"Hmm," Edward hummed as he stroked his tail. "For starters, where are you guys going to stay?"
Wilson looked straight at Dash, who responded to Edward.
"I have a place but it is underground."
"The forest?" Charlie asked. "I do not think it is a great idea."
Dash shook his head and responded, "No. Not the forest. It is under a building, some distance from here. Dad said it was spacious, sound-proof and well-ventilated. And there are food and water supplies in there. So, we can hide there until things calm down."
"Have you been there yet?" Edward asked.
"No."
"Then, how can we be sure?"
"Dad wouldn't lie about something like that."
"I am not doubting your father's truthfulness..." Edward said. Charlie interrupted and finished the sentence for him:
".... but, how can we be sure that it is still well hidden?"
"That someone hasn't discovered or occupied the place?" Edward said.
Dash sighed and shook his head helplessly.
"Then, what should we do?"
"First of all, I am going to introduce you to a gang. It is a small but powerful gang. They are more trustworthy compared to the other gangs. They might be able to provide you with some money to get yourselves a good apartment. They will only do that because my first daughter is married to their leader, but you definitely have to pay them back. This means you have to work and earn and protect what you earn." He paused, "And pay up. With interest."
Charlie nodded. Wilson sighed and shook his head while Dash relaxed face frowned again as he whispered to Charlie.
"You remember I'm a wanted man, right?"
Dash whispered because he did not want Edward to hear but the old geezer's sharp rat ears picked up Dash's words and they made him chuckle, "I believe everyone who comes here and stays here is a wanted man. You just need to change your appearance, be able to hold your own or pay for protection against others and give yourself a suitable alias and most people will not bother to delve deep into your past. It is an unspoken rule in Forest Garden."
"What jobs can we do here?" Wilson asked.
"Anything." Edward answered with a smile as he relaxed his back against his chair while lazily waving his tail in the air between the four men.
"As long as there's demand, there will be supply."
**************
It was mid-afternoon at Forest City. Cobain and Ruthless sat across each other at Cobain's office in Forest City's wrestling academy, conversing with each other while Ruthless' swordsman stood behind his boss quietly.
"The bounty has been placed for two weeks now and that kid is still nowhere to be found." Cobain said.
Ruthless frowned and shook his head before he said, "I know."
"Ruthless, we need to find him and put him down once and for all, if we want to sleep worry-free." Cobain said.
Ruthless expressionlessly looked at him but did not say anything. Cobain continued.
"I'm sure you remember that look he had on his face. It told us everything we needed to know. As long as he is alive, we stand the risk of being beheaded in our sleep."
Ruthless shook his head, "You bunch of old people stand that risk. I do not."
"You think you are safe?" Cobain asked, a little irritated at the way Ruthless rebutted.
Ruthless did not respond to that question and Cobain continued:
"I do not want to be assassinated and we both know who he will come for first."
"Why are you bothered then? If he comes, that will be the end of him."
"Ruthless, why do I feel like you have become overtly confident in these past few weeks?"
Ruthless once again did not answer.
"That boy is probably somewhere right now, hating and swearing to have his vengeance on us. He is probably plotting how to go about it." Cobain said.
"That will be the demise of him." Ruthless sneered and said.
Cobain, seeing Ruthless like that, could only shake his head and warn him.
"Ruthless, you said it yourself. That kid is daring and fearless, but not stupid. You yourself said that he took lots of risks but also knows how to run from danger."
"Don't worry about it. The second he steps into this city's boundaries, it will be the end of him." Ruthless said and before Cobain could say another word, he walked out of the academy with his skilled lackey trailing behind him.
For several minutes after that, Cobain remained seated, looking blankly at the door, his face solemn. He took his phone and called a number. It only had to ring once before the call was picked.
On the receiving end of the call was an old lady.
"What is it?" She immediately asked. She was obviously being grumpy. Perhaps, she was woken from her midday nap.
"Can you be bothered to do us a favor?" Cobain asked.
"Who are this 'us'?" She asked back.
"The committee excluding Ruthless."
"What is it?"
"Find out what you can about Ruthless. His recent movements, connections, people he has met recently and things he has done. Find out the new addition to those skilled thugs of his, literally everything possible. And start from when he returned from that unspoken trip of his."
"Why?"
"He has become more relaxed and confident."
"Complacent?"
"And we both know that only power does that to people."
"So, you think he has found a new, reliable source of power?"
"Power that makes him more powerful than us, yes."
"Really? So, if I do find anything, what are you going to do?"
"Destroy it completely, so he will have no choice but to crawl back to us."
There was silence on the other side fro a while, then the old lady said something that was seemingly off-topic.
"Cobain, have I told you how much I love you?"
This was her usual prelude to a request and Cobain was more than familiar with it.
"I don't want to hear it. Do your job first and then we can talk about your request."