In front of me the three guys a trembling from the fear because i beat them and tied them.
Ren glanced upwards. Through the narrow slit of sky visible between the leaning buildings, the light was rapidly fading. Deep shadows swallowed the alley. He looked back down at the captured thugs. Information could wait; first I need to find some shelter.
" Plans have changed slightly" i said calmly, as if discussing some mundane topic."It's getting pretty dark . i need a place to stay for the night."
He let the words sink in, watching the thugs with reneved fear in those eyes.
"Before we discuss what i need " i continued , my tone flat, " you will take me to your.. residence ,where you sleep."
A complicated mix of emotions washed over the thug's faces- a surge of desperate relief that he didn't kill us or tortured, instantly followed by a wave of apprehension aat the prospect of bringng this dangerous, unpredictable youth into his personal house. he swallowed hard,his adam's apple bobbling,
Before the man can formulate a reply, possible a lie or plea,I leaned slightly, the dagger tip pressing against the throat of the big guy. the chillingly calm voice followed.
"Let me be perfectly clear" i said, looking straight at the big guy and the two other guys." if you take me to an ambush other than your own house, if you alert guards, or couse any kind of trouble - i will ensure your end is consideably more painufll than simply bleeding out in this alley. I believe you understand what i'm capable of, i won't need to elaborate further."
The thug's face paled. The implied threat was far more terrifying than any explicit description could be. He nodded, jerky and frantic this time.
"Y-yes," the big man croaked, his voice hoarse. "Yes, I understand. Our place... it's not far. Just... just don't kill us."
My chilling warning to their boss, also nodded fearfully, their eyes wide and darting nervously between Ren and their subdued leader.
"Good," I acknowledged simply. I sheathed the stolen dagger back into the leader's empty belt sheath, a proprietary gesture that wasn't lost on the watching men. "I'm trusting you not to do anything stupid. You need to be able to walk. Rest for forty-five minutes."
I settled back against the opposite wall, pulling the plastic bag with his earthly snacks closer. The three thugs remained bound, watching me with palpable dread. I didn't speak further, merely observing them with his unnervingly calm, analytical gaze.broken only by the occasional pained groan from the man with the thigh wound or the ragged breathing of the leader. My unwavering stare was a calculated psychological pressure, ensuring their compliance far more effectively than continued threats.
While they rested uneasily, I compartmentalized my mind, reviewing the influx of information since waking in this impossible place. 'World assessment: Confirmed medieval technological level, presence of humans and various demihuman species (cat-folk, dog-folk observed, likely others). Non-earth fauna confirmed (giant lizards). Possible existence of magic – requires verification. Unfamiliar dominant language, somehow auto-translated into my consiousness, but written language is alien. Observed humans and demihuman folk unusual 'natural' hair colors (pinks, blues), absence of black hair or black eyes noted – unusual, possibly regional, genetic, or class-based? Humanoid biology appears functionally similar to Earth-human based on my combat with those guys. No overt shock observed regarding my clothing – implies either tolerance for odd attire, previous exposure to similar styles (otherworlders? unique fashion?), or simply preoccupied locals. Require more information.
And 'The poison bluff regarding the chips was effective initially due to shock and duress. Believability will degrade over time, especially if they regain confidence or test it. Must reinforce the perceived threat later. Food source – cannot trust these individuals, watch closly for any poison. I have My Ramen, Coke. Money: minimal copper coins plundered from these thugs. Insufficient. I need a stable income source. Options: Mercenary work (observed armed individuals suggesting new profession), guard duty (potential stability, likely bureaucratic hassle).I need to Avoid theft unless absolutely necessary – . I need information on: world basics, customs, geography, politics (King? Nation?), currency system, dangers, local power structures, information sources (libraries, scholars), medical knowledge/practices, nature of magic if there any, and crucially, any knowledge regarding my summoning here,
My gaze flickered over the miserable trio. 'Manipulation required for long-term cooperation. Simple force invites betrayal or desperate action.I need to Apply carrot-and-stick approach.I have Medical knowledge from the earth i don't think it works here need to learn – Human biology same, but Medicine, terminology, and local remedies/poisons will differ drastically. I need to Learn about poisons is high priority for both offense and defense. my martial arts and rudimentary theft skills from earth are very usefull here,.My Physical condition – I nee dto restart training regimen immediately. Prepare psychologically for necessary impications.'
A final, more personal thought surfaced. 'Why younger? Why here? Intentional summoning? Dimensional accident?From anime or novels there days. Are there others like me? And what of Earth – ,my assets… i think it's useless now. This world, with, feels… exciting.' A cold spark of anticipation lit his eyes before fading back into thinking.
The forty-five minutes passed in strained silence. I pushed himself to my feet, the slight movement causing the three thugs to flinch, thry didn't sleep. I approached them, checking their bindings were still thgere but not cutting off circulation entirely – I needed them mobile.
I looked down at them, his expression unreadable.
"Time's up," I stated flatly. With efficient movements, I untied their feet, leaving their hands behind. "Stand".
They obeyed sluggishly, wincing from their injuries. The leader clutched his bruised abdomen, the first thug limped heavily on his stabbed thigh despite the makeshift bandage, and the second sniffled, his face a swollen mess around his broken nose. Their upper bodies were mostly bare, the rough fabric of their tunics shredded for bandages and bindings, adding to their miserable appearance.
