"Why did you join the Yellowsaber Gang?"
"Because the boss invited me, of course." That was the first thing that came to Vincent's mind.
"But why did you accept? Was it just for protection, or do you have something else in mind?"
It dawned on Vincent then—maybe Jay was suspicious of him. That would explain why he'd been so cold and distant all this while.
'Why? I haven't done anything suspicious, unless… this is a test! Maybe he's just trying to see how I'll respond'
There was only one other answer Vincent could give. "I joined because I want more."
"More what?"
"Everything," Vincent said firmly.
A short, awkward silence followed—then Jay smiled.
"Then you've come to the right place. The Yellowsaber is where you can get everything you want, as long as you're willing to reach for it. That's why we all serve the boss. Because he can reach the highest."
"Can I ask a question?" Vincent raised a hand respectfully.
"There's no need for permission. You can speak freely. I'm not that much older than you. How old are you anyway?"
"Twenty-five."
"See? I'm just twenty-seven. You don't need to be so formal."
"Aren't you like the second in command? I can't just talk casually to you."
"There's no official second in command in Yellowsaber. The boss just uses different people for different things. I'm flexible, so he uses me a lot. I figure he already has a plan for you too," Jay explained.
"So, there's no real hierarchy in the gang?"
"There is. Some of us handle sensitive operations, and that builds reputation. Other members would see us around the boss often, so they assume we act on his orders. In that sense, yeah—there's a hierarchy. But it's all based on competence. Everyone has to prove themselves."
"You were chosen by the boss, so you already have a head start. You'll get more jobs, more chances to prove yourself. That's all that matters here—how well you do your job."
"If you do it right, I promise you can get everything you want."
[Extracting slow burn pain. Moderate pain extracted +32 points]
Vincent's brows lifted slightly at the message floating before him.
'Slow burn? Is it extracting pain from the soreness I feel all over my body?'
He hadn't thought that kind of pain could even be harvested.
"Are you listening?" Jay's voice pulled him back.
"Y-Yeah, I heard everything," Vincent stammered.
"Good. Let's wrap this up and go get some food. I'm starving," Jay muttered.
"Yeah, sure," Vincent replied with an eager smile.
"Do you have water?"
"Yeah, there should be some in the car."
Vincent sprinted off, using the moment.
"System, use all my available points to increase stamina."
[Sure thing.]
He took a sip of water and returned. With stamina slightly boosted, he now had enough strength to keep going.
They finished the job a few minutes later and headed back to the house after a meal, where Vincent collapsed onto his bed, completely drained.
"But at least I got to increase my stamina," he murmured, eyes fixed on the floating window before him.
[[Upgraded Stats]]
[Strength: +200]
[Endurance: +193]
[Speed: +100]
[Stamina: +66]
[Regeneration: +53]
The aching all over his body hadn't been for nothing. By pushing his limits, he had earned valuable points.
"Maybe working out isn't such a bad idea," he considered aloud..
That would be a good way to consistently get points.
….
A few hours later, Madame Freya was steaming with rage as she slammed her hand on the table.
"What about the drugs—were they all destroyed?"
"Yes, ma'am," her handsome blonde bodyguard, James, replied.
"And what about the men we sent with the goods?"
"When we arrived, we didn't see anyone else. I suspect whoever attacked the van took them away."
"Those guys were professionals. They wouldn't have been taken down so easily. But if they've actually been killed, then whoever did this isn't some small-timer."
She sighed in frustration. "Is that all?"
"I'm afraid not, Madame. The Triad master has requested a meeting tomorrow."
Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of the Triad master. She didn't want to see that man. Chewing on her fingernails, she asked,
"D-Do you think he's heard about what happened today?"
"I don't know. But I suspect it's serious—he also summoned Northside."
That confirmed it. He definitely knew something. He wouldn't summon both factions unless it was a major issue. The Triad was divided into two parts—North and South. Madame Freya led the South, while Marxon led the North. Together with the Triad master, they formed the leadership of the most powerful gang in the city.
They were involved in every major criminal enterprise as long as it promised profit—lobbying politicians, threatening officials, and cutting deals in smoke-filled rooms.
Freya managed the bars and the women. Marxon ran the underground casino and the muscles.
In terms of revenue, Marxon brought in the lion's share. That gave him more influence in the gang. Freya hated that. Her father had founded this gang. She was supposed to inherit it. Now, it was run by two men while she was reduced to a figurehead.
They kept her around to appease old loyalists—but in truth, she had almost no power.
This drug deal had been her shot at changing all that. If she could secure a new, profitable source of income, they'd finally take her seriously.
Instead, she'd landed in deeper trouble.
She had convinced them to invest in the drugs. They'd doubted her, but she managed to persuade them. The money belonged to the Triad—but money wasn't the problem. She could pay it back.
What terrified her was the humiliation. The smirks. The whispers that she was just some little girl riding Daddy's legacy.
She couldn't let whoever robbed her get away with it.
And in her mind, there was only one suspect.
"It can only be Don Angel. Only he would be stupid enough to attack the Triad."
It had to be him. He must've suspected her after what happened last night and struck back in revenge.
Maybe he hadn't said anything because he had no proof. But now she was in the same position—she had no proof it was him either.
Worse, he was now part of the Association. Going after him without cause would mean making an enemy of all the other gangs.
She grabbed a fistful of her hair, racking her brain—until something clicked.
"Have you found the man from last night that was shot?"
"Not yet," James replied, "but we're making progress."
"Put more men on it, and also find out more about the other man that died that night…"
"But Madame wouldn't Don Angel already have gotten to him by now?"
"That's even more reason why we should find him, if this all happens and Don Angel was going to accuse me he would need that man to prove that it was me who started it first,"
James' brows raised slightly, "So if we take out the guy then he would have no case. This way the Triad master and the association can't blame us for whatever happened,"
"Exactly, if he does it would be my word against his,"