As I approached the structure of Jiambex, the atmosphere around me felt tense. The destruction I had left in my wake still lingered, the aftermath visible in the torn streets and smoldering rubble. The eyes of the women I passed were drawn to me, some gazing with undisguised curiosity or desire, while others shrank back, fear stark in their expressions. Their reactions were justified. I had done things—things that could haunt them if they knew the full extent. I swallowed the awkwardness rising in my chest as I moved through the scattered remnants of chaos, keeping my gaze forward. I pulled it open, the quiet murmur of the lobby greeting me. The space was eerily empty, save for one figure lounging in a chair—Jane. Her usually sharp eyes were closed, her breathing soft, lost in the deep embrace of sleep. It was odd seeing her like that, vulnerable and at peace, unaware of the world around her. Mary's voice called out from the back, a low but commanding tone. "They're cleaning up the stragglers right now. Come inside."

Jane stirred, slowly awakening at the sound of Mary’s voice. Her eyes fluttered open, scanning the room in a haze of sleep before settling on me. A shy wave followed, her voice light. "Hey, Vellin." Her casual greeting caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected her to know me by name. I raised my hand in a slight gesture, showing my palm as if to halt her. "Wait, how do you know my name?" Jane blinked a few times, shaking her hands in the air nervously. "Mary told me, haha." Her laugh was a bit forced, as if trying to ease the awkwardness, but I caught a hint of genuine amusement. I took a measured step forward, my eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm coming inside, Mary,"

I walked into the backroom, the air felt heavier here, thick with tension and the scent of old wood. The dim light cast shadows that flickered across the room’s sparse decor, highlighting Mary, who sat calmly in the center. She didn’t look surprised to see me; instead, she raised a hand, gesturing to the empty chair across from her. "A seat, please," she said, her voice steady, as if she had been expecting me. I hesitated for a moment but complied, pulling out the chair and sitting down without the usual resistance. Mary seemed to take note of that, her sharp eyes glinting with curiosity at my sudden compliance. She is observant, picking up on details I hadn’t realized I was showing.

Jane entered the room quietly, almost as if she hoped to slip in unnoticed. But Mary, ever perceptive, turned her head towards her, a slight frown tugging at her lips. "Why are you back here, Jane?" Her voice was firm, with just a hint of impatience. Jane stopped in her tracks, her hands clasped in front of her as she pleaded, "Please, Mary. I just want to listen." The room was silent for a beat as Mary considered her request. Then, she turned back to me, her expression softening slightly. "Is that fine with you, Vellin?" she asked, her voice now carrying a tone of casual indifference, as though my opinion didn't truly matter but she would ask anyway.

I glanced at Jane for a moment, her eager yet nervous energy filling the room. I shrugged. "Yes. She's a good person, I think?" I said, uncertainty lacing my words. Was I just being polite? I wasn’t sure myself. Mary let out a short, amused laugh, her fingers brushing her lips. "You think? Well, close enough." The playful glint in her eyes quickly faded as she shifted back into business mode. "Anyways, onto business." She crossed her fingers together, resting them on the table in front of her, and her entire demeanor sharpened. "I had one of my members tail you through their territory and report back to me about your strength."

I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms casually as if this were all routine to me. "What did they say?" I asked, a small smirk playing on my lips. Mary’s gaze didn’t waver. "They said you tore them apart while taking minimal damage," she began, but then paused, tilting her head slightly as if correcting herself. "though ‘minimal’ might be too strong a word. She said the only damage you took was a nosebleed." I couldn’t help but smile, leaning forward slightly. "That's right. I am quite powerful, after all." The words came out with the sort of confidence that bordered on arrogance, but it was true. My strength spoke for itself.

Mary snapped her fingers, a sharp, loud sound that echoed in the room. "Egotistical, too," she said with a grin, not unkindly. "but that's fine, because you have the strength to back it up." Without missing a beat, she reached down to the floor beside her, pulling up a small wooden box. She opened it, and inside were twelve gleaming gold coins, their polished surfaces beautiful. I could feel my pulse quicken at the sight. From what Zero told me, I calculated quickly—ten bronze coins equaled one silver, ten silver made one gold. A single bronze could buy enough bread and water for a few meals. The Burnout Tournament’s entry fee was ten gold coins. Yeah, I was more than good.

