A scream was heard in the middle of the market where people were buying food for the day.
"THIEF!" A man screamed as he chased a teenager who had just stolen his bag of coins.
The boy ran out among the people, sliding quickly. Although the man and a couple of guards chased after him, they were not able to keep up. After getting into the alleys, he vanished with his loot.
At the same time, a muscular man threatened a person.
"That's it! I told you to not sell drugs in our territory!" He had his arms around the other subject's neck.
"Come on, man, let me do business. I'll give you half if you keep it between us."
"I gave you a warning." A kick to the stomach made him vomit, but that was only the beginning. He beat and kicked him until he was unconscious. He took the drug and the money from the defeated man and left him on the ground.
Meanwhile, a man with hair totally full of some kind of cream was doing business.
"Are they really that good as they say?"
"You have my word; my goal is to give the best quality to my customers. Only 10 gold coins. I guarantee it will be the best you've ever smoked." With the deal sealed, he took the coins and, singing a song, returned to his lair.
Long ago, a small wooden building stood upright on the outskirts of the city. It was an inn. Time had not been kind to this construction. The roof had holes, the walls were rotting, and weeds had begun to take over the basement. Although it was a very poor building, it was abandoned, so no one would call the guards for having a group of noisy neighbors or for other illegal activities.
Inside the building, the ruffians gathered little by little after a day's work. The first thing everyone did when they arrived was to report to the figure sitting at a table in the background.
"Boss, I stole two bags of coins today" The teenager said as he shook off his earnings.
"Good job. You can leave it at the bar, then we will add it to the treasure."
"Boss, I found a guy selling in our territory. I beat him up and took his drugs."
"Well done. Leave it in the laboratory so that Lui can see what to do with it."
"Eric, I sold quite a bit today. I think I deserve a raise."
"Your raise is an extra portion for today's dinner. Now go have a beer and join us. Haha"
When all the members gathered in the evening, the party finally began. Drink and food, although it was not abundant or of very good quality, all those present celebrated as if they were at a banquet. There was no reason to party, but their leader had ordered that they should have a party at least once a month.
Eric was the head of this band of 20 bandits. He was an orphan, so he had no surname. Like so many other orphans who couldn't find a family, Eric had to make a living either way. Stealing, selling drugs, and extorting for protection were things he had to do from a young age. Although deep in his heart, he always wanted a family, the world never gave it to him, so he decided to build it himself.
He traveled all over the Republic doing business and, most importantly, looking for allies to form a syndicate. They were quite turbulent years. Although he had gathered many companions, there was always something that forced them to move to another city. Sometimes it was the guards who discovered their lair; other times they were caused by another syndicate expelling them. If they were lucky, they managed to escape unharmed, but in most cases, some were left behind, arrested, or worse, killed.
Arriving at Raind had been almost a miracle, they settled quickly and found the old inn. As it was a new city, none of the three largest syndicates had been able to establish a presence. It really was the ideal occasion to form a permanent base and become a well-known group.
"Scumbags, raise your glasses. Today we celebrate because we are the best in this city!"
"YYYEEEESSSS"
"We're going to let some other syndicate or group steal our territory?"
"NNNNOOOO"
"And they know why. Because we are Eric's dogs. The best, don't forget it!"
"..."
"Why are you guys silent?"
"When did you choose that name?" Asked one of his men.
"It occurred to me this afternoon because you guys told me that you didn't like the previous one"
"Because the old name was also embarrassing, 'Eric's knives'. Where you always get bad names."
"We should have a name like the Red Dragon or the Black Rose. People would take us seriously" Said another of his companions, and the others responded that they agreed with the idea.
"Fools! I would never choose such a pathetic name as those bastards. We are different. We will be better. Listen to me, all of our dreams will come true or I will die trying. You have my word!"
Everyone present applauded their leader and decided to continue the party, except...
"If you really want to fulfill your dream, then you're in luck. If you give up and put yourself at my service, then you will have a real opportunity to fulfill it"
Everyone turned to look at where the voice had come from. In the back, two dark figures were resting with their backs towards the wall. They looked like merchants because of the expensive quality of their clothes, but the aura emanating from them was distinctly different. They stepped forward and continued to speak.
"Pardon my interruption. My name is Thanatos. I have come to recruit or destroy you, depending on what you choose."
"How did you find this place?" He asked as all his companions got up from the tables.
