《Kuruya Heist》 Rebirth of Kai Zenko Kuruya Heist ¨C Chapter 1: Rebirth of Kai Zenko Darkness. Cold. The scent of rot. Kai¡¯s breathing came in shallow, broken gasps. His body trembled as he pressed himself deeper into the shadows of the alley, rain cascading down his frail frame like knives. His fingers¡ªbruised, dirt-covered¡ªclutched a stolen loaf of bread to his chest. His stomach twisted violently. It had been three days since his last real meal. His ribs ached from hunger, and his vision blurred at the edges. Just one bite. That¡¯s all he needed. One bite to silence the gnawing pain. He lifted the bread to his lips¡ª Then¡ª A growl. Low, guttural. Close. A chill ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the entrance of the alley. A dog. Not just any stray¡ªthis one was lean, sharp-boned, its ribs visible beneath its matted fur. Yellowed eyes locked onto the bread. Lips curled, exposing jagged, rotting fangs. Drool dripped from its maw, mixing with the rain. Kai didn¡¯t move. Neither did the dog. A silent war. A battle of desperation. Then¡ª ¡°WOOF! WOOF!¡± The bark shattered the silence. The dog lunged. Kai barely had time to jerk backward as claws scraped against the wet stone. His breath tore from his throat in short, panicked bursts. Footsteps. Voices. Closing in. ¡°There! I heard something!¡± Kai¡¯s body reacted before his mind could process¡ª He ran. Rain. Chaos. A pounding heart. Kai burst onto the street, the sudden light nearly blinding after the suffocating darkness of the alley. His bare feet slammed against the wet pavement, kicking up dirty water. The shouts behind him blurred into the night, swallowed by the storm. "Watch it, brat!" A merchant cursed as Kai shoved past him. He ducked under a hanging stall, slipping between bodies like a shadow. He could still hear them¡ªshopkeepers yelling, the dog barking, the relentless pound-pound-pound of his heartbeat. One mistake. One wrong step, and¡ª If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. PAIN. A crushing force wrapped around his ankle. A violent jerk sent his body twisting through the air. Time slowed. The bread flew from his hands. He reached for it¡ªfingertips inches away¡ª CRACK. His skull slammed into the pavement. Pain exploded through his vision. The world spun. His ears rang, drowning out the storm, the shouts, the barking. The bread lay in a dirty puddle a few feet away. Ruined. His fingers twitched weakly toward it. A sharp, bitter thought cut through his fading consciousness. I lost again. And then¡ªblackness. Damp wood. Smoke. A flickering light. The first thing Kai registered was the dull, throbbing pain in his skull. The second was the scent¡ªwood, ash, something burning faintly in the air. Where am I? He blinked, vision hazy. The ceiling above him was wooden, cracked with age. The dim glow of a lantern flickered nearby, its flame swaying in a draft. His body felt heavy. His ankle ached¡ªbandaged. A voice shattered the silence. "Looks like the little rat finally woke up." Kai¡¯s breath hitched. Slowly, he turned his head. Three men. They sat around a rickety wooden table, shadows dancing across their faces. The one who spoke was tall, muscular, with a thick scar running down his cheek. His smirk was amused, but his eyes held something more dangerous. "You took quite a beating out there, kid," the scarred man said. Kai didn¡¯t answer. His fingers curled slightly against the rough fabric of the cot he lay on. A second man, lean and fox-eyed, leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Don¡¯t be so stiff, kid. We ain¡¯t gonna kill ya." Beat. The oldest man at the table let out a slow breath, exhaling a plume of smoke from a long pipe. His thin, sharp eyes locked onto Kai¡¯s. "...Yet." A chill ran down Kai¡¯s spine. The Taste of Hunger. The Cost of Survival. Rough laughter filled the dimly lit room. The scarred man kicked his feet up on the table, nudging a plate of food toward Kai with his boot. Rice. Fish. Steaming hot. The scent was torture. Kai¡¯s stomach twisted violently, an unbearable ache spreading through his core. "Go on," the fox-eyed man smirked. "Eat." His fingers twitched. His throat was dry. (Why? Why were they feeding him? What was the catch?) The older man¡ªclearly the leader¡ªtapped his pipe against the wooden table. The clink echoed in the room. "Eating this means you listen to us from now on." Silence. Kai¡¯s body screamed for the food. His mind screamed not to trust them. He clenched his jaw. His nails dug into his palms. Then¡ªslowly¡ª He reached forward. The wooden chopsticks felt foreign in his fingers, too smooth, too refined for someone like him. He lifted a bite of rice to his lips. The first taste of warmth in weeks. A shiver ran through his body. He hated it. Hated how much he wanted more. The gang watched in silence. The older man¡ªHibiki¡ªsmirked. "Good," he murmured. "You just took your first bite of crime." To Be Continued... Meaning of Happiness A Heavy Head. A Weak Body. A New Life. Darkness. A faint, rhythmic thud pulsed inside his skull. Not quite pain. Not quite numbness. Just an endless, dull hammering that refused to fade. Kai felt heavy. His limbs, his thoughts, his very breath¡ªeach weighed him down, pressing him deeper into whatever rough surface he lay on. His throat was dry, raw like sandpaper. His body ached, though the pain was distant, like it wasn¡¯t fully his. For a moment, he simply existed. Suspended between sleep and consciousness. Between the past and the present. Then¡ª Memories slammed into him. A dog¡¯s teeth sinking into his ankle. The roar of shopkeepers shouting. The sharp crack of his skull hitting stone. The bread¡ªhis last hope of survival¡ªtumbling from his fingers, lost to the filth below. A violent gasp tore from his throat. His chest tightened. His body flinched, a reflexive attempt to move¡ªto run. Pain flared instantly. A sharp, white-hot ache shot through his ribs, pinning him in place. His breath hitched, strangled between clenched teeth. Slowly¡ªhesitantly¡ªhe forced his eyes open. A dim, flickering light swayed above him, its glow distorted by the haze in his vision. Cracked wooden beams. Shadows twisting across the ceiling. The scent hit him next¡ªdamp wood, old smoke, something metallic. Blood. His blood. Kai shifted slightly¡ªmore pain. His body was a network of aches and bruises, a collection of fading wounds and fresh bandages. His fingers brushed against something rough beneath him. A mattress. A bed. Not the alley. Not the cold, wet streets. His mind sluggishly connected the pieces. Where¡­ am I? The room was small, old, suffocating. The walls bore deep scratches, faint stains marking the aged wood. Footsteps. Voices. Laughter. Somewhere beyond the door, people were talking¡ªlow, amused, comfortable. A faint clink of glass followed. He wasn¡¯t alone. Kai swallowed, though his throat protested. His fingers curled into the thin blanket draped over him. Stay still. Stay unseen. Stay unnoticed. But then¡ª The door creaked open. A shadow blocked the dim lantern light from the hallway. Kai tensed.
