Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave

"First, we identify the weakest adjacent territory—probably the group operating in East Alley based on their recent leadership disputes. We strike them during their usual collection time when they're scattered rather than concentrated. Fast assault, overwhelming their separated elements before they can coordinate defense."

Rey's voice was loud, but not the oppressive kind.

Although his gaze was dark and mature, he still had a warmth in his expression that moved everyone who heard him speak.

'Look at me…' He scoffed at himself. 'I am manipulating children to escalate a conflict just for my benefit. Although they are deemed as fictional by the True Realm, as someone who has once lived in a False World myself, I know that their lives are very real to them.'

Despite thinking this, Rey did not regret anything. He did not hesitate in his heart.

'I've come too far to stop now!'

The young beggars listened with growing attention as Rey continued detailing the strategic framework.

"Second, we establish clear rules for our own territory. No unnecessary violence. We take standard protection fees but don't escalate to beatings or theft beyond the agreed tribute. This creates an incentive for other beggars to accept our control rather than resisting."

"Third, we use our numbers strategically. Twelve coordinated children can defeat much larger but disorganized opposition through ambush tactics, terrain advantage, and superior intelligence about enemy movements."

The sharp-eyed girl's expression showed a dawning realization.

"You're not just planning street gang consolidation. You're organizing a military campaign with clear strategic objectives and an exit timeline."

"Exactly," Rey confirmed. "This isn't a permanent lifestyle change. It's a temporary tactical operation designed to acquire specific resources within a defined timeframe. We execute efficiently, gather necessary funds, and leave before the opposition can mount an effective counterattack."

He met each child's gaze with intensity that demanded commitment.

"But this only works if everyone participates fully. Half-hearted effort or internal dissension will get us all beaten or worse. I need absolute loyalty and discipline for the next two months. Can you provide that?"

The young beggars exchanged glances, their expressions showing a mixture of fear, hope, and desperate determination.

Finally, they nodded—some with more conviction than others, but all recognizing they were agreeing to fundamental transformation of their circumstances.

Rey allowed himself internal satisfaction while maintaining external focus appropriate for their new leader.

'It would be faster to gather resources alone. My enhanced consciousness could identify optimal targets and execute perfect theft operations without needing to coordinate with untrained children. But this body is weak, and I'm operating in an unfamiliar world with unknown variables. Having loyal subordinates provides redundancy and flexibility that solo operation lacks.'

The sharp-eyed girl stepped forward with gesture that carried weight of speaking for the group.

"We'll follow your leadership," she stated formally. "Help us escape these circumstances, and you'll have our absolute loyalty for however long you need it."

Rey accepted her commitment with nod that carried authority beyond his apparent age.

"Then let's begin."

***

The following weeks transformed the beggar district's power dynamics with speed that suggested military operation rather than street gang conflict.

Rey's tactical planning proved devastatingly effective against opposition that operated through crude intimidation rather than coordinated strategy.

The East Alley group fell within three days—ambushed during their scattered collection rounds by coordinated assault that overwhelmed each element separately before they could mount unified defense. Rey personally defeated their leader through tactical precision that compensated for his physical weakness, establishing his reputation as someone who fought with intelligence rather than mere strength.

The captured territory provided additional resources and recruits—several of the defeated beggars recognizing that joining Rey's organization offered better prospects than resisting.

The group expanded to twenty children under Rey's direct command, all drilled in basic coordination tactics that transformed them from individual victims into effective tactical unit.

They struck the North District beggars next—larger group but suffering from internal disputes that Rey had identified and exploited through carefully planted rumors that exacerbated existing tensions.

By the time Rey's forces attacked, the North District group was already fractured, making their defeat almost trivial.

The South District proved more challenging—disciplined organization under competent leader who recognized Rey's threat and attempted to organize defensive alliance with remaining independent territories.

Rey countered through combination of direct assault and strategic bribery—offering several South District subordinates better positions in his expanding organization if they'd betray their leader during crucial confrontation.

The tactic worked perfectly.

The South District leader found himself abandoned by half his forces at exactly the moment Rey's main group launched their assault, resulting in rapid collapse of organized resistance.

Within five weeks, Rey's organization controlled eleven separate territories across the beggar district, generating approximately seventy silver taels weekly through optimized collection methods that balanced extraction efficiency against resistance minimization.

