Erik wasn't sure, but it was definitely one of the top five most embarrassing moments of his life, being crudely bound underneath a makeshift treehouse as a group of children took turns watching over him. Truthfully, while he didn't particularly feel great about it, Erik had attempted to actually fight the children.

Despite his age and weight advantage over them, his injuries severely limited his ability to fight, and the children had overpowered him with sheer numbers and their surprising agility. They had bound him with what felt like a hundred tiny ropes, leaving him utterly immobile.

"I cannot believe I lost to a gang of kids..." Erik mumbled to himself, his face reddening with a mix of pain and embarrassment. His arms were tied tightly behind his back, and his legs were bound at the ankles, leaving him with no way to escape. He tested the knots again, his teeth gritted in determination, but they remained as tight as ever.

He sighed, resigning himself to his fate as he plopped over onto his side, his mind whirling with thoughts. Most of them were centered around his projects, as he didn't feel nervous or threatened by the children at all. After surviving two assassination attempts, several wildlife attacks, and a nosedive from the sky, a bunch of kids holding him captive was a piece of cake. It was just unfortunate that Erik was in no physical shape to get himself out of the situation.

Erik studied the treehouse above him, noticing the intricate network of ropes and wooden beams that held it together. It was surprisingly sturdy, and he had to admit, he was a little impressed by their ingenuity. It was clear that Rat and his group had been living here for quite some time, using their surroundings to their advantage.

"Psst. Hey kid," Erik whispered to the young sentry keeping an eye on him. The boy looked over, his grip on his stick tightening. "You guys built that treehouse yourselves?"

The sentry nodded proudly. "Yeah, we did. Took us weeks."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "It's pretty good and structurally sound... but I can see a couple of flaws." He paused for a moment, considering his words. "If you guys ever want to build something more... permanent, I could help. Maybe even teach you some new techniques."

The sentry's eyes widened with interest, and he leaned in closer. "Really? Like what?"

Erik sniffed and looked away. "Well, for starters, you're using the wrong type of rope for those crossbeams. It's going to wear down faster than it should. And your foundation, it's not anchored deep enough into the tree. One good storm and this whole thing could come down."

The sentry's proud expression faltered. "How do you know all that?"

"I have a degree in industrial engineering, and I've seen a thing or two," Erik replied with a shrug, his eyes never leaving the treehouse. "But that's not why I'm here. Tell Rat I want to talk to him."

"In... in-dust-straw engine earring...?" The boy murmured but nevertheless scurried off to find Rat.

Erik took a deep breath, the aroma of the village wafting through the air, mixed with the faint scent of burning leaves. He waited patiently, his mind racing with thoughts of escape and retribution. But as the moments ticked by, he found himself growing more curious about these children and their leader. Why was there a gang of children living in the forest? Were the villagers aware of them? Why did it take this long for Erik to stumble across them?

Finally, Rat appeared, his eyes narrowed as he studied Erik. "What's so important about your ideas that you're willing to share them with us?"

Erik clumsily pushed himself back up in a sitting position, jerking his head to the treehouse. "Your hideout or whatever is pretty solid for amateurs, but it's going to break at the first sight of a heavy storm. I'm honestly surprised it hasn't fallen yet, but then again, I'm guessing you guys haven't been around here long?"

Rat's eyes flickered with something akin to admiration before quickly shuttering it away. "We're not amateurs," he said with a hint of defensiveness.

"Yeah? What even is it that you do so professionally?" Erik challenged, his eyes never leaving Rat's.

"We're mercy airs for hire," Rat said.

Erik stared at him for a moment.

"I'm sorry, come again?"

Rat rolled his eyes. "Mercy airs. You know, people who do jobs that other people don't wanna do. Like bad stuff."

Erik blinked. "Oh! You mean 'mercenaries'," he corrected Rat, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.

Rat scowled, obviously not liking the correction. "Whatever. The point is, we do jobs for people. Sometimes it's building, sometimes it's... other things."

"What, like robbing people? You guys do assassinations too?" Erik couldn't help but laugh, despite the pain that shot through his side with every chuckle.

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"Y-yes. We can do ass... we do that too," Rat drew his short sword and pointed it at Erik with a glare that wasn't very convincing.

Erik's laughter stopped abruptly. "Look, Rat. I'm not judging. I've done some pretty questionable things in my life too, but you guys are just kids. There's gotta be a better way to live than this."

Rat's grip on the sword wavered slightly. "You don't get it. We have no other choice."

"Really? What, you guys are orphans that lost your parents and somehow found each other to form a gang of misfits doing whatever it takes to survive?" Erik asked, not really expecting to be right.

Rat's hand shook, and finally lowered. "How did you know?"

Erik opened his mouth, then closed it. "I'm psychic."

The children looked at him with wide eyes. He chuckled and leaned back, his grin wide. "No, I'm not. But it's a pretty common story around here, isn't it?"

