Joseph adjusted the bag containing the strange blueprint and picked up his father’s toolkit which had not left his room since that fateful night.

"Time I head out, Nina," he murmured, moving to the door.

“Okay Joey… But— *KE* are you sure you’re— healed?”

Joseph paused, turning to look at his little sister. The morning sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow on her face, accentuating the worry lines that shouldn't be there on such a young visage, her small frame hunched as she clutched the edge of her worn-out sweater.

Putting on a soft smile, he approached her, kneeling down to be at eye level. "Nina," he began, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "I'm feeling much better, thanks to you. You worked so hard. Now it’s my turn. And we need the money, right?"

Nina bit her lip, her eyes darting away for a moment. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt again. Last time was *KE*... really scary— Joey."

Joseph sighed, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "I know, and I'm sorry for putting you through that. But I promise, I'll be careful. Besides," he added with a playful grin, "I've got a guardian angel looking out for me, don't I?"

He searched his pocket and brought out a small, rough figure.

It was a puppet. A large, wide smile filled half its head bearing sharp teeth that made it look loving yet oddly evil at the same time— Its body was made of tied straws and spikey blond hair made of old spaghetti noodles that protruded from its head.

Nina giggled, her worries momentarily forgotten. "That's right! And don't you *KKKEE* forget it! Now promise to get back home safe or I’ll never forgive you!"

He chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“Promise,”

________________________________________

Outside, the city was alive with activity, a stark contrast to the bleak winter weeks prior.

The sun peeked through gray clouds, melting thick snow into muddy slush. It was the best weather in weeks, and residents were out in full force, eager to enjoy it. Laughter and shouts filled the air as vendors hawked wares, children played, and the elderly sat soaking in the rare warmth. Cars honked, splashing water on sidewalks, while music played faintly. The city had awakened from its wintry hibernation, its heartbeat loud and clear.

Yet, all merely served as a muted backdrop to Joseph's internal tumult, each step he took almost mechanical as he wove through the bustling crowd.

It had been a week since that fateful night, and although his wounds were healing all else remained scarred. Each step brought along an uncomfortable ache, a minor inconvenience compared to the constant worry that gnawed at him.

Nina’s illness had progressed far too rapidly. At first concealed, now impossible to hide. The feverish glint in her eyes and the weakness in her voice were constant reminders of her frailty

Still, despite it all, she tended to his injuries hourly, soaking towels and feeding him scraps. He could still hear the cough-filled lullabies she sang for him each night, trying to soothe his bruises.

Joseph was no doctor, but the strong feeling that she did not have much longer to live still could not escape his mind.

As such, his steps unconsciously hastened, although he was not in a rush nor was he late. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

It was several hours until it was the meeting time. He and his employer had planned to meet at night, which was expected for criminal activity but Joseph decided to leave in the morning so as to not raise any worry or suspicion from his sister.

At such a pace, it did not take him long to reach the meeting spot.

It was a vast empty space surrounded by three buildings in an abandoned area of the city, void of the day’s hums— a den for criminals and crackheads that he’d usually avoid.

The sun was still bright and it was far too early, so Joseph climbed up one of the surrounding building’s fire escapes and sat leaning his head against the railing.

He sighed, taking out a rusted old pocket watch and noting the time before tucking it back into his pocket.

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“This is gonna take a while…”

________________________________________

“Oi! Owl? mate? You’re coming today!? It’s take your kid to work day innit. What if—” Suddenly, Joseph’s ears picked up on a voice in an unfamiliar accent, the first that had entered his ears ever since he came, and his eyes shifted from the dark velvet sky to the space down below.

“Does it look like I give a shit? Fuck them kids! I’ve been delaying this for long enough and I just need to get it done! Besides, I’m also bringing my own kid to work today…” Another man responded.

Joseph recognized that voice. It was the same as his employer from that night.

He narrowed his eyes to confirm it, and he was indeed one of the two figures. He had come much earlier than he expected.

‘So his name is Owl…’ Joseph mentally noted. ‘The other weird-sounding man is Weasel. And… What’s up with his teeth?”

“Fine! Allow it! Just make sure you don’t fail and pull a madness… Like literally every other time…”

“Watch your tone, Weasel!” Owl spat. “This time will be different. I have faith in the boy I chose. He’s different from the others!”

