233 Evidence (1/2)
The night dimmed above as eight figures shifted in the dark alleys. Hooth curled three fingers. Pointing up, his signal was met with nods from the other two.
The grapple was slung on the window. It bit against the wood. Of course it did, Hooth had done this hundreds of times. He had been robbing and pick-pocketing ever since he was thirteen summers old. At age fifteen, he had his first throat slit when that merchant traded his gold for his life.
Now he had ascended to the top of the underground world being a leader of a gang. He was respected and his gang was one of the most notorious.
Just last night men in dark coats approached him. Their leader had a beautiful cane and an equally beautiful hat. Their offer was so ridiculous, Hooth couldn't stop laughing at first.
”Your crimes will be pardoned if you work with us” the man said, spinning his cane as he spoke.
Hooth of course refused. Many powerful families had tried to buy the loyalty of the underworld gangs. A few did, only to be betrayed the year after. The thing is, gangs like Hooth's control most of the city. They extort payments from the merchants. They coerce payments from powerful. The greatest source of income were assassinations. One could have a political rival's throat suddenly slit for a small sum.
But he made a mistake then by laughing. A dozen more of the men appeared. They were more silent than a grave. Their moves were swift and smooth. His whole gang was surrounded from all sides. But the thing that made Hooth's body turn cold was the appearance of Castonians bearing weapons of steel. Hooth was terrified. Playing with Servuses and their guards is one thing. Resisting against professional Castonian soldiers is beyond foolish.
”It's not an offer” Their leader said ”It is a command. You will help us or we will destroy you”
And so Hooth agreed. The terms were simple. His gang would keep the peace in the shadows, assassinating corrupt officials left and right. Nothing serious really. Those that are first offenders would suffer visits from his gang. If the Servus didn't listen then blood will spill. They are also to spy for any signs of rebellion.
The bad thing was that they are to stop any coercion and extortion. In exchange the Union would pay them. The worst thing about the deal is that they would have to report and obey the commands of the leader of the men in black coats. Hooth hated obeying but what can he do?
He and his gang escaped death last night though. He had heard that Bat, Venom and a dozen more gangs were decimated in one night. There were no survivors to sing of what happened but Hooth knew those gangs foolishly refused the offer. That same fate would have befallen his gang if he refused that night.
Tonight word, command, from the shadowy men reached him. He and his gang, along with a few of the Union's spies, were to infiltrate houses of several Servuses and find hidden wealth and any signs of corruption. It wasn't a robbery, unfortunate thing. In fact they are to rouse the city watch and the Servuses of Justice once they find anything.
Hooth shook his head as he ascended to the window. Working with the Servuses of Justice and the city watch would be weird. Well he doesn't care really. As long as coins flow into his pocket then it doesn't matter who he works with.
All eight of them reached the second floor of the Servus' house. four were his and the others were Union Spies. They soon separated into small groups to hasten their operation. Hooth found himself partnered with a spy. He remembered this man to be the clumsiest of the four.
”So you have a name?” Hooth asked as he looked for a secret passage.
The spy didn't bother raising his chin and just read through the letters of the Servus.
”Small talks are dumb”
”Just trying to drown this damn silence. But fine, I will not talk if conversing is not your skill”
”Conversing is my skill” The spy flipped trough the papers ”Name's Elisar”
”So what are your other skills Elisar? Assassination? Sabotage?”
”Shutting talkers, especially loud ones”
Hooth chuckled ”Come on, that's just mean. Mine's assassination so you better be nice to me lest you find something sharp stuck on your back”
”Or yours although you'll find it on your chest as I don't fancy striking a defenseless man”
”Heh you talk like a soldier Elisar. Oooh you are indeed a soldier, aren't you? What legion?”
”Rooster”
Hooth clicked his tongue ”You lie. Rooster legion is composed purely of brutes they say. No offense but you don't strike me as a man who can stop a cavalry charge”
”And you are a fool if you think strength is the only basis of an army's effectiveness. I've seen big men with round arms run from midgets. Have you been in a battle? No, not the cheap scuffles between gangs. A real battle friend, is a terrible thing. When everyone is bleeding and dying around you, would you still be able to hold your spear forward? Most men can't and most men rout. But the Rooster would always stand their ground, willing to die for the Union”
”Fine” Hooth shook his head in resignation ”You can raise your chin and look down upon me if you like” He gave up finding the secret passage and trotted towards Elisar ”Did you find something?”
”Many things. Evidence and a lot of them. This Servus is a halfwit if I should guess. He kept signed letters of bribes. A whole stack of them. His head will roll soon”
”El” someone called, another Union spy ”We found it”
”What did you find?” Hooth asked, a little annoyed that he was not the hero of the hour.