The bouncer led me into a rather old-fashioned house. The house was quite unremarkable, inside we were met by a man who wrote everything down. The bouncer nodded at him and passed on. Standing in front of the door he said softly

- Boss. I brought that boy here.

After a short silence, an answer came from the door

- Come in

The boss's office was richly decorated. Almost shiny chairs. A man in his early twenties sat in a comfortable-looking chair. He exuded the aura of a seasoned veteran and an overbearing leader. After looking at me, he asked.

-Name?

-Murad

-I'll ask you a question. Do you have any parents?

-no.

-What do you know about this country?

-We are the commoners of the Monhimouerian Empires.

-And?

-That's all.

-Do you know who the nobleman of this border region is?

-No

-That idiot's name is Brainless. From his actions, it seems that he has no brain. So remember. In this city, the authority is us. The gang is more respected here than the official guards. And I, Sean, am the boss of this respected gang. Dan

-Yes, boss.- Looks like the bouncer's name is Dan.

-Can you wait outside?

-As you say, boss.

After Dan left the room. Sean looked at me.

-When I heard about you from Dan, I found you interesting. But when I saw you, I knew you weren't interesting. You're broken. Eyes without the light of life. As if an empty shell was occupied by a monster. Possessed. It's like you've been broken from the inside out. But for some reason, the eyes also glow with the curiosity of a child. Lost in the darkness, he saw the light. That's how I can describe it.

-What does it mean?

-You've been accepted into the gang.

I tilted my head questioningly

-Our gang is partly made up of the abandoned. Of the children who were abandoned to their fate in the slums. Of those who were bullied because they are not like everyone else. And of those who have lost their purpose of life.

-Purpose of life?

-It moves us forward. It gives us strength in difficult times and something that warms our hearts during storms. What is the purpose of your life?

After seriously thinking about this issue and discussing it with my family, I decided for myself

-The desire to learn and understand.

-Learn and understand?

-People. You're weird. Come to conclusions that I would never have thought of. Say words whose meaning is difficult for me to understand. That's what drives me. The desire to understand all this.

- What an interesting purpose of life. The human heart? Many Wisemans and philosophers of different races and cultures have thought about this topic. Light elves, dark elves, nomads, dwarves, metis elves, and we, settlers. Everyone had their thoughts about it. Unfortunately, even though I am a little interested in philosophy, I am not one of them, you will not get enlightenment from me.

-I understand.

-You talk about people a little strangely. Like you aren't human. I really wonder what happened to you? Why are you so... special? You perceive the world as if behind a wall. Like it's none of your business.

-I've been like this since I was born. I grew up in a swamp which nearly forest

-Hm? Lived among animals?

-Wolves and bears. They're part of me.

-Part of you? Lived so close with them? -I nodded -Hmm. If you will be able to survive well in the forest, then I think you should be sent to the smuggling group.

-The smuggling group?

-I divided the gang into several groups. Some are engaged in slavery, others in smuggling, and so on.

-What does the bouncer do?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

- Dan? He's in a slaveholding group. Pacifies the unruly ones and makes sure that no one damage the special ... goods.

-Which rules you have?

There are several of them. First of all, no one is a gang member without my consent. I know each of the 400 gang members by sight. You're accepted as an errand boy, and while you're doing a simple job, then we'll try to find something you're good at. Don't disappoint me, boy. Secondly, your duties are limited to what I have ordered you to do. That one who is responsible for the slave ownership has no right to engage in smuggling, even indirectly. Only direct requests and orders from the contraband department. Third, scheming against gang members is punishable by death. I have my connections, find a fugitive just spit. Fourth, any violation and omission will be punished according to the severity of the omission, ranging from simple deprivation of office up to death in agony. Very slow death in agony. And also, if you have found someone who could join us, contact me personally without hiding anything. Is everything clear?

-Yes. However ... why do you care so much about your gang members?

-I'm not a nobleman. To the nobility, we are no different from cattle. Grow, feed, collect the fruits of their labor and kill when necessary. There are of course exceptions, such as me. Level 3 warrior. The lesser nobles must consider me a danger. If I were a level 5 warrior, I could easily overthrow him and declare myself the new lord of the lands by persuading the right people.

-What are levels?

-Serve me right and I'll tell you.-Sean smile- But if you want an answer sooner, you can just ask others. In the end, an idiot who doesn't know but wants to know will only be an idiot for a short time, but an idiot who doesn't know and doesn't want to know will be an idiot forever.

I started to think it over with the others. So we're idiots. But not for long. Doesn't that mean that the person who learns math is an idiot? After all, he doesn't know how to swing a sword. Doesn't that mean we'll always be idiots?

When I asked Sean that, he gave me a strange look and then said

-Really? Well, you're right, though. If a person who learns mathematics says that he does not know how to swing a sword, he will not be considered an idiot. He never said that he was a swordsman, it's not his qualifications. If he was learning how to wield a sword and couldn't swing it properly, it would mean that he was an idiot.

-I got it. Now I understand

-I'm glad to hear it. Dan!

-You called me boss?

-Yes, send Murad to either the Accounting Department or the Combat Training Department.

-Boss, you know. I don't think Murad was born for paperwork. He's bad at math.

-Hm? It seemed to me that since he was such a philosopher, he could count.

-Well... Murad

-Yes?

-How old are you?

-As I said, about 6 months.

-...- Sean became speechless for some reason

-You see, boss?

-Okay, I get you. Send him to the combat training group. Let him learn to use weapons. Notify the right people to do everything.

-Whatever you say, boss.

...

When we got back into the carriage, Dan looked at me and said.

-Welcome to the gang. I'm glad to have someone like you. Stupid, but hopefully able to fight after training.

-Yeah.

-As usually terse. We're going to the slums. Keep your head high and proud. You're a gang member. There are our people there who train people like you. Not strong in mind but strong... well, in strength. I'll sign you up in advance, then we'll transfer you to the dorm later. In the meantime, get acquainted with others and get ready for work