The Devil¡¯s Smile. The First Step into Hell. A man stepped into the room. Tall. Broad-shouldered. A permanent smirk resting on his lips. But his eyes¡­ His eyes were sharp. Cold. Calculating. Kai had seen dangerous men before. He¡¯d been chased by them, robbed by them, beaten by them. But this man¡­ This man was different. He didn¡¯t move with violence. Didn¡¯t radiate rage. Instead, he exuded something far worse. Control. He watched Kai in silence for a long moment, amusement flickering in his gaze. Like a predator deciding whether to play with its food or eat it. Then¡ªhe spoke. "You''re awake, huh?" Kai didn¡¯t answer. His fingers curled slightly against the mattress, muscles coiled in quiet resistance. His body was too weak to move, but his mind was alive. The man chuckled¡ªlow, quiet, amused. Then, without warning, he tossed something through the air. Kai flinched. The object hit his chest softly. Instinctively, his fingers snapped around it before he even looked. It was¡­ An apple. Bright red. Shiny. A single droplet of water slid down its smooth surface. Food. Kai¡¯s stomach twisted violently. His fingers trembled slightly against the fruit¡¯s skin. His throat tightened. His body screamed for it. But his mind whispered¡ª The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. This is a trick. His gaze snapped up, sharp and wary. The man was still watching him, still smirking. "Eat."
Hunger is a Monster. Desperation is a Weapon. Kai hesitated. Something was wrong. No one gave food for free. No one. What did this man want? Why had he bandaged him? Why was he feeding him? The apple sat warm in his palm, heavier than it should have been. His stomach churned. His body screamed to devour it, but his mind¡­ His mind whispered a different warning. This isn¡¯t food. It¡¯s a leash. The man sighed, watching the silent war in Kai¡¯s face. "You think it''s poisoned or something?" His tone was mocking, entertained. He crossed his arms. "Kid, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted a bed on you." Silence. Kai¡¯s fingers twitched. His jaw clenched. Then¡ª He bit into the apple. The skin snapped beneath his teeth. The sweet, crisp flesh melted on his tongue, juice dripping down his chin. His entire body shuddered. Warmth. Sweetness. It had been so long. He took another bite. Then another. His hands shook as he devoured the fruit, barely breathing between bites. The man chuckled again. "I see hunger still drives you." Kai ignored him. For the first time in a long time¡ªhe didn¡¯t care about anything except the taste of food. Then, just as suddenly as the pleasure had come, it was gone. The apple was nothing but a core in his trembling fingers. The moment ended. The hunger remained. And now, the man¡¯s words took on a new weight. "But food alone won¡¯t change the way you think." Kai looked up, eyes narrowing. The man smirked. "You need to taste real pleasure." The Taste of Corruption. The Power of Desire. The door creaked open again. Kai¡¯s breath hitched. Two women stepped inside. Their movements were slow, deliberate, their figures draped in loose, flowing robes that shifted like silk over their skin. Their faces were smooth, elegant¡ªyet their eyes were sharp, knowing. Kai¡¯s body locked up. A strange, unfamiliar chill ran down his spine. Not fear. Something deeper. Something worse. One of the women¡ªdark-haired, lips curled in a lazy smirk¡ªstrode closer, her gaze locked onto him like he was a curiosity, a game to be played. She kneeled beside him, the faint scent of jasmine and warm skin mixing with the stale air. Her fingers¡ªsoft, delicate¡ªbrushed against his arm. "You''ve suffered enough," she murmured. Kai¡¯s breath shuddered. His fingers twitched against the thin blanket covering him. Another hand¡ªthis time from the second woman¡ªlightly trailed over his shoulder, tracing the outlines of the fading bruises along his collarbone. A new kind of tension coiled inside him, foreign and suffocating. His body wanted to recoil¡ªbut the warmth of their touch, the softness of their fingertips, froze him in place. "Let¡¯s make you forget¡­" Her lips were close to his ear now, her breath soft against his skin. Kai¡¯s heartbeat pounded in his ears. This was different from hunger. Different from pain. Different from anything he had ever known. And that terrified him.
What Money Buys. What the Broken Become. A hand cupped his chin, tilting his face upward. His gaze locked onto the woman¡¯s¡ªher expression unreadable, her touch light but firm. "Relax," she whispered, as if commanding it into existence. Kai couldn¡¯t move. His mind screamed at him to pull away¡ªto run. But his body¡­ His body was starved. Not just for food. Not just for survival. For warmth. For something that didn¡¯t hurt. For the illusion that, even for a moment, he was wanted. Something deep inside him twisted, resisting, refusing¡ªbut the longer their hands traced over his skin, the more that voice inside him grew quiet. A gentle touch brushed along his collarbone. Another over the scars on his wrist. Slow. Patient. Tempting. The tension in his muscles began to melt. For the first time in his life, his body wasn¡¯t fighting to survive. It was surrendering. His hands fisted the blanket beneath him, his knuckles white. Shame and instinct battled inside him¡ªthe urge to push them away warring with the unbearable ache of loneliness clawing at his ribs. He squeezed his eyes shut. No. This isn¡¯t me. This isn¡¯t¡ª A soft, quiet hum filled the silence. Fingertips brushed over his jawline, tracing it gently. "It¡¯s okay to take something for yourself, Nikey." His breath stopped. That name. Not Kai. Nikey. The moment that name left her lips, something inside him broke. He was already lost, wasn¡¯t he? Already drowning. If this was the world he was stepping into¡­ why fight it? His fingers unfurled. His shoulders relaxed. The tension in his jaw eased. And just like that¡ª He let himself sink.
