From Bullets To Billions

Rick's alliance was made up of five schools, and all of them had been brought to the event yesterday, a battle that ended in complete defeat on their side.

And yet, barely a day had passed, and now, every single school from that alliance, along with a handful of their students, had just walked right through the front gates of Max's school.

But it wasn't just them.

Alongside them were two of the biggest names from the West side of Brinhurst: Print and Erik. Known as the Black and White Delinquents, they had taken over the entire west side and commanded power that rivaled entire gangs.

The sheer number of delinquents walking into the school was enough to send waves of concern through every student who saw them. It didn't take long before Jay burst into the classroom, panting and wide-eyed.

"Max! Did you see outside?" Jay shouted.

"Yeah," Max said calmly, still staring through the window. "I'm looking at it now."

"Is it what I think it is?" Joe asked, his voice rising with panic. "Don't tell me… Rick couldn't handle the loss from yesterday, so he gathered all the members of the alliance again? And somehow convinced Print and Erik to join him too?"

"If that's true, then… we're finished. There's no way we can fight all of them. Right? Right?!"

The rest of the Billion Bloodline Rangers didn't go to this school, and even if Max messaged them now, it would take time for them to arrive.

Besides, how were all these students even allowed to just walk out of their own classes and come here like this?

'This isn't normal…' Max thought. 'I figured something like this could happen eventually. But I thought it'd be something like the Rejected Corps going wild… or the White Tiger Gang making a bold daylight move if they found out who I really was.'

To prepare for emergencies like this, Max had hired a few private security teams. Some were mercenaries he'd been connected to through Hercules. They weren't cheap, far from it, but if he needed to, they could intercept and protect him. The only problem was time.

If things exploded now, it would take a few minutes before anyone could respond.

'So, if it really comes to that,' Max thought grimly, 'we'll have to hold them off with whoever's here at the school.'

As he observed the crowd through the window, a teacher stepped up beside him, stunned by the sight.

"My word," the teacher muttered. "What in the world is happening? How can so many delinquents just barge into school in broad daylight? It's obvious they're here for trouble. I need to call the police!"

The teacher began pulling out their phone, but Max turned to them, calm but commanding.

"No calling the police," Max said firmly. "Let the principal know I'll deal with this. Pass on the message, and tell him I'm heading down to meet them myself. Come on, Joe, you're with me."

The students in the classroom blinked in shock. Max wasn't a stranger to doing bold things, but ordering a teacher around? And what was even weirder…

The teacher didn't argue. They turned and immediately rushed off to the principal's office.

"Hey, we're part of the Bloodline group too!" one student said, standing up. "We can't just sit around and let random delinquents walk into our school. Let's go!"

Max didn't say a word, but as he walked out with Joe and Jay by his side, a wave of students followed behind. It wasn't just their class, other classrooms were emptying out, with students joining the march. A growing crowd began to form behind Max.

The teachers who saw the mass of students leaving reached for their phones, ready to make calls or contact someone, until their phones buzzed all at once.

It was a message. Direct. Cold.

"Do not interfere. Do not call anyone. Or you're fired."

Every teacher froze. Some lowered their phones slowly, realizing just how deep Max's control had started to run.

The wave of students Max led only grew, echoing through the halls. If this was going to be a fight, he would need everyone.

By the time Max stepped outside to the open space just beyond the front entrance, every delinquent in the school had gathered behind him.

Facing them, across the clearing, were Rick, Print, and Erik, standing in front of the alliance they'd brought with them. Their advance had stopped, and the tension in the air was so thick it might as well have been fog.

Max slipped his hand into his pocket, hovering his thumb over the dial button for his emergency line. One press, and backup would be on its way.

But for now, he stayed composed.

"What are you doing here, Rick?" Max called out. "I thought we handled things yesterday. And this is your response?"

Then he turned to Print and Erik.

"And you two... I have to say, I'm disappointed. You said we'd see each other again soon, but I didn't think this was what you meant."

"You idiots!" Joe shouted, stepping forward with clenched fists. "Even if you all team up, do you really think taking us down will be that easy? We believe in the Bloodline group!"

He looked around at the massive crowd that had formed behind Max, and his voice grew stronger.

"The Bloodline group is more than this. If you go through with this, it's gonna come back to bite you, ten times harder."

Max's lips curled into a smile. Joe had said it perfectly.

"You're right," Print replied, raising his hand. "I wasn't expecting this either. But... it turns out all of us had the same idea."

He took a step forward, calm and confident.

"Which is why we decided to join hands. But it's not what you think."

He looked directly at Max, eyes steady.

"I'm sure you've heard the saying, 'If you can't beat them, join them.' And while that's not exactly the meaning here... well, it's close enough."

Then, surprising everyone, Print dropped to one knee. Then the other. And slowly, he lowered his forehead to the ground.

Behind him, Erik followed. Then Rick. And after them, one by one, the students from every school dropped as well, kneeling, bowing.

Their voices rang out in unison, loud enough to shake the air.

"WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO JOIN THE BLOODLINE GROUP!"