Becoming a Rook

Several hours later.

"Your reward. As promised."

Leon placed a wad of cash in Tristan's hands.

In a blink of an eye, Tristan stashed them in his deepest pocket, uttering his thanks.

Tristan didn't bother counting them, since that would've been a show of disrespect, and since he could tell with a glance that there was probably even more than $5000.

But after giving Tristan the money, Leon didn't just let him leave his office. Instead, he looked at Tristan curiously.

"I know a thing or two about music. It was me who told Pierce to arrange the pianist for my bar. But all the pianists before were mediocre, while you seem to have actual talent. Talent, skill and cunning, to do what I asked of you so well. Why are you here?"

"I just need the money, sir."

"Hm. Well, there you have it. Stay playing in the bar, and perhaps you will have the opportunities to rise in the music industry," Leon said meaningfully.

Tristan knew Leon wasn't lying… and that any deal he would offer will be a deal with the Devil. Gangsters will never leave Tristan Gemello alone afterward.

Either way, he could only nod and thank Leon again, before finally being dismissed.

The wad of cash had $6000.

Tristan's fingers already itched to spend it all.

***

Next morning.

'There are too many Mexicans around lately, aren't there?' Tristan wondered, walking around the Good Lion Bar to enter it through the back entrance.

He was wearing a cap that hid his hair and face somewhat, but he was still recognizable in his Hayes identity. However, he didn't notice anyone watching him on his way there.

The workers inside let him go straight to the waiting room near Pierce's office. However, there Tristan had to wait an hour until Pierce actually appeared in the bar and let Tristan inside.

"I've heard that the deed is done," Pierce said, sitting in his office chair. He fixed his glasses and smiled. "Congratulations, Hayes. You didn't delay for too long, and finished everything as well as a good assassin would."

"Thank you, Mr. Pierce. So do I get the job now? The salary you promised?"

"Of course. I can't offer you a contract, but I can give you this."

Pierce pulled a brass pin from his pocket. On the pin was engraved an elaborate design with L in it.

"One who wields a badge like that serves the King Lion. Many people tattoo those on their skin, but it's not a requirement. Tattoos can get tricky with the police."

Tristan reached out for the badge. Although it was a small thing, when holding it in his hands, Tristan felt like it had the weight of someone's concrete shoes.

[Ding!]

[Your Criminal rank has changed from Nobody to Rook! Reward: your PP increased by 2000!]

Tristan grinned. Finally!

And to make Tristan's mood even better, Pierce put a neat stack of banknotes on the table, too.

"And this is for your trial mission, and as advance of what you can get if you work hard for the King Lion."

Tristan picked the money and quickly counted them. There was $1000… Less than Leon gave him, but also good.

After that, Pierce explained to Tristan what his work would entail.

He was given a protected phone, which Pierce will use to contact him from now on. The salary was bigger than that of Tristan's pianist job, but not by a huge amount.

However, with two salaries, Tristan could buy twice as much stuff—especially since before, most of his pianist salary went to the rent and living expenses.

Man really needed two jobs just to live in today's economy.

"I have no tasks for you right now, but this might change at any moment. As a member of the King Lion Gang, you have to be available at any moment. There are other rules as well—things you should and shouldn't do."

The list of these rules was pretty short, thankfully. No attacking other King Lion members, no crimes near places paying protection money to the gang, and of course, no betraying the gang in anything.

Traitors were worse than trash.

In return, the gang protected its members. An attack on the gang's members was equal to disrespecting the gang's boss himself, and punishable appropriately. There were also other ways in which gangsters covered each other's backs.

It was all similar to the days Tristan spent with Mark's small gang, except Mark was a street thug who wasn't smart enough to come up with so many rules.

After listening to and memorizing the lecture, Tristan finally could ask a question of his own.

"Mr. Pierce, do you know a Mexican gang, members of which have tattoos like these?"

To demonstrate, Tristan took a pen and a sticky square to draw the tattoo he saw.

Pierce raised his eyebrows.

"These are rather well known. They call themselves Cuatro Angulos—Four Angles. Smugglers, dealers, thugs. Our organizations aren't friends, but we aren't outright enemies. Did you have some dealings with them, Hayes?"

Tristan leaned forward.

"I don't know, Mr. Pierce, but yesterday one of them tried to stalk me, then said that there was a target placed on my head. I have beaten many people, and some of them looked Mexican, but I don't think Cuatro Angulos cares about any random immigrant thugs so much."

Pierce frowned deeply.

"That's an alarming situation to be in. Now that the word will be out that you are one of us, Cuatro Angulos might think again about attacking you. Either way, I can't leave something like that lie. I will find more about this, Hayes. In the meantime, while there's no work for you, lie low. And if someone attacks you despite everything, just call, and help will be under way. King Lion doesn't leave his subordinates on their own."

Tristan smiled.

"Thank you, Mr. Pierce."

Now that he had Pop-star Points, he was planning to release his first original song, anyway!