While the children's situation was unfortunate, it wasn't that far off in such a fantasy world. Erik may have been dropped in a wildly outlandish world, but he had seen the darker sides of life before. And considering the children, Erik was certain it wasn't as bad as some of the stories he had heard back home.

"Look, kid. Rat. I'm not going to give you a lecture or anything, cause I know you guys aren't used to adults. But, just untie me, and I'll help you guys out," Erik said, his voice calm and measured. "I can teach you some new skills that might be more... legal. And who knows, we might just make a fortune together."

Rat eyed him skeptically before finally nodding. The ropes around Erik's wrists loosened, and the children stepped back, giving him room to stretch out his cramped limbs. "Alright, I'm listening," Rat said, his grip still tight on the sword.

"First... tell me the details of what you kids do. You've kept me captive for like an hour and still haven't told me anything, which suggests that you guys aren't familiar with kidnapping. Not to mention you guys can't even pronounce 'mercenaries' or 'assassination', so I'm guessing you're more into theft than actual fighting," Erik said, rubbing his wrists to get the circulation back.

The children looked at each other nervously, but Rat spoke up. "We don't do no dirty work, like killing or stuff like that. We're just... we're good at getting into places, taking stuff that don't belong to us and selling it for a good price. It's the only way we can survive," he said, trying to sound tough, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his fear.

"Mhm... and who do you sell to?" Erik asked, his mind racing with ideas. If they had a network of buyers, they could potentially use that to their advantage.

"We don't just sell to anyone," Rat said defensively. "We have a few contacts that are... let's just say, very discrete."

It was quiet for a moment. Rat and the other children thought they could hear gears turning in Erik's head.

"Hey... you remember what I said about offering you guys a role in a delivery system?" Erik began, a devious glint in his eyes.

Rat's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, what about it?"

"I'm thinking of relabeling that. You guys will act as my advertisement and connections department," Erik said, a smirk playing on his lips. "You can help me gather materials and spread the word about my inventions in exchange for food, shelter, and proper education."

Rat and the others stared at him, unsure if they should laugh or be offended. "Why would you want to help us?" Rat finally managed to ask.

"Because I could always use more employees- more help," Erik replied, his smirk widening. "But more importantly, I believe everyone deserves a chance to turn their life around. You guys are obviously smart and resourceful. With a little direction, you could be unstoppable."

The children looked at each other, their expressions a mix of skepticism and hope. It was clear that Erik's proposal was something they hadn't considered before. The idea of leaving their life of crime behind was tantalizing, but the fear of the unknown was just as great.

"Think about it. What do you even do with the coin you get from selling stolen items? Buy food? It seems that way, seeing as you guys don't have proper clothes, weapons, or housing," Erik said, gesturing around at their makeshift treehouse. "But, if you cooperate with me, I'll let you eat at my burger shacks in exchange for work. I'll build housing for you and get you integrated with the village."

Rat was silent for a moment, then spoke, "Why should we trust you?"

Erik shrugged. "You shouldn't. But I haven't done anything wrong to you guys, right? You are the ones who kidnapped me first."

The children chuckled nervously, and Rat finally cracked a smile. "Alright, let's say we agree to this... what's in it for you?"

"I get all of the profits you make. In exchange, I provide guidance and aid for you guys. If you don't like that agreement, we can draw up a contract that sets our relationship that way until you guys get to a certain age, which will then allow you to keep a portion of the money you make when you learn how to do things without me," Erik offered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Think of it as an investment. You put in the work now, and when you're ready to leave the nest, you'll have the skills and resources to make a better life for yourselves. From where I come from, we call that an internship. Well, the only difference is, at least you guys are getting paid," Erik muttered the last part under his breath.

The children looked at each other, their eyes wide with disbelief. The concept of working for someone and not getting robbed at the end of the day was foreign to them. They had always been surviving on their own, using their wits and cunning to get by. The idea of a future that didn't involve stealing was like a fairy tale.

Rat spoke up, his voice still carrying the defiance of a seasoned street urchin. "And what's to stop you from just kicking us out once we're not useful anymore?"

"Everyone has a use," Erik said with a wink. "But if you're worried about that, we can make it so that you guys are partners in this venture. A fair share of the profits will be set aside for you all until you decide to leave. It's all about trust, Rat. I trust that you'll be loyal to the cause, and I know you guys are smart enough to know that that’s a good deal when you see one."

The children looked at each other, then back at Erik. It was clear that he had piqued their interest. Rat was the first to speak up again. "Alright, mister. You got yourself a deal. But we're not just going to take your word for it. We want it in writing."

"Of course, of course, I'll write up a contract for you guys to sign," Erik said, his smile never faltering. He knew that the promise of a better life and a fair share of the profits was all the motivation they needed. "But before we get to that, I need to get back to the village."

The children looked at each other nervously, but Rat nodded firmly. "Fine. But we're coming with you."