The order had gone out to every mber of the Billion Bloodline, a requirent if they wanted to stay part of the delinquent group and continue receiving their paynts.
Every mber had to sign up at one of the six Bloodline Gyms located around the city and pay the joining fee out of their own pocket.
The first requirent didn't bother them much. In fact, most of the delinquents enjoyed the training. Working out gave them sothing to focus on, a place to bond, to push each other, to feel like they belonged to sothing real.
The second requirent? Every mber had to buy at least one piece of gym rch, a T-shirt, a gym bag, whatever they wanted, and wear it both in the gym and outside of school.
Again, there was almost no pushback.
For once, they weren't being forced into sothing aningless. The rch wasn't just clothing, it was a symbol. It made them feel like they were part of the sa crew. A family.
In the school cafeteria, Max sat at one of the corner tables with Joe sitting across from him. Beside them, leaning in with a calm confidence, was Jay, there to give an update.
"Sixty-three," Jay said. "That's the total number of people now in the Billion Bloodline."
Joe's eyes widened.
"Wait, what? It went up since we t at the cage? How?"
There was a hint of worry in his voice.
Joe knew Max was paying everyone out of his own pocket. And with more people joining, he feared it might affect his own cut.
"It's because of the rules you set up," Jay explained. "There were a lot of students who weren't sure at first… but when they saw others rocking the rch, showing up at the gym together…"
Jay smirked.
"I think they felt like they were missing out. Like they weren't part of sothing big. So they accepted the terms and joined up."
"Crazy," Joe said, shaking his head. "Who would've thought gyms using the sa group na would just pop up everywhere? Total stroke of luck. And making everyone wear the sa stuff? That was actually pretty genius."
Max didn't say anything, but he could feel Jay glancing at him. They both knew better, it wasn't luck. None of it was. Every gym, every branded T-shirt, every little rule that made the group feel tighter, it was all part of Max's design.
Jay didn't press it. He knew the money wasn't coming from nowhere, but if Max wanted to keep the details close to his chest, then that was his choice. Jay had already decided to follow his lead.
Across the table, Max caught his eye and gave a subtle shake of the head. Just enough for Jay to understand: Let it go.
"Our numbers are up, and people are feeling stronger about the group, but... there's sothing you should know," he said. His voice was lower now, quieter. "It's Clapton High. They've been sniffing around."
Joe frowned. "Clapton? The school closest to us?"
"Yeah," Jay said. "So of their guys have been scouting our areas."
Max raised an eyebrow. "Our areas?"
Jay nodded. "Territory."
Max had heard that word before, back in the White Tiger days, when territory ant sothing serious. But this was school. Teenagers. Delinquents with egos. Still, the way Jay said it didn't sound exaggerated.
"Rember what I told you," Jay continued. "Dipter kept the other schools in check. Since he's gone, Clapton sees an opening. They think we're weak now. They've been showing up where our guys hang out. Watching. Waiting. They haven't started anything, but it's obvious they're planning to."
He paused, letting the weight of that settle.
"If they make a move and beat us, it'll send a ssage to everyone else, that Clapton's the strongest school around here."
Max let the information sink in. Just when things were starting to settle, more pressure was creeping in from the outside. It was almost enough to make his head ache.
I really didn't want to deal with another ss, he thought.
But part of him was curious.
If the Billion Bloodline has a weakness… maybe it's talent. We're growing in numbers, yeah, but real strength? That's sothing else entirely.
Out of everyone in this school, Max thought, Jay's probably the only one who could hold his own against an actual gang.
If Clapton High really was trying to move in on them, this could be more than just a defense, it could be an opportunity.
A chance to find other strong students. A way to expand. If I take down their leader and offer them the sa deal I gave everyone else…
The idea played over in his mind.
The Billion Bloodline could grow even more. A giant gang made up of high school delinquents, unified under one na... It's insane. But it's also the kind of thing no one would ever see coming.
Jay spoke up, breaking Max out of his thoughts.
"I have a suggestion," he said. "I think we should strike first. Hit them before they hit us. It'll stop our people from getting hurt and send a clear ssage to the other schools: don't ss with us."
Joe's expression twisted imdiately. He didn't like the sound of that at all.
He raised a hand. "Wait, what if we just hire the Pit again? They helped us last ti. Maybe they can handle Clapton for us too?"
Max shook his head.
"That won't work," he said. "If the Pit handles it, Clapton will fear them, not us. We need to start handling our own problems now. And besides... who's going to pay them?"
He glanced at Joe with a smirk.
"I could always take it out of your wages. But that might leave you broke for a while."
Joe imdiately raised both hands. "Okay, okay. It was just a suggestion."
Jay leaned forward. "So... should I call everyone? We can head there now. I know it's just lunch break, but if we show up in the middle of the day, it'll make an even bigger impact."
Max narrowed his eyes, considering it. "Attacking a school in broad daylight… won't that cause problems? I an, if the entire group leaves campus at once, won't soone notice?"
Jay shrugged. "It didn't in the past."
Max couldn't help but wonder what kind of teachers were running these schools. Had they just given up on controlling their students altogether? Or maybe it was sothing else. Maybe Dipter had the staff in his pocket, and the sa could be true for these other schools.
It wouldn't surprise him.
"I've got a better idea," Max said, his voice calm but firm. "I've been training just like everyone else. We want to make sure they're scared of us, right?"
He looked up, eyes sharp.
"We want them to think we're even more dangerous than Dipter ever was."
There was a flicker of sothing in his expression, calculated, determined.
"It's been a while since I've actually used my fists," Max added. "So how about this? Just the two of us. We go alone. We take them out ourselves."
Jay raised an eyebrow, surprised.
But Max was serious. His tone, his posture, everything about him said he wasn't joking.
If the Billion Bloodline was going to be feared, respected, followed, then he needed to show exactly what kind of leader he was.
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