Chapter 26: A Gang in Pieces

I leaned back against the plush arm of the couch, the kind of seat that made you forget the world outside wasn’t so forgiving. Ken’s body fit into it well enough, though it was still strange feeling the weight of a body that wasn’t mine. From the second floor window, I watched the world through glass that caught the pale daylight and smeared it across the walls. The knock came soft but deliberate.

“Come in,” I called without turning.

The door opened, and in walked Stabs… same drooping shoulders, same draggy, mismatched clothes, and the same faint odor of something best left unidentified. “Lord Renzo… How may I help you?”

At some point, he’d started calling me ‘Lord.’ I never told him to, but correcting him felt like it would take more energy than it was worth.

“I need a body,” I said. “Ken’s body will do. He’ll need a bath, a new tooth, and better clothes than this rag I’m wearing now.”

Stabs shifted uncomfortably. “L-lord… If you need a body, there are better—”

I cut him off with a raised hand. “I picked Ken because I trust you and him. What? Did you think I’d steal his body and devour his soul? Or something like that? I’m not a monster.”

He gave a weak, awkward laugh, like he thought I was joking. I wasn’t.

“I’m just borrowing it for convenience,” I added, voice even. “Negotiate the salary on my behalf with Mr. Ken—” I tapped the chest I currently inhabited. “Maybe give yourself a salary as his handler too. I don’t care. Fulfill my demands, and I won’t have to replace you. Who knows? Maybe we can thrive in all this together.”

Stabs bobbed his head slowly, as though each nod was weighed down by suspicion. “I’ll do as you say, Lord.” Then he hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly. “But… what are your plans with the gang?”

That stumped me. Truth was, suddenly owning the Twinfist Gang had never made it onto my list of ways to help Nira.

Honestly, I had no idea what to do with the Twinfist. At first, I had only wanted access to their resources, and that was the end of it. Yet here they were, practically dumped into my lap, and that meant I had to shoulder the responsibility. The thought of reforming them crossed my mind. It would take effort, sure, but I wasn’t afraid to try. I wasn’t entirely clueless either.

Considering the existence of the train and the railways under construction, this world might be standing on the edge of an industrial revolution. But progress like that wouldn’t be enough to achieve what I wanted. The reason I’d longed for a proper body was so I could visit the local library, a place where I could dig into the heart of this world’s knowledge. Lydia had been cooperative, patiently teaching me about geography, politics, and history, but her words were no replacement for shelves of books and written records. I could have possessed some unsuspecting fool and walked right into the library, but that would leave behind a trail of confused victims… and nothing draws an exorcist faster than unexplained lapses in memory.

Stabs’ voice cut through my thoughts. “Jandar’s lieutenants are raising a ruckus. They won’t accept me as the gang’s new head… Yeah, I know you left me in charge, but… I can’t do it. They also suspect the sudden ‘disappearance’ of the boss. Jandar was the one power holding the Twinfist together. Without him, the gang will splinter, maybe even start killing each other.”

I considered this carefully before asking, “Tell me everything you know about these lieutenants.”

“The Twinfist has three,” Stabs began. “First is Pietro—slick, well-dressed, always smiling like he knows something you don’t. He’s our link to the Thieves’ Guild, handles the alms business, and runs the pickpockets. As long as his pockets are full, he’s happy. Then there’s Giny, the Matron. She’s the face of the brothel, a dominatrix through and through. Always gets what she wants. With Jandar gone, she might try to take the top seat. Lastly, there’s Hammer. Simple-minded, but strong as a bull and twice as stubborn. He runs the protection rackets and is always at the center of a fight.”

I let the names and descriptions sink in. “And you, Stabs? What’s your real position in the gang?”

He gave me a flat look. “I run errands.”

I met his eyes, unblinking. “Spit it out.”

He hesitated, then sighed. “I bribe people, kill people, scare people off. I was Jandar’s second.”

I drummed my fingers against the armrest. “Send Ken to the church. Sister Lydia will heal him and regrow his teeth. I’ve already spoken to her. As for your lieutenants, give me time to think. You’ll know my decision soon enough.”

His gaze sharpened. “Do you plan to kill them?”

“That would be the easy choice,” I said. “But while I don’t pretend to understand every nuance of your way of life, I know enough to see that people aren’t always shaped by choice. Circumstance plays a bigger role than most want to admit. I’d like to think of myself as righteous, but life isn’t that simple. I’m willing to give people a chance—whether they deserve it or not is up to them.”