“We’ve all got a big problem,“ Amygdala said.

Outside South Exit at Central Station in the big public park, all the Southern gangs were gathered. The Fishers from the coast, the bikers from the magical roads, and Drago’s gang, the “Orphans”. And the gang I was a part of, the “Liberators”.

A large circle of mean-looking young men was gathered around Amygdala, Drago, and two other guys I didn’t recognize.

“We’ve got a problem that we have to deal with. The boys in the south. United by Pyscho the Manipulator.“

“How about making a peace deal with them before we start a war?” Drago said and sighed.

“I’m not saying start a war. I’m just saying that they’ve unified, and we have to too! Else we’ll just divide and conquer us,” Amygdala said.

“Fuck peace! Let’s destroy those fuckers!“ the leader wearing leather clothes from the Bikers said. “Have you seen what they did to my brothers!“ he said and pointed over at his gang members on their wind-bikes. A lot of them were injured and some in casks, with all the wind-bikes half-destroyed. “We were just patrolling down route 66, and they fucking ambushed us with a rope so we all crashed! We even have some non-strengtheners in the hospital!“

“Out on the boats we aren’t affected at all,” the leader from the Fishers said, “but I can see how this can come to bite us in the ass in the future. I agree to an alliance.”

Drago sighed again. “Listen! I agree to an alliance too, but I’m saying that we have to stop the hostilities before it gets even worse.” Drago looked at the biker leaders, “what, you want us to start killing each other next? You will get your compensation, I promise. But let’s keep our heads clear.”

“I agree with Drago. For now, let’s form an alliance and try to make a temporary peace to—”

“Not temporary! Permanent. What the hell is wrong with you? You all talk the talk, but I’m guessing me and my boys are the only ones who’ve seen murdered bodies before,” Drago said. “And we still haven’t gotten what’s right since you beat up our leader for nothing!“

“See, this is what I’m talking about! We are divided! And while we’re divided, they are united! We will lose this war!“ Amygdala said.

“What fucking war!“ Drago screamed in Amygdala’s face.

There was silence for ten seconds.

“Can we take a ten-minute break? I wanna talk to my boys about this,” the Fisher leader said.

He seems really calm. Probably why he’s their leader. Next to the ‘Liberators’ and their extortion rackets, I think his gang is the richest just from all their boating income.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“Good idea,“ Amygdala said. He still had that creepy smile on his face the whole time.

“It’s rough, but we will have to make sacrifices and divert a little of our money to the alliance,” Amygdala said to the gang.

“It’s because of those broke ass orphans,” Tray said.

The other gang members laughed in agreement.

“We’ll have to decrease everyone’s weekly pay in half,” Amygdala said.

Everyone sighed.

Wait, you guys are getting paid? Fucking asshole. Can’t wait to murder his ass. And also, why does he keep saying ‘we’ when he clearly means ‘me’.

“I know, this is rough. But don’t worry. This is an investment which will return much more than we put in!” Amygdala said.

The monkeys behind me murmured in agreement.

The break finished, and all the gangs gathered around again.

“My boys and I don’t want war,” Drago started the meeting off.

“I don’t support a war either. There’s nothing to be gained from it for us,” the fisher leader said, “but we will readily agree to join the alliance and will help with defense. But just don’t drag us into some bullshit attack on the north.“

“Fuck that! We want war!” the biker leader said.

“My boys and I don’t want war either,” Drago said.

Amygdala sighed while smiling. “Everyone, talk is talk. So the Liberators will prove we mean business. From now on we will be investing mana into the alliance. For now, this will help pay the reparation for the Bikers, and help keep you Orphans afloat,” Amygdala said.

Drago had no response, he just showed a poker face.

Huh? So Drago’s gang is poor and desperately needs money. Orphans?

“Okay… we agree to a temporary peace,” the Biker leader said reluctantly.

“We will join the alliance as well,” Drago said with a poker face.

I didn’t even know Drago’s gang were orphans. I should actually get to know him better tonight when we agreed to meet up at his place to train.

“Great! We’ll hammer out the details at a later date! I hereby declare the alliance in the south!” Amygdala yelled. He levitated off the ground a little and put his fist in the air. The other leaders followed and bumped fists.

Then all the gang members around whistled and yelled in jubilation.

This is all a bunch of bullshit. This is just like villages and village elders. I came here for the city life, not a bigger version of the countryside.