“FAM! You say this every time! He’s a child! A yute is a yute no matter how you look at him! You really think this plan of yours will work!? You’re delusional!” Weasle scoffed and ridiculed.

“It will work. The boy is desperate, and desperation makes people do things they wouldn't normally do,” Owl said, his voice dripping with confidence.

“Delusional yet again bruv. That won’t make a bloody difference! Desperation leads to bare tings. Unforeseeable circumstances, unreliability and ‘at! Man’s pretty much just gambling at this point!”

“Is that so? So why don’t we bet?”

Weasel chuckled at the proposal. “Cheeky bastard innit Owl? Whatchu offering?”

“If I win, you'll wear that pink weasel suit I got you to our annual syndicate meeting and sing one of those gay remix songs in front of everyone!”

“Oi—” Weasel slightly stuttered before responding. “It’s not too bad! Say less fam!”

“Oh, did I forget to mention I’ll make lady Cat watch as well? There are already rumours being spread about you. This might confirm her and everyone’s suspicions…”

“D—Dun know! I accept!” Weasel nervously grinned. “But if I win, then you'll hand over control of your entire territory to me for a month. Every operation, every deal, every contact – all dem tings. And during that month, you'll be my personal errand boy. Fetching my morning tea, shining my kicks, cleaning my dirty trousers and knickers, doing all the grunt work. And to top it all off, you'll wear a bloody collar with a tag that reads 'Property of Weasel' wherever you go."

Owl's eyes widened in shock, "You've got to be joking."

"Oh I'm dead serious mate," Weasel smirked, "Imagine great Owl, the feared, reduced to ‘ Weasel’s clapped lackey’. The humiliation, the loss of respect... Oh, how could you ever handle that?"

“You’re no fun…” Owl sighed.

“Wot? Pussyin’ off now?” Weasel licked his lips and squinted his eyes imagining all he was about to do with his winnings.

“Of course not! I’m just worried about you upholding your side of the arrangement…”

“Then it’s a done deal fam!” He couldn’t help but let out a mad cry of laughter that filled the city block.

“Well, if you’re finished now, then fuck off! It’s almost time that boy Joseph comes. Didn’t you say you had stuff to do tonight?”

“Say less fam! I got bare tings with the mandem,” Weasel smirked, putting his hands behind his head and walking towards the open road. “I’ll be off then! Best of luck Owl! You can have fun noncing around with that little boy Joseph! Hopefully, he don’t end up dead like all the others! See ya!”

“What a pain in the ass…” Owl could not help but scratch his head and mutter.

‘What a joke!’ Joseph could not help but grin as he silently watched the exchange from his vantage point.

‘Desperation? End up dead? They think I’m a tool… But in the end, we’ll see who was using who… As Sun Tzu once said: In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity…’

_________________________________

“You’re early…” Owl’s eyes dilated seeing a small figure emerge from beyond a corner holding a box and a paper bag in his hands.

“Was I not supposed to come this early?” Joseph briefly responded.

He came down by entering one of the abandoned buildings outside of Owl’s view.

The man that stood in front of him right now felt completely different from when he was spectating— His blue eyes shined with a calm, cold intensity.

“No, not at all,” Owl replied, his voice dripping with veiled amusement. “I just didn’t expect you to be so punctual… I mean, can you blame me after seeing the loud, ill-mannered pig I met?” He took a step closer, his heavy boots crunching on the gravel beneath.

Joseph tensed but kept his face neutral if not even slightly smirking as he met Owl's gaze with unwavering eyes. "I believe in keeping my commitments, and you better honour yours! I expect proper compensation…" he said evenly, putting out his hands.

Owl chuckled, circling Joseph, assessing him like a predator would its prey. “Of course, of course! I’m a man of my word—”

“Well, there’s a change of plans. I’m upping my price by four times the amount we agreed on!”

Owl's eyes burst wide open, and laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a cold glare that froze the air stiff. "Brat. do you think you’re in any position to bargain…" he hissed, his voice dangerously low. "What makes you think you’re special? You’re replaceable!"

Joseph didn’t flinch. "Actually, I've reconsidered," he said, locking eyes with Owl who lightened his expression and breathed a sigh of relief.

That was when Joseph’s once-concealed smirk grew ever larger. "Make it ten times!"