It had only been a few hours since I inherited the original Aiden’s memories, and there was still a flood of information to process. Trying to pinpoint any specific memory that might offer a clue was like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Wait, why was I trying so hard to guess? I’m about to meet them anyway. I can just get the answer straight from their mouths."
With just a few words, she took control of the situation.
"I changed my mind. Get up. You’re taking me to him now. And don’t even try thinking about doing anything stupid. One lie, one trick, and you’ll end up like your men inside. Or worse."
"Y-you killed my men?" Peter was in shock. In his mind, he began counting time. How long was he even in the house? Ten seconds? Twenty? And all of my men... wiped out? How the hell is he this strong? Does coming back from the dead usually give you such overwhelming power like that? What the hell is even he, right now? An undead? Or a human?
So many questions bombarded his mind that he felt his head might explode.
That alone was enough to get Peter racing back to his feet. He shot up from the ground, wiping sweat from his brow and no longer daring to drag things out.
"If I take you to my boss... you’ll spare me, right?" he asked carefully.
He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for a decade. "This way," he said, gesturing hurriedly.
I was about to follow when a thought made me pause.
"Y-yes?" Peter turned stiffly, looking like a frightened lamb about to be slaughtered.
"First, tell me where he’s staying."
He nodded quickly. "He usually stays at the Carnivore Bar on Mowa Street. I was supposed to report back there after retrieving the map from your place."
"A map?" I repeated, puzzledly.
Peter nodded again, his tone noticeably more respectful now. "Yes, a map. That’s why my lord, uh, Alduin Sadis, targeted you. He believes you stole something important from him."
I didn’t comment on the sudden shift in his attitude. Instead, I focused on what he’d just said.
’A map? I don’t remember anything in the original Aiden’s memories about taking a map...’ I tried to jog my memories for a hint, but quickly abandoned the idea after realizing it might take too long.
’Forget it. I’ll just ask Alduin directly when I meet him.’
’I didn’t expect he’d choose the same place his gang uses to accept requests from outsiders. Bold move. Is he that confident the place won’t get raided by the Knights or the Church? He must be backed by a secret supporter or have an insider on the inside, that’s the only way he’d be this confident. Well, whatever the reason, it works out for me. The bar’s not far from my current position, and with my present agility, hopping across rooftops like a cat wouldn’t be a problem. I could probably get there in a few minutes.’
Before Peter could even react, I grabbed him by the collar and carried him up. With my current strength, his weight felt like nothing more than a feather.
"W-Wait! What are you—"
I slammed my feet into the ground, bending my knees to exert force, and launched us into the sky like a rocket.
Peter was screaming like his life was on the line, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. If our roles were reversed, I’d probably be howling just as loud.
I couldn’t help but be impressed. The way she handled everything so naturally, with such authority... If it were me in her place, I’d have frozen on the spot.
But then I was reminded of her identity.
If she really was the daughter of Victor Serena, her ability to handle a crowd made perfect sense.
Her father was the head of a gang. As his daughter, she’d naturally have some experience giving orders and taking control.
Though, calling it a gang might be a bit of a stretch.
From what I could tell, the Workers operated more like a labor union than a typical criminal group. They didn’t extort protection fees from random people or businesses like most gangs did. Instead, they only collected dues from their members, and those members actually received real benefits in return.
As I walked closer to my destination, Richie’s words suddenly echoed in my mind. Instinctively, my gaze shot upwards, scanning the ceilings and roofs above.
"Nothing, huh? Well, Richie said his drink buddy saw an owl. It’s noon now, perfect napping time for an owl. I guess even a beast tamer can’t push their pets to go against their nature."
I was on the verge of exhaling in relief when a faint squeak reached my ears. My head instantly turned around to the noise’s direction, catching sight of a rat. It stood there, staring at me oddly before darting off somewhere else.
"A rat? I recall Peter was seen conversing with one. That odd stare... could that have been one of his tamed animals?" I whispered to myself.
At this very moment, a flash of lightning struck my mind.
’Is it possible for Peter to be nearby at this hour? Or better yet... is he at my house?’
If that were the case, I had to act fast. Capturing him now could save me a massive amount of effort, and might just be the key to wiping out the Sadis Gang entirely.
With that thought, I reached into the worn cloth bag where I kept all the items Althea had given me and pulled out a fiery red pill.
[Mid-Tier Temporary Stats Enhancer Pills]
[Function: Grants the user a temporary boost in all stats to B-Rank for 60 minutes.]
[Usage: Consume directly.]
"It might be reckless to use this pill so soon, less than a day after arriving in this world, but for the sake of my future... for the sake of a good night’s sleep without worrying about a knife pointed at me in the dark... this is worth it."
Without hesitation, I placed the pill in my mouth, but didn’t swallow. Instead, I held it between my cheek and gum.
This way, I could activate it instantly if things went south. And if Peter wasn’t nearby, I wouldn’t waste it.
While keeping the pill tucked away, I reached into the bag again and pulled out a thin talisman with a drawing of an eye without eyelids.
[Inspection Talisman]
And yet, the people walking by barely reacted. Their expressions were normal, as if they’d long since grown used to the sight. It was nothing new to them.
As I went deeper into the district, the number of vagrants grew. Some storefronts were completely blocked by sleeping bodies, making it impossible to even open the doors.
Amidst my observation, I suddenly heard something.
Then I saw her begin addressing the people nearby, calmly instructing them to help the injured store owner and guiding the crowd to settle down.
With just a few words, she took control of the situation.
I couldn’t help but be impressed. The way she handled everything so naturally, with such authority... If it were me in her place, I’d have frozen on the spot.
But then I was reminded of her identity.
If she really was the daughter of Victor Serena, her ability to handle a crowd made perfect sense.
Her father was the head of a gang. As his daughter, she’d naturally have some experience giving orders and taking control.
Though, calling it a gang might be a bit of a stretch.
From what I could tell, the Workers operated more like a labor union than a typical criminal group. They didn’t extort protection fees from random people or businesses like most gangs did. Instead, they only collected dues from their members, and those members actually received real benefits in return.
Based on what I could piece together from my memories, membership in the Workers came with certain protections. Employers were less likely to abuse or exploit Workers-affiliated laborers.
There were probably a lot more benefits to being part of the Workers, especially considering nearly every laborer in the West Borough had joined. But the original Aiden hadn’t paid much attention to the details.
’If I really wanted to know more, I could just ask Richie. I remember he’s a member too. Huh... maybe not all of the Five Rings are bad after all,’ I muttered under my breath.
My eyes drifted to Esther, now surrounded by a group of Radhanians demanding to take the vagrant with them.
The other, nearby vagrants had stirred up from their slumber and now trembled with fear, unsure of what would happen next.
I watched them for a few more seconds before turning away and continuing on my way.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that, the moment I walked off, Esther’s eyes followed me intently. Her hand, which had been resting tensely on her hip, immediately relaxed.
"Phew... that guy feels dangerous..."
After the stabbing incident, I didn’t run into any hidden quests or unexpected events.
[Function: Allows the user to see a target’s personal information, such as name, stats, race, and age. It can also reveal weaknesses or hidden conditions and illnesses.]
[Usage: Aim the talisman at your target. It can be used from a distance. Speak your chosen Incantation to activate it.]
About half a minute later, using a building as cover, I cautiously craned my neck around the corner and looked down Nolan Street.
I spotted someone right away.