Spotting what he wanted earlier than he expected, Rene focused his mind. He needed to be completely clear of mind, his senses sharpened and ready. To test what he was capable of.
Because he’d found some street-side gambling.
Simple games that a passer-by might engage in with a coin or two before wandering off. Low stakes that didn’t result in much money exchanging hands.
This would be a perfect place to test himself. To see what his Analyze could do.
Stepping up to the table where a middle-class couple had wagered a pair of bronze coins, Rene watched.
Around them stood a small group of people, who either wanted to play or just watch someone else play.
It was a simple game he’d seen many times, and had even played often enough as a kid. The shell game.
More often than not, it was a scam when any actual money was wagered. So long as the dealer let a few players win a little, people would always be coming back for more, thinking they could win.
If Rene intended on winning anything more significant, he’d have to cheat. Or beat the man at his own game.
Which meant he’d need to have a duplicate of the item or steal it from the dealer. Because the dealer often had a duplicate item just in case he had to add it to a cup so someone would win.
This iteration was three small wooden cups and a painted red wooden ball.
The couple that was playing was of no matter to Rene, and the dealer was little more than a vague collection of minor details that made up a man.
What mattered to Rene was the game. Even as the couple lost and walked off, another person stepped in to fill the slot.
Rene watched intently, trying to use Analyze every time it was available on a cup, the dealer, or the revealed item.
He couldn’t quite figure out where the ball was every time, but he was confident in his newfound abilities.
Your skill in Analyze has increased (6)
Your skill in Analyze has increased (7)
Your skill in Analyze has increased (8)
With every skill increase, he felt more and more confident. Each one was giving him clear gains. To the point that he could now predict or find the ball nearly seventy percent of the time.
Your skill in Analyze has increased (9)
Your skill in Analyze has increased (10)
Your skill in Analyze has increased (11)
You’ve gained a point of Perception (21)
Ten minutes later, Rene could spot the cup with the small red ball in it every time. No matter how many times the dealer pocketed it, transferred it, or removed it entirely from the game so there was no possibility of winning.
The dealer was actually fairly cognizant of his situation and didn’t get too greedy. If someone lost, they typically lost their initial wager only when they walked up. Those who won only ever won less than half of what the person before had lost.
There was more than enough movement and winning that people were willing to assume the man was being legit.
Then, Rene saw a moment for him to act. An over-eager youth bumped the table, nearly sending the wooden cups flying and revealing the situation to all.
The dealer had panicked and leaned over his own table, his hands securing everything as quickly as he could.
The dealer had reason to be concerned since he’d left quite a bit of his winnings on the table. It was a simple way to tempt people to step up and “win it” from him.
In that moment, Rene leaned in as if to help and picked the man’s pocket. One of the many terrible skills he’d picked up in his old world.
Your skill in Pickpocketing has increased (1)
You’ve stolen a Red Wooden Ball.
You’ve stolen sixteen copper.
You’ve stolen five silver.
Rene slipped the ball from the inventory screen to his palm as the dealer worked to keep his victims in the game.
Plan in mind, and ball in hand, Rene waited for his turn. It was time to see what he could do. Even at his best in his old life, what he was going to attempt now would have been difficult under the eyes of everyone.
“Aww, I’m sorry. Ain’t your day,” apologized the scam artist. He collected the bet, then set the silver coin on the pile and placed the copper coins in his pocket.
The victim slouched off, having lost. Rene managed to get himself at the front of the table to take a turn.
“Another eager player! What’s your bid?” asked the hustler eagerly.
“A single copper to start with,” Rene said smoothly.
Start with a copper, make him a pauper!
Fraud. Fiend.
Flawed and unredeemed.
A soft chuckle, a few hand movements later, and Rene was the proud owner of a new copper coin.
The flim-flam man had replaced the ball when Rene stepped up.
“Ah, both coppers then,” Rene said, leaving both coins on the table.
A few shuffles of the wooden cups and he picked the correct one again.
Your skill in Analyze has increased (12)
“Winner again. Care to make another wager?” the scammer asked him. He reset the cups and ball as he spoke.
Rene had spotted the exact moment the dealer palmed the ball. This would be when he lost.
Challenge. Conquer. Destroy. He sees but a choirboy.
Send him packing, while we get cracking.
Rene felt the corner of his mouth curl upwards as he met the eyes of the dealer.
Brown eyes, set in a face that looked like it had charmed its way through a fair share of beds. He had probably never expected someone to con him at his own game.
Rene slapped down eleven silver onto the table with his right hand, drawing all eyes there.
“Let’s press my luck then,” Rene remarked as he stacked the coins. He did all this even as he slipped the wooden ball under the cup on the far left.
Your skill in Sleight of Hand has increased (1)
“So it’ll be!” the dealer said, a bright smile on his handsome face.
Lazily, the man shuffled the cups around, sure he’d be many coins richer in a heartbeat.