The Next Morning. A New Nikey. The air smelled of burnt wood and alcohol. Kai¡ªno, Nikey¡ªlay motionless on the thin mattress, staring at the ceiling, his mind a tangled mess of exhaustion and something else. Something heavier. Something he couldn¡¯t name. The door creaked open again. This time, Hibiki stood in the doorway, his smirk lazy, knowing. "Well, look at you," he mused, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his pipe. "Told you, didn¡¯t I? Money buys everything. Even happiness." Happiness. The word tasted strange now. Nikey sat up slowly, his body still sore, his thoughts still clouded. His fingers brushed against his own wrist¡ªhis own skin¡ªlike he wasn¡¯t sure it belonged to him anymore. Hibiki watched him carefully, then chuckled. "You¡¯re ready for the next step." The next step. The final break. Nikey glanced down at his open palm. His fingers curled into a fist. He wasn¡¯t sure what he had lost last night. But he knew he was never getting it back.
To Be Continued in Chapter 3: The Art of Stealing The Art of Stealing A New Name. A New Life. A Test of Worth. The air inside the underground hideout was thick with the scent of cheap liquor, sweat, and burning oil. The wooden walls creaked under the force of the wind howling outside, a constant reminder that, beneath all their power, the Reyin Gang was still buried beneath the city they sought to control. Nikey sat in the farthest corner, back against the cold wall, fingers pressed lightly into his arms. He kept his breathing slow, his body still. Yet inside¡ª His heartbeat pounded against his ribs. The night before still clung to his skin. The apple. The women. Hibiki¡¯s voice telling him to "enjoy it." He had eaten until his stomach was full. He had surrendered to pleasure, warmth, and something he didn¡¯t understand. But now? Now, something inside him ached. Was this happiness? The thought disgusted him. The truth settled in his bones. Happiness doesn¡¯t exist here. There is only control. And he was still learning who controlled who.
The First Job. The First Step Toward Power. THUD. A heavy bottle slammed onto the wooden table, shaking the scattered coins and leftover scraps of food. Laughter erupted. The gang¡¯s voices bounced off the walls, rough and wild, fueled by alcohol and victory. Nikey didn¡¯t flinch. But he was aware¡ªalways aware. A burly man with a thick scar along his jaw leaned forward, tapping a sharp knife against the wood. His grin was too wide, too forced, like he wanted to see Nikey react. "You''re awfully quiet, kid. What¡¯s your deal?" Nikey remained still. His fingers subtly tightened around his wrist. His face was unreadable, but something behind his hollow eyes shifted. The air grew heavier. Jin, a thin man with a hungry gaze, smirked. "Maybe he''s still scared," he sneered, swirling his sake before taking a long sip. "You sure you got the guts for this life, brat?" Nikey didn¡¯t answer. He didn¡¯t need to. At the head of the table, Hibiki sat relaxed, his fingers tapping slowly, rhythmically, against the wood. The only sound in the room now. Then, he spoke. "Let¡¯s find out." Something small flew through the air. Nikey caught it instinctively. An earpiece. Hibiki smirked. "Put that on. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re worth keeping."
The Test Begins. The Heist Starts. The marketplace was alive, a relentless tide of voices, movement, and opportunity. The air was thick with the scent of spices, fresh bread, and sweat. Merchants barked out prices, customers haggled, coins jingled in pouches, and the occasional burst of laughter broke through the chaotic rhythm. Nikey moved through the crowd, the earpiece snug in his ear. His heart pounded beneath his ribs, but his expression remained unreadable. The target was a wealthy merchant. Dressed in fine silk robes, he carried himself like a man who knew he was untouchable. A heavy pouch of money swung lazily from his belt, each step taunting the crowd. Two guards flanked him, their eyes sharp, scanning every movement. Hibiki¡¯s voice crackled through the earpiece¡ªcalm, controlled. "Move slow. Blend in. The target is five meters ahead. Don¡¯t rush." Nikey adjusted his pace, breathing steady. His fingers twitched slightly. Hibiki: "Breathe in. Stay loose. Don¡¯t look at the pouch. Let your hands work by instinct." This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The guards shifted. The merchant turned slightly. Nikey moved. One fluid motion. His fingers brushed against the pouch¡¯s strap. The blade slipped beneath the knot¡ªa silent cut. The pouch vanished into his sleeve. Jin¡¯s voice whispered through the earpiece. "Damn. Not bad." Nikey exhaled slowly, stepping away. Clean. Flawless. For a second, his pulse slowed. Then¡ª
The Unexpected Problem. The Moment of Failure. A loud crash. Nikey¡¯s eyes snapped to the side. A woman had dropped a basket of apples. One rolled toward his foot. A guard glanced in his direction. His breath hitched. The sound of the apple hitting the ground echoed louder in his mind than it should have. The earpiece was silent. No instructions. No guidance. This wasn¡¯t part of the plan. His fingers twitched. His throat felt dry. Think. Think fast. He bent down casually, picking up the apple. Then, he tossed it back to the woman¡ªsmoothly, naturally. "Here, miss. You dropped this." The guard¡¯s eyes lingered for a second too long. Then¡ªhe turned away. The tension evaporated. A moment later, Hibiki¡¯s voice crackled through the earpiece¡ª "...Not bad, kid."
