Jax’s expression changed slightly upon hearing the wake up call.
"Ruins aren’t safe," West continued. "Gangs aren’t safe. Power attracts conflict. And conflict attracts people who want to kill you."
Jax exhaled slowly. "...When you say it like that..."
"It sounds like what your parents see," West finished.
Jax leaned back, staring at the ceiling silently for a mont. "...So what do I do?"
"That’s up to you," West pointed out.
Jax frowned. "That’s not helpful."
"It’s the only honest answer," West stated. "If you stay, you’re choosing risk. If you leave, you’re choosing safety."
"But either way," West added, "you’re the one who has to live with it."
Jax sat there quietly thinking... this was one hell of a heavy decision. Did he really want to play it safe? No. But were his parents worries valid? Of course.
Jax felt he’d regret it for the rest of his life if he quit now but he also had to put his parents thought process into account.
"I’ll say this... if it is possible to find a balance in order to placate them, I’d advice you do that," West stated before getting up.
"You’re welco to stay here for as long as you want... till the base is complete of course. There’ll be living quarters available for all gang mbers," West proceeded to the shower afterwards, leaving Jax to his thoughts.
•••
•••
•••
Night had already settled over Misty High City, but, in a part of the city where even gang mbers lowered their voices, an entirely different kind of eting was taking place.
The place was an old private gambling den hidden beneath a decaying bathhouse... one of those places respectable people pretended did not exist.
Smoke curled along the air, mahjong tiles clicked sowhere in the distance and muted jazz crackled from an old speaker.
In a secluded upper room lit only by a red lantern, two n sat across from each other at a black lacquer table.
One was Renzhi with his three ponytails dangling behind him calmly. However, the quiet rage in his eyes made the air feel brittle.
On the surface, he had moved on... that was what everyone believed.
The respected Grand Captain of the Dragon Fang Gang... forced to kneel... forced to apologize... in front of subordinates, in front of juniors, in front of people who would whisper about it for years.
Unfortunately and unbeknownst to everyone, he still hadn’t let it go
The other person sitting from across him, was a gang leader with broad-shouldered and scarred neck.
Half his face was covered in dark swirling ink that crawled from scalp to jaw like a shadow. The tattoo made one eye look almost buried inside darkness.
His na was Bloodstain, the leader of the Iron Vultures.
He was a man whose na brought discomfort in certain circles.
He rolled a tal chip across his knuckles lazily while studying Renzhi.
"You called in a favor," Bloodstain stated.
Renzhi leaned forward slightly. "Yes."
Bloodstain smirked. "That serious?"
Renzhi’s voice lowered. "There’s soone I want handled."
Bloodstain arched a brow. "Handled how?"
Renzhi’s fingers tapped once against the table. "Not killed."
That statent earned a small chuckle from Bloodstain. "That narrows things down."
Renzhi’s gaze sharpened. "I want his life made miserable."
Bloodstain stopped rolling the chip as a look of interest appeared in his eyes while Renzhi continued. "He just started a gang."
"Shadow Reapers."
Bloodstain visible eye flickered. "I’ve heard whispers."
Renzhi nodded. "Then you know they’re far beneath your gang’s rank."
A slow grin appeared on Bloodstain’s face as he started to understand what Renzhi was driving at.
Higher-ranked gangs had better privileges no doubt. There were a thousand legal and illegal ways to suffocate a weaker gang without drawing blood.
Renzhi leaned in. "Use that."
Bloodstain stayed silent as Renzhi’s voice dropped colder.
"Frustrate him."
"Delay permits."
"Contest territory."
"Interfere with contracts."
"Pressure suppliers."
"Make every move expensive."
"Make every breath costly."
"Make his life a living hell."
The room went quiet as Bloodstain studied him for several long monts before finally leaning back. "I don’t understand sothing."
Renzhi’s eyebrows raised slightly. "Hmm? What’s that?"
"You," Bloodstain answered before pointing lazily. "A man of your standing."
"Dragon Fang."
"Grand Captain."
"And you’re here asking to bully so newbie gang leader?"
His grin sharpened. "Why?"
"Why do you need for such a little issue you could solve yourself?"
The question was like a knife piercing at Renzhi and making him recall the embarrassing incident again...
His face hardened and for a second, sothing dangerous flashed there.
"See..." he inhaled, forcing himself to calm down. "Just do this for , okay?"
"Enough with the questions."
"You owe ."
Bloodstain fingers stopped tapping the table as his grin faded.
The debt from years ago was a favor impossible to repay cleanly... and they both knew it.
Bloodstain let out a slow exhale before finally speaking. "...There it is."
He shook his head. "You had to bring that up."
Renzhi only stared at him without saying another word.
After a brief silence he raised both arms in defeat. "Okay."
"Okay."
A lazy smirk returned. "Sure... I’ll get to it."
Renzhi finally leaned back with a satisfied look while Bloodstain’s reached for his drink and took a slow sip.
"This West..." he spoke slowly. "What did he fuck your daughter or sothing?"
Renzhi’s expression twitched. "He’d be dead if that was the case."
Renzhi’s voice turned glacial. "But this isn’t personal."
Kuro nearly choked laughing. "It isn’t?"
"Looks pretty personal to ."
Renzhi stood, signaling that the eting was clearly over.
Bloodstain watched him rise and voiced with a tone of assurance. "I’ll take care of it. This our West friend won’t enjoy what cos next."
Renzhi only paused briefly at the door before nodding and exiting.
The lantern swayed slightly after the door shut and Bloodstain sat alone again.
Monts later, his lieutenant stepped from the shadows.
"You taking this seriously?"
Bloodstain stared at the door Renzhi had exited through while a slow predatory smile ford. "Oh, very seriously."
He crushed the tal chip in his hand. "Because anyone who rattles Renzhi this badly..."
"...is interesting."
His inked eye emitted a very dull florescent glow. "And I do love breaking interesting people."
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