Blackmail 

"Uh?" The guard stopped leading Zac towards the boardroom, pausing momentarily to look straight ahead before turning to face the boy.

"Where did you hear that?" He asked with a solemn expression, completely different from the mischievous smile he had had a few moments ago after they had passed Dario.

Zac smiled despite his nervousness. "Mr. Allen, rumors spread easily... But apparently, it's true. 

You must be very strong. Your stitches haven't even healed properly, and you're already back at work."

'Does he know anything?' Allen clenched his fists as he stepped forward, unable to shake the feeling that Zac knew something he shouldn't.

He had indeed had heart surgery. What was wrong with that, you might ask? Well, this man's job didn't come with a contract that gave him a certain amount of time off. If he took the time off he needed to recover from his surgery, he would probably lose his job!

As someone who needed the job and didn't have many other options while he recovered, he went against medical advice and returned to work two weeks after his surgery.

Since then, he has been taking strong medication to manage the pain and maintain his current position.

But he'd be in trouble if news of his surgery got back to his boss!

Even though information jobs like his existed, the country's labor laws were strict. If an employee fell ill on the job, it was the employer's responsibility to take care of them until they could take care of themselves!

This man could lose his job if anyone found out the truth about him.

"Kid, what do you want? Don't pretend you're not trying to threaten me, it just makes me more suspicious of you!" He said in a harsh tone.

Zac continued to stare at the chest of the tall, strong man in front of him. "You are wrong, but not completely. What I want is for you to help me, Mr. Allen.

First, I'm going to give you some advice. See a doctor. I'm afraid you're going to lose your heart if you don't see a cardiologist as soon as possible."

Allen listened to this, imagining that Zac was threatening him, but he continued to listen.

"As for what I want, help me with Dario. I feel you know things or are even involved in something that has to do with that bastard. In exchange for your help, I'll keep your secret." Zac tried to negotiate for the first time.

His anger made him overlook the risks of dealing with someone who might be involved with dangerous people.

Perhaps the fact that he realized that this man was probably weaker than he was at the moment also gave him a little more courage.

Allen thought about what to do with Zac, wondering if he should deal with this young man trying to blackmail him. But he felt he would have less trouble giving Zac what this young man wanted.

'You'll probably end up pissing off The Vipers even more, so what the hell. They'll take care of you.' Allen thought as he calmed down a bit.

"All right. Keep my secret to yourself." He opened his mouth as he walked back to the principal office. "Dario wants your head. You were just a little toy for him to spend time with, but now that you've rebelled, he wants to destroy you.

I'm taking you to the principal so he can suspend you, boy. This will be your first punishment. I don't know what will happen to you outside, but inside the school, you will be expelled for your first mistake upon your return.

The principal and most teachers here have some connection to The Vipers, so don't expect anyone to take your side."

Zac opened his mouth in shock, not expecting his situation to be so bad. "Are you serious? Why would The Vipers take action over a mere teenage fight? I'm not even part of a gang!"

The Vipers were a mafia group involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, piracy, and gambling. Their actions took place mainly in Fleodip Place.

It was a group whose actions were often covered by local media channels. In other words, it was a relevant group, something Zac didn't understand how they could attach any importance to him, a 15-year-old nobody.

Allen looked at him and shook his head negatively. "They're not doing this for any boy. It's for Dario. He's very close to the second in power of The Vipers. The man who will one day be the leader of this whole group sees Dario as his younger brother."

"Shit!" Zac realized the problem and naturally felt the fear of pissing off someone he shouldn't have.

"How are you going to help me? Those bastards are killing people! Are they going to come after me or my sister?" He asked as he approached Allen, speaking quietly so that only they could hear.

"No, that would be a bit much," Allen commented as he could already see the door to the principal's office. "They'll probably do something simpler... Anyway, there's not much I can do for you. All I can do is pass on the information that reaches me. Other than that, you're on your own."

Gulp!

"All right. I hope you'll help me. I'll keep your secret." Zac said when he saw Allen stop as he continued his way into the principal's office.

Entering an old room that smelled of cigarette smoke, Zac soon came across a middle-aged man sitting behind a desk where piles of papers and a computer took up most of the space.

He said. "Principal Price, I understand you wanted to see me."

"Mr. Zac Small..." Seid the gray-haired man, dressed formally, with a blue tie around his neck and a large cigarette in one hand.

"Your grades are high, Mr. Small. You seem to be an outstanding student, someone I never thought I'd have to call into my office... So why did I have to call you here today? Can you tell me that?"

"I haven't done anything wrong. Then I don't know." 

"Really? Mr. Mullen has a different opinion than you did when he came to see me yesterday afternoon, Mr. Small." He looked Zac in the eye. "Aren't you going to defend yourself? Go ahead. It is your only way out of being expelled from my school."

Zac clenched his fists in anger as the lights and electrical equipment in the office flickered on and off.