“You want five thousand for this little boy? He hasn’t even woken up yet.”

  “Believe me, sir. He landed right on Rubin’s farm from the sky yesterday. There’s something special about him, I’m sure of it.”

  “And what proof do you even have this happened? When I asked to see the spot myself, you said you already told your owner a different story.”

  “Please, understand. I’m just a poor laborer. What would I gain from lying to you?”

  “Money.”

  “Oh, sir, please. Think about it. Look at him—white hair, handsome, beastmen features. He’s clearly a high-ranking one. I bet there’s many out there who’d love to play with him.”

  “Play with what? A broken boy? Hear me out, man. The market’s down for us independents. Unless you’re affiliated with one of the big shots, it’s hard to move anything. Laws are getting selectively strict on freelancers like us. We threaten the stable system, right? But you seem decent enough, so I’ll offer three thousand. And I’m being generous here—give or take.”

  “Three thousand... and a toy for me.”

  “Don’t ask for too much.”

  “Fine. Take it.”

  Once the deal was done, they loaded Ryan onto the carriage like he was just another piece of luggage.

  As the cart began to roll, the man turned to the driver, smirking.

  “What a loser that guy was. I just bought something worth fifty thousand for three. Can you believe it?”

  “Seriously. How stupid can people get? Outrageous.”

  “Everything ready for the move?”

  “Yeah, it’s done. Still, it’s a damn pain. The moment we settle anywhere, we’re forced to flee again. But when nobles run this kind of business, nobody says a thing. When we do it? We’re called scum.”

  “It’s the money that talks. We’re too small to fight back. But this time? It’s the last. I’ve got enough now. I’m buying into one of the bigger syndicates. After that, nobody’s going to touch us. We’ll have a place—good security, better clients.”

  Five hours passed.

  They arrived in a town just outside the far edge of a farming village. A warehouse stood there, weathered stone, iron gates.

  Inside, dozens of slaves were already kept: children, beastmen, goblins, humans, even a few monsters.

  Ryan was shoved into a cage at the far end.

  “Pack everything. Load what’s left. We leave at midnight. The journey’s going to be long,” the man ordered his crew.

  Everything was set.

  By nightfall, the caravan rolled again. This time with all the captives.

  The third morning arrived, and the caravan was nearing its destination. The forest had thickened. Mist clung to the trees. The wheels creaked along uneven dirt paths.

  Inside the third carriage, packed with children and smaller captives, Ryan's body finally moved.

  A twitch. Then a slow shift. His fingers flexed. His eyes blinked open,

  A small boy sitting near the bars tugged his father’s sleeve.

  “Father… he’s waking up.”

  Others turned to look. The white-haired boy, who’d been unconscious for days, was finally moving. There was curiosity in some eyes. Pity in others.

  A tired woman, gaunt and sunken-eyed, muttered quietly.

  “It would’ve been better if he kept sleeping. Poor soul.”

  No one moved. Not that they could. Most had expected him to wake up confused, maybe scared. Possibly cry. Perhaps ask questions.

  But instead, he blinked hard and yawned as sat up.

  He looked around, calm but irritated.

  “Hmm. Hmm. Who the heck are you guys?”

  A woman replied dryly. “What do we look like?”

  Ryan squinted. “I don’t know. Slum dogs?”

  One man laughed from the corner. “Look who’s talking.”

  Ryan ignored him. “Anyway, anyone got water?”

  The woman shook her head. “No. We don’t.”

  The child who had spoken earlier added, “I want water too.”

  Up front, the driver shouted back. “Hey! Stop talking! Who said you brats could get noisy?”

  Ryan started to scan his surroundings.

  He noticed the bars.

  Noticed the cuffs on his wrists—crafted to suppress even mid-tier mages.

  He didn’t like that.

  He flicked his wrists. The cuffs shattered.

  To him, that kind of restraint meant nothing.

  He looked at the cage.

  And tore it open.

  Stepping out casually, he moved toward the front cabin of the carriage. There was a wooden divider separating him from the driver.

  He peeled it open like it was paper.

  “Would you have some water, perhaps?”

  The driver and the man beside him turned, horrified.

  Before either could react, their heads were already rolling outside.

  The lead carriage stopped abruptly. This was the one responsible for guiding the rest. Now it was silent.

