Chapter 105: Bloodline Power The order had gone out to every member of the Billion Bloodline, a requirement if they wanted to stay part of the delinquent group and continue receiving their payments. Every member 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 requirement didn’t bother them much. In fact, most of the delinquents enjoyed the training. Working out gave them something to focus on, a place to bond, to push each other, to feel like they belonged to something real. The second requirement? Every member had to buy at least one piece of gym merch, 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 something meaningless. The merch wasn’t just clothing, it was a symbol. It made them feel like they were part of the same 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 met 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 merch, showing up at the gym together..." Jay smirked. "I think they felt like they were missing out. Like they weren’t part of something big. So they accepted the terms and joined up." "Crazy," Joe said, shaking his head. "Who would’ve thought gyms using the same group name would just pop up everywhere? Total stroke of luck. And making everyone wear the same 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 something 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. "Some 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 meant something serious. But this was school. Teenagers. Delinquents with egos. Still, the way Jay said it didn’t sound exaggerated. "Remember 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 message 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 mess, 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 something 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 same 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 name... 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 message to the other schools: don’t mess with us." Joe’s expression twisted immediately. 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 time. 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 immediately 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 mean, if the entire group leaves campus at once, won’t someone 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 something else. Maybe Dipter had the staff in his pocket, and the same 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. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 "We want them to think we’re even more dangerous than Dipter ever was." There was a flicker of something 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.