Crimson Serpents

The glow of the contract faded. Mikell clutched his head, looking lost and confused. "What did you do to me?"

Enzo glanced at his old tormentor and let out a resigned sigh. He truly didn't hate the man. In fact, Enzo had learned a lot from Mikell.

He learned how the world truly worked.

When Mikell and his goons beat him, he came out of it with a fiery need for strength; although he realized this lesson too late in his previous life, it drives his actions now.

Enzo tucked the contract away, his movements casual as if he hadn't just bound a man's soul to his will. "I just needed a little Insurance," he said simply. "I know how you can get if you're angry."

'This bastard singlehandedly caused more headaches for the Guild Master than any rival guild.'

At that thought, he suddenly felt the urge to seek out his old Guild Master and recruit her but shook his head. 'She's not one to be tamed easily.'

Mikell nodded numbly, still processing the supernatural event he'd just witnessed. "What do you want from me, Enzo?"

Enzo's grin turned predatory. "I want a lot of things out of you, Mikell. But first, let's start with information.

He leaned forward, getting uncomfortably close to his old guild mate's face. "I know your little operation here isn't the big fish. You're part of something larger. Tell me about the Crimson Serpents."

Mikell's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you—"

"I have my ways," Enzo cut him off. "Now talk."

Swallowing hard, Mikell began to speak. "The Crimson Serpents... they're the real power in this city. Hell, in most of the country. We're just a small branch, handling the street-level stuff in this neighborhood."

Enzo nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"They've got their fingers in everything," Mikell went on. "Drugs, weapons, human trafficking, high-level political corruption. We just handle the protection rackets and small-time drug dealing here."

"And who's at the top?" Enzo pressed.

Mikell shook his head. "I don't know. Nobody does, not at our level. We deal with some mid-level guys, people a few rungs up the ladder. But the big boss? That's a mystery."

Enzo tsked, but he knew the contract kept Mikell from lying.

'If only I had paid attention in my previous life.'

The Crimson Serpents were Enzo's first target, not this rat's gang. To take over the world, he figured he had first to take over his city.

"Alright, Mikell. Here's what's going to happen," Enzo said, his tone brooking no argument. "From this moment on, your gang works for me. But publicly, nothing changes. You'll still appear to be in charge and still answer to the Crimson Serpents. But every move you make, every decision, goes through me first. Understood?"

Mikell nodded slowly. He seemed to sense that the magical contract he had signed made him comply. A look of resignation settled over his features. "And what exactly will we be doing for you?"

Enzo smiled behind his mask. "You're going to buy gaming capsules. Top of the line, the best money can buy. Enough for every member of your gang."

Mikell blinked in confusion. "Gaming rigs? What the hell for?"

"There's a new game out. Beast Evolution. I want every single one of your people playing it," Enzo explained. "When they create their characters, they're to choose the Kingdom of Alveron as their starting location. No exceptions."

Enzo had thought a lot about his goals and how to achieve them.

Rebirth did that to a man.

His first goal would always be personal strength. He had learned brutal lessons on why he shouldn't rely on others, even if they claimed to be your friends.

Personal strength came in various forms, and one of them was monetary. He could use his new minions to get classes specializing in things from Alchemy to Forging.

That was the one downside of Beasts. They had no classes.

He had a lot of advanced knowledge of various recipes and blueprints that he could use to make himself rich, but only if he had the manpower to support such an operation.

Mikell shook his head, bewildered. "A game? You've taken over my gang to make us play a fucking game?"

In an instant, Enzo was looming over him again. "Watch your tone, Mikell. This 'game' is valued at more than a trillion USD. With my methods, earning 100 gold a day in a month is guaranteed."

Mikell cocked an eyebrow. "How much is 100 gold worth? A thousand? Ten thousand?"

Enzo looked at the man. 'Had this guy been hiding under a rock?'

"A million," Enzo answered plainly.

Mikell opened his mouth and then closed it. He opened his mouth a few more times but kept on closing it, making him look like a fish trying to breathe.

Enzo glanced at his watch and grimaced. He faced Mikell again, his posture radiating authority. "You have two days to get everyone set up and playing. I'll be back to check on your progress. Remember, as far as anyone else is concerned – especially the Crimson Serpents – nothing has changed."

Mikell nodded, a mix of emotions playing across his face – fear, confusion, and a hint of excitement. "What should I say to my guys?"

Enzo walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. "What? Do I have to do your job for you? Just tell them you saw the game's potential and that you'll make them rich."

Enzo could feel Mikell's stunned gaze on his back as he left.

Outside, the two guards tensed as Enzo emerged, but he waved them off. "Your boss and I had a great chat. Old friends catching up, you know how it is."

As he walked away, his mind was already racing with plans. Mikell's gang was just the beginning. He'd use them as a test case to see how quickly they could level up and how useful they could be both in-game and in the real world.

Meanwhile, he'd need to start making moves against the Crimson Serpents. They could be a powerful asset if he could bring them under his control. But they could also be a dangerous enemy if they caught wind of his plans too soon.

Enzo's pace quickened as he left the rundown neighborhood behind. He had much to do in this world and Beast Evolution. The clock was ticking, counting down to Update 2.0 and the following chaos.

But chaos, Enzo knew, was opportunity. And he intended to seize every opportunity that came his way. The world was changing, and he would be the one to shape it.