The Deceitful One

Bryan distributed the two brown bags to the kids. He then looked at Jamie and replied, "As I said before, I don't want anything. I simply wanted to give you guys some food and clothes."

"Lies!" Jamie snapped, "You rich folks can't be trusted at all. All you like to do is gloat at our misfortune."

'Looks like he's had some bad encounters with some of the wealthy people,' Bryan sighed inwardly, 'Well, he's not wrong. Some rich people do like to belittle the poor.'

He then crouched down in front of Jamie and asked, "Would you believe me If I said I too was once like you?"

"What do you mean?" Jamie asked dubiously.

Bryan pointed towards the slums and replied, "What I mean is, not long ago I too once lived there. In fact, I've lived most of my life dwelling in the slums and begging for sustenance."

"You expect me to believe you when you wear such fancy clothes and speak like those rich men?" Jamie had had enough of it. He then instructed the other kids, "Everyone, stop eating that, we don't-"

"I lived at Unit 76 in Nasseru for three years before getting evicted. Then I shared a room with five other people in Manush. The large dumpsters situated two blocks away from this grocery store, that's where I used to scrounge for leftover food." Bryan cut off Jamie.

He looked at the dumbfounded expression of Jamie and continued, "The Aruse landfill bordering the slums, on the outskirts of the city, is where I used to look for used items to sell in the black market."

The more Jamie heard, the more shocked he became. After all, this wasn't knowledge a wealthy person should be familiar with at all.

However, Bryan was not done speaking, "Most of my time I begged on Philip lane and during the morning time at the farmer's market when it was crowded the most.

After saving enough money over a long period of time, I was then able to afford a one-bedroom apartment on Robinson Street, right by the slums, where I lived for almost a year. Now, do you believe me?"

Jamie was wide-eyed. His mouth was agape and he didn't know how to reply. After a long time, he asked Bryan, however, this time his tone was much less aggressive, "Why are you doing this?"

Bryan smiled gently, "Because I—more than anyone—can understand the difficulties you are going through."

Jamie tightly clenched his fists and looked down at the snow beneath his feet. His eyes began to water as he tried his best to not shed any tears.

"Thank you." He said meekly.

Bryan smiled, stretched his hand out, and ruffled his hair, "Take the food and blankets home to your parents."

Jamie rubbed his eyes and looked at Bryan, "We don't have any parents."

For a moment, Bryan felt as if he was looking at his past self. The only difference was, during his time in the slums, he was all alone.

"Do you have any elders at home? Or are you the one who looks after these kids?" Bryan inquired.

Jamie nodded his head, "Big sister Ella is the one who looks after the seven of us."

"Very well, take these things to her. As for the extra blankets, you can give them to those who need them or just keep them with yourself." Bryan smiled.

"Okay." Jamie nodded.

Then he hesitated for a moment and asked, "Mister, how did you get out of the slums?"

Bryan recalled the time when he had tried to con Detective Watson into giving him a job, the first time he met him.

He couldn't help but smile as he replied, "I had a fortunate encounter."

'Fortunate encounter… ' Jamie was silent for a long time. He then looked into Bryan's eyes and stated, "I cannot accept these blankets and food from you for free. Let me work for you.

If you really understand the difficulties I'm going through then give me a job that pays regularly."

Bryan's lips curled up into a smirk as he thought, 'Oh? At least, you have the ability to work toward long-term gains instead of short-term benefits. Not bad!'

Rubbing his chin with his right hand, he began thinking about any specific work that he could give to Jamie.

His eyes lit up as he thought of the long-term mission that the Captain had given him.

Bryan looked at Jamie and asked solemnly, "If I give you a job to do, will you carry it out seriously?"

"I'll do anything!" Jamie replied instantly, without an ounce of hesitation.

"Then I want you to murder five middle-aged men and bring their heads to me," Bryan stated as he grinned maniacally.

Jamie's eyes widened in fear as he subconsciously took a step back.

"Pfft!" Looking at Jamie's expression, Bryan burst into laughter, "Hahaha, I'm just kidding. But the look on your face was really funny."

Jamie's lips twitched and didn't know whether to laugh or cry, 'Whom did I get myself involved with?'

"But on a serious note. Have you heard of the people going missing in the slums lately?" Bryan asked.

Jamie turned solemn as he nodded, "It has been happening for quite some time. There have been police patrolling the slums most nights but the disappearances haven't reduced at all."

"I see." Bryan remarked, "What I need you to do is keep tabs on all the disappearances that are happening in the slums.

You don't have to proactively go around looking for information about this. Just asking from other people around you and gathering intel will do. Do you understand?"

Jamie asked skeptically, "That's all?"

"Yes, and refrain from going out of your house at night. Speaking of which, where do you guys live currently?" Bryan asked.

"In one of the units in Manush," Jamie replied succinctly. Not willing to divulge too much information. After all, he had only just met Bryan.

Bryan nodded his head. He then took out a thick stack of cash from his pocket, counted five 1-pound notes, and gave it to Jamie, "Consider this your advance. Take these kids and your big sister and move out of Manush.

Find an apartment somewhere on Robinson Street. Although that area is still considered to be in the slums, it is by far the safest."

Looking at the five 1 pound notes, Jamie was dumbfounded, "Are you serious!?"