The headaches of Doug

Doug groaned as he massaged his forehead with his fingers. The grogginess from last night's celebration had yet to dissipate. He practically rolled himself off the bunk bed of the small, dark bedroom and stumbled to the washbasin. Only after splashing his tired face with the cold water did his eyes open.

Unlocking the five pairs of deadbolts and removing the heavy wooden horizontal plank on the modified door, he then armed himself before walking downstairs.

"Wow, you look terrible. Why don't you head into the back room and drink a mug of hot tea? It will clear your head up in a snap. It worked wonders for me."

Doug blinked while tears streamed down his eyes from the midday sun streaming into the hall of the orphanage through the open windows. Shielding his eyes from the glare, he turned to Singh who doled out another spoon of soup into the wooden bowl held by a small child.

"You want me to drink hot tea in the sweltering heat of a city?"

"Hey, hey, don't raise your voice at me. I'm not the one who wanted to toast with all the young ladies in Silk Flower House."

"Ah, my head. Where is Chong?"

Doug asked while rubbing his temples.

Last night marked the end of summer.

A lieutenant from the mysterious newly formed Behemoth Gang had sent a message over to the orphanage last week, inviting the staff and children to a grand dinner. This free gift to the needy of the slum community was held at the gang's newly acquired Silk Flower House located in the prominent Red Light District.

Most locals knew that the Behemoth Gang held control over the majority of the slums. The lieutenants of the gang managed well-defined territories while running or collecting stipends from legal and illegal businesses within. Rumor had it that not even the lieutenants knew the true identity of the boss.

This time the Boss ordered them to hold a feast for the orphanage to highlight their goodwill to the poor community. Only the top lieutenants knew the orphanage had some connection with the Behemoth Gang Boss.

"Big Brother Chong stepped out this morning to the place we ate yesterday. He went to find brother Lin who snuck back after we left."

A nine-year-old boy with a crop of yellow hair said while stuffing a small wooden spoon in his mouth.

Doug glanced at Singh who nodded, causing him to sigh out loud.

"That boy lacks experience. This is why I didn't want to bring him along. Since we defeated the Guido gang and gained those places in the Red Light District, he has been loafing around there like a dog in heat."

"That's why Chong and the others quarreled with him after he didn't listen. He is naive to not know the difference between work and love. Doesn't he know why they call it the Red Light District? He seems to think that that girl Anna likes him."

Doug shook his head on hearing Singh's reply. When they successfully defeated the Guido gang, the territory of the Behemoth gang touched the edge of the Red Light district which bordered the slums. Though they only ended up owning two businesses on that busy boulevard, it propelled them from ruffian status to the big leagues.

The problem Doug had, however, was that the businesses were located at the very edge of their territory and sphere of influence.

"I like Miss Anna. Yesterday she dressed really pretty and was kind to me. Someday I will become just like her."

A little girl chimed nearby. The dream caused the few other girls at the table to nod in agreement.

"Hey Xin, you better hope I don't find any of you girls on that street when you grow up. Finish your soup, and then take Fanny and Grace with you to Blacksmith Haws. His wife sprained her foot and needs some help in cleaning the house and running errands. She'll pay you girls, thirty coppers, at the end of the day."

"Ok, big brother Singh but you have to cook a bowl of stir-fry tomorrow just as yummy as the one I ate yesterday."

The little girl pouted.

After subduing the small gangs in the majority of the slum district, Doug opened up this orphanage located in the center of the seized territory. The lieutenants and foot soldiers employed by the Behemoth gang came from drafted members of the defeated gangs. These people only received instructions from Dough and Singh who acted as messengers for the hidden boss. The chosen puppet leaders understood well their appointed roles.

It was common knowledge that the mysterious boss of the Behemoth Gang could tell if a person dropped a single copper within his territory. Rival gangs had stopped sending in spies into the slum district since they would simply vanish. Forced raids on the territory resulted in surgical retribution, aimed at the leaders of the perpetrators.

With the successful integration of a large portion of the slums, however, it placed them in the crosshairs of the larger gangs.

The Guido gang was one of the larger and firmly rooted gangs in the slums. They had occupied a territory that although small, contained the majority of merchant shops, tradesmen and gambling dens in the slums. The tip of their territory even touched the end of the Red light district, which borders the slum and the middle-class locale.

After this Guido gang sent members into their territory demanding a tribute while smashing two gambling dens run by their subordinates, Doug spent a month gathering information on its core members. He soon found out that men worse than demon beasts existed.

The leader of the Guido gang was known as Scar Stamping Guido. A local tyrant of the city, he had a notorious reputation since a boy. He excelled at having his way with the women in the streets, seizing them even if they refused. The women would suffer the fate of being played by his entire gang before Guido branded her like a cattle with his name, using a heated iron.

