The Crowded Street
The street was packed with pedestrians, and the bright neon signs reflected glimpses of the modern city. Amid all the noise, a man walked with steady steps, lost in thought—until he suddenly collided with a young boy.
"Are you blind?" the man snapped.
"I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean to!" the boy said quickly before turning and running off.
The man shook his head in irritation and continued walking.
The boy darted through narrow alleys until he reached an abandoned factory. He stopped at the rusty door, then slipped inside.
From within, a calm voice spoke: "Did you succeed?"
The boy looked up. Inside, a group of kids stood in a line, with an older boy sitting in the middle on a worn-out chair, flanked by two others.
The boy pulled out a wallet and handed it to one of the assistants, who passed it to the leader.
The older boy inspected it quietly, then said, "Good work. Keep it up, and I'll grant your wish."
"Thank you, boss! I'll serve you forever!" the boy beamed.
The leader waved him off. The kids dispersed, leaving only him and his two companions.
The girl spoke: "Rami, lying and using Raine's name... and the adventurers…"
Rami cut her off with a glance: "They won't care. We're just using their fame."
She asked skeptically, "Then why not tell them?"
Rami shot her a sharp look. His voice was calm but firm: "I'm the leader. I saved you. That means I decide."
His expression darkened. His eyes locked onto both of them. "You follow me. You trust what I'm doing. Suggest what you want—but the final call is mine. Or have you forgotten who pulled you out from the claws of those bastards at the orphanage?"
A brief silence followed. Their eyes lowered. They remembered those days all too well. The pain hadn't vanished—just dulled with time.
Rami opened the wallet calmly, examined it, then chuckled lightly. "A thousand Ryo… no blood spilled, no threats. Just a small trick and Raine's name."
He looked at Yan, eyes narrowing with sarcasm. "Tell me, do you still prefer begging? When they used to steal your food?"
Yan tensed and swallowed hard. The memories weren't kind. But here, with Rami, he felt safe. For the first time, he felt strong.
Selina chimed in, her voice hesitant: "Rami, I'm not against the trick, but using Raine and his team's name? They might not like it."
Rami laughed, confident: "They know us well. We're their favorites, their pets. Even if they're mad, they won't do anything. Anyway… there's something I want to confirm."
She gave him a long look, but said nothing. Only silence.
"Let's head back. By the way, who do you think has a shot at becoming a hunter?" she asked, trying to ease the tension.
Ryan answered with childlike excitement: "Mortix, ji-a, ji ho, Joon ho!"
Selina laughed dryly. "You planning to list everyone in the home? It's not that easy, genius."
Then she turned to Rami. "And you?"
Rami didn't answer right away. His eyes scanned the guild signs and glowing potion ads on the buildings—banners where hope was sold for absurd prices.
He said quietly, "Mortix, huh?... We'll see."
He clenched his fist, murmured something no one could hear: "One day, I'll become the strongest person in this world… And you, Raine… Father… Today will define how we deal with each other going forward." His eyes glinted cold and sharp.
---
The Orphanage
They returned to the orphanage. The building seemed taller than usual, though it hadn't changed. They pushed open the iron gate, passed the small garden, and went inside.
Inside, the younger kids were scrubbing the floor with worn-out planks.
"You're finally back. How much did you get?" Amanda's sharp voice sliced through the air.
Rami pulled out the money and handed it over silently.
She counted it and sneered: "Twenty Ryo? That's all you could get?"
Selina stepped forward. "We went to different areas. That's all they gave."
Amanda shook her head and said coldly, "If this happens again tomorrow, you don't eat. Got it?"
She turned and walked off.
Selina muttered angrily, "Draining us to please her junkie boyfriend."
Ryan gasped. "Boyfriend? Since when?"
Selina smacked his forehead. "Seriously? Don't you remember anything?"
Rami laughed. "Let it go. He's always like that."
---
The Dining Hall
The dining hall had three tables in place. Two were on the sides—wooden, decaying, with scraps of food that barely fed anyone. The middle table, though, was polished and new, filled with fancy meals.
The three sat in their usual seats at the middle table.
Suddenly, Amanda entered.
Her steps were firm. She sat at the head of the middle table, her plate full of rich food.
She raised her eyes and addressed all the orphans: "As you know, four kids have left. That means there are empty seats here. If you want to sit with us, come to me later. I'll choose."
Some kids gasped. Others bit their lips.
Rami looked around… and saw the trick.
Amanda had created a system. One that divided them. One that made them compete—to sit at the middle table and be spared chores, as long as they brought her money.
It wasn't about the food.
It was about control.
And even though Rami understood the game—he still had to play by its rules.