Chapter 249: The Choice The guests had managed to escape from the VIP section, many still with their masks intact, clutched tightly in shaking hands. Others, however, had lost theirs in the chaos, knocked off in the panic, or torn away as they practically crawled and scrambled to get out of the place alive. With shards of glass flying and weapons being wielded without hesitation, many feared getting caught in the crossfire. These were people who’d lived sheltered lives, many of whom had never been hit, shoved, or even shouted at in their entire existence. Now, they were running for their lives. Outside the venue, several guests were bent over, huffing and panting next to their expensive vehicles. Others didn’t even stop, they jumped into their cars and sped off, tires screeching as they disappeared into the night. "What was that?" one guest gasped between breaths. "Is this some kind of gang war going on? I swear... I’ve never seen anything like this before." "I think you’re right," another said. "When I turned around while running, I caught a glimpse of the uniforms. They were called something... Bloodline, I think?" "Bloodline? Never heard of them. And to attack the Black Hounds?" A third guest scoffed. "They’ve got to be crazy. No one goes after them and walks away." "Exactly. It’s a shame about today’s bets, but after this... I’m sure we’ll never hear about the Bloodline group again." But inside the venue, things weren’t looking nearly as calm or simple. The manager was pacing, sweat on his forehead. His nerves were frayed. Nothing was going according to plan. They weren’t even the core unit of the Black Hounds, just a part of the larger organization. But even so, if they didn’t get things under control soon, he knew someone had to take the fall. And if this didn’t get cleaned up fast... that someone would be him. As he looked around the room, trying to gauge the situation, something caught his eye. The man in the golden lightning-patterned uniform, the one who had been standing proudly on the bar earlier, was now dashing through the chaos, a box in his hands. He wasn’t running randomly either. He was heading directly toward two guests in particular. ’Was it them? Did the Sterns hire this group? What’s in that package? Why is he delivering it in the middle of this madness?’ The manager’s eyes darted between the Sterns and the attackers. His focus was torn. On one hand, the Sterns were trapped, and protecting them was key to keeping their biggest financial backers happy. On the other, the attackers were still in full force, and the guards were barely holding their ground. Just then, as Wolf sprinted toward the Sterns, one of the guards jumped in his path. Without hesitation, the guard launched a flurry of punches, each one sharp and fast. But Wolf was faster, tilting his head left and right, dancing around the strikes with a smirk. "Hey, hey! You almost made me drop this box!" Wolf said, jumping back to create some space, all while making sure the package in his arms stayed level. "Watch it, will you?" As Wolf toyed with the guard, Chad saw an opportunity. With all the chaos, weren’t they just like the other guests now? Couldn’t they escape too? "Max, this is our chance!" Chad said urgently. "We can get out of here! The Black Hounds are busy fighting off someone else, this is our window!" Max turned slowly to face him, his eyes cold. "And then what, Chad? You think the Black Hounds are just going to forget about your debt? That they’ll leave you alone after this?" Max would never run, not after everything. If he turned his back now, he’d be abandoning the people who came here to help him escape this nightmare. "You idiot!" Chad snapped. "I don’t even know why I bothered saying anything! Sure, we’ll deal with the future later, but what about now?! What if we don’t even get a later?!" But as Chad tried to move forward, something strange happened. Or rather... something didn’t happen. His legs didn’t respond. No matter how hard he tried to move them, they wouldn’t budge. He slammed his fists against his own thighs in frustration. "What is this?!" Chad shouted. "Why... why can’t I move?!" Is it the stress? Max wondered. The commotion? The pressure? Chad was already on the verge of breaking earlier. This must have pushed him over the edge. No wonder his body’s frozen. "It looks like you’re stuck here," Max said calmly. "And besides, those guards wouldn’t let you through anyway." The Bloodline and the Pit had stormed in with surprise on their side, but that edge was starting to fade. Now they were seeing why the Black Hounds were feared. Why they had managed to rise from the streets and become a full-fledged, organized force. Still, Wolf wasn’t about to be stopped. His opponent lunged again, but Wolf met him head-on this time. Just before the man’s fist reached him, Wolf leapt forward, both knees raised, and slammed them directly into the man’s face. The impact echoed through the venue. Wolf landed on his feet with a thud, watching the guard stagger back in pain. He wasn’t down, but he was definitely dazed. "These guys are pretty tough," Wolf muttered. "But I can still take ’em out. Don’t even need my hands for this." Now, with the path ahead clear, Wolf sprinted toward Max. The manager watched the scene unfold, his blood boiling. "What are you doing, Dud?!" he yelled. "You’ve just been standing there like an idiot! Do you even realize what could be in that box?!" The manager had his suspicions. If the Sterns were truly behind this, and if this Bloodline group had real wealth, then whatever was inside that package could very well be a game-changer. Something that, in the hands of even a kid... could be deadly. But none of that mattered now. They were too late. "I was told to give you this," Wolf said with a wide grin as he reached Max. Without delay, he opened the top of the box. Max looked inside, and smiled. Without hesitation, he reached in and pulled it out. The item unfolded in his hands, and Max swung it around his shoulders, sliding his arms smoothly through the sleeves. He stood tall, adjusting the collar and front. The jacket now rested proudly on his back. And behind him, Chad could see the logo, clear as day. The Bloodline crest. "I told you, Dud," Max said as he stepped forward, his presence undeniable. "You made the wrong choice."