Macy and Gayle enjoyed the breakfast Gayle made with as he quotes 'Love'. Two days has passed since the fiery incident occurred and the three of them had become heroes somewhat. They definitely weren't as hated or despised as the Imperial Soldiers before them as explained by Garle.
Rashen burst through the dining hall doors holding a stack of files,he dropped them on the table and looked at the two of his fellow cadets with a look that bordered on enthusiasm and worry.
"Good morning fellow Cadets" he said,
Gayle looked at the files at the table,then looked at Rashen,then went back to eating and pretending he hadn't seen him at all. Macy went straight to the point instead and asked about the files,
"Marun has you holding those for her?"
"No,I doubt as much as she complains about the files she works with she'd let anyone else help her with them"
"Fair enough" Said Gayle
"These are case files for Bludvalley,I got them from the Grittshore Watch and I've been going through them for a while now" he handed Macy and Gayle a couple of files to look at for themselves,
"Most of the recorded cases are cases of robbery, burglary, stealing and so forth."
"Where are you even going with this?" Asked Gayle,
"Well if you look at the case files you'll see that most of the accounts given by the victims are somewhat similar."
"Well there's not really a lot of layers to stealing Rashikins" Gayle commented dryly
"But maybe there is. Have a look at the case files and most them have had the victims talking about having some really precious items stolen,stuff ranging from rare stone gems to common kitchen utensils"
"Crazy thing is that's a good percentage of the cases, it's always almost never actual money being stolen. I also did more digging because I found the choice of stolen properties weird and I found that most of the things stolen are made from rare minerals and materials that were mined here in Grittshore and nowhere else."
"Rashen, get to the point already" Macy demanded,
"Well those materials have been completely depleted, like the Head Watcher said, they're basically rare items and if it's rare, it's priceless"
"I can't take the suspense anymore" Gayle said dryly still focused on his food,
"Well I have a theory,you guys ready to hear it?"
"YES!!!" Gayle and Macy said in unison and in frustration,
"Well I think that these cases are connected. It can't be a coincidence that this many people know about the rare items. Somebody or maybe a group of people might be the ones we're looking for" Rashen concluded.
Gayle burst out in laughter while Macy stared at Rashen with doubtful eyes.
"What?" Asked Rashen
"So let me get this straight. You believe that there is a group,a syndicate of criminals that go around stealing precious items to sell in some kind of black market"
"Well...that's the basics of it" Said Rashen
"It just...it just sounds so farfetched Rashen" Said Macy
"Stupid would a better way to put it" Gayle said laughing
"I mean...it does sound a little far-fetched but I think it's worth looking at" said Rashen coming to his own defense,
"Rashen, stealing in Grittshore is like...a way of life here. It's something that's deeply ingrained in this place, I'm not sure how you think you can do anything about it" Macy said,
"So just because it's been going on long enough means it's okay we let it slide? That's not what Imperial Soldiers do" Said Rashen, "Macy you're literally all about justice and doing the right thing but you're okay with the way people constantly-"
"I'm just being realistic Rashen, there's a lot more going on here in Grittshore than just pickpocketing Rashen and that's what we should be focused on"
"What about what happened two days ago with the fire huh? That was because-"
"It was because a man who wasn't trained in the use of his taming ability lost out to his emotions. It's not a very uncommon thing Rashen" said Macy firmly.
Rashen turned towards Gayle, "What about you? You think that way too?"
"Rashikins, I'm a musician, I'm always on the hunt for inspiration. Danger breeds inspiration and unfortunately,your case is neither dangerous nor inspiring."
Rashen was dejected,he was also frustrated,he quietly picked up the files,he then turned to Macy,
"You believe that the cases of stealing aren't 'serious crimes', and you", he turned to Gayle, "You don't find the case 'inspirational' "
He picked up the files and walked towards the door,
"You guys do whatever you want, I'll handle the case myself." He walked out the door and slammed it shut. So much for him thinking they could work together as a team.
"I'm here to return the files I borrowed" Rashen said to the receptionist at the Grittshore Watch. She directed him to the small office where they kept their case files, mostly their cold cases.
Holding the stacks of files in his arms Rashen finally reached the room.
"Why the frustrated look Cadet?" The lady behind the desk asked as Rashen dropped the files on her desk. She was young, just a few years older than he was,she was shorter than him,she has a short straight black hair and small eyes. He had always seen her around Garle,
Rashen still had a frustrated look on his face,
"I'm not frustrated" he lied
"You're not a very good liar. Either that or I'm just a really good judge of character."
She had practically already figured him out, he thought about it and then decided to tell her everything that had happened,she laughed.
"I'm... I'm sorry, it's just that you have very interesting comrades"
"Yeah... interesting." He said coldly,
"Well I think it's admirable that you want to try to stop the stealing going on in Grittshore. Your theory reminds me of a particular urban legend,a story about the King of Thieves,"
Rashen wasn't feeling all too good that his theory was being compared to an urban legend, "King of Thieves?" He asked,
"Yes, King of Thieves. He's believed to be the one controlling all the burglary activities in Grittshore. From the lowliest rat stealing grains from stores to the most skilled burglar robbing banks in broad daylight.
He is said to be the one who grants thieves their skills and knowledge, and after every successful theft,they must pay a tribute to him from whatever it is they have stolen."
"And if they don't pay the tributes?" Asked Rashen,
"You'd get caught in your next burglary attempt and beaten to death"
"But that's only if you're dumb enough to keep stealing right? Wouldn't it make sense to just retire after running from this thief king?" Rashen said and she replied grimly,
"That's the thing cadet...no one escapes the King of Thieves".
