Chapter 58
The afternoon sun hung high over the 7th District when Elijah stepped out of Lisa's house.
The door clicked shut behind him, and he paused on the porch for a moment, letting the warmth settle against his skin. His body felt tired in a way training never caused, and he rolled his shoulders slowly before walking toward his car.
Lisa hadn't walked him out this time.
She was still lying in bed when he left, dark hair spread across the pillow, half asleep beneath the blankets. She had smiled faintly when he kissed her forehead and told her he'd call later before mumbling something incoherent and pulling the blanket higher.
Elijah got into his car and drove toward the 9th District.
The warehouse looked different during the day.
At night, it had felt dangerous.
Now it just looked old.
The broken second-floor windows had been boarded up from the inside, and the shattered red door Elijah destroyed had already been replaced with a plain wooden one.
Inside, the atmosphere was busy.
Kai stood near the center of the warehouse studying a rough layout drawn across several papers spread over a crate. He had spent most of the morning planning where everything would go—the fighting ring, seating areas, betting stations, entrances, exits.
With enough work, the place could become something real.
Henry had just returned from patrol with five gang members following behind him. Sweat soaked through their shirts, and exhaustion showed clearly on their faces.
Henry looked worse.
Dark circles sat under his eyes, and his shoulders sagged slightly despite the way he tried to hide it.
Silas leaned quietly against a wall nearby while his own group rested across the warehouse floor.
Kai looked up when Elijah entered.
"How was your morning?" he asked casually.
"Fine."
Kai smirked slightly but didn't push further.
Elijah's attention shifted toward Henry.
"How are you holding up?"
Henry shrugged tiredly. "Been moving since six this morning. Patrols, training, more patrols."
"You should rest."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're exhausted."
Henry opened his mouth to argue, but Elijah cut him off.
"If you keep pushing yourself like this, you're going to make mistakes. Mistakes get people killed."
For a moment, Henry looked annoyed.
Then he sighed.
"Fine," he muttered. "But only because I'm too tired to argue."
Elijah smiled faintly. "I'd still win."
Henry snorted and walked toward the chairs near the back wall before practically collapsing into one.
Kai stepped beside Elijah.
"After patrol, come to the bar," he said quietly. "We need to talk about money."
Elijah nodded.
Then he gathered the next group.
"Let's move."
The patrol lasted three hours.
Elijah led the group through every major street and alley in the territory while silently observing everything around him.
The people.
The stores.
The weak points.
Some shopkeepers recognized him from the night before while others simply watched cautiously from their doors and windows.
Elijah didn't stop to explain himself.
He just kept walking.
By the time they returned, the sun had already begun to lower across the skyline.
Henry was awake again.
Rested too.
He stood in the middle of the warehouse with another group prepared behind him.
"You were supposed to rest," Elijah said.
"I did."
Henry cracked his neck slightly before smirking.
"Now I'm working again."
Elijah stared at him for a second before shaking his head.
"Don't overdo it."
"I never do."
That was an obvious lie.
Still, Elijah let it go and headed toward the bar.
Kai and Rena were waiting upstairs.
The office door stood open, papers scattered across the desk while Rena wrote numbers into a notebook with steady focus.
Kai motioned Elijah inside.
"Close the door."
Elijah did.
Then he sat down across from them.
Kai leaned back slightly.
"We spent the morning going through everything," he said. "Shop payments, fight money, Aurora's investment, Henry's contribution, our remaining savings."
Rena finally looked up from her notebook.
"We currently have around sixty thousand dollars."
Elijah nodded slowly.
"Not enough."
"No," Kai agreed. "Not even close."
Rena slid one of the papers across the desk.
"The tournament alone is expensive," she said calmly. "The ring, repairs, gambling setup, security, renovations, advertising, equipment, prize money. Everything together comes out to around one hundred thousand."
"So we're short forty."
Silence settled across the room.
Then a screen appeared in Elijah's vision.
[Quest: Fulfill Your Plans]
By the end of today, acquire $40,000 to complete your funding goal.
Reward: 1,000 System Points | 1,000 EXP
Elijah read it once before closing the notification.
Then he looked at Kai.
"I'm entering the death matches."
The room instantly became quiet.
Kai's expression hardened.
"No."
"It's the fastest way."
"It's also the fastest way to die."
Elijah stayed calm. "We need forty thousand immediately."
Kai leaned forward.
"Death matches aren't normal underground fights," he said quietly. "There are no rules. No referees. No stopping point. The fights end when someone can't stand anymore... or when someone dies."
Elijah didn't look away.
"I know."
Kai's jaw tightened.
"The man in the park was trying to kill you, yes. But his attention was divided." His voice lowered further. "In death matches, your opponent only cares about one thing."
Killing you.
Elijah remained silent.
"We need the money," he said finally. "And I need the experience."
Kai stared at him for several long seconds.
"What if you lose?"
"That possibility doesn't exist in my head right now."
Kai exhaled sharply through his nose.
Then he leaned back in frustration.
"I hate this plan."
"But you'll help me anyway."
Kai looked exhausted.
"...Yeah."
The answer came reluctantly.
"Death matches require sponsors and invitations," Kai continued. "I know people who can arrange it."
"How long?"
"Tonight."
Elijah stood.
Kai rubbed a hand across his face before looking up at him again.
"Just come back alive."
Elijah nodded once before leaving the office.
The door clicked shut behind him.
For several seconds, the room stayed silent except for the scratching of Rena's pen.
Then she finally stopped writing.
"Is this really necessary?" she asked quietly.
Kai stared toward the closed door.
"Partly for the money," he admitted.
Rena waited.
Kai sighed.
"And partly because Elijah wants to become someone who won't hesitate when it matters."
Rena looked down at the numbers in front of her.
Then she quietly resumed writing.
"I'll have the budget ready before he comes back," she said softly.