The Aftermath. The Moment of Truth. The hideout was louder than usual. Laughter. Voices. A pouch of money sat on the table in front of Nikey. Unopened. A rough slap hit Nikey¡¯s back. "Well, shit. Looks like the rat can dance!" Jin grinned, flashing his teeth. Nikey stayed silent. Across from him, Akane¡ªcold eyes, arms folded¡ªwatched him carefully. Skeptical. Unimpressed. "Luck." Her voice was clipped. "Let¡¯s see if you can do it again." Without warning, she grabbed his wrist. Nikey¡¯s body tensed. "Your grip was too tight," she muttered. "You almost pulled too hard. If the merchant had been paying attention, he would¡¯ve felt it." She demonstrated¡ªher fingers barely brushed against Jin¡¯s belt. The pouch was gone before anyone noticed. She held it up with a smirk. "See? Loose fingers. No sudden tugs. Pickpocketing is an art, kid. You? You¡¯re still an amateur." Nikey¡¯s jaw tightened. Hibiki leaned forward, his grin sharp and calculating. "You¡¯ve got instincts. But instincts won¡¯t be enough for the next job." Nikey¡¯s fingers tapped the wooden table. He wasn¡¯t thinking about escape anymore. Now¡ª He was thinking about what was next. "If I¡¯m here¡­" His eyes darkened. "I might as well win." Hibiki smirked. A blueprint map hit the table. "Next test" "You rob a vault." Silence. The gang stared at Nikey, waiting. His fingers twitched. His throat felt dry. "...Isn¡¯t it wrong?" The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them. The room shifted. Not in rage, not in offense¡ªbut in amusement. Jin chuckled, shaking his head. "Here we go." Tanjiro leaned forward, arms crossed over his massive chest. "Wrong? What part?" Nikey¡¯s jaw clenched. "Stealing." Another laugh, this time from Akane. "And what¡¯s wrong with that?" Her voice was cool, challenging. "We¡¯re not stealing from the weak. We take from those who have too much." Jin tilted his head, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "Tell me, kid. If someone drops money on the street and you pick it up, is that stealing?" Nikey hesitated. "...No." Jin smirked. "Then what if someone is hoarding mountains of money they don¡¯t even need, while kids like you starve in the gutters? And we just¡­ pick it up?" "Doesn¡¯t that make it ours?" The logic twisted inside Nikey¡¯s mind. Hibiki finally spoke, his voice smooth, dangerous. "Stealing is an art." The gang fell silent. All eyes turned to Hibiki as he leaned back, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his pipe. "Anyone can use force. Any idiot can point a blade at someone and demand their wallet. But to steal?" He smiled, tapping his temple. "That takes skill. Intelligence. Precision." His gaze locked onto Nikey, piercing. "And most importantly?" A flicker of something darker danced in his expression. "It¡¯s survival." The words hit deeper than Nikey expected. Hunger was survival. Strength was survival. Then¡­ was stealing just another kind of survival too? The silence stretched. Then¡ªJin grinned, throwing an arm over Nikey¡¯s shoulder. "So, brat? You in, or do you wanna go back to starving?" Nikey didn¡¯t hesitate this time. His fingers curled into a fist. His pulse pounded¡ªnot from fear, but something else. He exhaled sharply. Then, with a slow, deliberate nod¡ª "Here I am. Doing this. No matter what." The gang cheered, bottles slammed onto the table, voices rising in excitement. Hibiki just smiled. The rat was finally one of them. To Be Continued in Chapter 4: No Second Chances No Second Chances Kuruya Heist ¨C Chapter 4: No Second Chances "This is your mission. We don¡¯t save dead weight." The blueprint of Ishigane¡¯s Private Vault lay sprawled across the table, its edges curling under the weight of the gang¡¯s hands. Faint ink smudges marked escape routes, blind spots, and weak entry points, each detail sharp, unforgiving. Hibiki leaned back, tapping his long pipe against the wooden table, knocking loose a trail of ash. His voice was calm. Too calm. "This is simple." His gaze flicked toward Nikey. "You break in, get the stash, and walk out. If you¡¯re lucky." Jin snickered, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "The keyword being ¡®lucky.¡¯" Ryo, half-distracted, adjusted the blue-glowing device in his hands, an intricate mass of wires and circuits. "You¡¯ll need more than luck, honestly. Try not to suck." Nikey said nothing. He studied the blueprint. Every mark, every detail. Memorizing. Processing. Preparing. Then, he spoke. "How secure is it?" Silence. Then¡ªJin grinned. "Enough that we wouldn¡¯t do it ourselves."
The Breakdown ¨C Risks, Hints, and Tricks Ryo exhaled, shoving his glasses up his nose. "Alright, newbie. Pay attention, because I¡¯m not repeating this." His fingers tapped the vault¡¯s entrance on the map. "The security system is top-tier. Ishigane doesn¡¯t fuck around. You have exactly four minutes before the second patrol sweeps the hall. You mess up? You''re locked in.** Nikey¡¯s eyes narrowed. "How do I get in?" Jin laughed, resting his boots on the table. "You¡¯re gonna love this part." Ryo didn¡¯t look up. "You don¡¯t. We do." He gestured at himself and Jin. "We¡¯ll handle disabling the external locks. That gets you past the first layer of security. Once you¡¯re inside, it¡¯s all you." His fingers traced the main entry point on the map. "Once we unlock the external security, you¡¯ll have exactly four minutes before the next patrol sweeps through the hall. That means you need to be inside the vault before that happens. If not, you¡¯re trapped." Nikey nodded. "And the cameras?" Ryo adjusted his glasses, tapping the small transmitter next to him. "They¡¯ll be down for three minutes. Not a second longer." Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jin grinned, leaning back in his chair. "That¡¯s where it gets fun. You either move fast, or you get real comfortable in Ishigane¡¯s basement prison."
