This time, as they drove back, Jay sat in the back while Alen rode shotgun with Vincent in the front.
"Why do you keep staring at me?" Jay asked, not even glancing his way.
Vincent looked away, but it was too late, Jay had already noticed.
"I was just curious… what's your history with the DMK Crew?"
"Oh, you didn't know?" Alen chimed in. "Everyone knows Jay used to be their former leader."
"I wasn't their leader—Gerald was," Jay corrected nonchalantly. "I was just the guy who fixed things."
"The DMK Crew didn't want to grow. They were fine staying the same for years, and I couldn't take it anymore. That's why, when the boss offered me a spot in the gang, I took it."
"What makes the Yellowsaber so special then?" Vincent asked.
"Don Angel," Jay said simply. "He is the Yellowsaber."
They arrived back at the bar shortly after.
"We have to give a report to the boss," Jay said, heading straight for Don Angel's office.
"Aren't you coming?" Vincent asked Alen, noticing he had stopped.
Alen replied a bit awkwardly, "I'd rather not. It's too much pressure for me."
"You can just tell me how it goes when you come back out," he added.
"Sure." Vincent didn't press him. He understood why Alen might want to avoid the boss, unless you were close to him, Don Angel could be incredibly intimidating.
'Am I close to him?' Vincent wondered as he followed Jay into the office.
As usual, only the boss and Scarface were inside.
"Boss, we've got a problem," Jay began. "It looks like the Triad is about to make their move. I found out from Gerald and his men."
Don Angel sighed. "I figured as much… I just received an invite to an Association meeting."
Jay's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. It's happening two days from now."
"Two days?! I thought these meetings happened once a month?"
"That's why this invite is suspicious. And to make things worse—it's being held in the Underside."
"The Underside?" Jay echoed, stunned. "That's the Triad's main base."
Don Angel exhaled slowly. "That doesn't necessarily mean it's a trap."
"What else could it mean? They're not even trying to hide it," Jay argued.
"It doesn't matter. We're going," Don Angel said firmly.
"But boss, if we go there, it'll be a burial ground. You know even the Association can't protect us from the Triad in their own home."
"Don't worry. We won't need their protection. I'll figure something out."
He turned his attention to Vincent.
"Vinnie, how's the assignment I gave you coming along?"
"What?" Vincent was caught off guard. "Oh… well… the assignment… it's going well," he lied.
"Good. Because you have until tomorrow."
Vincent's eyes widened. "Tomorrow?!"
"We need to find the mole before the meeting. If we don't, we'll be walking into a slaughter. So it has to be tomorrow."
"B-but how am I supposed to do that in just one day?"
"Don't worry, you'll figure it out. You can go," Don Angel dismissed him.
As Vincent stepped out of the office, his mind was in turmoil.
"How does he expect me to do that in one day?" he muttered.
'This isn't the time to complain. I need to think of something…'
He pressed his hand against his head, trying to force out a clue, but nothing came.
Then, an idea struck.
'Maybe if I increase my intelligence using the system, I'll be able to think more clearly.'
"It's worth a shot. System, would increasing my intelligence make me super smart?"
[It would only improve your memory, reasoning ability, and pattern recognition. It wouldn't make you super smart, but if you invest enough points, it would be of great help.]
"Okay," Vincent decided. "Put five hundred points into Intelligence."
It was the most Vincent had ever invested into any stat so he was expecting quite a lot.
[Sure thing.]
Vincent returned to the open bar, there were less people than before. As he sat at the counter, Alen rejoined him.
"So how'd it go?" he asked. "Are we really going to war with the Triad?"
"That's what it's looking like," Vincent sighed. "Can I get a glass?"
The intimidating bartender nodded and slid one over.
Vincent took a sip. It was good alcohol.
'Who would've thought I'd end up in a situation like this?'
"Vinnie, I still don't get it. Why are we going to war with the Triad? Those people don't play around."
Vincent considered explaining things as much as he understood, but he held back.
"I'm sure the boss has his reasons," he said, taking another sip.
That was when it hit him.
'What if the boss also has his reasons for putting me on this task?'
"So you really have no idea? That's a shame. I thought you were one of the boss's top guys," Alen said casually.
Vincent turned to look at him. "Who are you?"
"H-huh?" Alen looked confused.
That was when everything clicked for Vincent. Don Angel wasn't stupid. He was smart and calculating. He wouldn't assign this kind of task to Vincent unless he had a reason. There was a purpose behind giving the job to a newbie.
Because the mole would approach a newbie, thinking they're an easy target for information.
Alen must've seen Vincent hanging around Don Angel and assumed he was the perfect mark.
Earlier, when Jay met Alen, he didn't recognize him. And the only person who knew all the members of the Yellowsaber Gang was Don Angel, yet Alen refused to go see him after they got back.
There was no doubt anymore.
"Alen… you're the mole," Vincent said, calm but firm.
"W-what do you mean?" Alen stuttered, glancing around nervously.
"I'm sure of it. You—"
Glass shattered.
A shard was now pressed against Vincent's throat.
"Not another word," Alen growled, gripping the broken bottle.
Everyone in the bar turned at the noise, startled—but no one intervened. Scenes like this weren't exactly uncommon between gang members.
"Get up. Let's go," Alen ordered.
"Go where?"
"Shut the fuck up and move," he barked, pressing the glass harder against Vincent's neck until it drew blood.
"Okay…" Vincent agreed, realizing he didn't have a choice.