As soon as the meeting ended, Sam left the room without saying a word. The silence around him felt heavier than the defeat itself. Losing in front of everyone at the Hell Battleground wasn't just embarrassing — it was a crack in the image he had built for himself.
He closed the door behind him and immediately pulled out a cigarette. The lighter flickered in the dim hallway before the flame caught. He took a long drag, then another, exhaling slowly. The smoke filled his lungs and, for a moment, his mind felt clear. Smoking didn't solve anything, but it helped him gather his scattered thoughts.
Walking down the stairs, he pulled out his phone and opened his group chat titled FUN.
He typed:
"Search for the people who can sell vape. Hurry if you all want to die."
The message notification echoed across multiple phones.
Every member under Sam knew exactly what that meant. If they failed to find the seller, they wouldn't just face his anger — they would face him physically. A broken arm, cracked teeth, or worse. Sam never made empty threats.
Later, Sam lay on a wooden bench in the park, staring at the darkening sky. The cool air brushed against his face as he closed his eyes. Exhaustion from both the fight and the humiliation pulled him into sleep.
A voice echoed in his dream.
"Sam… don't use your fists against weak people. You're not a bad person… alright?"
The figure standing before him wore a brown jacket, but the face was blurred, unclear — like a memory he couldn't fully grasp.
Heavy footsteps approached.
"Sir… wake up."
Sam jolted awake. "Ahh… damn. What's wrong?"
"We found someone… but—"
"But what?" His tone sharpened instantly.
"The seller is operating online. There's a website. To join, we need to pay in advance."
Sam clicked his tongue. "Do we have time for that?"
"No, sir. But we have an idea."
As his men whispered the plan into his ear, a slow smile spread across Sam's face.
"Go get him."
Within minutes, they dragged a student from the same class as Taarush.
"Who the hell are you guys? Let me go!" the student shouted, struggling.
Sam scanned him from head to toe. Skinny. Pale. Nervous. The kind of boy who looked like he hadn't slept properly in weeks.
Sam chuckled and suddenly drove his fist into the boy's stomach.
DUMP—
The student collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.
"What did I even do to deserve this…" he wheezed, clutching his abdomen.
Something slipped from his pocket — a small vape pen. The boy quickly tried to cover it with his hand.
Sam stepped forward and crushed the student's hand under his shoe.
"Oh… so this is what it looks like."
He picked it up and tossed it to one of his men.
"Check his phone."
Within seconds, Sam found the source. He placed another order using the same contact.
"Sen— seniors… if this is what you wanted, I would've given it to you… please let me go…" the boy begged.
Sam, without even turning around, kicked him hard to silence him.
A message appeared on the dealer's phone.
"Looks like this customer can't live without this, haha."
The dealer was none other than Veer — a disciple of Master.
Veer grabbed the vape package and sent the meeting location.
Veer arrived at the location. Under a dim streetlight stood a bulky man wearing a hoodie, casually smoking.
It was Sam.
Veer approached confidently and extended his hand for a handshake. Sam gripped it firmly, testing his strength.
"God… you're testing the dealer's strength, huh?" Veer smirked.
Both tightened their grips, veins surfacing on their arms as they tried to overpower each other. Veer began losing in raw strength, so he subtly shifted his stance and applied a strange technique, redirecting pressure.
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Now what do you say?" Veer laughed.
Sam suddenly released his grip and slowly removed his disguise.
Veer froze.
"Who the hell are you? You look different from the profile photo… Did I make a mistake?"
He quickly checked his phone.
At that exact moment, a ringtone sounded — from Sam's pocket.
Veer's eyes widened.
"You're from that damn schoo—"
Before he could finish, he turned and sprinted away.
Sam didn't chase immediately.
"I guess he can't run fast… lucky me," Veer muttered while running.
But when Veer stopped to catch his breath, he realized he was surrounded. Students blocked every direction. He tried another path — blocked again.
"Fuc—"
Sam walked toward him calmly.
"Come back here, you little rat."
Meanwhile, the Lord sat in his room, staring at a framed photo of several kids with an older boy standing behind them.
DUMM—
The door burst open.
"Look who I found. If you have free time, maybe you should find the dealer yourself," Sam said sarcastically, tossing the vape and the phone onto the table.
The Lord glanced at them.
"What about the person?"
Sam hesitated. "…I lost him. He was fast. And he had friends."
The Lord inhaled deeply. "Think before you act. Now they'll be alert. It won't be easy to find them again."
Sam left without another word.
The Lord poured himself a mug of coffee and stared out the window, trying to remain calm.
Suddenly, something clicked.
"What was inside the phone?"
He turned around.
The coffee cup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Blood.
A thin trail of blood leading outside the room.
He rushed out and followed the drops down the stairs.
There, he saw Sam collapsed.
Someone was already helping him.
The Lord stopped. His fists clenched.
He returned to his room and summoned Sam's men.
Only a few arrived.
"What happened to Sam? Where are the others?"
"Sir… we captured the dealer. His name is Veer. Sam fought him one-on-one."
"Even one-on-one, Sam wouldn't lose," the Lord said confidently.
"Yes, sir. He didn't. Even when the dealer pulled out a knife, Sam defeated him. But… an older man appeared. He took all of us down and stabbed Sam. Then they escaped."
Silence filled the room.
"Leave," the Lord ordered.
After they left, he slammed his fist onto the table.
"I won't spare you. Whoever you are."
In a dim basement, Master stood silently beside Veer's bed.
"I know you're strong. But you picked the wrong opponent this time."
Veer winced while sitting up. "He was like a bull. I had to call you, sir."
Master smiled faintly.
"A bull, huh? Rest for now."
As he walked away, he murmured to himself:
"Who knew there would be someone who carries the same raw strength as me… He needs years to grow stronger. But that punch… my hand is still numb."
He paused.
"I wish I could make him the 8th commander of our gang."