Do¡¯s, Don¡¯ts, and the Harsh Reality Jin stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, rookie, here¡¯s how you don¡¯t screw up." He held up three fingers. "One: Don¡¯t rush. Speed without control gets you caught." "Two: Don¡¯t hesitate. If you freeze, you¡¯re dead." "Three: Don¡¯t expect a rescue." He lowered his hand, smirking. "You fuck up, we leave. That¡¯s the rule." Nikey didn¡¯t flinch. Ryo, still focused on the blueprint, added, "You make it out, you prove you belong here. You don¡¯t? Well¡­ there¡¯s always more street rats waiting to take your place." Nikey¡¯s fingers tightened into a fist. No backup. No second chances. He was alone in this.
The heavy wooden door swung open, and a thick cloud of cigar smoke rolled in before the man himself. Daichi. The gang¡¯s smuggler. Supplier. The man who could get anything for the right price. He grinned, stepping forward with a large duffel bag in his hands. The dim lantern light flickered against his gold rings and the scar running across his brow. "You¡¯re lucky I like you, kid," he said, dropping the bag onto the table with a loud thud. "Because pulling high-grade tools this fast? Not cheap." Nikey unzipped the bag. Inside¡ªlockpicks, gloves, a lightweight crowbar, a glass cutter, a compact smoke bomb, and a few other surprises. Everything he¡¯d need. He picked up the gloves first¡ªthin but reinforced, built for precision. Daichi smirked, taking a long drag from his cigar. "We don¡¯t have time to teach stuffs to a newbie. Figure it out yourself." Jin whistled, peering into the bag. "Damn, Daichi. You don¡¯t play around." Daichi shrugged. "It¡¯s not about playing. It¡¯s about surviving. You want to win big?" His sharp gaze flicked to Nikey. "Then don¡¯t get caught."
The Mission Begins The streets were quiet. Too quiet. Nikey stood outside the vault¡¯s service entrance, his hood pulled low, hands in his pockets. Jin and Ryo flanked him¡ªcalm, unbothered, experienced. The earpiece crackled. Hibiki¡¯s voice, smooth as ever. "Doors will be unlocked in twenty seconds. Get in, get what we need, and don¡¯t waste time." Jin leaned in, voice low. "Remember, kid¡ªthis is your job. We¡¯re just watching." Nikey exhaled slowly. Here I am. Doing this. No matter what. The lock clicked. The door creaked open. Nikey stepped inside.
The Cliffhanger ¨C Something¡¯s Wrong. The moment he entered, he felt it. A shift in the air. The vault wasn¡¯t just cold¡ªit was unnatural. Something was off. Then¡ªa sound. Faint. Distant. A slow, rhythmic tapping. Tap. Tap. Tap. Nikey froze. Not from fear. From instinct. Something was inside. Watching. Waiting. The earpiece crackled¡ªbut this time, it wasn¡¯t Hibiki. A distorted voice whispered. "You shouldn¡¯t be here." To Be Continued in Chapter 4: The Rival Thieves The Rival Thieves Kuruya Heist ¨C Chapter 5: Uninvited Gang The Sound of Doubt. The Shadow of Reality. Tap. Tap. Tap. Nikey¡¯s breath froze in his throat. His fingers twitched against the cold vault wall, his pulse a war drum against his ribs. For a moment, everything felt unreal. The weight of the silence pressing in, the faint hum of security mechanisms in the distance¡ªit had to be in his head. Stress. Exhaustion. The pressure of the mission. He swallowed hard, forcing his breath to steady. You¡¯re overthinking. Stay focused. The sound was gone. His body unclenched slightly. Just his imagination. That¡¯s all. Then¡ª Tap. Tap. Tap. Closer this time. A sharp chill ran down Nikey¡¯s spine. This wasn¡¯t his mind playing tricks on him. Someone else was here. Instinct kicked in. He dropped low, pressing his body behind a half-broken concrete divider. A relic of old construction, just high enough to keep him hidden. His breathing slowed. Eyes sharp. Ears sharper. The vault was supposed to be empty. Only guards outside, only security measures¡ªbut no other thieves. And yet¡ª A soft shuffle of movement. A presence. Near. Watching. Then¡ª "Oh, scaredy cat!" The voice came from above. Before Nikey could react, a firm hand grabbed his collar and yanked him out of cover. He barely stopped himself from gasping aloud. His feet hit the floor, body tense¡ªstaring up into six unfamiliar faces.
