The combat personnel were already filing into the same vast training hall that Max had visited before, back when Na had sparred with their best fighters and flattened them all without breaking a sweat.
This time, though, the place was far more crowded. Dozens of boots echoed against the polished floor as soldiers, guards, and security specialists streamed through the double doors. Unlike last time, none of them were away on outside assignments or stuck in other forms of training. Every active member had been called back.
For the first time, Max found himself looking out across the full strength of the Fortis Group. Over one hundred combat personnel stood before him, a wall of hardened expressions and broad shoulders.
Among them were five individuals wearing insignia on their collars, the five who held the title of Chief. One of them, Nonto, Max already recognized from their rather tense first meeting.
The Chiefs stood in a neat line near the center, their arms folded behind their backs. The other personnel formed orderly ranks facing them, murmuring amongst themselves.
And standing slightly off to the side, as composed as always with her ever-present tablet, was Nesa. Beside her was Max.
Today, there was no Na looming silently at his shoulder. Or rather, Na wasn't inside the building. He had been stationed outside as the silent shadow keeping watch over the perimeter.
It was the first official full-company meeting since the takeover, and everyone's eyes kept drifting toward the two new figures at the front: Nesa with her authoritative poise, and Max, the young, red-haired stranger whose smug grin seemed to annoy half the room on sight.
Max ran a hand through his parted hair, brushing it off to the side. He could feel the tension, the quiet speculation. These men and women had lived through months of instability, and now they were wondering who this kid was and what kind of chaos he was about to bring.
"I still don't understand why you even want me here," Chad muttered beside him, his voice dripping with boredom and nerves.
"Let's be real," Max said dryly. "You don't know the first thing about running a private security company… or anything, really. You had more money than anyone could dream of, and you blew it all. No one's going to trust you with actual work, so I have to find some use for you."
He didn't even glance at Chad as he spoke.
"You have this disgusting flashy aura about you, and you're older than me. So my guess is they'll think you're more important. Some people might even start to believe you're the actual owner of the Billion Bloodline Group."
Max finally turned to look him dead in the eye, then shrugged.
"And that's fine with me. Because when someone eventually decides to aim for the leader of the group… they'll kill you instead of me."
Chad stood frozen, mouth half open. No sound came out. Max had completely wrapped him around his finger.
Every day Chad spent with him, he heard words he never expected anyone to say out loud. And every day, he realized more and more that Max was terrifying.
"Well," Chad said after a moment, shaking his head, "at least I got to escape from that disgusting Pit place. The things those people did… there wasn't even a proper shower. And nothing to do there!"
He shivered at the memory and crossed his arms, muttering angrily under his breath.
You'd think after I helped him at the last family meal he'd cut me some slack. Maybe this is his version of cutting me slack… Bit by bit, I'll get my freedom back.
The last few to trickle into the room included Darno. He pushed past people as if he owned the place, the way he always had in meetings. In the old days, the higher-ranked combatants would stand closer to the front, and Darno was used to claiming that spot.
As he slid into the row behind the Chiefs, his eyes briefly met Max's from across the room. Max didn't flinch. Darno did. He was the one who looked away first.
Damn it, Darno thought, biting the inside of his cheek. Why am I so intimidated by a kid? I don't even think he's stronger than me. So what if he beat up those two losers, half the people here could've beaten them.
He clenched his fists quietly at his sides.
Max took a step forward. His voice carried easily across the hall, sharp and confident.
"Today is the most important day of your future at the newly rebranded Billion Bloodline Private Security Group," Max announced.
The murmur of voices faded almost instantly.
"I want you to forget everything you've set up before. Forget your pay scales. Forget your ranks. Forget your positions, including those of the Chiefs standing here now."
The Chiefs stiffened. Several frowned. A few jaws tightened.
This was why Nesa stood nearby, tablet clutched firmly, her gaze steady, ready to handle whatever outrage exploded.
"Don't worry," Max continued. "Your pay brackets will stay the same as before. No one's salary is being cut. What's changing… is your rankings."
He let the words hang for a beat.
"Rankings will now go from C up to S, maybe beyond, though I doubt it. But if we are really going to be the top group, then there is no room for anyone below C-Rank. You either reach that standard, or you don't belong here."
The tension in the air thickened. Some of the Chiefs exchanged wary looks.
"So," Max said, his voice dropping slightly, "let me introduce you to the person who will be ranking you. The person who will evaluate you. The person who will decide your future in this company."
Max stepped aside. The sound of boots echoed from the shadowed tunnel on the far side of the hall.
Out from the corridor, an orange-haired figure strode forward, his eyes sharp, his mouth curled into a faint, wolfish grin.
"Let's see," he said, his voice low and edged with amusement, "if there are any rare ones among you."
Wolf had arrived.