I rode the beast toward the city and when I was halfway there, I desummoned it, and pulled out some commoners’ clothes from my bag. Making sure there was nobody looking of course, which was hard considering how all of this land were flat plains and hills. The clothes were simple, pale cloth and brown leather with a large hood to cover my… expensive features. I looked up in my new disguise at the towering city.

Ah, yes. The capital city of Gan, Ironworks. A massive city that still has room to expand due to their unique style of building. There’s lots of space in the walled area, however, the original king of Gan decided to break the rules of architecture made millennia ago and started building up, instead of sideways.

The result were houses, homes, shops and barracks all being stacked up on each other, seemingly climbing endlessly into the sky. It was for that reason that the space inside the walls were so empty and why there seemed to be a single metal tower that touched the clouds from far away.

Lost in my thoughts, I continued toward the city quickly, before reaching the main entrance. Thousands of people bustled around, working, playing, indulging. The city was busy, chaotic, messy, sporadic. The first time I came here, I hated it. I hated the unorganized sprawl, I hated the buildings that look like children's blocks. I hated the people who rule over it; and I still do.

But for the first time in my life, I can actually appreciate it. There is a reason why bandits are so powerful in the region. Simply because they can hide themselves in plain sight, or rather, in the capital. The odd buildings create a perfect environment for productivity as well as an easy place to hide unsavoury or straight-out illegal activities.

I’m here because I have some unsavoury business to take care of. Just two days ago, I had found a bandit camp in my family’s territory. They had set it up in order to mine the vast amount of blood crystals there, a powerful weapon against mages, the most influential force in the world.

The bandits were comprised of poor folk, poor folk usually don’t have magic because simply having magic elevates your status.

If given enough time, they could have used the blood crystals to start a revolt… and their chance of victory would be high. Luckily for the kingdom, I had found them shortly after the operation had commenced. At that point, they had already invested enough resources to make a crude wood wall. The production of which is harder than it sounds.

Taking over the camp was easy enough, I even got a few slaves. The hard part was trying to keep it hidden, from the bandits and my parents. The bandits eventually sent someone to check out the camp after I had captured it. The man who showed up was devious, but his loyalties lay in power so I put him in charge. No one could best me in power after all.

I sent him a letter the other day, the reply was worrying. The bandits had sent more men to investigate the lack of crystals in their coffers. My sentinels were able to deal with them with ease but the fact that they are sending men in the first place is bad.

If they keep sending men, eventually, they’ll know something has gone wrong and they’ll start to investigate. It won’t be long after they find the camp’s loyalties have switched and they try to attack the camp. I could easily defeat them but the fight might draw attention from the nobles of the land, namely, my parents.

If they found the blood crystal mine, they would direct the profits towards my family, leaving me with a portion of the amount I would receive if it’s under my control. With this in mind, I have three goals for the city. The first is to find a dealer to sell these crystals. I can’t make money if I don’t sell after all.

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The second is to find the bandits and eradicate them. Which should be simple enough and the third goal. Well, that’s going to be hard. I need a base inside the city and like the bandit’s, I plan to stage a revolt as well, however, the revolt must be in my favour.

With this in mind, there is only one option for me… I’m going to become a cult leader! I’ll sway the minds of the common folk, prey upon their fears, weaknesses and desires and slowly consume the city in a false religion with me as their god! It sounds ambitious but I know I have the skill to complete the task.

The problem is, I have to do this, manage school as well as the blood crystal mines (or fortress, whatever it is) and make sure that my identities in all three are separate. The task? Gruelling, even for me. Time is my biggest enemy and I don’t have access to someone who can give me more.

So for now, I do everything one at a time. I look up, I’m already deep inside the city, the tall metal buildings make sure I understand where I am. I look past them, specifically, at the sky. The sun is starting to fall. It was around midday when I left. I assume its afternoon now.

I look back towards my path. The bustling from before was gone, replaced with the silent despair of the poor, ambling across the streets in the darkness. If it weren’t for these clothes, I would be jumped. Right now, I’m in the slums. A desolate place where the unfortunate, poor and unlawful go to conduct their business.

These people encompass sixty percent of the city’s population, but they mostly stay inside their homes, hiding from the truths of the world. These were the people my cult would prey on. Their weak minds are easy to bend and they’ll cling to any social group that makes them feel safe.

Ah, such are the stupidities of man. I continue walking. The farther I walk, the more dark my surroundings become. I guess this is a good enough spot. I look around, looking for a dark alleyway that was sure to harbour broken criminals.

There were plenty of good options but there was only one ratty, disgusting alleyway that criminals like to hang out in. I put a thin shield around me, it wasn’t strong but it was enough to keep the filth from touching me. I make it too strong and it glows too bright.

I walked into the hall of trash. Masses of garbage piled high beside me. Without nature to let them naturally decay, they sat here, rotting, giving an excellent source of nutrients to the evil pests of this world.

???: “Well, well, well. Look who we have here boys!”

A man wearing a cowl, a town cape and militia armour walked out from behind one of the heaps. Following him were men dressed similarly, both in front and behind me.

???: “Seems like you’re not from around here buddy. Say, mind flipping that hood up?”

Now, I just need to use my brilliant performance skills. I vigorously shake my head in defiance, portraying a weak and scared child.

Goon #1: “H-heh. Hey boss! I don’t think this kid is listening! Want us to teach ‘em a lesson?”

The man smiles, a perverted look on his face. Ugh, the lengths I go towards for my own sake. I need to treat myself better.

Goon #2: “He’s pretty short… maybe it really is a kid. Could it be a girl, a boy?” The man licks his lips, lust burning in his eyes. “I don’t really care.”

Julius, the depravity of your citizens. This is disgusting.

The men started to walk closer and closer. I think it was time to start talking now, not for long. Just need to confirm something.

Aenios: “Wait! You get any closer and I’ll scream!” I lift off my hood and the Goon’s gasp in shock.

Goon #2: “So it is a kid! Hehe! We’re going to have fun tonight pretty boy!”

Goon Leader: “Go ahead, scream all you want. No one's going to come for you, no one can see us, hear us, find us. You’re all alone…” He starts laughing maniacally. “And after my men have their way with you, were going to sell your pretty little face off to the highest bidder. Who knows what kind of debauchery you’ll meet on your travels, who can tell, who can tell. You’ll think back to this day and wonder why you ever walked down this alley, the day where your life went all wrong!”

I could see several of the men become erect from the words of their leader. Oh god, I’m going to be sick. But that’s okay. I’ll take out these emotions on the scum of this world.

Aenios: “No one can hear us eh? Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA! YOU THINK I’M ALONE?”

My chains flash into existence and grab hold of several of his men, leaving only him, dumbfounded. A cruel smile formed on my mouth as the current scenario started to seep into his mind.

Aenios: “It’s you who’s alone.”