  Ryan found a water jar.

  Drank the entire thing in seconds.

  Still thirsty.

  “Not enough.”

  He stepped outside.

  Saw the other three carriages behind the first.

  And walked.

  Within minutes, every single cart had stopped.

  Guards: dead.

  Drivers: dead.

  Ryan ripped open the back compartments.

  Drank from every water reserve they had.

  He stopped once he was satisfied. Still holding a jar, he walked back toward the first carriage.

  Stepped inside.

  Looked at the child from before.

  “Which one of you asked for water?”

  The boy raised his hand, quietly.

  “Me.”

  Ryan handed him the jar.

  “Here.”

  The child drank like it was a gift from the gods.

  Then Ryan turned around.

  And with a loud bang against the metal frame, vanished into the woods.

  As Ryan ran through the forest, his voice burst out like a pressure valve finally cracking.

  “What in the freaking hot hell even happened?! Where am I? What am I doing? Why am I doing it?! What is this madness?! This isn’t Stellar Mountain. This isn’t even close! Where the hell even am I going?!”

  He stumbled over a root, caught himself, and just kept going.

  He was on the brink of tears.

  Then he laughed.

  Loud. Mad. Free.

  “Ohhhhhh, this is so cool! I don’t even know how or why—but I’m outside! I’m outside!”

  He sprinted through the trees, bare feet pounding against the forest floor, his white hair flaring behind him like a flame.

  Ryan: “Yes! This is my time! My time to explore the world! To become the living legend I dreamed of!”

  He threw his arms wide, running faster, laughing harder.

  Ryan: “I can’t believe this is happening! I really hope this isn’t a dream!”

  He pinched himself.

  It hurt.

  Ryan: “Not a dream!”

  He stopped briefly, hands on his hips, thinking with the serious expression of a kid playing pretend.

  Ryan: “Okay… following the typical formula of novels, I should find my enemies. Then I travel. Humble, some big shots. Defeat them in the worst way possible. Act cold, ruthless, eliminate anyone who crosses my path. And bring justice by completely destroying them.”

  A pause.

  Ryan: “But… who’s my enemy?”

  He shrugged.

  Ryan: “Who cares? I’ll just pick someone later. There’s gotta be enough assholes out there.”

  He grinned.

  Ryan: “My real goal is to enjoy. I don’t need to follow some stupid formula. This is the journey of Ryan Sinclair!”

  He raised both fists in the air like he was already being cheered on by a crowd.

  Ryan: “Let’s find a town first!”

  And he ran.

  Fast. Wild. Unfocused.

  He dashed through the woods, backtracked, went in the wrong direction three times, circled the same tree twice, then finally wandered around the forest for a whole day and night. In the morning,

  He finally hit a dirt path.

  A broken, cracked road leading downhill.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  He followed it.

  At the bottom of the slope, in the dip of the land, was a slum town.

  Small, crooked houses. Mud streets. Smoke from cheap fires.

  And people.

  His eyes lit up.

  Ryan: “Yes. Finally, This is the starting point”

  Ryan walked into the slums like he owned the place.

  Loose shirt, barefoot, messy white hair, and a wide grin. He didn’t care that everyone was staring. In fact, he kind of liked it.

  Three men stepped out of a narrow alley, noticing his clothes, which looked too good for just a slum rat. Each one holding a rusted knife or bent pipe. Their clothes were torn, but their expressions were confident. Too confident.

  One of them whistled.“You lost? Little boy?”

  Another grinned“Hey, pretty boy. That outfit looks too clean for these parts.”

  Ryan blinked. “Oh. This is a robbery?”

  He tilted his head and smiled like a maniac.

  “Cool.”

  The first man lunged.

  Ryan sidestepped. One hand moved, and the man crashed headfirst into a wall. The second didn’t even make it halfway before Ryan flipped him over his own shoulder, right into the third.

  Three seconds. All down.

  None dead.

  Ryan crouched beside the nearest one.

  “Okay. I didn’t kill you. That’s me being nice. Now tell me—who’s the boss of this slum?”

  The man coughed, groaned. “Boss…? What boss?”

  Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

  “Don’t try to protect them. I don’t go easy on people who hide evil.”

  The three looked at each other in confusion, then one suddenly spoke up.