Rashen was in his thoughts for a few moments,
"Sounds like an interesting fellow" Rashen said sounding a lot more interested than he would've liked, "So the people here believe in this King?"
"Well not everyone, some believe it's all bullshit. Although there are people over at Blak Acre that do believe in it, after all no other region in Grittshore experiences more cases of theft," she added, "what do you believe cadet?"
"To be frank...I wouldn't be all too surprised if a figure like this 'King of Thieves' really did exist,it is Grittshore after all" Rashen said as he headed towards the door, "Thanks again for helping me with those case files miss--- uhhh..."
"Hanabi,drop the Miss,"
"Thank you mi- Hanabi"
"So where are you headed now Cadet?" She asked curtly as he opened the door to leave. Without looking back Rashen replied,
"I think I'll pay a small visit to Blak Acre."
Rashen had thought Bludvalley was bad but somehow Grittshore had gotten worse with the existence of a place like Blak Acre. It was the industrial district of Grittshore,a lot of factories producing a lot of things and releasing a lot of smoke into the atmosphere. The residential area of Blak Acre was on the other side of the district and just between them and the many factories,was the Bargain Center. A large collection of shops selling different items sold by sketchy looking people. If there was ever a place to sell stolen items,it was here. It wasn't just all shops of course,there were bars,pubs and an unsightly place where women, wether willingly or not, were stripped of their dignity by greedy and lustful men.
What made Rashen most uncomfortable around Bargain Center was how recklessly people used their taming ability. They didn't seem to have the proper skill or knowledge and if used incorrectly, could lead to more incidents like the fire, but it probably already had and no one cared enough to stop.
Throughout his patrol there hadn't been any incident of robbery,but that might have been caused by the fact that he had his armour on. He could tell he was getting glares coming from all direction,the residents of Blak Acre weren't all too keen on an Imperial Soldier walking around.
As it got darker,the Bargain Center only got busier and a lot more crowded. Rashen believed that if anything was going to happen,now would be the best time. But nothing happened.
As Rashen decided to head back to Bludvalley he thought tonight was a bust,but he would be back here again because something was bound to happen that would lead him to the supposed 'King of Thieves'. He would come to find that being at the right place at the right time could really pay off. He walked past a peculiar bar named ' Goddess Spit ' when he heard a commotion coming from the alley behind,
"Think you could try to steal from me a get away with it eh?!" growled a short and stout man wearing a bowlers cap and a trench coat. He held someone up against the wall by the neck with one arm,she was thin,black and dressed in rags,she didn't look any older than 15,she was just a child. With tears streaming down here eyes she tried kicking at him but her efforts were in vain.
"I'll teach you what happens when you cross Nigksy the Gutter" he growled as he pulled out a dirty, rusted and blood stained dagger from his coat. She let out a whimper and closed her eyes. There was a flash of blood red light, Rashen was already on to of Nigksy,he slapped the dagger away a kicked him aside. The girl fell down choking and struggling to breathe, Rashen got down and tried to help her,
"HEY!!!" Nigksy called out, "What do you think you're doing getting in my way?"
Rashen got back up and looked at Nigksy straight in the eyes,his face red and blood boiling,
"And what were you doing hurting a child?" He asked calmly,
"That stupid brat tried to steal from me, thought I wouldn't notice but I did, and now she's going to pay" he growled, Rashen still looked unfazed at his words,
"Regardless,you were about to inflict serious harm on a minor, that's a very serious offense,"
"None o'that matters to me, anyone who tries to steal from me," he picked up his dagger, "will suffer the consequences,and if you won't get out of my way you'll take her punishment for her."
"I'll gladly take her punishment."
Rashen readied himself and got in a stance,he made a gesture that basically meant 'come at me' and Nigksy wasted no time. He swung the dagger are Rashen's throat but he was too fast, Rashen dodged the first strike,weaved the second and blocked the third,he landed a blow squarely on Nigksy's nose. He immediately recovered and went for an overhead strike with his dagger but Rashen blocked it,which was something he had anticipated because he tried landing a hit on Rashen's face but he dodges it again and counter with an elbow to the side of the head.
Nigksy staggered a bit but once again went back on the offense. He aimed the dagger are the side of Rashen's head and Rashen immediately tried to block it, something Nigksy had anticipated because he caught the dagger with his other free hand and aimed for Rashen's sides but he managed to back away at the last second. Rashen rushed at him hitting him hard on the back of the neck, another blow to the head and one to the abdomen.
It took receiving a three piece combo for Nigksy to realize that a fight with Rashen was not one he could win. Feeling desperate now,he threw his dagger at the girl who was still trying to catch her breath,
"NO!!!" Rashen yelled as he turned to see the extent of the damage but luckily the dagger had missed narrowly. Nigksy struck Rashen on the back of the head hard enough to knock him unconscious,he followed it up by trying to choke him out but then all of a sudden he felt his body shifting and the world spun. When he realized what happened Rashen was already on top of him holding him down in an arm bar.
"What the-" he growled as he tried to break free,
"That's enough out of you Gutter, you're under arrest for assault directed at a minor,if you're lucky the damage isn't too bad and you could get away with six to twelve months."
Rashen turned to face the girl but she immediately ran past them as fast as she could,
"Hey Wait!!!!" Rashen called after her,he hit Nigksy on the head knocking him out and then ran for her,she was surprisingly fast for her age but Rashen caught up to her,he grabbed her hand which exposed her a tattoo, something Rashen couldn't make out,
"I'm not going to hurt you, I'll take you to get you treated. I may have a few questions for you but I promise--- GAH!!!" Something hit Rashen in the face,a tiny pellet filled with gas that made his eyes water. His vision was blurry but he knew he had let go of the girl, he could make out her running away in the cover of darkness.