The Rival Gang. The Uninvited Guests. They stood in a loose formation, each one exuding raw confidence. Unlike Reyin, who carried an air of reckless danger, these men were calculated, equipped, prepared. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Their gear was high-grade¡ªreinforced gloves, cutting-edge tools, specialized lockpicks, even silencers strapped to their belts. This wasn¡¯t a street gang. These were professionals. And Nikey? He was in their way. "Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them murmured, amusement flickering in his gaze. A taller, bulkier man cracked his knuckles. "Another rat sniffing for cheese?" Nikey¡¯s breath came shallow, controlled. His mind screamed danger. Then¡ª A sharp voice cut through the air. "Stop." The man who spoke wasn¡¯t the tallest or the strongest. But the moment he did, everyone else fell silent. He stepped forward¡ªslim, well-dressed, a mind sharper than the knives strapped to his belt. His eyes gleamed coldly, dissecting Nikey in an instant. A leader. A strategist. The one in charge. His voice was calm, smooth¡ªbut behind it lay power. Control. "Who do you work for?" "Reyin," Nikey said, voice even. The reaction was immediate. One of the men snorted. "Reyin? They work with newbies now? Damn." Laughter rippled through the group, but the leader remained unreadable. A long pause. Then¡ª "Interesting." He took a step closer. "Then, let me offer you a deal." Nikey stiffened. "You help us get the best stash, and we¡¯ll split it fifty-fifty." Silence. Fifty percent. Nikey¡¯s stomach twisted at the number. That was more than Reyin would ever offer. More than he could even imagine. His mind spun. Doing this alone would be risky. Too many variables. If things went south, the outside world wouldn¡¯t know what happened here. Reyin was far away, completely blind to what was happening inside the vault. Even if he got only 50%, it would still be enough to change his life. He could return to Reyin with money, with power. Enjoy the riches, the thrill. The girls, the food, the comfort. The things he never had before. ...But what if they betrayed him? That thought cut through the fantasy like a blade. Would they really let him walk out with half? Would Reyin ever forgive him for taking a bigger cut with another gang? But¡ª I don¡¯t have a choice. If I say no, I get nothing. If I say yes¡­ at least I have a chance. His fingers curled slightly. Then¡ª He nodded. "I¡¯m in." The leader smiled. But behind his eyes¡ª There was only calculation. The leader''s gaze sharpened, his voice calm but commanding. "And you? What''s your name?" Nikey parted his lips. "Ka¡ª" He stopped. A hesitation¡ªsmall, but real. That name didn''t belong here anymore. He swallowed, steadied himself. "Nikey." The leader studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Good answer." To Be Continued in Chapter 6: Steal. Run. Repeat. The Heist Fever The Vault of Chaos The air was thick¡ªnot just with dust and old money, but with tension so sharp it could cut. Nikey¡¯s fingers dug into the straps of his gloves, his breath slow, controlled. Around him, the six thieves moved like a well-oiled machine, their focus absolute. There was no talking, no hesitation¡ªonly the rhythmic sounds of metal being pried open, stacks of cash being shoved into duffel bags, and the occasional grunt of effort. His heart pounded. This wasn¡¯t like before. This wasn¡¯t about stealing to survive. This was about stealing to win. And for the first time, the fear wasn¡¯t drowning him. The rush was. "Hurry up!" The leader¡¯s sharp voice snapped through the air. "We have minutes, not hours." A lock clicked open. One of the men¡ªa scar-faced thief with sharp eyes¡ªlet out a whistle as he pulled open a thick steel case. Gold bars. "Jackpot," someone muttered. Another thief worked on a reinforced safe, grunting. "This one''s tougher than expected¡ªneed time!" "We don¡¯t have time," the leader said coldly. His eyes flicked to Nikey. "You. Get in there." Nikey blinked. "What?" The leader pointed at a narrow gap between two thick vault compartments. "You¡¯re small. Get inside and unlock it from the back." Nikey¡¯s throat tightened. A test. Again. No hesitation. He couldn¡¯t hesitate. Without another word, he pressed himself against the cold steel, squeezing through the tight gap. The edges scraped against his back, but he forced himself forward. His arms stretched, reaching the small lock on the back of the safe. His fingers worked quickly¡ªlockpicking wasn¡¯t second nature yet, but it was coming to him faster now. Click. The safe creaked open. Stacks of thick, red-sealed envelopes. The leader¡¯s gaze darkened. "This is better than money." Nikey¡¯s curiosity sparked, but before he could ask¡ª "Shit! Someone¡¯s coming!"
The Struggle is Real ¨C Everything Goes Wrong Footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Nikey¡¯s pulse spiked. The vault door creaked. A flashlight beam cut through the dimly lit space. His chest tightened. A gun pressed against his leg¡ªone of the thieves, whispering¡ª "Not a sound." Three guards stepped in. Armed. Tense. "Something¡¯s off." Another scanned the open deposit boxes. "Someone¡¯s been here." Nikey barely breathed. The gang froze. A single movement could get them all killed. The guards moved deeper inside¡ªcloser. Closer. Closer. Then¡ª A bag strap slipped. The softest sound. Barely a whisper. But in the silence of the vault, it was deafening. A guard¡¯s head snapped toward the noise. "HEY! STOP!" The vault erupted into chaos. The Breaking Point "HEY! STOP!" The guard¡¯s voice cut through the vault like a knife. For a single second, no one moved. Then¡ª Chaos. A gunshot shattered the silence. "MOVE!" The leader¡¯s voice snapped Nikey out of his daze. The guards charged forward, guns raised. The vault was too small to escape clean. One of the thieves¡ªthe scar-faced man¡ªlunged first. His gloved fist slammed into the nearest guard¡¯s throat. A sharp gag. A stumble. But the second guard was already pulling the trigger¡ª BANG. The shot grazed past Nikey¡¯s arm. The heat of it stung, even without touching skin. Adrenaline surged. His breathing sharpened. Was this what a real heist felt like? Another shot rang out. One of the thieves¡ªnot fast enough. A pained grunt. A body slumping against the vault wall. They just lost a man. "FUCK¡ªGO!" The leader grabbed the duffel full of red-sealed envelopes and ran. The others followed. Nikey¡¯s legs moved before his mind caught up.
A Race Against Time The hallway outside the vault was long, narrow, and suffocating. No cover. No time to think. Nikey ran. Behind them, shouts echoed. Boots slammed against the floor. The sound of alarms finally screamed to life¡ªdelayed, but deadly. They had seconds before the entire place locked down. Ahead, the leader barked: "Down the south corridor! We have an exit!" Nikey turned the corner just in time to see a metal gate slamming shut. "SHIT!" Too late. The building was locking them inside. "Find another way!" One of the thieves spotted a maintenance hatch above a storage room door. "There! Up!" Without thinking, Nikey grabbed the nearest metal crate and scrambled up. His fingers locked around the ledge of the hatch. Too narrow. "Kid!" The scar-faced thief hoisted him up. Nikey twisted his body, using his small frame to squeeze through. The cold air rushed against his face. He was through. He turned, extending a hand down¡ªbut the rival gang had other plans. They weren¡¯t coming. They were grabbing the bags. They weren¡¯t looking back. For the first time, Nikey realized. They weren¡¯t planning to bring him along. The leader¡¯s smirk was the last thing he saw before the metal hatch slammed shut. The Betrayal That Wasn¡¯t The metal hatch slammed shut. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The last thing Nikey saw was the leader¡¯s smirk¡ªmocking, dismissive. They thought they had played him. They thought they had won. They never even saw the real prize.