  “Wait. We need to discuss something if you please”

  Ryan: “Go on.”

  All three huddled together while whispering.

  1st man:“ What does he mean by boss, do we have boss?”

  2nd man:“obviously not, we would have known if there was something like this”

  3rd:“ it doesn't look like he would let us go without an answer”

  1st man:“ let's name someone random and get ran away”

  3rd man:“ who ”

  2nd man:“ I know someone perfect, let's name Luna”

  1st:“ that bread stealer cat burglar who would believe she is a boss”

  2nd:“ it is good plan we can even get revenge for that day when she exposes are theft just because she is little smarter she dares to break the law of jungle we should punish her for that”

  than they started speaking to Ryan

  “She’s not the boss, but—she’s trouble. Real trouble.”

  Another chimed in. “Yeah. Black-furred cat beastmen. Teenage. Real piece of work.”

  Ryan paused. “Feline type…?”

  The third man nodded quickly. “Yeah. She’s the one causing all the chaos. Steals food, hoards supplies. Made a deal with some black-market gang or cult. She uses us as a shield while she does all the criminal work, and we take all the punishment.”

  “She said everyone should pay 10% extra to her on the money they have to pay her.”

  1st spoke :“ she once killed a cartel head because he delayed her payment by one day”

  2nd man:“ she also killed a Noble because he paid her in advance”

  3rd man:“ apparently she works for a very powerful organization

  Ryan stood slowly. Smiling as if he had finally met what he was looking for

  He clenched his fists.

  “Finally, today is lucky day yeah”

  “wait such a powerful organization could she be also behind the attack back home”

  They nodded fast, thinking they were safe.

  “She’s the one, definitely” one whispered.

  Ryan’s grin was pure madness now.

  “I knew it. I freaking knew it. There was a greater conspiracy against us but no problem while my sibling are back home enjoying their comfortable life as sheltered spoon-fed kids I will do the actual job and save our family”

  He cracked his neck.

  “Where is she?”

  They pointed toward the far end of the slum.

  “Runs around that bakery by the corner. Probably stealing again.”

  Ryan turned.

  “Got it.”

  He walked off.

  The three men sat there, dazed and relieved.

  One whispered, “I think we just made her life a living hell.”

  Another chuckled. “Good. Maybe now she’ll learn not to mess with us.”

  Ryan turned the corner, waited for a few minutes and saw it.

  A flash of movement.

  A cat-eared girl sprinting through the alley, holding a bag of bread and glancing over her shoulder.

  His eyes narrowed.

  She was fast.

  Too fast.

  Her tail moved like a whip. Her steps were too silent for a normal street rat. She wasn’t just some hungry orphan.

  Ryan squinted. “She’s definitely with them.”

  He didn’t know who “them” was yet.

  But he was sure of it.

  Ryan: “That’s how it always starts. They run around in slums. Pretend they’re poor. Then BAM—next thing you know, they’ve summoned three demon dogs and burned down a town.”

  He dashed after her.

  She didn’t even notice.

  He jumped from one crumbling crate to another, then launched off a roof corner, flying straight down in front of her path.

  She crashed into him at full speed and fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.

  Luna: “What the fuck?!”

  Ryan landed like a madman, crouched, eyes blazing.

  Ryan: “You. Who sent you?”

  Luna: “What?!”

  Ryan: “Don’t play dumb. I saw you running. I saw the tail movement. You’re clearly with a society. Secret evil group. Maybe a cursed bloodline. Probably underground. What is your trope?”

  She stared at him, stunned.

  Luna: “… Are you high?”

  Ryan: “I don’t have time for games. Start talking. Tell me where the base is. I’m not afraid to get serious.”

  She scrambled back. “Get away from me, freak!”

  He snapped his fingers.

  A faint pressure crackled in the air. Nothing visible. Just enough to remind her that this wasn’t a normal boy.

  Ryan: “The sooner you confess, the sooner I can go destroy your masters.”

  Luna: “I stole bread from a drunk merchant. That’s all I did.”

  Ryan paused.

  Ryan: “Huh. That’s… exactly what someone from a secret organization would say.”

  She growled.

  Luna: “Okay. That’s it. Just fuck off you freak”

  She lunged. Faster than ever she did.

