Layed up on his bed Jimmy stares on at the celling in apathy,

(should i just try it myself?), although David had said there won't be any tips for a while, i should at least be able to do it myself right?, i'll just spend a small amount, if i lose it then i'll stop).

A few minutes later Jimmy looks up at his phone screen excitedly, his smile triumphant,

(i did it!, I really did it!, I won four times in a row!, i really must have a talent for this!, At this rate i won't even need tips!),

Staring up into his phone screen he contemplates withdrawing his winnings only to decide against it,

(Why quit now?, I did say I'd quit after my first loss), a few minutes later Jimmy is up staring at the betting withdrawal balance aghast,

(i lost it all.....well i already took back my initial deposit so there's no need to worry), sinking under the covers, minute tick buy and Jimmy finds himself as bored as he once was, after several minutes of justification he deposits fifty thousand credits into his betting account,

(i really shouldn't be using my student savings), his eyes glimmer in contemplation before ultimately rationalising the decision,

(i'll withdraw it when win then take it all back and then some).

The next day arrives with it's usual fervour, seated in class the Jimmy remains stupefied and largely unresponsive barely rested and looking all the worse for wear as he murmurs and mutters to himself incessantly, unaware of the blood slowly dripping from and congealing on his chapped and bitten lips.

(I lost it!, I lost it all!, Every damn thin!, Every single penny i had!…i knew gambling was bad i should have... no!, It's just bad luck!, if i get some more money, i can try again!, get everything back and with interest!), Jimmy exits the class at it's end while scheming up the different ways to swindle cash off his parents.

Standing before a middle-aged lady wearing rectangular rimmed glasses, his mother, Jimmy repeats his long tirade on why he needs to go to the most expensive cram school within the area in preparation for his first choice university.

"Look honey, i know you want to go Blue hill but can't you look into another cram school?, Maybe a cheaper one?" His mother pleads.

"going to Blue hill's cram school session's all but guarantees an entrance into university, if i pass that is..., but it's really all the same" uncompromising in his endeavour his mother gives in after several minutes of debating,

(one hundred thousand credits!…i can get it all back with this!)

"Raven!…Raven!, (I lost it!!, my cram school money!, I lost it all!…)

"Okay Jimmy..just calm down.. i get the gist of it, for now we need to find David"

"I'm done for I'm such an idiot i never should've tried without the tips.... money i need money, i'll pay you back i swear!"

"I don't gave any money Jimmy…I'm barely living by the check as is" glancing to the clock Raven realizes that his shift is almost over, "hold on a bit let me go change" Raven states heading into the back room, Jimmy's darting eyes find the cash register and with eyes alight with greed he gulps then reaches out nervously.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

(Right!…it....it's not stealing!…i'll return it!).

Pedaling furiously on an exercise bike with Aylin gazes intensely towards empty air, her focus immaculate, the surrounding gym members eye the blue-eyed beauty from a distance while collectively watching as one walks up towards her

"Hey, I've been watching you for a while, and i..."

"Get lost", a deep baritone voice rumbles from her side, turning the guy sees a shirtless man in shades, sporting multiple blade scars with one running from below his right shoulder across his abs stopping at the high abdomen and another shorter one across that scar starting from his left shoulder then stopping just a bit past chest center forming a disproportionate x, at the plexus of his chest is an asterisk like scar... something between a burn and a fist mark, scars aside the blend of black and crimson tattoos coiling from his wrists to the base of his fore arms and just after the elbow in a shade like effect with the elbows a light crimson to the wrists dark red was menacing to say the least, the striking streaks of grayish white in contrast to his majorly pitch black hair left the young man quite intimidated

"They just keep coming" Aylin states while pedaling furiously as sweat cascades down her fore head in waves the light shine on her arms a testament to her work,

"You choose to come here"

"I'm not interested in being trapped at home two four seven" she replies rather sarcastically, "there are less of them now thanks to you, but that's by the way, what was dad saying about you and Jhon wuu finding successors to your posts?" she states resting briefly to looking to Vin, "the next generation, both Wuu and i are to turn twenty-one in about a year, we'll be taking official posts in assistance to the boss as officials in your fathers Murim faction, to do that we'll need to take the tests and become registered Shifters...and by then....."

"You won't be able to do dad's dirty work, at least not without being outed, i'm guessing he told you to destroy the crews....i don't know the full details but i know the Young's are on his tail....., What i don't understand is why?" Aylin inquires

"Why what?" Vin replies

"Why make them fight?, Go to war?"

"Simple" Vin states his smile growing devilishly wide,"because it's 'FUN'" Vin concludes leaving a shudder running through Aylin's spine as his white irises seeming to glimmer bright enough to show past his tinted shades.

(All that blood, war just because it's fun?, Is this really what Murim plans on turning the country even the world into?, A lawless jungle where strengths is all that matters? And Is dad really supporting this?)

Seated together at a round table, two teens one shirtless covered in traditional Yakuza tattoos, the other clothed in a white turtle-neck sweater eat, across the table is a middle aged man, with a huge protruding belly, shirtless, covered in tattoos with teeth encased in solid gold,

"I can't believe he fell for that, how do you get deceived by an unprotected site in the twenty first century all because you could win a little bit of cash" David states letting his laughter lose, "I've already gotten ten people including Jimmy in the last month, forty percent of everything earned was our agreement, that's about four and a quarter of a million credits, I'd like my payment soon"

"Do you think we're friends or something?, Your usefulness is your ability to trick idiots into getting addicted, stay useful and shut the fuck up!, you'll get your pay in a few days" Duke state glaring at David who stares down while nervously apologizing, the group's attention is drawn towards a loud bang emanating from the house's entrance,

"Duke!… I lost everything, my money, i stole from friends, my savings!… I need to recover everything, to pay them back!" he states pleadingly.

(So he's finally gone the whole way, he's done),

"Look..." Duke begins before getting interrupted by the old head beside him

"No no, he's in quite bad shape isn't he, he's a good friend of yours is he not?" Taking their silence as confirmation he proceeds, "I'll loan you some money, but you'll have to do something for me",

"Yes!… yes! I'll do anything!" Jimmy shouts frantically,

"to conclude this agreement we're going to need a firm of..... collateral per say, bring the registration certificate for your house and your father's identification card, those two should do the trick" the old head states while smiling towards the ever oblivious Jimmy with obvious avarice.

"Raven!…your off night shift today. I'll leave you to lock up, Keep up the good work" his boss states before stepping out of the store.

"Raven is this really okay?, You put your own money into the register to cover for Jimmy" Laura's displeased voice rings out beside him

"Thank you for loaning me the money Laura" he replies solemnly

"Well you said it was urgent...." she trails off with a bit of flush, " look he's in my class I could drag him down here if need be" she concludes while surveying Raven silently,

(now that i think about it he's lost a fair bit of weight, he's taller too, if didn't know any better I'd say the two Raven's are related), she mules chuckling lightly at the thought.