Chapter 10: The Power Structure

Ethan waited.

The system had promised an information broker would reach out, and after purchasing access, he knew better than to rush things. The system never rewarded impatience — it rewarded control.

It wasn't until late evening, when the streets had emptied and the sky had darkened, that his phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: We need to talk. Parking lot behind Braden's Diner. 20 minutes. Alone.

Ethan smirked. Whoever this was, they were already trying to set the rules.

But this time, he was the one in control.

---

The parking lot behind Braden's Diner was dimly lit, mostly empty aside from a few scattered cars. The faint scent of fried food lingered in the air. Ethan kept his hands in his pockets as he leaned casually against a rusted streetlight.

He didn't have to wait long.

A man appeared from the shadows — mid-twenties, unshaven, wearing a leather jacket that looked a little too clean for someone playing low-level street thug. His eyes scanned the area before settling on Ethan.

"You're Walker?" the man asked.

Ethan didn't answer right away. He activated Analyze.

[Target: Unidentified Contact]

[Condition: Healthy]

[Emotional State: Cautious, Defensive]

[Physical Strength: Above Average]

[Agility: Average]

[Endurance: High]

[Potential Weakness: Overconfident in tight spaces]

Ethan smiled faintly. This guy thought he was in charge.

"Depends," Ethan said, his voice calm. "You're the broker?"

The man gave a crooked smile. "You're smarter than you look." He reached into his jacket — slowly — and pulled out a small envelope, tossing it at Ethan's feet.

"There's your answer," the man said. "Take it, and we're done."

Ethan didn't move. "No."

The man's smile faded. "What?"

"I paid for information," Ethan said flatly. "If this is just a bunch of rumors, I'm getting my points back."

The man's smile thinned, eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn't expecting pushback.

"You don't get to make demands," the broker muttered.

Ethan didn't blink. "Then I'll find someone else who actually knows what they're doing."

He turned to walk away, slow and deliberate. Each step was calculated — giving the man just enough time to panic.

"Wait," the broker snapped. "Alright. Fine."

Ethan stopped but didn't turn around. He knew when he had control.

"There's more going on at Lincoln High than just schoolyard fights," the broker said. "The gangs outside aren't just random thugs — they're organized. And your school? It's part of their network."

Now Ethan turned, eyes sharp. "Explain."

The broker's confidence returned now that he had Ethan's attention. "A few years ago, some of the tougher kids at your school started working with the gangs. Small stuff at first — delivering messages, passing stolen phones, dealing." He shrugged. "Eventually, some of them figured they could run things their own way."

"Logan," Ethan muttered.

"Yeah," the broker said. "Logan was a big deal because he kept things quiet. Kids like him kept control inside the school, while the gangs handled things outside. Everyone stayed in their lane, and no one got too ambitious."

"And now?"

"Now?" The broker smirked. "Now you've started breaking things. Logan's fall means the gangs are gonna notice the gap in power. And they don't like things being… unstable."

Ethan stayed quiet, processing.

"So what happens next?"

The broker's smile widened. "You either get crushed — or you take Logan's place."

Ethan frowned. "I'm not interested in being anyone's puppet."

"That's the thing," the broker said, voice low. "The ones who play smart? They don't stay puppets for long. The right people pull the strings — and those people make a lot of money."

"Extortion," Ethan said.

The broker nodded. "Kids with rich parents? Business owners tied to the school? The gangs let Logan's crew handle that, then took their cut. Now that Logan's out?" He shrugged. "They'll be looking for someone new."

Ethan's mind raced. Logan hadn't just been some bully — he was part of a system. A network that thrived on manipulation, violence, and control.

And now that system was exposed.

"You're telling me they'll try to kill me if I step in?" Ethan asked.

"Not right away," the broker said. "They'll test you first. See if you can handle it." He grinned. "I'd say you've already made an impression."

Ethan glanced down at the envelope on the ground.

"What's in there?"

"Details," the broker said. "Names. Faces. The people inside your school who worked with Logan — and the ones outside who'll be watching you now."

Ethan bent down, scooping up the envelope.

"You sure you want this?" the broker asked, his tone more serious now. "You could just walk away. Go back to being some kid no one cares about."

Ethan's fingers tightened around the envelope.

"I'm not walking away," he said quietly.

He turned and walked back into the dark.

Back in his apartment, Ethan sat at his desk, the envelope open in front of him. Inside was a list — handwritten — with names and brief descriptions.

Some names he recognized. Logan's crew — Chase, Tyler, a few others who kept things moving inside the school.

But then there were other names.

People he didn't know.

Adults.

Bar owners. Small business owners. Even a teacher. All linked to the extortion network.

At the bottom of the list was a single name, circled in red ink.

Darius Vex.

There was no description. No explanation. Just a warning scrawled beside the name.

Do not confront unless prepared.

Ethan sat back in his chair, mind racing.

This wasn't just a power grab anymore. The system wasn't pushing him to be some local thug or a schoolyard bully.

It was pushing him to take control of something much bigger.

And he was ready.

He pulled up the system menu.

[Current SP: 155]

He scrolled through the system store until his eyes landed on the item he needed.

[Shadow Cloak – 150 SP]

[Reduces presence, making the user harder to notice. Enhances stealth and observation.]

He tapped the option.

A cold sensation washed over him — like something invisible had wrapped itself around his body. His breathing slowed, his heartbeat steadying.

He sat in his dimly lit apartment, the envelope of names spread out on his desk. The list of Logan's old contacts, gang-linked businesses, and that final name — Darius Vex — circled in red ink.

