Initiate
Izna tried to speak up, but Rose quickly shut her mouth and all she could do was stare at Logan as he pointed the gun at her head. For a moment, Logan hesitated and turned around, only for the guards to point their weapons at him.
"Don't even think about turning that weapon on me, 208. You're an asset, but I won't hesitate to kill you if you try anything funny."
Logan took a deep breath. According to what he was told, the Death Game lasted for a day and the day wasn't over yet. If he shoots Izna, he won't get in trouble from above. Though Snake wouldn't leave him be.
Can I trust Martha to protect me from him?
The obvious answer was no. Putting his trust in anyone was the worst thing he could do in Tartarus. That left him with another question. Could he possibly defeat Snake in real life?
Once again, the answer was no. He had already witnessed his skills in real life against 111. He couldn't possibly deal with Snake in his current state. But going against Martha's orders meant instant death.
Meanwhile, Widow saw the conflict in his eyes and pushed him further.
"Do you know why you're here, 208?" she said mockingly. "Because she sold you out to me for her survival. She knew I could kill you, yet she brought you to me. 206 isn't someone you can trust."
Logan remained quiet, but his grip on the gun tightened as he looked down at Izna. For a moment, he saw guilt and fear on her face, but it was quickly replaced with peace.
Maybe she wanted to die and accepted her fate. However, it wasn't enough for Logan. But he wasn't being chivalrous, Izna had planned on using him, so he couldn't let her die without her repaying the debt.
With a sigh, Logan lowered the gun and walked over to Widow. Watching him move, the guards raised their weapons, ready to strike him down, but Widow raised her hand, stopping them. A moment later, Logan gave her the gun back.
"I'm not going to kill anyone," he said. "And neither are you."
Widow stared at him before pointing the gun at his head. "And what makes you so sure about it, sweetie?"
Logan was calm for someone who hadn't been in such a situation before. He had a loaded gun pressed to his head, and yet there wasn't a shred of fear in his eyes.
"The next time you play this game, make sure no one wears a watch," Logan replied, pointing at Rose's watch.
Widow raised an eyebrow before looking at the time and realized why Logan was so confident all of a sudden. It was a minute past midnight. The day was over and so was the Death Game. Which meant no one could be killed for the week.
For a moment, the room was silent. Widow stared at Logan, her expression unreadable behind the mask. But then she smiled and lowered the gun.
"Well played, 208," Widow said, clapping along. "You're just like I was told. Calculative, but non-confrontational."
Meanwhile, Rose released Izna, who took her time to get back on her feet, still in shock. However, before Logan could move, Widow stepped forward and pulled him into an embrace.
"Even then, you should know I wasn't lying about Izna," she said as her lips brushed against his ear. "Even now, I think it's best to get rid of her. After all, you can't rust anyone in this rotten city."
"I know better than to drop my guard in this place," Logan replied as they pulled apart.
"Good to hear that," Widow's smile widened upon hearing his response. "Also, welcome to the Nightshade. You've proven yourself to me, so now you'll be under our protection."
Logan nodded. But as he did, a screen appeared before his eyes.
+++
Congratulations!
You have joined the [Nightshade] syndicate!
Leader: Madam Widow
Base of Operations: Widow's Web
Specialty: Covert operations, extortion, pleasure biz, and underground trade.
Reputation: Ruthless, Efficient, Unforgiving.
Player Rank: Initiate
Salary: 1000 credits/week
Next Rank: Street Runner
Respect needed for promotion: 32/200
Prepare yourself for a life of power, loyalty, and danger. As a new member, you'll have access to exclusive missions, resources, and protection from the syndicate.
But beware, rival syndicates might not take kindly to your decision.
Welcome to the family, 208. The streets are yours to conquer.
+++
Logan looked up, and suddenly everyone had their ranks displayed over their heads. Like him, Izna was an [Initiate]. The girls apart from Widow and Rose had [Enforcer] hovering over their heads while Rose had the title [Executioner] and for Widow, she was the [Leader].
It was like the settlement function in Devil's Assassin, but the ranks were different. It was a strange feeling and Logan felt like he was in the game, only this time in his real life.
"Rose will give you your gears," Widow said before stepping out through a different path. "I'll reach out if I need anything."