The consolidation created enemies—scattered remnants of defeated groups nursing grievances and plotting revenge. Several attempted coordinated counterattacks, but Rey's intelligence network provided early warning that allowed his forces to ambush the ambushers with devastating effectiveness.

By the seventh week, opposition had largely evaporated. The few remaining independent territories recognized that resistance was futile and negotiated tributary arrangements that acknowledged Rey's dominance while preserving some autonomy.

The sharp-eyed girl—who'd revealed her name was Mei Lin during their partnership—served as Rey's primary lieutenant, managing day-to-day operations while Rey focused on strategic planning and personal combat when necessary.

"We've accumulated three hundred eighty silver taels," she reported during their weekly planning session. "Another two weeks should give us sufficient cushion for unexpected expenses during travel."

Rey nodded, his enhanced consciousness already calculating the optimal timeline for departure.

"We leave in ten days regardless of the final total. Our consolidation has created too many enemies. Eventually they'll overcome their mutual distrust and mount coordinated responses that our numbers can't counter indefinitely."

Mei Lin's expression showed understanding mixed with concern.

"Several groups have been meeting secretly. Our informants suggest they're planning a major assault within two to three weeks. If we're still here when they attack..."

"We won't be," Rey stated with certainty. "Ten days gives us time to acquire necessary supplies and arrange transportation while staying ahead of their organizational timeline."

The ninth week arrived with accumulated funds totaling four hundred twenty silver taels—exceeding their minimum requirements with comfortable margin for contingencies.

Rey assembled the group in their primary territory with expression carrying satisfaction at successful operation completion.

"It's time," he stated simply.

The young beggars—no longer quite as desperate or malnourished after weeks of improved resource access—responded with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

They proceeded to the merchant district's cloth vendors, their expanded numbers and obvious coordination drawing wary attention from shopkeepers accustomed to treating street children as potential thieves.

Rey addressed the proprietor of a modest establishment specializing in secondhand garments with directness that conveyed legitimate business intent.

"We need decent clothing for twenty people. Nothing fancy, but clean and presentable enough to avoid immediate dismissal as vagrants. What's your bulk pricing?"

The merchant studied Rey with expression suggesting he was reassessing his initial evaluation of this unusually articulate street child.

"Secondhand basics would run about one silver tael per person for a complete outfit—tunic, trousers, basic shoes. Twenty silver taels total for your whole group."

Rey negotiated briefly, leveraging the bulk purchase to reduce the price to eighteen silver taels, then distributed coins that made the merchant's eyes widen with recognition that these weren't ordinary street children.

The group transformed over the next hour as they donned clean clothing that, while worn and patched, represented categorical improvement over their previous rags.

Mei Lin examined herself with expression mixing wonder and uncertainty—the decent clothing made her look like a merchant's daughter fallen on modest circumstances rather than a desperate street beggar.

"I barely recognize us," she murmured, her voice carrying the weight of identity transformation.

Rey nodded with satisfaction, his tactical mind already moving to the next phase.

They purchased travel supplies next—dried food, water containers, basic camping equipment, all acquired through merchant contacts Rey had developed during the gang consolidation operations.

The remaining funds—approximately three hundred fifty silver taels after clothing and supply purchases—would cover sect enrollment fees with a comfortable margin for unexpected expenses.

Rey gathered the group in a secluded area outside the city walls where they could organize without attracting excessive attention.

Twenty young people dressed in clean secondhand clothing, carrying travel packs, their expressions showing mixture of excitement and apprehension at the journey ahead.

"The Crimson Peak Monastery is three days' travel northeast," Rey stated, his voice carrying authority that had been refined through weeks of successful leadership. "We move together, maintain formation, and present ourselves as a coordinated group rather than a random collection of street children."

He met each person's gaze with intensity that demanded commitment.

"This is the beginning of our actual transformation. Everything up to now was preparation. What happens at the sect determines whether we genuinely escape our previous circumstances or simply exchange one form of desperation for another."

Mei Lin stepped forward with an expression suggesting she spoke for the group.

"We're ready," she stated with conviction that transcended her youth. "Lead us to our new lives."

Rey nodded once, then turned toward the northeast where mountains rose in the distance—location where Crimson Peak Monastery awaited, unaware that Church infiltrator and his recruited street gang were approaching with objectives that extended far beyond simple sect enrollment.

"Let's begin our journey."