Chapter 318: The Next Step Things began moving faster than Max had anticipated for him and the Billion Bloodline Group after the fall of both the Rejected Corps and the Chalkline Boys. The dust of that bloody night had barely settled, but already the pieces of their empires were being rearranged, absorbed, and repurposed. The heavy lifting, at least on the business side, fell to three people. Aron, with his deep connections in the business world and his network of lawyers, accountants, and fixers, along with Warma, who had a sharp mind for structure and organization, formed an unlikely but effective team. Together they made sure profits were streamlined and funneled in ways that kept the Billion Bloodline Group’s holdings clean, efficient, and, most importantly, safe from excessive taxation or legal eyes. Because of their work, the wealth Max had gained multiplied quickly. The collapse of the two rival gangs didn’t just remove threats, it added weight to his empire. The combined assets of both groups brought in an additional estimated worth of thirty million dollars. And unlike many gangs that were all bark and no bite, both groups had businesses that actually turned profits. The Chalkline Boys had restaurants and a steady income from selling information, generating close to half a million a month. Meanwhile, the Rejected Corps, though less profitable, still brought in nearly two hundred thousand every month through their courier networks. It was a smaller number, but nothing Max could scoff at. Every gain mattered, especially when it strengthened his vow. It pushed his total wealth over a milestone he had been chasing since the beginning. [1,014,380,000] For the first time, Max had more than he started with. His vow surged in response, and he could feel the raw power humming through him like an electric current. But business wasn’t just about numbers on a screen. One more piece needed to be slotted into place: Wolf. Wolf’s people were tasked with ensuring Montez and his boys did as they were told, keeping operations in line. They also oversaw one of the more delicate inheritances from the Rejected Corps, the courier service. On the surface, it was simple: a delivery system for packages belonging to underground groups. They weren’t selling illegal goods themselves, but they were trusted to move things that others couldn’t risk through traditional channels. It was dangerous work. To survive in that line of business, one needed to be skilled, organized, and relentless. The Rejected Corps had excelled because of those qualities, and because of their backing from the Black Hounds. That protection had kept others from interfering. Now, with the business folded into the Bloodline’s network, Wolf was the one managing it. He didn’t work alone. Students from Brinehurst, only the strongest and most willing, ran with him on different assignments across the city, proving themselves in the field. Together, Max, Wolf, Aron, and Warma formed a strange but balanced trio of leaders. The Bloodline Group was no longer just a street gang. They had skipped that stage entirely, leaping straight into the ranks of an organized syndicate. And, surprisingly, the world seemed to let them. Weeks passed. The Black Hounds, who Max had braced himself against, never struck back. No challengers came from neighboring districts. No one tested whether the Bloodline’s power was legitimate or just smoke and mirrors. For the first time in a long while, there was peace. Until the day of graduation. Max sat in his seat alongside the rest of his year, the stage set up on the school’s outdoor grounds. A hush fell over the students as the principal stepped onto the stage, his voice carrying across the crowd. "Honestly," the principal began, his expression weary but proud, "we’ve been through some tough times as a school. We’ve lost more than we ever expected, and more than we ever should have. But I promise you this, we will do better. We will move forward." He scanned the rows of students, his gaze softening. "To see so many of you here today... faces I wasn’t sure I’d ever see again. To see you make it this far, despite everything. Congratulations. You’ve graduated." The applause was warm but tinged with the bittersweet weight of all that had been lost. For Max, it was surreal. Everything with the school was now behind him. Every matter had been resolved, every Chapter closed. It was here that he had started the Bloodline Group, and now, as he looked around, he realized how many of these same students had pledged to continue with him, even after graduation. Good thing I absorbed both the Chalkline Boys’ and the Rejected Corps’ businesses, Max thought. Otherwise, we’d already be bleeding money just to keep the group afloat. As students grew older, allowances and parental support would fade. It was time to step into adulthood. The Bloodline needed to stand on its own, and now, it could. The ceremony ended. Students rose from their seats, some embracing, some laughing, others already making plans for the future. Joe bounded over with a wide grin, flanked by a few of the others. "Hey, Max! A few of us are heading to Sam’s place for a BBQ to celebrate. You coming?" Max smiled faintly, shaking his head. "I’d love to, Joe. Really. But I’ve got an important meeting today. We’ll celebrate another time." As he walked toward the front gates, chatter broke out among the students. "Is that... a luxury car?" "Wait, is that Max’s ride?" "No way... it can’t be..." Max didn’t hide it. There was no need to anymore. This might be the last time many of them saw him, and if they did, he wanted them to see him as he truly was. The sleek car gleamed in the sunlight, waiting. As Max approached, the door opened, not by a chauffeur he didn’t know, but by a familiar face. "You’re learning quickly," Max said with a faint smirk. "Yes. I’m being taught well," Na replied. Na, the only member of the Rejected Corps Max had kept. Not because he wanted to, but because Aron had insisted. Officially, Na wasn’t Bloodline. Instead, Aron had recruited him into Max’s personal security detail, claiming he could keep him in line. And since Aron rarely made requests, Max had found it difficult to say no. "Are you ready, sir?" Aron asked from the other side of the car. "We’re headed to the Stern Manor. Your grandfather wishes to congratulate you, along with the rest of your family." Max glanced once more at the school behind him. A place of beginnings. A place of endings. Then he stepped into the car.