"You," I nodded to the leader. "Lead the way. Keep your hands where I can see them . "One or two steps behind you," i stated, gesturing for the leader to move. "If any of you try anything… unexpected…" I let the sentence hang, the threat implicit.if they think do somethink,they can't do anything because of there injuries.
The leader nodded numbly and began shuffling towards the alley mouth, his two underlings hobbling miserably behind him, still bound. I followed a few steps back, alert, the stolen dagger held loosely but ready in my hand. i could hear the two bound thugs whispering nervously to their boss as they moved.
"Boss… that stuff he made us eat is that really… poison?"
"Don't know… felt fine… but look what he did…to us"
"Should we run when we hit the street?"
"Are you crazy? With these wounds? And he saw us. He's right behind us. Just do what he says… for now."
I heard them clearly. 'Good. Fear still outweighs the suspicion. Must implement the poison idea later.'
They emerged from the alleyway network back onto slightly more populated, slums .
The environment here is bleak, filled with dilapidated buildings, narrow alleyways, and a general air of neglect. Unlike the more vibrant and well-maintained parts of the city, the slums are very poor narrow alleyways,branched off the main path like dark veins. The air hung heavy with the smells of poverty – unwashed bodies, poor sanitation, stale cooking odors. A general air of neglect and hopelessness permeated the environment.
"Where are we?" I asked, feigning ignorance despite deducing their destination.
The leader hesitated, casting a nervous glance back at Ren. "The… the Undercroft, they call it," he mumbled. "The slums. This is… this is where folks like us end up. The poor, the forgotten."
"Tell me about it"I asked.
"Not much to tell," the thug sighed, resignation in his voice. "Mainly orphans scraping by, folks kicked outta better districts, criminals layin' low. Gangs run most corners. Lots of… shady business goes down. Guards don't patrol much here, so… illegal trade, smuggling… you name it, probably happens here. Demihumans get the worst of it, usually." He hesitated, then added in a lower voice, almost unwillingly, "And… slavery. Mostly kids snatched off the street."
A sudden, cold fury surged through in me. The memory of my own past, resonated violently with the mention of exploited children. my eyes narrowed, and an almost palpable killing intent radiated from me, directed squarely at the three thugs. They visibly flinched, stumbling back despite their injuries.
"W-we don't do that!" the leader stammered, genuine terror washing over him. "Never! We just… mugs folks sometimes. Small stuff! Never that!" The other two nodded frantically in agreement, eyes wide with fear.
I forced himself to regain control, retracting the death stare, though the internal anger still simmered. ' I need to calm down, never outburst always calm '. here Slavery exists, I can catch those criminals and I can run some tests on them.
He mentally walled off the disturbing thought.
"Continue,"
I said
They walked on in silence for several more minutes, winding through increasingly narrow and squalid pathways. Occasionally, residents – gaunt figures in rags, faces smudged with grime, eyes dull with hardship or sharp with suspicion – would emerge from doorways or alley mouths. Their gazes lingered on me, taking in his clean, albeit plain, modern clothing, a stark contrast to their own state. Unfriendly stares and muttered curses followed him. 'Hostility due to my clean c\state,' I noted. A few shifty-eyed youths started to approach with obvious ill intent, but a sharp glare and growl from the leader, despite his own weakened state, sent them scurrying back into the shadows. The thug clearly held some minor level of local influence, or perhaps fear.
Finally, We stopped before one of the most dilapidated buildings yet – a small, leaning structure that looked ready to collapse, constructed from rotting wood and crumbling mortar. It was barely large enough for two people, let alone four.
"This… this is it," the leader mumbled, avoiding My eyes. "Our… place." He gestured vaguely. "You can stay inside. We'll… uh… wait out here."
I gave a humourless smile. "No. You're injured. You need rest. And I wouldn't want you wandering off in the middle of the night." His gaze was hard. "We all stay inside." I said in almost benevolent tone, dripping with underlying menace, "Wouldn't want your wounds getting infected out here, would I?"
After a moment of fearful hesitation, understanding the veiled threat, the leader sighed and pushed open the flimsy, creaking door. The inside was as cramped and squalid as the outside suggested – a single small room with rough-woven pallets on the floor serving as beds, a makeshift table, and a crude hearth in the corner constituting a "kitchen."
The wiry thug with the broken nose mumbled something about making soup. I watched critically as the man poured water into a dented pot, added a few scraps of withered vegetables and some unidentifiable powder, then stirred it listlessly over the small fire. The resulting broth was thin, watery, and smelled faintly of dirt. When it was "ready," I motioned for the three thugs to eat first. Only after watching them consume a bowl each without immediate ill effect,after nothing heppening to the thugs i eventually decided to eat it. 'Another time for my ramen' I felt a brief, alien flicker of something that might have been pity for their pathetic state, but i ruthlessly crushed it. Sentiment was a vulnerability.
As the hours crept by, exhaustion clearly weighed on the thugs. Their initial fear gave way to a weary resignation.
"Rest," I ordered quietly, gesturing towards the floor pallets. I remained sitting against the wall near the door, the single exit point secured.I needed rest himself, desperately, but true sleep was impossible under these circumstances. I closed My eyes, allowing my body a semblance of repose, but i kept my hearing sharply attuned to every creak of the flimsy building, every shift of movement from the men inside, every muffled sound from the slum outside. My mind remained alert, vigilant. I Need tofind real peace, more private lodging. An inn, perhaps, once i have means. For now, this wary, half-conscious state was the best i could manage.
And morning arives.