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I reached out for the coins, my fingers just inches from the gold, then stopped myself. "Twelve is two too high. I only asked for ten." I said, glancing up at Mary. She didn’t budge, her expression resolute as she sat firm in her chair. "Consider it a gift from me. You saved us. Honestly, you deserve much more." Jane chimed in, her voice more earnest than I had ever heard it. "She's right. We might've been killed, or... worse." The weight of what could have happened suddenly becoming more real. They were going to lose if I didn't help. I pulled my hand back, letting it rest on my knee as my face grew serious. My gaze dropped to the floor, and for the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to reflect on everything I’d seen. "I’m sorry about what I said earlier," I muttered, my voice quieter now. "telling you I had no feelings in this conflict... That was wrong. When I went to the west side, I saw unrepentant evil firsthand." I paused, my words catching in my throat as the memories resurfaced. "I only did this for money at first. But if I went back in time, I’d do it for free."

I felt it then—an intense glare boring into the back of my head. Mary said, "You know," she started, her tone softer but laced with a strange mix of pride and amusement, "when you first came in and explained your motivations, I thought of you neutrally. Sure, you were doing good, but for a 'selfish' reason. Strong as you are, you didn’t seem to have the character to match." She leaned back slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I’m glad to see I was wrong."

Jane nodded fervently, her expression filled with something close to admiration. "When I attacked you, you could’ve killed me easily. You had the power to, but you spared me." She paused, as if choosing her words carefully. "Damning with faint praise, I know. But people at your martial level... they rarely forgive those sorts of things. It's unusual." I stood up, "That needs to change." I said, my voice firmer now. "People with the power to end a life should rarely do so. It’s a responsibility, not a privilege." I rubbed the back of my head, but then, my thoughts shifted to something darker, something that still gnawed at the edges of my conscience. "Bloody Knuckle is an exception," I muttered, my voice dropping low again. "those people… they’re just like Sun."

Mary's eyes narrowed as she stared at me, the intensity in her voice rising. "You don't like Sun?" she asked, her tone probing, almost as if she were testing me. I raised my head and met her gaze, my voice cold and firm. "No. I'm going to reform it, or destroy it. I needed the money so I could enter the Burnout Tournament." Mary's reaction was instant—she slammed her hands onto the table, the loud crack echoing through the room. "You can't do that on your own!" Her voice was sharp. "How about you just relax for a while, or become a mercenary?" Before I could respond, I felt Jane’s hand on my shoulder, her touch light but filled with worry. Her eyes searched mine, soft with concern. "Why don't you just stay with us?" she asked gently, her voice almost pleading. I clenched my jaw, the words biting at the back of my throat. "Why don't you just—" I stopped and shifted my gaze to Mary, "mind your own business?" Jane’s grip tightened, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "I'm not going to let you go and kill yourself." she said, the weight of her emotions pouring into her words.

I pushed out of the chair, the sudden movement causing a gust of wind to ripple through the room as I made my way toward the shelves. I crossed my arms, leaning back against them, my expression resolute. "I won’t die," I told them both, my voice unyielding. "I can do it." Mary was the first to spot where I had moved, but even she seemed a bit slow to react. Jane took a few more moments, her eyes finally landing on me. Mary let out a groan and facepalmed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Ugh. Men really are insane." I glanced over at Jane, who had begun to tear up, her lower lip trembling. "Not you too…" she muttered, her voice breaking.

Jane suddenly charged at me, her arms spread wide like she was going to tackle me. Instinct kicked in, and I sidestepped her effortlessly, watching as she stumbled and tripped right into the shelves behind me. I blinked, confused. What was she doing? Jane turned to me, her expression shifting to one of hurt and anger. "You asshole! I was going to give you a hug!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. I threw my hands up in exasperation, my own frustration bubbling over. "You just charged at me! What was I supposed to do?!" Jane, her face flushed, still bent down, declared, "You saved my life, and so many others! If you're dead set on taking down Sun, then I'm going with you!"