Chapter 34: The half baked deal
"The path forward is only down." The boss sighed aloud.
Ray added, "Boss, I only an it for the slave victims."
The boss shook his head. "No, kid, those words are true for everyone working in the cafe, including those in my position."
Ray stared wide-eyed. "Wait, that makes no sense. How can soone with as much power as you be in the sa position as a slave?"
The boss looked up at the ceiling as if thinking about sothing.
He said after a mont of silence, "Kid, being a gar, you must know better than
how the real power of the world has already started to shift. The future is with guilds. They are the opportunities of the next generation to progress without falling into darkness."
The boss looked back at him. "I believe you want to be part of my gang for the sa thing, right?"
Ray did not deny it.
He had inferred all this based on what he already knew, though now, with the boss’s confirmation, he was confident in his decision not to join those guilds directly.
The biggest problem with all guilds backed by these factions was that you were either part of the system or out of the system.
While players out of the system did get all sorts of luxury and attention, none of them ever gained decision-making power in the guild.
He nodded to the boss. "There is no point denying it. This is why I wanted to be part of your gang, boss. I believe the twin misses are already part of the system."
At the ntion of his daughters, the boss smiled, but then he shook his head. "Kid, you are mistaken if you really think just being part of my gang will allow you to enter the guild system."
Ray tilted his head and asked sincerely, "Oh, then how does it work, boss?"
The boss pointed two fingers. "Ability and support. Only those with both of them can progress within the guild system."
Ray froze for a mont and then bowed to the boss. "Thank you for clarifying it, boss."
The boss just raised his eyebrow, seeming to want to say sothing, but then he just shook his head. Instead, he called soone.
The very mont the office door opened, the sa man and woman walked in.
The boss flatly pointed at him. "Going forward, this kid is part of the gang."
Ray instantly noticed how the boss used "the gang," not "our gang."
Sure enough, the other two only stared coldly at him, not even uttering a single word.
The boss turned back to him. "Kid, just show your face a couple of tis in the cafe. It will be enough to have others think of you as a gang mber."
Ray nodded and asked, "Boss, about the item. How are you planning to collect it?"
At the ntion of the item, the boss waved his hand. "Don’t worry about that. I will make soone contact you in a day."
Ray remained silent at this open threat. After all, the boss could have just asked for his contact, but it was a clear reminder of the gang’s power.
Still, Ray reminded the boss, "Boss, about the Thorn Crown."
The boss waved his hand. "Don’t worry, they won’t disturb you. You can go now."
Ray calmly stood up. "I wish you a good day, boss."
Without another word, he walked out of the office.
Outside, he saw Raghav, but the guy just coldly stared at him, devoid of all enthusiasm from before.
The mont the lift door closed, Ray punched the door in frustration. He never expected the boss to offer support in the very first eting.
Ray grabbed his head. ’I did not ss up, right?’
To be honest, if not for his past life, he would already be jumping in excitent. After all, getting the support of such a big gang was huge. That was his goal.
’No, calm down. I don’t want the boss’s favor.’ Ray took deep breaths. If anything, the price of the witch’s book far outweighed any gang position.
Well, at least he did not get threatened here.
As for the offer, he once again shook his head. After spending his entire past life dealing with gangs, he knew this sort of deal would not work.
Not when those guys saw it as them doing a favor for him. ’I need to be a necessity. A necessity they would regret losing.’
"Be patient, Ray," he mumbled to himself. He just started walking out with a wide smile on his face. The next ti, it would be different.
Just outside the cafe door, he saw the fake salesman. The guy rushed to him and said while pointing to a cab, "Bhai, I am waiting for you. Let
take you ho."
Ray raised his eyebrow but nodded. He entered the back seat while the guy sat beside the driver.
After going through all that, Ray just closed his eyes. The guy understood the mood and did not disturb him.
The rest of the ride went silent.
Not long after, the guy said to him, "Bhai, we are at the campus gate. Should we enter?"
Ray opened his eyes and shook his head. "Nah, drop
here."
The cab stopped just before the college’s main gate. Ray nodded to the two of them and walked back onto the campus.
Inside, it was full of students scattered at each corner of the campus. He even noticed a couple of them pointing toward him as they showed their phones to their friends.
Unbothered, Ray just started walking around the main building to reach his dorm at the back.
As he pushed open his dorm room, he heard a loud shout. "Ray! Where were you?"
He froze. Right on top of his bed sat a group of three people.
But he only focused on the black-haired girl.
The mont Lena saw him, she rushed to him. "Ray, where were you?"
Baffled, Ray just looked down as she stared at him with tear-filled eyes. "I am sorry. If only I were there..." She started sobbing right before him.
Ray just stared blankly as tears seeped down her face. ’It’s these tears again.’
The vivid images of her crying in his past life started flashing through his mind. He took a deep breath.
For the first ti, he felt regret for his past self. Regret that her tears were the most vivid mory of his past life.
A girl said from the side, "Lena, don’t cry, it’s not your fault."
While the guy asked him, "Dude, are you okay?"
Ray squinted at them. All the remaining mbers of the fifth-ranked strike team were gathered here.
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