The Matters of Power

Chapter 51- The Crimson Group [3]

Here we are, the four of us sitting on one side while the mysterious duo sit on the other, tensions clearly rising. I don't have any idea on who they are, but it's clear the funny-glasses man is a schemer while the fancy fella has a demon lurking inside him, but how strong it is I have yet to know. I don't dare try to speak first, but I guess Oscar got fed up with the silence, who starts to say the first sentence. "Alright, what did you do to copy J.J's signature to the absolute letter?! What do you know about him?" "Well, it's simple, Mr. Guerra, he approached us first." The glasses man keeps going, all the while developing a smirk. "He had come to us a while back, asking for our cooperation in a plan that involved targeting various establishments that would also give our group a competitive edge over small-time shops. Long story short, we didn't actually think he would incite a rebellion within your group. Our condolences."

The Crimson Group is powerful enough to give resources to J.J, yet aren't smart enough to find out his true intentions? This is getting fishier by the second, and I can tell Oscar isn't truly buying it but is keeping shut. "Fine then. But why call the four of us out of nowhere for some social call?" "It isn't purely a social call, I can tell you that much. There is a matter of some things that we simply have to discuss with all of you. Especially you, Mr. Lee." I feel small goosebumps hearing that last part, but I must not let fear take over me, not now, not ever. "Do you feel threatened by our expansion? Or by our ability to fight other gangs?" "Not at all, we've been observing your exploits so far this school year, and it's honestly quite impressive. That's why we want to say this once: don't even try to take us on, Swift Cross. Whatever it is you plan on doing next, you of all people should know that there are some things that you just can't do. Your members follow you loyally, so why risk their health over something that you can't possible overcome?"

Something sparks inside Yan that he immediately jumps up and slams his hands on the table. "What would you know?! Quarter is the one who gave us purpose, our very own light that we would never find on our own. So go shove that mouth of yours-" "Yan!" I intervene so I can stop him from antagonizing them any more than he has. "Yan, it's fine. Don't worry about what he says, just listen along." He clenches his hands, tries to say something but only mutters something incomprehensible before sitting down, his face beet red. "Loyalty and respect. That's a quality of a great leader. Just like now." I can tell that the glasses-man wants to say something else, but Carl yawns loudly as he picks something from his ear. "Yeah, so, uh, why am I here exactly? If this is some negotiations between Swift Cross and the Crimson Group, can I go? I'm not exactly associated with them right now..." "You're not a part of Swift Cross? Then what was it that you did over at the former hideout of The Guerra Family? Pick flowers?" "I didn't do anything that warrants me to be involved in this shenanigan. All that's in the past, so if you excuse me, I'm gonna head home and prepare for the inevitable end of this school year." He gets up from the seat and starts to head towards the entrance, but glasses-man calls out to him. "Oh? Then surely you must know how your significant other must have felt when she got that photo." That stops Carl dead in his tracks, and his face goes pale. "How... how do you know about that?" "We know many things in this town, Mr. Thompson. Payton Moon sure is unique in her own way, no doubt cemented in your mind on how much time you've spent with her. Smart girl, she really is unique from all of the other girls who go to that school." "You sick bastard!"

He lunges towards the man and nearly gets close enough to punch him square in the face, but suddenly a hand appears just mere inches away to put a complete stop to his attack. That tuxedo man, who was originally sitting next to his partner, had in a matter of moments single-handedly lean sideways and face a crazed man with only one arm. He starts to apply pressure to Carl's hand, who start to wince in pain right in front of us. "Hey now, that's no way to act towards another person. Let the man's hand go, he gets it now." He immediately let go of his hand like and obedient dog while Carl kneels down to recover. Yet the glasses-man is still not done, "You are very fortunate that he was able to react so quickly to your rage, Carl. If even a fingernail was laid on me, you probably wouldn't make it out of this place intact. Or even Ms. Moon for that matter too." "You... you wouldn't..." He pulls out a phone from his shirt pocket and shows it off to us. "One call from here, and I would have our 'associates' make sure that every person that was close to you suffered. Family, friends... significant others, so you should be a good guest and let us talk. You know, like civilized people." There's nothing civilized about this, but none of us are brash enough to take a risk of harming their leadership, so we just stand down and endure it. When Carl sits back down in his spot, glasses-man clears his throat. "Alright, we're good to talk now. Good. Oscar, I know that rebellion had practically destroyed your organization and that hideout. Besides that, I would like to let you know that we are still continuing our terms on that non-aggression pact we still have, under a small condition that you refrain from communicating with Swift Cross from now on." "Fine... whatever. Fine by me." "As for Carl, we only ask that you dissolve yourself from being associated with Swift Cross as well. We know your history with them, and as long as you agree to do so, we leave you alone. Simple as that." He doesn't say anything, but nods in agreement as he still tries to flex his pressured hand.

