MARIE-JOY PORT – WAREHOUSES – DAY
The port was crowded. Stacked containers, rotating cranes. Workers in overalls loaded crates. On the surface, nothing suspicious.
Midas walked across the docks with a confident step. Behind him, Daek-Bin, head down.
The "workers" watched him pass. They exchanged glances. Some placed their hands on their belts. No one stopped him.
He entered the office building. A security guard, massive, tattooed, looked up.
"Mr. Gray."
"He's expecting me."
The man stepped aside.
The door at the end opened. The office was spacious, decorated with dark wood, hunting trophies, master paintings. Behind the desk, Daek-Bin's father.
An imposing man, his face marked by a scar, his fingers covered in gold rings.
"Hello, sir."
"Oh, my little Midas."
The man smiled. A business smile.
"I received this month's payment. It's great. Your project at that school is working wonderfully."
Midas sat down across from him.
"That's exactly why I wanted to talk to you. I want to move to the next level."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?"
"I want to command a team from your empire."
Silence fell.
The man burst out laughing. A deep, thick laugh that shook his chest.
"Hahaha! Hahaha! What are you talking about, kid? You want to run a subsidiary of my gang? Seriously?"
Midas didn't flinch.
"Don't misunderstand my intentions. I don't intend to become your little lackey and carry out missions for you."
He stood up.
"What I want is your status. With status in your gang, I could extend my influence to several surrounding high schools. And beyond that."
He pulled a rolled-up paper from his pocket. A map. He unrolled it on the desk.
"I propose a three-step plan to turn my faction into a junior equivalent of yours."
The father leaned in.
"First: I plan to take Senjoku Street."
"Senjoku Street? In Saitama?"
"It's a shopping street. A tourist spot. The bridge – the bridge where Gap found me – is there."
He pointed.
"Currently, Senjoku Street is occupied by four major gangs. Mostly made up of high school students. Bikers fanatical about the golden age of delinquents."
He stepped back.
"By taking control of these crews, we will secure a stable source of income."
"Second: by taking these gangs, I will also gain power over the influence they have in their schools."
He spread his arms.
"So I will have a faction covering the entire district. Well… almost."
The father crossed his arms.
"And the best of all…"
Midas smiled.
"…would be to get our hands on the Happy End gang."
The father sat up straight.
"The Happy End? A group of mini-vigilantes."
"Exactly."
Midas approached the map.
"I strongly feel Gap's spirit in what they do. They subdue rival gangs and protect their territory. As a result, they are paid by the citizens. Protection money."
He looked up.
"Getting our hands on this gang gives us direct access to their profits. And a rivalry with the Diamond Platinum."
The father leaned back.
"Hey, what are you talking about, kid? The Diamond Platinum – even I'm not on their level."
Midas didn't flinch.
"That's exactly why we're going to win. Thanks to the logistical force we'll have, the war will be won in advance."
His eyes gleamed.
"For any war, you obviously need a motive. An acceptable cause that makes the war less cruel. With the Happy End on our side, we can just say they led a war to liberate the area occupied by the Diamonds."
He turned to the father.
"And anyway, motive or not, no one will be able to stop us from taking over their business."
He detailed their operation.
"Their setup works in three points.
1. A casino – that's the perfect motive. The hub around which everything revolves.
2. The VIP room – a basement room where the richest businessmen can relax. And especially consume drugs. The homemade drugs produced by the gang.
3. The treasure hunt – the darkest part of the scheme. Through the VIP room, they invite streamers, stars, to come do publicity. At the moment they sign, they drug them. And bring them to the treasure hunt."
His voice hardened.
"There, the VIPs hunt them. Only once caught do they become their sex toys. Or even instruments for venting their hatred. Children are the number one targets."
Silence.
He gathered the documents.
"It seems like a very lucrative game."
He turned to the father.
"But it doesn't matter. I've laid out my plan for you. It's up to you whether you're in."
He approached him.
"Or whether you become my enemy."
The father was still for a long moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
"You're very frustrating, kid. Where do you get such imagination?"
He stood up.
"You're the devil himself, Midas Grey."
He extended his hand.
"I'm in."
They shook hands.
"You know, sir… deals with the devil are often what bring you the most success. But they are double-edged."
The father smiled.
"Mmmh. Good. But how do you plan to take down these gangs?"
Midas put away the map.
"Don't worry. I have my methods."
"You're already in motion?"
"I anticipated that you would agree."
He turned to the window.
"The subsidiary is already in motion."
---
TANOBA HIGH SCHOOL – EAST DISTRICT
Tanoba High School was dilapidated. Graffiti on the walls. Broken windows. Trash in the yard.
No teachers. Just thugs.
A foot landed on the cracked ground.
Sharky advanced. Black cap. Black mask. Black mafia coat. Black gloves.
He looked around.
"So… Midas told me to take possession of this place."
He lit a cigarette.
"That asshole is such a pain."
---
FUKAKU HIGH SCHOOL – HAPPY END DISTRICT
A black car parked in the yard.
A guard opened the door.
William Armstrong stepped out. A candy in his mouth. He rolled it on his tongue, nonchalant.
Daek-Bin stepped out too. An eyepatch over his left eye.
"So, this is the Happy End's high school?"
Fukaku High School was clean. Well-maintained. Trimmed trees. Green lawns.
A group of students appeared from nowhere.
Then a dozen.
Then a hundred.
The whole school was there.
William crossed his arms.
"So, you're the Happy End?"
Daek-Bin adjusted his eyepatch.
A giant stepped forward. Muscular, imposing, hard-faced. He planted himself in front of them.
"I don't know who you are, but you'd better get lost. Because when our master arrives, he won't leave you alive. That's for sure."
William raised an eyebrow.
"Your master? So you're not the leader?"
The giant didn't answer.
William smiled.
"Doesn't matter."
He cracked his fingers.
"This will be child's play."
The wind rose.
The two sides faced each other.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…