The Setup Nikey never played fair. While the rival gang fought over duffel bags full of yen, Nikey¡¯s eyes were on something else. A sealed steel case, locked tight, hidden in the deepest part of the vault. They ignored it. He didn¡¯t. Why? Because the vault¡¯s highest security was on this box¡ªnot the cash. And if something is locked that tightly, it¡¯s never just money.
The Execution ¨C How He Got Away Faster The rival gang was bigger, stronger, and better armed. But they needed the bags. Dragging duffels full of stolen yen slowed them down. Nikey? He carried speed. While they ran through the main tunnels, Nikey took the maintenance shafts¡ªroutes only someone small could fit through. While they were running, he was already outside. By the time they realized they were doomed, Nikey was breathing fresh air.
The Last Laugh ¨C They Stole Nothing Somewhere deep in the tunnels, the rival gang was losing their minds. Their yen? Useless. Their escape? Cut off. The real fortune? Already gone. And the worst part? They never even knew.
A Return Like a Monster When Nikey stepped into the Reyin hideout, he wasn¡¯t the same person who left. His clothes smelled like smoke, steel, and betrayal. His face? Unbothered. Cold. And slung over his shoulder? A steel case. He dropped it onto the table, hard. Jin snorted, raising an eyebrow. "That¡¯s it? Thought you¡¯d bring back something bigger." Hibiki leaned forward, watching, waiting. Nikey shrugged. "It¡¯s not worth much. But it¡¯s a good start." Jin scoffed, popping the latches open. "Let¡¯s see what kind of pocket change¡ª" He stopped. His breath hitched. His pupils dilated. Silence. Hibiki raised an eyebrow. "Well?" A short chuckle left his lips. "Nah¡­ no way." Jin slowly turned his head, his voice flat. "This¡­ this ain¡¯t yen." He pulled out a stack of crisp K-Kin notes, flipping through them once, twice¡ª The rare, high-value currency used by the richest crime lords and underground elites. Worth millions. Nikey blinked. "¡­Oh." He hadn¡¯t even realized. He stole millions. By accident. Jin let out a slow, disbelieving laugh. "You lucky son of a bitch." Hibiki smirked, exhaling a slow breath. "Not bad." Nikey? He just grabbed a drink, leaned back, and shrugged. Like it was nothing. Like he had always belonged. And no one said otherwise. To Be Continued in Chapter 7: The Weight of Stolen Wealth The Weight of Stolen Wealth The Weight of Stolen Wealth The room was dead silent. Stacks of K-Kin bills sat on the table, their deep crimson hue almost glowing under the dim light. No one spoke. Jin had stopped tossing his knife. Ryo had stopped tinkering with his tech. Even Hibiki, always composed, stared at the money with something unreadable in his eyes. This wasn¡¯t normal wealth. This was untouchable wealth. K-Kin wasn¡¯t something a street gang like Reyin ever handled. It belonged to businessmen. To crime lords. To the elite. Jin finally broke the silence, exhaling sharply. "Shit. We can¡¯t use this." Nikey frowned. "Why not? It¡¯s money, isn¡¯t it?" Hibiki¡¯s gaze flickered to him. "No, kid. It¡¯s evidence."
Nikey¡¯s First Lesson in Real Money Nikey grabbed a handful of K-Kin notes, flipping through them like regular bills. It felt real. It smelled real. So why did they act like it was poison? He clenched his jaw. "Money is money. If we have it, we should use it." Jin let out a dry laugh. "You really don¡¯t get it, huh?" With a smirk, he grabbed a stack and threw it at Ryo. Ryo didn¡¯t even flinch. He let it hit the floor. Nikey blinked. "What the hell¡ª?" Jin leaned back. "There. That¡¯s how much it¡¯s worth right now." Nikey¡¯s fingers curled. "That doesn¡¯t make sense." Hibiki exhaled a slow drag of his cigarette. "Money isn¡¯t power unless you can use it." He tapped his fingers against the table. "K-Kin isn¡¯t just illegal¡ªit¡¯s traceable. If we start spending this, the people who originally had it? They¡¯re gonna start asking questions." Jin nodded. "And when people like that ask questions? They don¡¯t use words." The weight of their words settled in. Nikey hadn¡¯t just stolen money. He had stolen something dangerous. And now? They had to clean it.
Finding the Right Dealer "We need a converter," Ryo muttered, scrolling through his tablet. "A businessman who deals in both K-Kin and Yen." Nikey frowned. "Why don¡¯t we just split it up and exchange it at different places?" Jin clicked his tongue. "The first dealer we use will know we have illegal tender. If we don¡¯t do it all at once, they¡¯ll blackmail us. We make one trade. One shot. No loose ends." Nikey nodded slowly. This wasn¡¯t just about money. It was about control. Reyin couldn¡¯t afford to look weak.
The Search Begins Hibiki¡¯s fingers tapped the table. "We need someone ruthless. Someone professional. Someone who values profit over loyalty." Jin smirked. "I know just the guy." The room grew colder. Nikey saw something in Jin¡¯s eyes¡ªa glint of excitement mixed with danger. Whoever they were about to meet¡­ This wasn¡¯t just business. This was going to be a gamble. The Name That Held Power Jin flicked a cigarette against the table, smirking. "I know just the guy." Hibiki¡¯s gaze sharpened. "Is he trustworthy?" Jin let out a dry laugh. "Trust? Hell no. But he¡¯s the best we¡¯ve got." Nikey leaned forward. "Who is he?" Jin¡¯s smirk widened. "His name¡¯s Kanzaki. The man who can turn dirt into diamonds¡­ for the right price." A heavy silence filled the room. Even Ryo¡ªnormally indifferent¡ªclicked his tongue. "Kanzaki¡¯s dangerous. He doesn¡¯t just deal in money. He deals in people." Nikey narrowed his eyes. "So why him?" Hibiki leaned back, exhaling a slow drag from his cigarette. "Because he¡¯s our best shot. And because if we walk in weak, he¡¯ll smell it." This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The Setup ¨C A Letter Left Behind The warehouse air was thick with cigarette smoke and unspoken tension. Reyin didn¡¯t fear much. But Kanzaki? He wasn¡¯t just another dealer. Hibiki stood near the table, exhaling a slow breath. His fingers tapped the wooden surface as Jin finished securing the duffel of K-Kin bills. Everything was ready. Time to move. But just as Hibiki turned to leave, he paused. Without a word, he reached into his coat, pulled out a folded sheet of aged paper, and placed it on the table. Nikey frowned. "What¡¯s that?" Hibiki¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. He simply exhaled another slow breath, tucking his cigarette between his lips. "Just to be safe." Then, without further explanation, he turned toward the door. The weight of his words lingered.