"Now, Quarter. As the leader of Swift Cross, I know that any decision you make will be followed by your subordinates, but as from one leader to another, I say that you leave us alone. We don't intend to cause any trouble on your end, so long as you don't try to meddle in our affairs, got that?" I'd be lying through my teeth if I said that I would willingly accept this offer, much less believe that they would honor their deal based on their strength. I have to pick my words carefully; I can't let them think that we got ulterior motives under this. "...If that's it. Fine. We won't do anything that'll interfere with any business you have." "Excellent. That's a good choice. Oh, and for Yan, I didn't have anything specific to discuss with, I just wanted him to be here as witness to all this. Y'know, considering he's your right-hand man and all that." I look at Yan and he just shrugs. "Anywho, I think that's all I have to say, do you have anything I should relay to my organization?" We look at each other awkwardly, but none of us say anything in response. "Nothing? Alright, this meeting is adjourned. You all can go now, be careful on your way home, eh?" I can't help but look back as I'm leaving with the rest of the fellas that I spot the glasses-man sporting a nasty smirk between his lips and giggling for us to hear. There's something off about him that I can't seem to figure out. Is it overconfidence? No, it's something else, something I don't think I could find words for.

*Current Perspective: Marcus Fernandino*

The moment I get to school I find myself being hauled away by Quarter to the gym's training room. When I ask him why he dragged me all the way for whatever reason, he starts to relay to me about what he experienced last night. "I- I don't know what to say. They really did all that just for some 'negotiations'?" I'm stunned about the sheer confidence and laxness the Crimson Group showed to them, and even more so that they invited my 4 friends in one place of all things. "And what about Carl and Oscar? Where they that intimated that they won't show up to help in tomorrow night's raid?" "I don't know." Quarter starts to fumble with his fingers, "We both know Carl was a no-show to begin with, they're just scaring him even more so he doesn't risk them doing something to Payton, and I can't fault him. For Oscar... I fear that he'll stick with it as he does care for his family, almost to a fault. If they won't make up their minds by then, it'll have to be only us to stop the Crimson Group."

He grips his shirt close to where his heart is. "Tell me: is this small pain in my chest something equivalent to fear? Ever since I got my Iron Will powers, I thought I would never feel my conviction waver nor start to feel the pressure of fear. Marcus," he gives me wide-open eyes, "are we out of our depths for this? Were we meant to be bullied by those people just like Mr. Corvanez is doing to us?" This is the first time I ever saw Quarter in a state that wasn't full of confidence or moral support, and I can't help but sympathize with his dejection. But I refuse to back down to let someone try to take over my life, not anymore. If this is the only chance that we have to finishing this game and showing our true matters of power, then I will make sure that I will, even if I'm still a high schooler who has yet to show promise.

"Stand up." I tell Quarter to do so, and he hesitates at my sudden command. "C'mon. Stand up and listen for a minute." He slowly does so, and I put a hand on his shoulder. "Listen. Of all things you should be afraid of, it shouldn't be this. We've come all this way overcoming other gangs here in San Anton, against unfair odds mind you, and we shouldn't just give in when we are sooo close to the finish line. If that isn't enough," I point at his stomach area where the scars and ink marks are, "remind yourself where you got this and think of how much you've grown since then. We got forced into this game for the amusement of the Old Man, and I for one want to see its ending with you. So, are you still in?"

I was never one for motivational speeches, much less to other people in a one-on-one. Yet for some reason I feel like my words actually reached something inside Quarter, and after some silence and him cleaning his nose, he lifts his head high once again. "Right. Now I get why I got this supernatural power. Life's a real piece of work. Marcus... thanks. I don't feel that small chest pain anymore." He starts to approach the room's door, "If we're gonna still do this, we gotta do this right. Get a haircut and some rich-looking clothes. If I remember correctly that Hugo Couture fella still wants to style your hair this whole time, and he also works at his parent's barber shop, so he might be willing to do it for free. I'll text you the address later, I gotta get to classes early. See ya."

He leaves the room in a flash, leaving me to begrudgingly walk out as well so I can get to class before the morning bells ring me tardy.

Just you wait, Crimson Group, I will make sure you are destroyed, and I will get answer out of Mr. Corvanez, one way or another.