The change is instant.
The trio’s eyes widen, faces lighting up as if soone has just thrown open a door they thought was sealed forever. Hope replaces fear almost too quickly.
The youngest brother hesitates, then blurts out, "S-sir... you’re not going to treat us like slaves, right?"
Aiden looks at him, surprised, then lets out a short laugh.
"Of course not. I don’t need slaves. I need people who know how to work, and know when to listen."
The brothers exchange glances. A silent conversation passes between them in seconds.
The oldest brother bows his head deeply, ropes creaking as he does.
"If you’re willing to give us food and a chance... then we’ll follow you, sir."
The other two nod imdiately. "We will," they echo.
Aiden turns his gaze to Bone Fist and gives a slight nod. The pressure in the air eases just a little.
"Good," Aiden says. "Then from today on, this place belongs to ."
The three brothers straighten as much as their bindings allow, fear still lingering, but now mixed with sothing they haven’t felt in a long ti. Relief.
Aiden looks at the three of them for a mont, then speaks again.
"I don’t even know your nas yet."
The oldest brother straightens his back as much as the ropes allow. "I’m Harlan," he says. "I’m twenty-two."
The second brother follows quickly. "My na’s Reth. I’m twenty-one."
The youngest clears his throat, still a little nervous. "I’m Kain... I just turned twenty."
Aiden nods slowly. "Real brothers?"
"Yes," Harlan answers without hesitation. "Sa parents. Sa street, growing up."
That explains a lot, Aiden thinks, the way they move together, the way they instinctively cover each other in a fight.
He gestures for Bone Fist to step back, then crouches and cuts the ropes with a short blade. The brothers rub their wrists and ankles, careful not to make any sudden moves.
"Listen carefully," Aiden says. "I’m not here to babysit. If you work for , you work properly."
They nod imdiately.
Aiden turns his gaze to the youngest. "Kain, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"You look the fastest. Go buy food, rice, dried at, whatever lasts. Enough for a week."
Aiden reaches into his robe and pulls out two gold coins. He drops them into Kain’s palm. The weight alone makes the young man’s breath catch.
"Two gold?" Kain blurts out before he can stop himself.
"That’s enough," Aiden says calmly. "Don’t waste it. And don’t run."
Kain closes his fingers around the coins like they might vanish. He bows so deeply his forehead nearly touches the ground.
"I won’t disappoint you, sir!"
He takes off down the street, half-running, half-walking, still glancing at his hand as if he’s afraid the gold will disappear.
Aiden watches him go, then turns back to the other two.
"While he’s gone," Aiden says, "clean this place up. By the ti he’s back, I want this house to look like it belongs to soone."
Harlan and Reth exchange a glance, then nod firmly.
"Yes, sir."
For the first ti since arriving in the city, Aiden feels sothing close to stability settling in.
After so ti, Kain co back. He appears at the gate with his arms full, sacks of rice, bundles of dried at, vegetables wrapped in cloth. He’s breathing a little hard, but his eyes are bright. Clearly, he didn’t waste a single coin.
By the ti he returns, the house already looks different. The bloodstains are gone, broken furniture pushed aside, dust swept from the corners. It’s still rough, but it no longer feels like a den for thugs. It feels... livable.
Aiden looks around, then speaks casually, "So. Which one of you knows how to cook?"
Harlan raises a hand without hesitation. "Boss, I do."
Reth laughs and claps his brother on the shoulder. "Boss, Harlan’s really good. He’ll put those chefs in the restaurants to sha. Hahaha."
Aiden glances at Harlan, clearly unconvinced. "Is that so?"
Harlan scratches the back of his head. "I won’t brag, boss. Just... wait and see."
"Alright," Aiden says. "Let’s see what you’ve got."
The brothers move quickly. Kain starts washing the ingredients, Reth sets up a crude cooking area, and Harlan takes charge without even realizing it, issuing short, confident instructions. The rhythm between them is smooth, practiced.
While they’re busy, Aiden quietly heads toward the room, where the leader of the thugs sleep.
Once inside, he closes the door and exhales. The faint pressure on his chest eases as he dismisses Bone Fist. The bronze-grade undead dissolves into motes of gray light, returning to nothingness. The constant drain on his mana disappears, leaving his body lighter, more comfortable.
No need to keep it summoned, he thinks. It’s not doing anything anyway.
If the three brothers notice his absence and ask later, he already has an answer prepared.
A mission.
Aiden sits down on the edge of the bed, listening to the muffled sounds of cooking outside, the scrape of a knife, the crackle of fire, Reth’s laughter echoing through the house.
After so ti, a voice calls out from outside the room.
"Boss! The food’s ready!"
Aiden steps out, the sll hitting him before he even reaches the table. Steaming bowls are laid out, simple dishes, nothing fancy, but the aroma is rich. He sits down, picks up his chopsticks, and takes a bite.
He freezes for half a second.
...This is actually good.
Not just edible. Genuinely good.
He chews slowly, then takes another bite, this ti larger. The seasoning is balanced, the at tender, the vegetables cooked just right. Aiden hadn’t realized how hungry he was until now.
Reth grins when he sees Aiden eating in silence. "See? Told you."
Harlan lets out a small breath, clearly relieved. "Glad you like it, boss."
As they eat, Kain suddenly looks around, frowning. "Boss... where’s that guy from earlier?"
Aiden doesn’t even pause. "He’s on a mission."
The three brothers nod instinctively, then Kain blinks. "Uh... what should we call him?"
Aiden thinks for a mont. "Bone Fist."
The na lands heavily. No one laughs.
Harlan hesitates, then asks carefully, "Boss... are you so kind of gang leader or sothing?"
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