The Meeting is Set They couldn¡¯t meet Kanzaki in public. That wasn¡¯t how he worked. Jin arranged a private sit-down at an abandoned high-rise, deep in the city¡¯s industrial district. No bodyguards. No backup. Just Reyin¡­ and Kanzaki. Nikey felt it¡ªthe tension in the air as they approached. This wasn¡¯t just a business deal. It was a gamble. One mistake, and they wouldn¡¯t be leaving.
Entering the Lion¡¯s Den The elevator rattled as it climbed, the flickering light casting long shadows on the rusted walls. Nikey stood between Jin and Hibiki, the heavy duffel bag of K-Kin strapped over his shoulder. The weight of the money wasn¡¯t the problem. The weight of the risk was. Ding. The doors slid open. Inside the dimly lit penthouse, Kanzaki waited. A man in his late forties, wearing an immaculate white suit. His hair slicked back, his expression unreadable. He sat at a glass table, swirling a glass of dark liquor. Behind him, the windows stretched out to the city skyline¡ªlike he owned it. Two men in black stood at his side. Silent. Unmoving. His lips curled into a smirk. "Reyin. What an unexpected surprise." A Game of Words Turns Into a War The room was suffocating. Kanzaki leaned back, still swirling his drink, his smirk never fading. "So, Reyin¡­ a gang of pickpockets and street rats, trying to swim in a sea of real businessmen." Jin¡¯s jaw twitched, but he stayed quiet. They couldn¡¯t react¡ªnot yet. Kanzaki let out a slow chuckle. "You boys must think you¡¯re special. Bringing me K-Kin like it¡¯s a winning hand. Let me guess¡ªyou think because you stole a few bills, you¡¯re suddenly part of the big leagues?" His gaze flicked to the money bag on the table. "Do you even know who this belonged to before it landed in your grubby little hands?" Silence. He knew. And he was testing them.
The Insults Cut Deep Kanzaki¡¯s smirk widened. "You boys don¡¯t understand the game you just walked into, do you?" He took another sip, sighing. "Street rats. Always so eager. Always so desperate. Always so... replaceable." Nikey clenched his fists. The way he said it¡ªit wasn¡¯t just an insult. It was like they weren¡¯t even worth hating. Kanzaki¡¯s voice dropped, smooth and condescending. "You¡¯re nothing but scavengers. Hyenas circling a feast you¡¯ll never be invited to." He leaned forward slightly. "You think money makes you powerful? You think stealing it makes you feared? Let me explain something¡ªmoney is only worth something when the right people say so." His finger tapped against the table. "And guess what? You''re not the right people."
The Final Insult ¨C The Last Straw Kanzaki exhaled a mock sigh, shaking his head. "Hibiki, Jin¡­ I expected more from you. But I suppose when you spend too much time in the slums, the stink never really leaves you." Jin¡¯s grip on the chair tightened. Hibiki¡¯s fingers stopped tapping. Kanzaki noticed. And he pushed further. "Maybe I should¡¯ve done the world a favor and had you all shot when you walked in. Save you the trouble of dying like the nobodies you are." Then¡ªhis eyes landed on Nikey. "And you¡­" He tilted his head, almost amused. "I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re here. You¡¯re just a child pretending to be a man. A lost puppy trying to bark like a wolf. Tell me¡­" A pause. Then, with pure disgust¡ª "Does your mother know you¡¯re playing gangster?"
The Punch That Shook the Room A heartbeat. Then¡ª Nikey moved. Faster than thought, faster than reason. His fist collided with Kanzaki¡¯s jaw. A dull thud. Kanzaki¡¯s head snapped sideways, his glass shattering against the floor. The room froze. Jin¡¯s mouth opened slightly. Ryo stopped breathing. Hibiki¡¯s jaw clenched. "¡­The fuck did you just do?" Jin whispered. Nikey shook out his fist, his voice calm. "He talks too much." The weight of his words dropped like a hammer.
The Trap Springs Shut Kanzaki sat there for a moment, rubbing his jaw. Then¡ª A slow, eerie chuckle. His lips curled into a smirk. He exhaled deeply and¡ªsnapped his fingers. Clack. Clack. Clack. Footsteps. Dozens of them. From the walls. The corridors. The shadows. Armed men. Silent. Deadly. Nikey¡¯s stomach dropped. They had been surrounded the whole time. Kanzaki wiped his mouth with his thumb, still smirking. "Now, that¡­ was a mistake." Hibiki slowly exhaled. "We''re dead." Kanzaki leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Tell me, boys. Did you really think I¡¯d meet you alone?" Nikey¡¯s fingers twitched. He fucked up. Kanzaki gestured lazily. "Kill them. But keep one alive. I want to know how many brain cells that idiot has left." The guards raised their guns.
The Escape Begins Jin moved first. Before the guards could fire, he grabbed the duffel and slammed it against the table, sending the stacks of K-Kin flying into the air. The distraction was instant. Gunfire erupted. Ryo flipped the table, creating cover. "MOVE, MOVE!" Hibiki didn¡¯t hesitate. He grabbed Nikey by the collar and dragged him back. Nikey¡¯s heart pounded. Everything happened so fast¡ªbullets ripping through the air, glass shattering, bodies moving. They had seconds to escape. And they were outnumbered 10 to 1. All for a stupid punch.