His forty years of terrorizing came to an abrupt stop when his entire gang ended up being wiped out in a single night. That night, residents heard the sound of a gong ringing out within his territory after midnight. On that strange signal, nobody expected that every single gang member would never rise from their beds again.

The city guards found Guido lying near the fountain in the center of the boulevard he frequented and loved so much. He was easily recognized since his entire body bore stamps with the name Scar Stamping Guido. His raised rear buns were labeled neatly along with the instrument of torture somehow plunged between them.

The businesses and holdings of Mr. Guido had all found new owners, legally stamped with his personal seal and marked by the deceased. The new owners simply stated that Mr. Guido had sold the properties to them. To the city guards, this had the stench of an underworld struggle so they soon dropped the investigation. As for the members of the underworld, they soon understood that the Behemoth Gang was not one to be trifled with.

"I have a bad feeling when we venture out of our comfort zone. Too many eyes keep staring at the Silk Flower House. I think the older gangs will begin to move while trying to prod us for more details."

Doug said.

"Do you think they will try to ambush us?"

"Perhaps, but although we have a large area under our control, most of it draws little income. Most likely, only upstarts will dare to attack us. The slum is too poor."

Doug answered Singh as he gullet down a bowl of soup. Last night he ensured the children and his six companions savored a hearty meal and an enjoyable time at the Silk Flower House. The ladies in the house happily provided them entertainment in the form of singing, storytelling, and dancing which brought smiles to the children. Similar to what they learned at the farm, they treated this as a large birthday celebration.

Adult entertainment was banned for the night...

"Singh! Oh, Doug is here, great, look at this."

Lin shouted while hastening towards them at the table. He held out a wooden token.

Doug fitted on his leather gloves before taking the ancient-looking token. The token had the appearance of a shield with some strange words burned into it along the border. A carving of a man kneeling down while being strangled with a chain across the neck by a man standing behind adorned the front. The back of the token had been polished with sweat throughout the ages but the words imprinted with black iron remained visible.

Second Gallows, Hangman's Tea House.

"A man entered the Silk Flower House and chatted with the Madame in the parlor. He wanted her to deliver this to the new boss."

"Where was Chong?"

"Chong arrived later. He just acted like a first-time visitor and left after hearing about the price. I decided to step up and take this from the Madame."

Doug sighed on listening to the teen. He then flicked Lin on the forehead.

"Chong wouldn't take this because his role is a slum dweller who was lucky to scrounge a free meal from the orphanage. The lieutenants handling the businesses should have collected this. You placed us all in danger if followed. Wash your hands and drink a vial of poison antidote for safety. Singh, send the word out to the children, search for uninvited guests."

This Lin really picked the wrong place and time to show off.

Doug eyed the legible words carved on the back a second time.

Second Gallows, Hangman's Tea House.

"Singh, also send a message to the street urchins across the city. Find out if this place exists..."

***

The large acres of corn swayed in the wind looking like golden stalks in the sunset. The even rows in the fields divided by fences and wagon lanes looked like an army standing in the surrounding grasslands. From the top window of the creaking windmill, the view seemed breathless.

"Jim left to deliver the supplies for the kitchen in the village. Halter's son and a few others accompanied him, riding some horses. Bon finished the work on the new barrels so tomorrow they plan to visit the barrel worm cave. Rose and the hunting group returned with a few pheasants and a wild boar..."

Clod nodded on the report while gazing at the open field and the surrounding grasslands. He then turned towards Toll who had reported.

"Has Elder Pick awoken yet?"

"Yes, but he looks terrible. It's his own fault for drinking so much and trying to dance on the multishot platform. Bon's wife handled the shift in the clinic last night. She treated him for a sprained foot and splinted his broken arm."

"Who knew Elder Pick would act like that when his wife surprised him at the birthday party. Finding out he would have a child snapped his mind..."

"Haha, he is already mumbling how he needs another grinding stone to make more Opal powder. I don't blame him since Shine had me taking more orders from the farms for grinding flour. This harvest I won't be able to sleep a wink."

Clod laughed on hearing Toll's worries about also becoming a father. Although their escapades into the forest had dwindled, Clod increased the focus of the farm on the fields. Merchants had already begun sending orders for the mill to grind corn and various grains they purchased. The surrounding farms had also done the same.

He already had Halter and Toll inspect the mill and stock up on parts for future repairs. He turned his gaze towards the east.

"I wonder if Chu received our gift before yesterday?"

"I'm sure of it. John said he would label it as a rush delivery."

Clod nodded. Even though part of him wanted to accompany them, the greater part of him wanted to stay. Since before his incident in his family's farm, he always longed for simple farming life. He never gained the thirst for adventure. With the blood farmers running through his veins, he preferred to settle down and work the land.

Of course, he also had another reason for remaining on the farm.

"Call everyone tonight for a meeting. It's time for us to prepare..."

****