Deal?

"So...you two have been living here all this entire time?" Logan asked, joining the two.

Snake shook his head but refused to elaborate further. That's when Izna joined them and explained whatever happened in the month Logan had been missing.

While Logan was getting his rewards, everyone else got tossed into the city. The syndicates in the city recruited some people, but others, like her and Snake, had to make it on their own.

After spending a week on the streets, they located the broken subway and establish a base. But they were encroaching on someone's territory, so they had to join them in exchange for a place to live.

"Snake didn't want to join a syndicate, but we didn't have a choice," Izna sighed. "The only other option was death."

"...I see," Logan nodded.

"...that's not all," Izna said, looking at Snake. "We had to make another deal with them."

The two exchanged nervous glances at each other, and it made Logan wonder what they were up to. It was only then did he realized that even though they had helped him before and vice versa; he didn't know them all that well.

Unlike him, Izna and Snake, both were criminals and he was there, living among them. Even though they were better than the rest of the folks in Tartarus, they still were criminals. For all he knew, he wasn't a friend to them, but an asset.

They aren't planning on harvesting my organs... are they?

As if reading his thoughts, Izna flicked Logan's head before laughing. "No need to worry. You won't be in any danger. Besides, judging by your size, Martha wouldn't let you go to waste either way."

"Martha?" Logan asked.

"The syndicate leader," Izna replied. "She's the one who proposed the condition... that she'll let us live as long as we brought you to her syndicate."

Izna could practically hear the gears turning in Logan's head when she said that. Finally, it made sense why Snake went out of his way to save him. It wasn't because of goodwill like he thought, but because they needed him alive.

It should've been obvious to me... then why am I surprised?

Friends? Teammates? What was he thinking? They were criminals. For them, everything has to be a matter of profit. It was probably the reason Izna showered with him.

She wanted to seduce Logan and must have thought he was an easy target to seduce and use, especially with the video of his reward being public.

First his family and now them... everyone was playing with Logan like a fiddle. And he was none the wiser to keep falling for the same bullshit again. But fine. If they wanted to use him, he would use them as well.

One thing is clear. Surviving in the city without a group or syndicate, as they call them, is impossible. I might as well join one just for the sake of it.

Although Logan was planning to join Martha, whoever she was, he wasn't planning on staying there for long. Eventually, he will form his syndicate or, better yet, take over someone else's. But for now... he should play the role of the gullible fool to save his hide. He can think about the rest later.

"Fine. Let's meet her," Logan replied.

Even though he said that Izna and Snake could notice a certain coldness in his voice. It was just like when Logan fought with Marco and his goons. But Izna knew their deception was the reason for his behavior.

Snake, on the other hand, felt nothing wrong with what they did. However, he was on guard, ready to strike Logan down if he made a move towards Izna. After all, it was his duty to protect her.

"I'll schedule a meeting and inform you about it," Izna said.

Logan didn't reply and just nodded before moving over to the broken couch. While there, he realized something. He wasn't a criminal, but if he wanted to live amongst them, he would have to think and act like one, or the city would swallow him whole.

***

Meanwhile, in a club...

The soft muffled music echoed in the room while neon lights flashed everywhere. Holographic advertisements floated above the crowd, offering everything from cybernetic enhancements to the latest in VR experiences featuring the most expensive prostitutes in Tartarus.

While most people swayed on the floor, one section was particularly crowded. It was the place only the elites could access, but the window shoppers also had a time of their life watching pole dancers entertain the bigshots of the club.

Both men and women alike hungrily watched the metallic implants on the perfect bodies of the dancers. But that was the extent of their luxury. After all, none of them could ever afford even a minute of their time.

Nearby, others sat in booths lost in a world of their creation as they experienced pleasures that went far beyond what actual humans could offer.

"Pleasure... what a sickening thing," a woman sighed, looking down at the empire she had made from scratch.

The woman had a lean frame, not curvy but strikingly beautiful nonetheless. Her hair sparkled under the neon lights, making her implants shimmer like a hologram.

As she watched on, a young girl approached her. She stopped a respectful distance away, waiting for the woman to notice her. As Martha turned, she spoke up.

"Izna has secured the package. She's asking when to meet."

Martha smiled upon hearing those words. It had been a month since she had been waiting for the news and finally, the reward for her patience was there.

"Now would be a good time," Martha replied, turning back to the crowd as she leaned against the balcony. "Also, prepare some... gifts."

The girl nodded and left without another word. Once alone, Martha's eyes flickered, revealing she hadn't been watching the crowd but reading someone's profile.

"Logan..." Martha smiled. "I've been waiting for you."

Claiming the champion of a round wasn't easy. But for her, everything seemed to be falling into place.