush...for too long anyway. "If you can give me the former now and promise the latter, Ill throw in another 10 coins."
"Fine." Said Rei, who had already been okay with the original price. "Ill tell you what I know."
"Most of these groups are harmless gangs that stay together for protection. The few that collect information aren't open about it. "
"There's the Devi boys lead by a teenage noble. The noble isn't much but the networks been up for 5 years doing stuff like pickpocket rings and supplying info. They run it very smoothly but they don't come cheap."
"The Sacs are some young upstarts who made their name known when they robbed a lord a few months ago. They haven't been around long so their info is substandard, but they're affordable.
"The rest are middle of the road, but Kenneth's stands out. They recruit boys to make squires for knights. Their boys secretly pass info from their lords. Sometimes Kenneth's is more informed than Devi's."
This was interesting information. Devi's sounded street smart. They probably knew the town better than the architects, but not as much the words of the nobility.
The Sacs sounded like some emergency muscle. Strictly that. He wouldn't trust them to gather information even if they were the only option.
Kenneth's sounded like they knew the halls of the nobility. They could probably tell him the king's favourite meal and when he shits it out. But they had turned a blind eye to the streets.
Each of these were useful, but only one provided what Kayne needed right now.
"How do I connect with the Devi's?" Kayne asked.
"I don't know, ask Kings." He said, pointing to a lad smaller than him on the opposite side of the room. "He's with 'em"
As Rei put his head on the table to rest, Kayne quietly removed the extra ten coins. Why?
Rei couldn't even be bothered to introduce him!
He gave his thanks, to which the white haired boy replied with a grunt. Walking over to the busiest table, he was about to introduce himself when Rei grabbed him in a 'buddy hold' and waved and Kings.
"Kings! This is my boy over here. Says he wants to know some stuff." He says while winking.
"Aight. Scatter kiddies! I've got a customer!" said the 8-year old Kings.
As the kids dispersed, Kayne and Rei sat down, looking squarely at Kings.
He was eating a plate of oatmeal. Pretty standard until one saw the meat that garnished its surface.
That definetely didn't come from the orphanage.
"What do ya want lads? What can Kingsley offer ya today?" Kings says while rubbing his palms.
Kayne knew his type. Or at least what he'd grow up to be. Shrewd businessmen who cared little for anything but money.
A.k.a. Untrustworthy.
He had to watch his mouth.
"This is my boy-" Said Rei before he was quickly silenced.
"Name's Cain. I simply want to form a partnership. I don't know where you place in the hierachy but you can deliver the message. The Crimson Hounds wish to partner with the Devi's. We offer coins for your services for a month. Feel free to ask any questions, but our patience wears thin." He said, acting like a big shot.
"Smart kid. Rei what's this about." said Kings, ignoring the ragged 5 year old in their midst.
"He isn't kidding. Kid got coin." He said, flashing a bronze.
Kings took it from him and bit it. A moment later it disappeared into his pocket to the chagrin of Rei.
He looked at Kayne with a new face. "Sorry, I don't get a lot of cilents your age. I'll tell the boss about ya request Cain. Chiselled Hounds right ?" He said apologetically.
"Crimson Hounds." Kayne said, slightly annoyed by the boy's blatant disregard of his relevance.
"Understood. I'll get back to ya in a week. Where do ya wanna meet?"
"The fountain at Yorkshire in 3 days." Kayne said. By then his preparations would be complete.
Then Kings rubbed his fingers. "Ill need...a transport fare." he said while smiling.
Kayne grit his teeth. He withdrew the 10 coins he was going to give Rei and placed them in the weasel's palm.
"How generous!" Said Kings before standing up, grabbing a hat that had previously adorned the chair he sat on. "And prepare some change for the meeting. The boss likes to click coins."
Once he departed, Kayne put his hand in his hair and sighed. "Bastard reminds me of Makenzie. Greedy fuckers."
Rei looked at the 5 year old with shock.
*****
"Lady....Leaving at this time is ill adviced." said a maid.
She said that, but offered the rope to the girl, who wore significantly more convincing rags.
"I'll be quick. I have to hand out the information to my connect." she said as she made her way towards the windowsill.
"How much did you pay him again?" asked the maid.
"A silver."
"A hundred bronze....He'll likely run away." said the maid. " Thats food for 2 months minimum."
"I don't mind Gertrude. I'll just continue on by myself. After all, if this works out....Then I'll be the one they bow to when they are called on."
"Hopefully my mistress. Hopefully." said the maid before waving her charge into the night.