Joji knew the sort. These were local union gangs of Everhart City, men rooted in the streets deeply enough to call themselves part of the city's bones.
Men like these were part of the reason Sins Crossroads, once the strongest border city in Vicario, had held for over eighty-one days against the full army of the Wickworks Empire of Magic.
Not because of betrayal, but because their unity ran too deep and their lack of discord made any operation meant to penetrate the city from within nearly impossible.
That, however, had long displeased the royal family, for they had never truly trusted the old power of House Sins.
So, when the fatal day finally came, no royal reinforcements marched to answer the call. Only the forces of Everhart came.
The second reason was far simpler. Life here was too good. In some ways, it had been the same at Sins Crossroads before its destruction.
Better, even, than life in Revere Vicario, the kingdom's capital.