Rene waited until the movements were done and flipped over the cup he knew contained the red wooden ball.
Sitting there was the ball that shouldn’t be there. It looked identical to the one the man had in his palm.
“Ah! Looks like I win,” Rene said, immediately scooping up both his coins and his winnings.
“That’s not my ball,” the dealer said.
Idiot, fool, stupid fuck. Best he realize his mistake, the schmuck.
“Oh? Looks a lot like your ball. And if it isn’t your ball, where could your ball be?” Rene said, flipping over the other two cups to reveal nothing there.
The dealer blinked twice and looked at Rene.
Before the man could even think a harsh thought, Rene looked at him. Truly looked at him. The same look he would give someone before he took their life.
Your skill in Intimidation has increased (1)
“You were saying?” Rene asked, having finished gathering his winnings.
When no response came, Rene broke eye contact with the man and then held up his hands. “I believe I’m done here. Thank you for the game.”
Rene turned and left the dealer with a situation he couldn’t get out of. Heading straight into the market, he moved on to the second reason he’d come here.
To shop for supplies and anything he could make money on. To buy and resell for a higher value.
As he let his eyes sweep over the items out for sale in the various booths and on blankets, Rene wasn’t very impressed.
By and large, they were simple things. When sold frequently these things could provide a way of life, but it wouldn’t be the end of anyone to lose a table full of merchandise.
Even as he appraised each booth, he already suspected he wouldn’t find anything of use here. Either for himself or to resell.
He also kept his eye open for anywhere else to gamble a
nd make more money.
The few games he saw being run were things he wouldn’t be able to impact in any way, shape or form. Dice and the like. Where the only thing that mattered was luck and the house was favored over a long period of time.
I wonder. Can I impact things? If I started practicing some dexterity drills, could I level up accordingly?
Pulling a single copper coin from his inventory, he began to cycle it from finger to finger. Palming it and then sliding it to the back of his fingers as he moved.
Your skill in Sleight of Hand has increased (2)
“You took it from my pocket, didn’t you?” asked a voice from Rene’s side.
Looking up, Rene found the dealer from earlier beside him. He didn’t have his table with him, so Rene assumed he must have either left it or stashed it somewhere.
“I did,” Rene admitted. Walking to the far side of the market, he kept his eyes moving, Analyzing constantly. People, items, buildings.
There was no reason to fear the dealer.
Your skill in Analyze has increased (13)
“Hah, beaten at my own game,” said the dealer.
“Not trying to get your money back?” Rene turned to the dealer again. Altering his course, Rene moved to stand near the mouth of an alley.
“No. I get the impression you’re… well…” The dealer’s voice trailed off.
Rene looked at the man again and used Analyze.
Caleb Hays
Age: 18
Sex: Male
Race: Human
“Yeah, that. Like you’re deciding if you want to kill me,” Caleb said, clearly trying not to squirm under Rene’s gaze.
“That statement is critically incorrect,” Rene said, unemotionally. “I already decided that if the need arose, I would kill you and dump your body in an alley. That decision was made long before I ever walked up to your table.”
As if realizing the situation, Caleb looked at an alley directly behind him. Then his eyes jumped to the area around where they stood.
Rene had led him to a bend in the stall layout. The two of them were actually secluded off to the side and the morning light was coming in over the building above them.
One swift act here was all Rene needed.
Swallowing, Caleb held up his hands in front of him.
“I don’t want any trouble. I actually wanted to make you an offer. I figure we could make some money,” Caleb said.
Rene lifted his right hand as if to signify his willingness to hear him out.
“Listening,” he said after Caleb didn’t continue.
“You’ve got the brawn, I’ve got the brains. Let’s make lots of money,” Caleb said.
Rene wasn’t quite sure how to take that. He was fairly certain that he was far cleverer than Caleb. Though he knew precious little of the city.
“You’ve yet to tell me the plan. You merely repeated your previous statement in a different way,” Rene murmured.
Caleb licked his lips, contemplating his next words.
From deep in the alleyway, they both heard a boot scuff followed by a scream.
Turning his head, Rene looked into the alley to try and see what was going on.
Chapter 6 -
Down the alley, Rene picked out the name plates long before he saw the people. Targeting each with a thought, he activated Analyze in a flash.
Joseph Horn
Age: 31
Sex: Male
Race: Human
William (Bill) Moon
Age: 19
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Lori Moon
Age: 9
Sex: Female
Race: Human
“Joseph Horn, William Moon, Lori Moon,” Rene said aloud. “That’s who’s down there.”
“Huh? Really? Dunno who the Moons are, but Horn is a rapist and a murderer. I think the guard put up a bounty on him last week. Dead or alive,” Caleb admitted, his right hand pressing against his left arm. “More for alive, less for dead. I stay away from him. Not a good person.”
A bounty, you say? Let us hunt this prey. To collect without a death today is quite strange. An interesting, if not unappreciated, change.
Instantly, Rene agreed with his Monster. It’d likely move his alignment upward while filling his pocket.