He wasn't intimidated.

He was focused.

The system's mission wasn't just about defeating Logan anymore. It was about understanding the power structure behind Lincoln High — and then owning it.

But before he could take control, he needed information. He needed to know who was loyal to Logan, who was weak, and who could be turned.

And for that? The Shadow Cloak would make things easier.

He activated it.

The change was instant. A cold wave crawled down his spine, dulling the edges of his presence. He wasn't invisible — but he felt... faint. Unnoticeable.

The perfect tool for someone who planned to move in the dark.

Tonight, he was going hunting.

The streets outside Lincoln High were quieter than usual. Most students were gone, but Ethan knew exactly where to go. Logan's old crew always lingered near the abandoned storage lot behind the school — a place they used to meet without teachers or staff interfering.

And they weren't smart enough to change their habits.

He found them there — Chase, Tyler, and two others — laughing and smoking beside a rusted metal fence.

Ethan activated Analyze.

[Target: Chase Carter]

[Condition: Unstable]

[Emotional State: Agitated, Uncertain]

[Potential Weakness: Craving Leadership]

[Target: Tyler Grimes]

[Condition: Nervous]

[Emotional State: Fearful, Distrustful]

[Potential Weakness: Avoids Conflict Alone]

Weak. Both of them.

They were just waiting for someone stronger to take Logan's place.

Ethan moved closer, his presence muted by the Shadow Cloak. He lingered near the fence, listening.

"…I'm telling you, Logan's gonna come back stronger," Chase muttered, but his voice lacked the usual arrogance. "We just need to hold things down till then."

"Yeah?" Tyler muttered. "And what if he doesn't?"

"He will," Chase shot back. "That freak Walker's just lucky. Logan's not done."

Ethan smiled to himself. They weren't just doubting Logan — they were already trying to convince themselves.

Time to make things worse.

He reached down, grabbed a small rock, and tossed it toward the opposite end of the lot. It clattered loudly against the pavement.

Chase jerked his head toward the sound. Tyler flinched.

"Shit… you hear that?" Tyler muttered.

"Relax," Chase said, but he didn't sound relaxed at all.

Ethan waited another few seconds before stepping into the light.

"You boys waiting for someone?"

Chase turned fast, nearly dropping his cigarette. Tyler took a full step back.

"You…" Chase's eyes narrowed. "You're really dumb for showing up here alone."

Ethan smiled coldly. "Alone?"

He let the Fear Aura pulse outward.

It wasn't overwhelming — but it didn't need to be. Both Chase and Tyler stiffened, their bodies tensing like they'd just felt a sudden chill.

"You think Logan's still in control?" Ethan asked quietly. "He's not. You know it. I know it. So why are you still pretending?"

"Shut up," Chase growled, but his voice shook.

Ethan stepped closer. "You're not loyal. You're scared. Scared because you know I'm right — and you know Logan's not coming back."

"You think you're something special?" Chase spat. "You think you're gonna run this place?"

"I don't think," Ethan said calmly. "I know."

Tyler shifted again, glancing at Chase like he was waiting for permission to run.

"You want to waste your time fighting me?" Ethan continued. "Fine. But if you're smart, you'll listen to what I'm offering instead."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Chase demanded.

"I'm talking about moving forward," Ethan said. "Logan's finished. If you two stop acting like idiots, maybe I'll let you stay on my side."

"You think I'd work for you?" Chase scoffed.

"You already are," Ethan said simply. "You're just too stupid to realize it."

Chase's face twisted with rage — but he didn't move.

Neither did Tyler.

They were both too unsure. Too broken.

"I'll give you a choice," Ethan said. "Get smart… or get crushed."

He turned his back on them and walked away.

They didn't follow.

Ethan was halfway down the street when a voice called out behind him.

"That was impressive."

He turned, spotting a figure leaning casually against a lamppost. A girl — tall, with dark hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She wore a fitted leather jacket, black boots, and a confident smile that suggested she wasn't easily impressed.

"You're Walker, right?" she asked.

"Who's asking?"

She grinned. "Riley Black."

Ethan knew the name. Riley wasn't part of Logan's crew — but she wasn't far from it either. She had her own influence. Rumors claimed she'd once beaten a senior so badly that he transferred schools.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked.

"I've been watching you," Riley said. "Word is you've been tearing Logan's people apart piece by piece."

"Word travels fast," Ethan muttered.

"You're smart," Riley said, ignoring his comment. "Not just tough — calculated."

She stepped closer, her gaze sharp and unflinching. "But you're moving too slow. You keep picking off Logan's guys one at a time, and you're gonna get blindsided when the real power shows up."

"The real power?"

Riley's smile faded. "You know what I mean. The gangs. The ones Logan was smart enough to keep happy."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And you're here because…?"

"Because I know how this works," Riley said. "And I know who's running things behind the scenes."

"You're saying you can help me."

"I'm saying if you want to survive this, you're gonna need people who actually know what they're doing." Her grin returned. "Lucky for you… I'm one of them."

Ethan studied her for a moment.

Riley wasn't like Madison — cautious, hesitant. She wasn't like Logan's crew either. Riley was confident — the kind of person who didn't follow unless there was something in it for her.

"You want something," Ethan said flatly.

"I want to win," Riley said. "And right now? You're the best shot I've got."

Ethan smirked. "We'll see."

He turned and walked away, but Riley's voice followed him.

"Don't take too long," she warned. "If you're not serious, someone else will be."

Ethan didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

He already knew exactly what his next move was.