Chapter 44 Role in gang

Chapter 44 Role in gang

Kan looked around the small hangout, a smile curving across his lips as he took in the scene before him.

"So this is why you skip school, huh? Running your own gang?" Kan's tone carried a hint of amusement, as if he found the situation mildly intriguing but not necessarily mind-blowing. He had a few questions in mind, but Ellie beat him to it.

"Yeah, and I guess everyone, including you, thinks it's just a phase. But mark my words, I'm going to rise to the top, above all the gangs in this city!" Ellie declared with a determined look in her eyes.

"About that, I was wondering, you know, since I'm new and all. Can you tell me more about the gangs in the city?" Kan asked, following Ellie as she headed over to drop her bag on the single couch they had. Kan had a fair bit of knowledge about gangs, but he had learned not to rely too heavily on assumptions in this new world.

"Gangs aren't something unfamiliar to me. I have some idea of what they do, but I want to make sure I don't jump to conclusions. Honestly, I'm surprised there's even a mention of gangs here," Kan mused internally.

[There are layers to this city that you haven't uncovered yet. Stick around, and you'll discover more on your own,] Hela chimed in.

"Do tell," Kan thought, directing his words at the system.

[And spoil all the surprises? No, baby, some things you'll have to uncover yourself. Even you would enjoy that,] Hela's response came with a playful tone.

Ellie plopped down onto the chair and patted the seat next to her, signaling for Kan to join her.

"Alright, so you might not know this, but beneath the facade of peace the city tries to uphold, there's an ongoing gang war. Gangs run everything here, from businesses to just about everything else. They're the reason..." Ellie hesitated, as if holding back some crucial information. But the other gang members sensed it, and the riot twins stepped forward.

"Sully's mother was killed by a gang boss," Susie, the girl, explained, pointing to her brother Sully.

Sully nodded solemnly. "Susie and I have been on our own since then, until Aunty Ellie here found us," he added.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Kan sympathized genuinely.

"Don't worry, Sully and his sister are planning to unleash chaos on every gang. The reckoning is coming," Sully said, a mixture of determination and a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Kan could see the twins' intensity, their rough exterior concealing a fierce determination. Their laughter and energy as they returned to their ball game was a testament to the bond they shared.

"Taking them in, that's a really wonderful thing you've done," Kan complimented Ellie as they found themselves alone once again.

"Not really. I mean, I only brought them in because I saw potential in them. Those two are capable of things that would shock you,"Ellie said but moments later felt bad about how she made the whole thing look

"Also, I kind of stumbled upon them crying beside their mother's lifeless body. The truth is, I haven't been as great as they think. The real credit should go to Jessy; she's become like their mother," Ellie admitted, her gaze shifting toward Jessica.

"Wow, that's truly remarkable. So, tell me, I still don't fully grasp the concept of gangs. Why aren't they reported to the police?" Kan inquired.

Hearing this question, everyone in the room, except Kan, burst into laughter. Once their laughter subsided, a large hand landed on Kan's shoulder from behind—Kane had stepped in.

"Listen up, newbie. The police are the ones feeding the gangs with information and weapons. It's a twisted partnership, and only those with the right connections thrive," Kane explained, his voice carrying the weight of experience.

"Plus, the political elites are in on it too. They can't stop it, so they try to control it. Once a gang reaches a certain level, they seize control and use the gang's criminal activities to their advantage," Mendy, seated at his desk, chimed in.

The pieces were slowly coming together for Kan. The world he thought he knew had a darker, more complex underbelly that he was just beginning to comprehend.

*******

Kan was determined to ask the questions that had been lingering in his mind.

"Those guys I saw you with..." Kan was about to say before he go his mouth shut.

As he began to speak, Ellie's reaction was swift—she rushed to cover his mouth. The group recognized the importance of keeping certain matters under wraps, and this activity definitely fell into that category.

However, Jessica's curiosity got the best of her, and she marched over to the sofa with an air of seriousness.

"What guys did you see her with?" Jessica's tone was demanding, her expression far from playful.

Kan hesitated but eventually revealed, "I saved her from some guys who were harassing her near our school."

"So, you saw her with other guys, is that what you're saying?" Jessica's questioning gaze fixed on Ellie, clearly unimpressed.

"What did we agree on, Ellie?" Jessica turned to Ellie, a mix of disappointment and annoyance coloring her features.

Ellie seemed caught off guard, her voice rising as she tried to defend herself. "I can't just cut ties with them! The twins—how would they survive? How would they go back to school or even have enough to eat? It's not like I'm enjoying any of this!"

Kan's confusion deepened as the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically.

"Am I missing something here?" Kan asked, his bewilderment growing.

"Ellie's not just part of our gang," Jessica explained coldly, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Ellie.

"Apparently, she has a hard time deciding where she truly belongs," Jessica added, her voice tinged with bitterness, before retreating to her corner.

Ellie fell silent, her gaze sweeping across the room, each stare feeling like a probing question aimed at her.

"Before I started this gang, I was already part of another one..." Ellie's voice trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging in the air.

"Yeah, tell him what your role was in that gang," Jessica's voice echoed from her corner, her words a deliberate jab.

Ellie's eyes wavered, a nervous tremor overtaking her as she struggled to continue speaking.

Kan looked at her, his heart going out to her in this vulnerable moment. He reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.

Just then, a notification popped up in front of Kan's vision, a message from the system.

*Ping!!*

[Run your hands down her shoulders and say, "It's okay, you can talk to me." +1 charm points]

[Tell her, "It's okay, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." +5 skill points]

The tension in the room was palpable, emotions swirling as everyone awaited Ellie's response.