  He dodged, laughed, and caught her by the scruff of her collar mid-jump.

  Ryan: “You’re feisty. I like that. If you’re not part of something sinister, you wouldn't have run like this.”

  Luna: “I don't know about you, but I am totally convinced you are mentally unstable!”

  Ryan: “Anti heros by nature are unstable.”

  He set her down gently.

  Then offered a hand.

  Ryan: “You’re under watch now. You look young, maybe you were forced to do all the sinister bad stuff or brainwashed, but you have a chance today choose truth and tell me where your boss is.”

  Luna swatted his hand away.

  Luna: “Just what are you talking about, what boss, what organization, what are you even saying, you freak, leave me alone, or I will shout.”

  Ryan grinned.

  Ryan: “No matter how hard evil shouts it is not heard” said as he placed his hand on her mouth

  Luna flailed, muffled shouting.

  Ryan, nodding to himself: “First day out in the world, and I’m already dismantling the darkness.”

  Luna’s feet dragged along the dirt as Ryan pulled her by the wrist, weaving through the trees like a man on a mission. She twisted, kicked, scratched, but he held on effortlessly, humming like they were on a morning jog.

  Luna: “Let go of me, psycho!”

  Ryan: “Not until you spill everything.”

  Luna: “I told you already! There’s nothing to spill!”

  Branches snapped around them. Wind picked up. And then—open space. A vast river cut through the forest, glinting silver under the sun. At the far end, a massive waterfall thundered down into a dark canyon, spraying mist into the air.

  Ryan led her straight to the cliff edge near the falls.

  She stopped, heels digging into the grass.

  Luna: “What the hell are we doing here?!”

  Ryan looked down at the drop, nodded thoughtfully, then grabbed her wrist and held her hand out over the edge.

  Ryan: “If you’re not going to talk… I’ll have to get the truth another way.”

  Luna, screamed and then froze.

  Luna: “You wouldn’t.”

  Ryan: “I absolutely would.”

  Luna: “This is insane! There’s nothing to tell!”

  Ryan: “Lies. You’re hiding something. The eyes never lie.”

  Luna: “I’m not part of a cult!”

  Ryan: “exactly because you are a part of a secret organization.”

  She yanked her arm, but he held firm.

  Ryan: “Last chance. Spill everything. Who’s your boss? What’s the name of your syndicate? When was your last mission? Were you the one behind the tribal killing, and did you guys attempt to cross stellar mountain?”

  Luna: “That wasn’t me!”

  Ryan: “Then who was it? You know something. I can see it. You’re trained to keep secrets. That’s why you won’t break. But everyone breaks eventually.”

  Luna: “You’re out of your mind!”

  Ryan leaned forward just slightly, her wrist still hovering over the drop.

  Water roared beneath them.

  Ryan: “Three seconds. Then splash.”

  Luna stared at him, eyes wide, chest rising with each breath.

  Then she screamed.

  Luna: “I steal bread! I live alone! I sleep in an empty haunted house illegally, and I have no friends no parents, no siblings! Is that enough?! Do you want my shoe size too?!”

  Ryan:“Lies”

  Ryan’s grip was steady.

  His eyes locked on hers.

  Ryan: “Three…”

  She didn’t blink.

  Ryan: “Two…”

  Luna clenched her jaw, and then—

  This lunatic will actually throw me there.

  I don't even know how to swim! more importantly, would I even survive to try swimming.

  For now, it is better to just go along with his bullshit and save my life

  Luna: “Fine!”

  Ryan stopped.

  Luna shouted: “I was part of an organization! A bad one!”

  His expression didn’t change. Just a slow blink.

  Ryan: “Go on.”

  Luna took a shaky breath, heart pounding.

  Luna: “It was a while ago. It happened when I was in the royal capital if I am not wrong, I don’t even know its name. I was a low-level runner, barely knew anything. Furthermore, I quit. Left. Ran away. ”

  Ryan: “Why?”

  Luna: “They used people. Kids like me. Smuggling, blackmail, some weapon stuff—I don’t know everything. I was just a messenger.”

  Ryan studied her.

  Luna: “I never hurt anyone. I didn’t want to be part of it. That’s why I left. I’ve been living in the slums ever since. Stealing to survive.”

  He said nothing.

