"Ninety-two."
The voice from behind Ueno put the final halt to this struggle. When he turned around in confusion, he saw the smile from the leader.
"Congratulations, Ueno." Huai Shi said, "You’ve made it on your own."
Ueno was stunned for a long time, wanting to say something, but he was too weak to even support himself, staggering and collapsing.
Huai Shi reached out, grabbing his arm to prop him up.
Turning around, he saw the cars parked in the distance on the mountain road behind.
Those alliance members returning after the banquet...
In the distance, the leaders silently smoked, standing quietly in the darkness, witnessing the beginning and end of this struggle.
Soon, a crisp applause arose, from nowhere, but soon, it spread around.
Discarding prejudice and displeasure, these men of the extreme path offered their congratulations in the most straightforward way, celebrating the completion of this brutal trial.
The birth of a true man.
"See that, Ueno? All this applause is for you." Huai Shi turned back, earnestly telling him, "Today, you were remarkable."
It’s true, the Crow of the Yin Soul could enter Ueno’s body through the Soloist’s power, making his strength multiply, fearless. But this power wasn’t infinite.
Starting from the fortieth person, the Source Substance and power given by the Iron crow were already exhausted, leaving only a robust vitality behind.
From then on, everything Ueno did... came from his own will.
This is a miracle belonging solely to him.
When Ueno woke up again, it seemed a long time had passed, he was back in the car, as if he had a long dream, opening his eyes not knowing what happened.
This time, it was Huai Shi driving, with him sitting in the passenger seat.
In the haze and fatigue, he watched the neon lights gradually pass by outside the window.
"Boss, what just happened to me?" he asked softly, "I seem to have gained a great power..."
"Magic, Ueno." Huai Shi replied.
In confusion, Ueno couldn’t help laughing, "Is the boss like a magician?"
"Well, more or less? Believing is magic..."
Huai Shi casually said, rummaging through the plastic bag by his side, handing things over: "Want a beer? It’s still cold, specially left for you..."
"Sure."
Ueno took the beer, enjoying the cold touch in his hand, smelling the malt aroma, and laughed.
And like that, from an unspeakable exhaustion, he fell into deep sleep.
.
Before dawn, explosive news spread across the alliance.
Just a few hours ago, under the witness of all the alliance bosses, the previously unremarkable ’Shark Man’ Ueno Shiro single-handedly took down the entire Kuroda Group’s men, one versus ninety-two.
Even the big boss of the Arakawa Family was moved, praising to his entourage: "You all need to see clearly, this is a real man."
For a time, Ueno Shiro was at the pinnacle of attention.
Even within the Huaizhi Gang, it was hard to believe that the Ueno who drank and bragged with them could be so brave, with visitors coming in an endless stream.
And there, with bandages wrapped around his hands and feet, Ueno leaned on the bed, animatedly recounting his heroic deeds from the night before, reaching for the beer on the nightstand at the exciting part about when the boss encouraged him, then having someone add more ice.
Always giving the impression that he could drink that can of beer for a whole year.
"Hey, right, where’s Boss Huaizhi?"
After retelling his brave fight against the Kuroda Group eight times, Ueno slapped his head, finally remembering.
"Ah, Boss Huaizhi is still in the office, came quite early today." a junior said: "Seems there are important matters to address, talking one by one with people in the gang today."
"I just went there!" someone beside interjected, holding a banana, boasting excitedly: "Boss Huaizhi even knows my name, asked about my family, knows I have two younger sisters. Oh my, even those two little brats Naka and Tomoyoshi got gifts."
Saying this, he dug out a box of luxurious crayons to show off, reluctant to let anyone touch it.
Overjoyed.
"I bet they gave you a raise too!" someone looked over suspiciously, then slapped the table: "No wonder you’re so happy, damn it, you’re treating tonight!"
"Tonight?" the speaker snorted, "You dare to come if I treat tonight?"
"Ha, if you tightwad dare treat, do I dare not eat?"
"Don’t you know? Mr. Takuma already reserved a place, tonight the boss is treating all the elder members of the gang to drinks." the middle-aged smoker flicked his cigarette ash, turned to pat the shoulder of the young man behind him: "Being senior has its perks huh, Ushijima, doesn’t matter if you’re jealous, just wait a few years!"
Called Ushijima, the blond young man awkwardly scratched his head, laughed, quickly waving his hand to refuse, not daring to compare with the seniors.
Seeing the topic move away from him, he laughed along with them, but his eyes couldn’t hide the disdain within.
Jealous? Jealous my ass!
Speaking like he’s so jealous you idiots can eat, and that Aso guy, mixed in this scene for so many years, bloodied and risking his life, the leader might’ve changed luxury cars several times, yet receiving crayons makes you this happy, are you brain-dead?
How are this bunch of fools even in the extreme path?
He began to doubt sincerely, realizing profoundly he couldn’t connect with this bunch of fools in the Huaizhi Gang.
His phone slightly vibrating in his pocket, he found an excuse to go to the bathroom, leaving the room. Once in the bathroom, finding no one inside, he went to the innermost part pretending to urinate, and answered the phone.
"Why did you take so long to answer?"
The voice in the call demanded.