That night, after Lynn finished using the outhouse, he turned into the narrow alley that led toward the woodshed. The passage was cramped and damp, barely wide enough for two people to pass. The stones under his feet were slick, and the smell of rotting wood and stale waste clung stubbornly to the air.
Two figures stepped out from the darkness ahead of him.
Moonlight slid across the metal in their hands. Daggers, Lynn's breath caught as he recognized their faces, two men who had followed Ghost Fox closely, who ate and drank at his table.
Their expressions were cold and without hesitation, the kind worn by people who had already decided how the night would end.
"Kid," one of them said with a crooked grin, raising his blade, "blame yourself for being too clever."
The dagger came straight at him.
Lynn's heart nearly burst from his chest. He had never expected Ghost Fox to dare act so openly. The gang's headquarters was still behind them, lights glowing in the distance. Was Ghost Fox really willing to risk One-Eyed Wolf's fury?
Then Lynn realized how quiet it was.
They were far from the main living quarters, far from where the guards usually lingered. Even if he screamed, help would come too late. By the time anyone arrived, his body would already be cooling in the dirt.
He reacted on instinct.
Lynn flung the parchment ledger he was carrying straight at the attacker's face. The pages burst apart, blocking the man's vision for a brief moment. At the same time, Lynn threw himself to the side, feeling cold air brush past his ribs as the dagger missed him by a hair's breadth.
"Skinny Monkey! Save me!"
His shout tore through the alley.
Inside the woodshed, Skinny Monkey froze for a heartbeat. Fear flashed across his face, but One-Eyed Wolf's order echoed in his mind, he couldn't let Lynn die. He grabbed his short stick and rushed out, teeth clenched, charging straight into the fight.
It became two against two.
One thug moved to intercept Skinny Monkey, locking him into a messy struggle. Steel clashed against wood as they grappled at close range. The second thug didn't waste time. He turned immediately toward Lynn, determined to finish things quickly.
Lynn stumbled backward, boots scraping stone. His body was still too weak. Compared to these desperate men, his strength and speed were clearly lacking. The dagger flashed again, thrusting low and fast toward his abdomen.
Fear flared, then vanished.
Lynn stepped forward instead of back.
The thug didn't expect it.
Lynn slammed into the man's space, chest to chest. In his right hand, he gripped a charcoal pen he had been using earlier, the tip snapped and jagged. Using all his strength, he drove it upward into the soft hollow beneath the man's armpit.
The scream was sharp and high, cutting through the night. The thug's arm spasmed violently, his grip breaking as pain tore through him. The dagger slipped from his fingers and struck the ground with a clear metallic clang.
Lynn didn't stop.
He kicked forward and hard, catching the man between the legs. As the thug doubled over, Lynn grabbed Skinny Monkey by the arm and dragged him away.
"Run!"
They fled toward the living quarters, hearts pounding, breath ragged. Shouts erupted behind them as guards poured out from nearby buildings, drawn by the noise. The guards rushed past Lynn, weapons raised, chasing after the fleeing attackers.
Only then did Lynn feel the pain.
He glanced down and saw blood soaking his sleeve, dripping steadily from a long cut on his arm. His teeth clenched, but he ignored it, pulling Skinny Monkey straight toward the gang leader's room.
One-Eyed Wolf was dragged from sleep moments later.
The moment his single eye opened, his face twisted with anger, the kind that came from being woken in the middle of the night.
"Boss," Lynn said, voice shaking as he tore open his sleeve, exposing the wound, "Ghost Fox sent people to kill me."
The room went quiet.
One-Eyed Wolf stared at the bleeding cut, then shifted his gaze to Skinny Monkey, still panting, knuckles bruised and trembling.
"Wake everyone," he said slowly. "Get weapons."
A cruel smile crept onto his face.
"Tonight, We clean house."
He let out a low chuckle, cold and sharp. "Ghost Fox… did you really think I was just sitting in that chair for show?"
…
That night, Lynn stayed in the gang leader's bedroom.
The blonde girl lounged nearby, bold and shameless, teasing him without restraint. She leaned close, laughed softly, her presence impossible to ignore. Lynn forced himself to sit still, back straight, gaze unfocused, suppressing his body's reaction through sheer will.
He flipped through books in his mind instead, page after page, using knowledge to drown out distraction. If she hadn't been there, he would have torn the room apart looking for hidden compartments or secret manuals.
By morning, it was over.
Deputy Gang Leader Ghost Fox and more than a dozen of his closest confidants were found dead in the mass grave outside the city. Those ordinary gang members who had followed him were spared, forgiven, and quietly absorbed back into the gang.
After that, no one questioned One-Eyed Wolf again.
Lynn was moved out of the woodshed that same day and into Ghost Fox's former suite. The bed was soft, the doors solid, the locks reliable. The looks people gave him changed overnight, fear and respect replacing open contempt.
One-Eyed Wolf relied on him more than ever.
With Ghost Fox gone, Lynn grew bolder. He skimmed more money, hid it better, and began moving carefully in the shadows.
He started gathering Orphans and beggars, drawing them in with food, warmth, and coin. The clever ones listened for rumors and searched for old books. The stronger ones trained with the weapons Lynn provided, bodies slowly hardening under regular meals.
This was his safety net.
Days passed in calculation, training, and study. Gold piled up and his mind and body grew sharper.
Then the city exploded with news.
A Lord Wizard had arrived in Black Marsh City, openly recruiting apprentices.
Lynn froze mid-calculation in the casino, his heart slamming violently in his chest. Excitement surged through him, drowning all other thoughts.
This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
The Knight Academy plan vanished from his mind without hesitation. He immediately sent someone to confirm the news.
It would take place over 3 day in the city Lord's Mansion. One gold coin to enter.
For the current him the price was nothing, the problem was Skinny Monkey.
That evening, as Lynn finished reporting accounts, One-Eyed Wolf spoke casually, his single eye drifting toward him.
"You heard the news today, didn't you?"
Lynn's heart tightened. "You mean… the Wizard recruiting apprentices?"
"That's right," One-Eyed Wolf said calmly. "Your age fits. Being chosen means a fast rise. Aren't you tempted?"
Cold spread through Lynn's veins.
This wasn't kindness.
It was a test.
If he showed interest, the leash would tighten. If he hesitated wrong, it might snap shut entirely.
So Lynn lowered his head, hiding the storm behind his eyes, and weighed his next words as though his life depended on them… because it did.