"We follow them, but not only one person, right Adel?"
"We followed five of your subordinates to be sure it was the real lair."
"I wanted to wait a bit to be sure, so when the party started, we confirmed it."
"I understand you have no idea who we are, little fish." Eric's expression of arrogance was such that one would be angry just seeing him.
"You are Eric, a thug of little local importance who commands other minor thugs in this city." Without hesitation, Adel replied. "The Red Dragon was going to take care of you and your small group, but they were such a low priority that they did not manage to do it"
"What are you talking about? It is not possible that the Red Dragon is in the city; we would have noticed."
"Just as you would have realized that we were following your men?" He had not the slightest shame in insulting them. "Although right now you are correct, the Red Dragon is no longer in this city."
"Well, ignoring my partner's provocation. I'm serious when I say I want you to work for me"
"Shut up, idiot. You think the boss would be intimidated by a couple of merchants?" One of the men began to agitate the others, and among five they decided to teach these fools a lesson, not to get into other people's affairs.
The men ran straight to their rivals, but in just one move, Adel's sword cut the five. No, they had not been cut, but Adel's impression had been such that they believed they had been cut. They stood still, unable to move, paralyzed by fear.
"The only reason they are still alive is because my Master wants it. So, shut up and listen if you value your life." None of the thugs could do anything but keep quiet. Eric himself didn't want to answer either.
That guy is strong. If we fought, I don't know if I could defeat him. That's what Eric thought when he saw that movement with the sword, but the most important thing is that he was calling the other guy Master. He says it because he is his employer, because I can't feel any kind of martial skill in him. It is intimidating to say big words, but the world is full of people who only know how to bark and do not bite.
"What my partner says is true. My proposal is as follows: you will work for me from now on in my syndicate, otherwise I will kill all of you here along with your dreams."
More than an offer, it was an ultimatum. Eric was clear that their survival chances if they were to fight would be low, but...
"I won't kneel in front of another unless I respect him. Death threats are a daily occurrence. KILL US IF YOU CAN, BUT I WILL NEVER FOLLOW YOU!"
His men screamed with him, ready to die. Lambs to the butcher. Thought Adel, but Thanatos had another idea.
"Then how could I earn your respect?"
"What? Well, you would have to win in a competition cleanly."
"Ok, tell me what competition we will do it right now"
Eric's mind got stuck for a moment. Was he really going to accept a competition? No one had ever accepted it. Whenever someone tried to subdue him, it was with threats of torture, pain, and even gold in some cases. None of those thugs or the 3 big syndicates had been willing to dialogue under Eric's conditions. Who really is this guy?
Before Eric could respond with an idea, one of his men spoke.
"Wait, boss, if this guy wants to challenge you, he has to first beat me." He was the tallest and most muscular man in the place. He took a chair and a table. He sat down with his right arm raised. "If you want a chance to go against the boss, first beat me. I will give you all the attempts you want."
Adel couldn't help but sigh at the thought that it was a waste of time and a lack of respect at the same time. Before he could do anything, Thanatos stopped him and started walking towards the table. The other thugs began to cheer, as if they were at a show.
Once seated in front of each other, they shook hands and waited for the countdown.
"Don't blame me if I'm too brusque, ok" He said with a smile.
"Your damn spoiled brat." The man was clearly angry. He thought about holding back a little, but now he would make sure to break his arm so he wouldn't disturb him anymore.
"It starts in 3... 2... 1... GO!"
The man's arm exerted enormous force, so much that he began to sweat from his forehead. He was not really holding back, and so all the noises were extinguished when watching as his colleague, with his huge muscles, could not move the challenger's arm in the slightest.
Although he pulled with all his strength, Thanatos remained the same as he began. He had a bored expression as his opponent struggled with everything. The veins on the man's face were fully visible and sweat fell to the rotten ground. After assessing that this was all the strength that his opponent could accumulate, he decided to end the match.
The man's arm shot out at the table and broke it in half. The force was such that the man's body fell to the floor so sharply that the ground broke and he fell screaming into the basement.
"Oh sorry, but the ground was already like this when I arrived. That's your fault."
Eric was the first to speak. "Go to the basement and help him."
"Y-Yes, boss!" A couple of people came to the aid of their companion.
"Then what competition will you and I do?"
Eric saw his opponent, who was still smiling. If he wanted to win, he would have to go with everything.