  Luna: “I don’t know where they are now. I don’t even know who ran the whole thing. I swear.”

  A long pause.

  Then Ryan slowly put her on the ground

  She collapsed to the ground, breathing hard.

  He stared at the water below, then finally spoke.

  Ryan: “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

  Luna: “You’re crazy.”

  Ryan: “You skipped some parts, but that is good enough.”

  Luna: “You are satisfied now, right, can I take my leave now.”

  Ryan: “Definitely not.”

  She pushed herself up, still shaken. “Now what? You're going to drag me to some hidden base or tie me up for questioning again?”

  Ryan: “No.”

  He turned away from the cliff.

  Ryan: “You’re not a threat anymore. But an important asset, my only clue for now. Obviously, I can't let you go”

  Luna stared, dumbfounded.

  Luna: “Why? Oh! God, why me, just why me”

  Ryan: “Because God wants me to destroy them.”

  Luna started shouting:” HELP ME, PLEASE HELP ME”

  Ryan let out a short laugh. “Anyway, let’s go to your place. I need to inspect it. We’ll also plan our future together.”

  Luna stepped back, her face hard. “Get lost, freak. I’d rather die than let you into my home. Get lost, ASSHOLE.”

  Ryan’s smile faded. “You’re not letting me in? What, are you hiding something? Were you lying to me?”

  He grabbed her again. She struggled, but he didn’t let go. As he started to force her forward, Luna shouted, “Okay, okay! I’ll show you the way!”

  Ryan released her and nodded. “Good. Oh, and you’ve got food, right? I’m starving.”

  Luna stayed quiet. She was shocked, angry, and deeply tired—feeling a hatred she hadn’t known she could carry.

  [ At Luna’s house]

  The roof leaked, and the walls leaned as if they were drunk. Every gust of wind made the floorboards groan beneath it. Luna’s makeshift home, somewhere between a house and a shack, was buried deep in the forgotten heart of the slums.

  She sat cross-legged on the warped floor, arms folded tightly. Rage burned inside her, sharp and bitter, but she kept it buried. She couldn't risk letting it show, not with Ryan around her.

  Okay. What is happening in my life? What did little ol’ me ever do to deserve this? I mean, was having a terrible day not enough already—now I’ve got to deal with this… freak? This wide-eyed idiotic lunatic delusion machine? What kind of joke is this? Is this because I stole bread from the church that one time?

  Across from her, Ryan tore into a hunk of bread like it was a royal feast laid out just for him.

  Ryan: “Ugh. This sucks. It’s dry. No butter. No salt. It smells like socks. Is this seriously the best thing you’ve got? You live on this?”

  Luna: “It’s stale bread. I stole it. For me. Not for you.”

  Ryan: “Then steal better bread next time. Like, one of those sugary ones. With the crusty top. And that smell. You know the smell.”

  Luna: “Should’ve grabbed poison instead. For you.”

  He ignored her and kept chewing, without a care for the pain he was causing to Luna.

  Ryan: “Let’s get out of here, we can find something better. This might be enough to fill you up, but it’s not enough for me.”

  The shack creaked. Wind slipped through the cracked window, sending ash and dust into the room.

  Ryan looked around, his expression changing, as if he had just noticed how pathetic the place really was.

  Ryan: "So this is your base of operations? Pretty bad, honestly. How do you even run your organization from here? Wait, let me guess. It’s one of those secret fronts. On the surface, it looks like a broken shack nobody would use, but underneath, it’s a whole criminal empire. There’s got to be a hidden button somewhere that opens a tunnel to the underground lair, right?"

  Luna: "It’s a shack."

  Ryan: "A Mysterious hidden shack no one else know about?"

  Luna: "No. It’s just a dirty, illegal shack. Nothing more. It’s mine. And you’re not welcome."

  Ryan: "Too late. I’m already in."

  Luna: "Get lost."

  Ryan: "I’m leaving. And you’re coming with me. Let’s go find some proper food."

  Luna muttered under her breath.

  Luna: "Why would I follow you? You are a freak, stop bothering me."

  Ryan stretched like he was settling in, "On the way here, I passed a puddle. Looked pretty deep. I was wondering if it could fit a snarky young black cat."

  Luna stared at him, then stood up, walked to the door, and said with a low, tired voice. "Let’s go."