Chapter 223: Cut Loose Chrono, Na, and Dud stood outside a dimly lit KTV establishment attached to a large shopping mall in Notting Hill City. KTVs were strange places. On the surface, they were innocent, private karaoke rooms for groups to drink, sing, and relax. But not all of them were that innocent. Some provided... other forms of entertainment. Certain establishments even offered the option of selecting girls to join the guests, and some went as far as dealing illegal substances behind closed doors. They stayed open late, just like nightclubs, and this one had that unmistakable air of shady business wrapped in neon lights. "So, he’s gone from one hole to another," Chrono commented, scanning the signage. "It didn’t take long to find him," Na added. "It never does. His lack of discretion and reckless spending always gets him noticed." "Right. As soon as he gets his hands on money, he burns through it," Chrono muttered. "Anyway, let’s head inside." Chrono wasn’t worried. This wasn’t enemy territory, no rival gang’s turf, no flags to respect. Just a sleazy venue run by civilians. That’s why he had only brought Na and Dud. But even so, surprises could always happen, and the two were more than enough backup. Upon entering, Dud immediately grabbed the man behind the front desk, slamming his face down hard onto the counter. As one of the staff tried to reach for the phone, Na smashed it into splinters with a single punch. "We won’t hurt anyone," Chrono said calmly. "At least, not any more than we already have. We’re just looking for a blonde-haired gentleman, one who’s been visiting this place frequently." "Room 112!" the man stammered, offering no resistance. He was just an employee, paid to serve drinks and manage bookings, not take beatings. The trio moved through the dim hallway. Reaching the room, Na kicked open the door with force, the impact sending it crashing against the wall. The sudden entrance made the girls inside scream in fear. "Everyone out!" Na ordered. They didn’t argue. The girls scrambled past them, nearly tripping over each other in their rush to escape. All except one person remained, Chad, lounging on a couch with his shirt half-unbuttoned and a sour expression on his face. Na closed the door behind them. "What’s this?" Chrono said mockingly. "No guards this time?" "Ha!" Chad scoffed, pouring himself another drink from the large beer tower next to him. "I needed a way to pay for things, so I told the guards I’d take half their wages. And guess what? They all decided to leave." The guards’ salaries weren’t directly handled by Chad, they were paid through the Stern family. But demanding half their earnings? That was enough for almost every one of them to request a transfer. Why risk their lives for someone trying to rob them? In the end, they agreed to stop guarding him altogether, and this was the result. "I’ve got no money," Chad said, lifting his drink. "You guys were the ones who wanted me gone, remember?" "And how are you paying for all this then?" Dud asked, glancing around the room. "Because the shopping mall belongs to my mother," Chad replied, shaking his head. "Everything I get here is free." Chrono sighed. "We were being cautious before, because of a particular family relationship," he said. "That’s the only reason we kept our distance. But that’s also why we’re here now." He stepped forward slightly, arms crossed. "Originally, you had Dipter and the entire school under your control. Then Max beat Dipter and took the school for himself. At first, I assumed it was just a student scuffle, nothing serious. Just teenagers competing for power. But now... I’m starting to wonder. "Is there more to this Max kid than we know? Did he even know you were involved in the background?" Chad didn’t answer right away. He sipped slowly from his drink, trying to buy time. ’They’re looking into Max now?’ Chad thought. ’Why? Dipter was the one who betrayed me... Are they trying to uncover something else? ’If they find out that Max is part of the Stern family, they’ll try to go after his money... try to steal my golden goose!’ ’I haven’t figured out how to get my hands on his money yet, not in the position I’m in, but I can’t let them have what I’ve spent years trying to get!’ "I don’t know anything," Chad finally said. "I was just using the students as a distribution channel. Doesn’t matter who’s in charge." He paused, then added, "And besides, you know my debt isn’t with you guys. It’s with the Black Hounds." Chrono smirked. "I see," he said coldly. "Still as useless as ever." He turned toward the door, but continued speaking. "You’re right, Chad. That’s why we told the Black Hounds everything." Chad’s drink paused halfway to his lips. "We told them you’re a failure who couldn’t get the job done. That we’re taking over all distribution. That you’re no longer needed. Our relationship with you? It’s done." Chrono opened the door, looking over his shoulder one last time. "Just so you know... the Black Hounds still want their money. And they’ll do whatever it takes to get it." He gave a small wave. "They’ll be here in about five minutes. I’m not sure I’ll ever see you again, Chad." With that, Chrono turned and walked away, followed closely by Na and Dud. The door clicked shut. Inside the room, Chad sprang to his feet and kicked the table, sending beer glasses and bottles crashing to the floor. "DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the room. Outside, the trio exited the KTV lounge and stepped into the humid night air. "Well, that felt like a dead end," Chrono admitted. "Still, it’ll be interesting to see how the Black Hounds deal with him. For now, we’ve got a good relationship with them." He looked over at Dud. "But I’m sure they’re getting nervous about our moves against the Chalkline boys. Keep an eye on them." Dud nodded silently. "And keep following that lead of yours, something we can use against Max. I didn’t like the tone of our last phone call." Chrono’s voice had sharpened. "Find me something. Anything. We need leverage."