Luka 'The Rat' Petrov is a wiry, seventeen-year-old orphan whose life on the unforgiving streets of the industrial city of Novograd has shaped him into a cunning survivor. With a mop of unruly black hair and piercing gray eyes that seem to miss nothing, Luka's appearance is as sharp as his mind. His attire, a patchwork of stolen and scavenged clothing, speaks volumes of his life as a street urchin; a faded, once-red scarf wrapped around his neck is his most prized possession, a remnant from a past he barely remembers.

Luka's days are spent navigating the labyrinthine alleys of Novograd, where he's known for his agility and knack for thievery. His unique quirk is a habit of constantly tapping his fingers, a rhythm that mirrors the heartbeat of the city itself. He dreams of escaping the clutches of the street gangs that rule the city's underbelly, particularly the brutal Iron Fists, led by the ruthless Viktor 'The Hammer' Kuznetsov. Luka's ambition is to amass enough wealth to leave Novograd behind and start anew, perhaps even to find the family he lost to the city's unforgiving streets.

The Iron Fists, however, see Luka's potential and want to recruit him, threatening his freedom and his dreams. In response, Luka uses his street smarts to outwit them, stealing from the gang's operations and redistributing the wealth among the city's downtrodden. His strategy works because it not only weakens the Iron Fists but also earns him allies among the oppressed, creating a network of informants and supporters.

Luka's life is a constant battle against the gangs, hunger, and the harsh city winters. Despite his efforts, his plans are disrupted when the Iron Fists, led by the cunning Viktor, anticipate his moves and corner him. In a desperate bid for freedom, Luka leads a daring heist against the gang's stronghold, which ends in a fiery confrontation. Though he manages to escape with a fortune, the city's corrupt officials, in league with the gangs, force him to flee Novograd with nothing but the clothes on his back and his red scarf.

Luka's journey is one of resilience and cunning, but also of the harsh reality that sometimes, no matter how smart or brave one is, the world can be an unforgiving place.