A Dagger of Lies

"Howd' you got Davey to do all that for you. That's why you da boss!" Tank exclaimed, his eyes wide in admiration as he raced after Roy.

"I didn't do anything. Dunno what happened there, but I don't feel good about it." Roy said without breaking stride.

"Here's what you did. You got Davey to hand over the money, got your info and even nicked a sweet sword! Stop walking so fast-I can't catch up and the small ones are falling behind." Tank panted.

"Nuthin I'm proud of. All I did was make im cry and took what he wanted me to take." Turning around he abruptly stopped and looked up at Tank. "Ya good?"

"Yeah, just gimme a second. The kids are running behind too. Why the rush?"

Roy looked at the bundle in his arms then back up at Tank. "Didn't wanna see him cry. Took is stuff, least I can do is lettim keep his pride."

Only the biggest and strongest ruled the streets. That was the rule that Roy had broken 4 years ago when he had taken control of district 7 of the slums, and he did it by being the smartest and meanest. But he could try to squeeze some kindness out when he could.

A group of kids barely a couple of years younger than him barreled into him from behind, almost causing him to fall over. Panting but still smiling they giggled as the peppered him with questions.

"What he say?" "Ya beat him?" "What that funny stick?" "Can we go back now?"

Roy cracked a genuine smile as he drew them into a group hug, with Tank awkwardly standing to the side. "Here's what. Tell ya later, I got a good story for you and a surprise. But first we gotta move."

Releasing them, he hefted himself up a couple crates and disappeared into the rooftops with his followers hot on his heels.

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The sky had become a dark dusky purple when Roy finally managed to get the kids to settle in their makeshift shelter. They had groaned for a fire for hours and Roy had worn himself out keeping them entertained long enough for the sun to set. Currently they were resting in an abandoned part of the district, on the fringes of the outskirts. While they did run the risk of an occasional mana beast or two, it was more preferable than having their stomachs ripped out by some random God empowered freak. Out here, where nature had almost all but taken over the city terrain, foot traffic was basically nonexistent except for the occasional herb digger or two. It would be a good place for them to lay low and live off their stored cache's of food for a couple of weeks while the Chosen took care of whatever the heck they were doing in his district.

As sun was on the verge of disappearing over the towering walls of Rodina, Roy lifted his new dagger. It was sharp beyond anything he had ever seen (already two of his crewmates had nearly lost their fingers playing with it) and shone with an unearthly glow. Perhaps this was what they were looking for? Maybe it was better to ditch it while he could.

"Dumb gits need to get their as*ses back in the walls and stay there." Leaning against a crumbling brick wall, he looked around to see his crew all 32 kids in total between ages 13-4 sleeping in groups of 4-5 in patches of tall grass. Noticing that the three girls he had placed on watch were watching him, he gave them a scowl and wrapped the blade back in its original cloth. First thing in the morning he would sell it off. But for now.... sleep.