[Level 7]
[HP: 100/100]
[Energy: 120/120]
[Exp 32/882]
[Stats]
[Strength 8]
[Dexterity 6]
[Endurance 14]
Gary’s mood had become a lot better after knocking those two guys out. Not only had he done a good deed, he had even been rewarded with a Level Up. Although it had, once again, only granted him a stat point to allocate without any new skill, it was nevertheless one level closer to Level 10.
Besides, his stats had upgraded immensely after his little incident, and unless Billy had killed any more victims that the media had not reported anything about, it looked like the teenager had vastly closed the gap between the two.
‘Billy’s stayed quiet for a while, although who knows if he was doing the same thing as I was during that gang war. I still have no clue if he has a system like me or not, but at least I have two unassigned stat points. For now I’ll save them until I need them.’ Gary thought.
Having consumed the bodies in the Kobe Karaoke Club, Gary didn’t know if the additional stat points it had granted him had been as random as the ones he got for killing his hunting targets, or if it depended on things like their blood type or perhaps his own preposition.
Unfortunately, his gains had mostly come in the form of an increased Endurance, which would do bupkis against Billy who, at least from what he could remember, had been faster and stronger than him.
‘How’s Endurance going to help me in a fight? Admit it, stupid system, you just wanna watch me get pummeled for longer, don’t you?!’
Alas, the only way to figure out how the system worked would be by eating more bodies, and the high schooler didn’t have any plans to do that in the foreseeable future. Seconds ago, he had thought about it again, but it was a dark road that he didn’t want to go down.
Well, there was one person that he perhaps would consider, but for some reason his Mark wasn’t visible, indicating that he was too far away from him right now.
———
Eventually Gary had arrived at school, and everything felt strange to him. He saw Innu and Tom sitting at their desks talking peacefully. Although everything that had happened to him just hours ago would be something that would be with him for the rest of his life, for the rest of the world, it had been mostly a normal weekday.
“Are you okay bro, you look a bit like death?” Innu asked, a bit worried. Unlike yesterday he had cooled down a bit, especially since he had enjoyed a good long rest, something that his gang leader didn’t seem to. “You know Kai told you to get some good sleep today, right?”
Judging from the way Innu was speaking, it didn’t seem like Kai had shared anything about his situation with him, something the high schooler was thankful for. After all, it wasn’t their business and it was a problem that he needed to solve himself.
“Huh, are you guys going somewhere today?” Tom asked. Previously he might have perhaps ignored the fact, but it was starting to get on his nerves a little. Ever since the day before yesterday it had become apparent that Gary had some connection to the group around Kai, yet his best friend didn’t admit to it.
At the same time, after briefly hearign some news about Chavley, he wondered if Gary had done something, after all it would explain his tiredness, but he also didn’t think his best friend was stupid enough to get involved in that.
They had four more weeks to figure out how to avoid a repeat of the incident from two days ago. Gary didn’t miss Tom staring at him, so he was left trying to come up with a reasonable excuse, but what could he say this time?
“Gambling.” Gary answered in a hushed tone, once he made sure, nobody else paid attention to their trio. “I think you know that money is tight in my home. Kai was actually the one who recommended me to my last job, but…
“Since I still need money, I asked him if he had a way. That was actually the reason they were looking for me after the rugby match. Kai makes most of his money that way. He’s going to be our ‘in’ person tonight.
“I’m sorry, Tom, I was sure you would want to come along, but I’m telling you now, you can’t. Unlike me, you have good parents and you get good grades. I just don’t want you to risk your future by tagging along.
“If anyone sees you there from school, you could be in serious trouble, and I’m not talking about your school. Just imagine what your parents would do if they found out their precious son would do something as illegal as that. I mean, you’ve told me about the slippers, but I bet it would be a hundred times worse!”
Before Tom could reply anything, Gary put his head down on the desk, which clearly indicated that he didn’t want any of the others to talk to him.
‘I already nearly lost my sister, and I can’t even speak to my mother anymore. No matter what Tom, I’m not getting you involved in any more of this mess than you already are.’
——
The rest of the school day was as boring as always, with Gary seemingly ignoring everyone around him, he just wanted to get through the day. Even at lunch he stayed out of sight from the others, though that was mostly because he climbed the school roof, since they had seagulls who had built their nests there. It had allowed him to catch them out of sight from the others.
It was for his Energy, and he was also getting faster at keeping track of objects, and hunting. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like he had become something akin to a wild beast.
After an uneventful rugby practice it was finally time. Gary left the school gates and headed to the gym. There was some time before he needed to meet up with the others anyway. After his workout, he proceeded to change his clothing, into the black and gold trim outfit that Kai had gifted him.
Then running ahead, he eventually came across the park that he would usually practice with Innu and he could see the others were waiting for him. Kai, Marie, and Innu were all dressed in the same colour scheme, only that the high school girl had a skirt on instead.
“Clothes really do make people. We finally are looking like a proper gang.” Kai stated with a satisfied grin and pulled on his jacket a bit, straightening it out.
“Are you sure it’s ok to be out like this? Won’t the gangs pick a fight with us once they see us?” Gary asked.
“Aaahhh, I really need Marie to give you a crash course on how to behave as a proper gang leader.” Kai let out a sigh as he disheveled his hair. “As of now, nobody even knows who The Howlers are. If anyone sees the five of us in matching clothes they will just think that we’re part of a volleyball team or something. Anyway, this time the place is a drive away, so…”
The older teenager pointed towards the street, where a car could be seen. The window was rolled part way down and inside the women who Gary had met yesterday was currently enjoying a cigarette.
“She’ll take us there. It will be a bit of a squeeze in the back, but you’ll just have to endure.” Kai explained.
They all eventually got inside, and Gary was pleased that it looked like even Innu didn’t know who this woman was, though he noticed something strange. The ones sitting in the back were all the boys whereas Marie sat at the front.
‘Well I guess, it’s a bit rude to make a girl sit in between two boys. Kai’s quite the gentleman… or is he just that much of a lady’s man?’ Gary wondered.
Theie group started driving and eventually the woman attempted to make some light conversation to clear the awkward air.
“I’m happy to see you have made so many friends. So how was school, pumpkin?”
It was clearly a nickname for one of those in the car, but Gary thought pumpkin was a little too cute for Kai.
“The usual, boring and not really worth it. Can we just turn on the radio and drive in silence, Mum?” Marie requested, clearly in no mood for conversation.
“Mother?!” Innu shouted out in shock, which was exactly the reaction Gary had, yet he had managed to keep it in. Right now there were countless thoughts going through his head. The teenager had been wondering what the relationship between Kai and this woman had been, for the two of them to appear that late at a hospital.
He would have been far less surprised to learn that it had indeed been Kai’s, but for her to be Marie’s mother?! Well the resemblance was there, but how did she fit into all of this?
Was she part of a gang? Was she part of the Underdogs?! She clearly seemed to know where they were taking them!
There was a slight panic setting in as Gary started to suspect that all of this might be a huge trap!