Chapter eight : The ceremony

The Viostorm Company soon held a party-like gathering of different mafias from underworld. They wanted to celebrate their launch of the new weapon. All levels of mafias were meant to attend. Including The teens and Trul.

Johnny excused himself to walk around the hall in the building. There were pictures of the past leaders before him. He kept staring at them while drinking his glass of red wine.

He could only think how successful he become more than them.

Just then, Doyoung and Taeyong walked in. Doyoung  held a letter in his hand, "All the guests has arrived except for...Moon Taeil." he reached out the letter for Johnny.

Johnny took it and read it in silence.

"Is everything okay?" Taeyong asked worriedly. He only received a nod from the other. "Lock the doors. No can leave this place before the function ends."

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When Mark entered the party hall, he had a sharp eye contact with Taeyong. He slightly felt small in his gaze. The past years whenever Mark got involved in their deals, Taeyong continuosly shrunken him with his rank. So Mark knew nothing better than just avoiding him. When he tried to walk away, Taeyong called out his name.  They stood face to face. "Welcome Mark Lee. Please enjoy your visit."

"...You look like you have something else to say."

"Actually I do. But I'll just let it pass."  Taeyong signed him to enter the hall and walked away. Mark felt a chill run down him. As expected from Johnny's special partner, he had the flame to make everything work.

Not long after, he noticed the teens in a corner. They were all in their black suits, waitting for the function to began. Mark tried to approach them but then he recalled the past happening. Maybe it wasnt a good time to sort things out so he remained the distance.

The teens werent that comfortable either. after knowing that the Trul members are glaring at them from the other side. Specially Yangyang, who was still pierced with their last fight. Anyone could notice the burning enmity between them. But for the sake of their team leaders, they stood still.

"Its suffocating here." Yangyang groaned. "I'll just head out."  he tried to walk off but Kun stops him.

"The doors are locked. Where you trying to go, we should be here with Lucas." but the other kept walking as if he heard nothing. Kun deep sighs, "this kid..." he went back to his conversation with Hendery.

Suddenly, the trul members heard Lucas shout and turned around. He threw a sheet of paper at Winwin in anger. others couldnt interfere so they only stood quietly.

"You cant even do one thing perfectly! why do i even make you work for me anymore-" Ten quickly steps in and holds him back, "Lucas, Calm down. We're not supposed to shout here." the trul members went quiet as they saw Lucas walking away from the spot.

They all sighs and felt relieved. It wasnt the first time he lost his state of mind. Ten walked to Winwin and patted him consolingly in the shoulder. "I'll take care of it. dont get worked up, okay?" the other only stood quiet and controled his anger.

Kun approached him "...Sicheng, dont take his words seriously. we all know...he changed as he's so stressed out lately-" winwin avoided Kun's act of support. He replaced his(k) words with his own with a rude tone "You're not so great either!"

"...what?"

"quit advicing others. you're ain't that helpful anyway.

You think you're words can help others mend their way? You're only upsetting." with winwin's harsh words, Kun was deeply hurt. he took a step back and stood quiet.

"As for that Leader of ours, he doesnt think that we'll always do what he says, right. We wont always be hanging on to him like he acts we would. We're not his puppets."

Kun stared at him in disbelieve. The person before him was surely not the winwin he knew. He changed...

"You sound like Yangyang." the words came out of his mouth unwillingly.

The others were also shocked to realise it. Since the beginning, Kun and Winwin were the only one who had thoughts unlike yangyang and ended up being the only two who could tame him. No one knew him better than them. Winwin's sudden act of rudeness was purely identical with the youngest.

"Right...now I know how he feels." those were the last words trul members heard from winwin as he walked away. They all continued with their own act. Except for Kun. He stood still and felt lost. did all his hardwork went in vain...?

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Since the doors were locked, Winwin had nowhere else to go. He only wanted to leave the suffocating place and get some fresh air. He slowly walked to the rooftop. each steps slower than the last one. when he stepped inside, a sudden thought hits him.

He walked to the edge and stared down the building. "If I ... jump off... Would they care...? my family...my members...would anyone care?"

Sicheng imagined the scene of him falling down the building. In his point of view, it was an escape. Escape from this choking place.

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At last, Mark took his chance and approached his team members. They were all glad to see him again, except for Renjun. He kept avoiding eye contact. Mark's sudden words brought them back to alertness, "We need to talk."

"what is it?" jaemin asked in a serious tone.

"Not here...meet me in the backyard."

Not to be suspicious before the other teams, They all spreaded out with one meaning. which was being gathered in the backyard.

Not long after, one by one they all gathered. Jeno convinced Renjun to act jointly with mark and listen to his words. with a lot of hard work, he finally did. "What is it that you want to say?"

"I've been hiding something from all of you..." the first few words had them shocked and more curious to know about the rest.

"You all thought that the past years, my reason of fighting with the Viostorm company might have been taking over their power..but actually... I did it all to stop them from creating this weapon." the others were freezed in his words.

"Since long ago, only Jeno and I knew about this project. I tried my best to stop them but they already successed.

This weapon is too dangerous to exist. I couldnt destroy it..."

a long silence fell around the place. sungchan spoke up, "and we thought you were only being reckless."

Chenle replied while avoiding eye contact, "so,what now. are you gonna let it pass or you have some other plans."

Jeno stepped forward "we do have a plan but it'll take all of us to do it." the others seemed startled in his words. Sure enough no one was brave enough to step up and mess with Mafias like 'Johnny suh'.

Mark noticed their slight fear and spoke up as a leader, "guys, if we dont stop it now, this weapon will increase in number and one day it'll be unstoppable.

our ranks might get destroyed in this mission but we'll do it for our future.

This is what our team stands for."

While the few members stood in place and hesitated, Shotaro stepped forward "Im in." they stared at him in shock. but they all acknowledged and decided their mind. "Im in too." jaemin said.

"Me too....I'll try my best" Jisung stuttered.

one by one everyone was standing beside Mark. at last, It was Renjun's turn. The one who hasnt said anything since they gathered. "Renjun-" Mark tried to say something but he was immediately stopped by the other.

"None of your explaination changed the fact that we were always in threat with your mafia rank. It wont change the future either.

if we still decide to follow you, there will always be danger waiting for us." Mark stood speechlessly. Renjun's words seemed nothing but truth to him. Even in the past, he could never make sure their safety.

"I have few conditions if you want me to cooperate."

"what is it?"

Renjun slightly smirks. "The time will tell~

Lets hear your plan for now." The teens were pleased. everyone turned at Mark in curiousity.

"So, here's the plan."

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