Rene set off at a light jog. An easy purse that he could collect without killing someone. And if he did kill them, it would only be worth less money.
“—o away boy. Doesn’t concern you none,” came a voice.
“Not happening,” responded the person who could only be Bill.
Rene saw Joe clearly now. He was tall and lanky, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He had a beard and a slow look in his eye.
Slow Joe Horn.
Unhesitating, Rene closed the distance. There was no question what his goal was and anyone who saw him knew what was coming.
“Train like you fight, fight like you train,” came his instructor’s command from his past.
Rene was no martial artist. He’d been trained in close-quarters combat and to kill people as quickly as possible. Every fight was the last fight to him.
Joe looked toward Rene and threw a haymaker at him without a word.
Rene stepped in and blocked with his left forearm, then slammed his right fist into Joe, just under his ribcage.
Grabbing the arm the man had used for the haymaker, Rene pulled it down and across, spinning his foe around. Taking the opportunity he’d made, Rene stepped in behind Joe. Before he could react, Rene brought his left arm up around the other man’s throat.
Fighting and squirming wildly, Joe did everything he could to free himself.
Rene released the man’s arm he had locked in place and brought his right hand around in front. Moving quickly, Rene slammed his closed fist down on Joe’s sternum.
With a groan, Joe curled up a bit, allowing Rene to shift his right arm behind Joe’s head and set up the choke hold he’d been going for.
Leaning backwards toward the ground, Rene stretched Joe out as his arms tightened up and let the hold do the work for him. Joe tilted backward, lost his balance and fell.
Rene landed on his bottom and kept the pressure on even as Joe writhed atop him.
Four seconds later, Joe was done. He wasn’t moving at all. The rapid cut-off of blood and oxygen had put the man into an unresponsive state.
Your skill in Hand-to-Hand has increased (7)
Releasing Joe, as he had no desire to kill him and lose out on coin, Rene worked quickly.
He had about four seconds before the blood rushing back to Joe’s brain would get him moving again. He’d be groggy, but Rene didn’t want to deal with it.
With a speed he desperately needed, Rene untied Joe’s belt and yanked his arms around behind his back. Wrapping two quick loops around each wrist, Rene secured them together tightly with the belt.
Joe moved a little bit and Rene smashed a fist into the man’s side. Right where his liver should be.
“Move again and I’ll cut off your head. Only warning,” Rene said coldly as his eyes rapidly checked his surroundings.
Caleb stood twenty feet distant, watching Rene with wide eyes.
Bill was on the other side, his gaze fastened to Rene with unmasked concern. Yet he didn’t back down or show actual fear.
Not afraid. A brave little boy.
Off behind Bill was a young girl, which must make her Lori.
“Caleb, lead me to the place I can turn this in. Preferably back streets. I’d rather not parade my paycheck around,” Rene said, pointing at Joe.
“Uh? Oh, uhm, yeah. Sure. Yeah,” Caleb turned and pointed further down the alley. “We’ll need to go to the courthouse.”
Pulling on the binding and the back of Joe’s head, Rene started off down the alley.
Caleb fell in on his left and Bill appeared on his right, with the young girl at the far end.
“Thank you,” Bill said. His voice was low and matched what he look
ed like. Tall, six foot three or so. Broad shouldered and a touch towards the handsome end of the scale.
His hair was light brown and he had hazel-colored eyes.
Rene said nothing, holding tight to Joe.
“You’ll have to forgive my partner, he’s not very conversational. More a rabid badger, really. Name’s Caleb, and apparently, you’re Bill.”
“What? How’d you know my name?”
“I didn’t, he did,” Caleb said, pointing at Rene.
Egad, we’ve gotten bad, showed our ace ahead of the pace.
“I don’t know you, do I?” Bill asked.
“No,” Rene explained elaborately.
Joe groaned a little as he was marched down the alley and further from the market square.
All around them, the dirty and stained walls of the alleys loomed over the group, blocking out the sun.
“I’d like an explanation,” Bill said.
“That’s nice,” Rene asked. “I wasn’t aware I owed you one.”
The little troop of people fell silent at that. He wasn’t wrong, which made the entire thing awkward.
The little girl, Lori, came over and tugged at his shirt sleeve. Children and family were the few who could touch Rene without him having an immediate violent reaction.
Rene’s head still snapped around to look down at her, though.
She was undeterred by his presence, actions, or tone.
Cute for a child, with long brown hair and eyes the same color as Bill’s, she was clearly related to him.
“Don’t be mean. You’re a nice man who saves people,” she said gravely.
The ex-hitman wondered about that.
No rhymes, as this is no joke.
You’ll be nice to her.
The End.
Rene blinked in surprise. The Monster that lived in his head had thirsted for blood. Craved death.
Now it was telling him to be nice.
“What’s your name, little miss?” Rene finally asked, trying to regain some of that free info he’d been handing out.
Monster's Mercy Page 6