Clandestine Empire: Return of the Lost

Clandestine Empire. An empire consisted of different regions where mages and non-mages co-exist. The north was protected by people with earth affinity magic, south with wind, east with water, west with fire, southwest with lightning, southeast with ice and the northwest with plants while the northeast had magic affiliated with animals.

Aside from the different territories under different lieges, the outskirts were composed of free cities. One of those cities would be found in the southern outskirts. The South City was also known as the Lawless City.

During the day, this city was just like any other city. There are different shops such as tea shops, armor shops, weapon shops and bakeries. There were people roaming around without fear despite the city's name.

"I told you to bring me that dagger, didn't I?" A seventeen-year-old young man said with a grim expression.

Kneeling in front of him was an eleven-year-old boy with ragged clothes and face full of dirt.

"F-forgive me, Leon. The shop owner never left the place today. I c-couldn't find the timing to sneak in." The boy rubbed his hands as tears escaped his eyes.

The young man called Leon kicked the boy's gut and spit on his face. "You're so useless." He turned to the other boys behind him. "Teach him a lesson. He needs to learn that I'm much scarier than the shop owner."

The other boys smirked as they cracked their fingers. One took the eleven-year-old boy by the neck and threw him to the wall. The other guys went to him and he was rained with kicks and stomps from the boys.

Such scenes were normal in the back alleys of the Lawless City. Most residents were brought to the city because of their aggressive and violent nature while other residents were runaway slaves who chose to live there instead of their abusive masters. Everyone could enter but those who were brought there weren't allowed to go out. There are soldiers stationed by the entrance but all they did was check the people who entered and left the city. They never interfered with the chaos caused by the residents.

"This place is both heaven and hell," An old man in his 60's said while walking around the market.”

"I agree, my Lord," the younger man in his early 40's said.

The old man scoffed. "I told you to call me Archie. I no longer hold any titles. I'm just a humble citizen of this lawless city, Royce."

The man named Royce frowned. No matter how many times he was told to stop addressing Lord Archie with respect, he couldn't. The old man who chose to live in this lawless city never ceased to do noble acts even in this place called hell by others.

They stopped walking when Archie saw a kid covered in blood in the back alley. It was the eleven-year-old kid who was beaten up by Leon and his boys.

"Is he still alive?" Royce panicked. Unlike Archie who became a resident in the Lawless City eight years ago, he wasn't used to that kind of scenery.

"He is. Can you carry him?" Archie ordered after checking the boy's pulse.

Royce felt calmer when he saw Archie's calm demeanor. He carried the kid and they immediately trod the way towards Archie's store.

"Welco—" The boy who was watching the store immediately moved to guide them to a vacant room. "What happened, Gramps?"

"We just saw him lying on the floor while covered with his own blood." It was Royce who answered the boy because Archie was already busy preparing the bandages and other medicines.

"Dio, wash his wounds." Archie ordered his grandson.

The boy named Dio followed at once. He brought a basin full of warm water and a towel. Then, he sat beside the boy, dipped the towel and gently wiped the wet towel to the boy's body, removing the blood and revealing the wounds.

He used the warm water to wash the wounds until there were no dusts left in any of the open wounds.

"Can I also help in bandaging, Gramps?"

Because his grandfather always brought wounded people to their store, Dio was experienced in treating wounds. However, his grandfather asked him to back off this time.

"You see the purplish color near the wounds? Those are effects of poison. I need to remove those poisons and put some medicine to the wound before we can bandage him."

Dio nodded as he watched his grandfather treat the wounded child. He bit his lips as he felt bad for the suffering child. A weak and defenseless kid was trying to survive in a place where aggressive and violent people lived. They were mostly the target of those people who liked to abuse others.

He clenched his fist after entertaining such thoughts. He knew that there's nothing that he could do for them aside from treating them every time they get beaten up.

"Dio, hand me the bandages."

He picked up the bandages that are neatly placed in the side table and handed them to his grandfather. He watched the old man's hands gently move and roll the bandage on the child's arm. He could hear some groans coming from the kid, indicating that he was already awake.

Royce entered the room when they finished treating him. He was staring at the child as he handed them a cup of tea.

"Quit staring like that, Royce." Archie reprimanded him.

Dio chuckled as he offered a piece of bread to the child. "You haven't eaten yet, right?"

"T-thank you." The eleven-year-old kid gratefully accepted the bread and ate it with a smile.

Royce watched the grandfather and grandson duo as they accommodated the wounded child.

In this Lawless City, there are still people who have genuine compassion for others.

He smiled as he looked at Dio. The kid was lucky because he grew up while watching his amazing grandfather.

"It's okay. You're safe now." Dio consoled the crying child.

He walked towards Dio and messed his hair. "You sure take after your grandfather, young master."

Dio looked at him with a frown visible on his face. "I'm not a young master, Uncle Royce."

Royce chuckled after hearing Dio's response.

He definitely took after him.