Nirvikar leaned forward on the old bench by the window, elbows resting on his knees, watching dust drift through the shafts of light spilling in from the cracks above. The warehouse was quiet. Just the low hum of outside noise bleeding through the walls.
Recon went well enough. A few hiccups, but nothing that broke anything. They mapped the routes, talked to who they needed to and got back without heat. That's all I needed from them.
Acquisition on the other hand is a different story.
The businesses was never really ours to begin with—just what the Hounds left behind. We thought there'd be time to secure it later, but there wasn't.
Two of the spots were taken while we were still healing and not even by the same gang. One got scooped up by some small-timers trying to punch above their weight. The other fell to a crew with more teeth that saw an opening and took it.
The bar's the only place still standing, and even that's not clean. The staff is split. Some don't care who runs things as long as they're left alone, some still loyal to their old boss, and a few just waiting to see who comes out on top. Not resistance, exactly, just the uncertainty that could tilt the wrong way fast.
The other two locations, they've got their own problems now. Most of the people who used to work under the Hounds didn't stick around. They joined up with other gangs—some out of fear, some chasing revenge. Most probably think I'm the reason their old world collapsed.
Maybe I am.
Nirvikar shifted, dragging a boot heel across the floor, tracing the edge of a scuff in the concrete. He sat back, shoulders settling into the wall behind him.
This isn't something I can brute-force. I don't have the numbers and I don't want to burn every bridge just to prove a point. I need to consolidate without overextending.
Rika's name came to mind. She's not small-time anymore, but she's still mid-rank, still working on stabilizing her side of things. She's been useful, but I can't keep drawing from her pool every time something slips. She's building too, and she'll expect returns immediately if I start leaning on her yoo much.
So I need to think.
Hmm, let's start small. Information first. The people still at the bar, even the ones who don't trust us will be useful, they've been around and they hear things. They're used to keeping their heads down, so If I treat them like background noise, I'll miss what they know. Better to bring them close, let them feel seen, let them feel useful. Doesn't have to be too honest with them, just need them to keep talking.
As for the ones who defected, I'll leave them for now. If I go chasing every defector, I'm just burning my time and spilling my men's blood. I'll deal with them when it matters. Right now, I need to focus on who's still within reach.
Actually, the bar might be the key. It's a place where people from different places cycle through. People there drink, talk, and listen. If I can calm that place down, maybe I can start laying proper groundwork and to create stability without forcing things through.
I can go there myself with no announcement, Just walk in, sit down, and order something. Let them see I'm not hiding. If they talk, I'll listen. If they posture, I'll wait. Most of them are just tired of the back-and-forth, that's why If I give them a reason to bet on consistency, they'll fall in line.
The rest... will take time. Maybe a few quiet conversations with people from those lost spots. Not everyone who left did it out of hate. Some just wanted to feel safe. If I can offer that without promising more than I have, I might get a few of them back.
He let out a slow breath and glanced at the door. Light footsteps passed by somewhere outside, muffled by the thick walls. Someone from Firelight, maybe checking in. He didn't move.
There's no real way to pull all this together without blood being spilled but it doesn't need to be clean. Just need it to be stable.
One step at a time.
---
Nirvikar leaned back against the cold metal wall, the low hum of the warehouse filling the quiet. Around the table sat five of his closest—Rina, Jin, Ken, Shun, and Daiki.
Rina was the quiet, sharp-eyed, and the kind who spoke only when she had something worthwhile to say. Her silence wasn't emptiness—it was calculation, always observing everything beneath those calm eyes.
Jin was the younger, with restless energy barely contained in him. He spoke fast and sometimes jumped ahead, but his street smarts and fierce loyalty made him a natural in the chaos.
Ken was the steady one, old and with a calm patience earned from years navigating underworld politics. His voice carried quiet authority, the kind that made people listen, I don't know why he joined here, all I know is that he's not a spy.
Shun, on the other hand, was the group's jokester. Always quick with a dry comment or a sarcastic smile, but when the situation got serious, he shut the humor off and focused with sharp, logical precision.
Daiki is a fan of mine, that much is obvious but he can lead the street patrols with quiet confidence, steady in the way he handled his small team.
These people have proven themselves remarkable and that's why I chose them out of the 20 members to lead or to manage.
"Acquisition isn't ours yet," Nirvikar started, eyes on the group. "Two spots got taken while we were healing. Different gangs moved in fast, even though the bar is holding, it's fractured with people loyal to the old boss, some neutral, and some just waiting to see who wins to pick a side."
He paused, letting it settle.
"We started with twenty members total. Fifteen will cover the streets. Daiki, you'll lead the patrols, to organize shifts, and keep me updated if anything looks off."
Daiki nodded determinedly, his voice low and steady. "Understood Boss. I'll tighten the patrols and make sure communication stays clear. I won't let you down."
Nirvikar turned to the others. "The bar's tricky. It's full of smart players and street-wise types. Shun, you've got the head for reading people, Rina and Jin, you know the streets and those kinds of places. I want you three working together inside the bar and keep track of who's shifting and who's waiting."
Shun grinned slightly, folding his arms. "So basically, I get to be the spy without ending up behind the bar scrubbing floors? Sounds like my kind of gig."
Jin rolled his eyes but smiled. "Don't get too comfortable. We need to make sure people know we're serious."
Rina glanced at Jin but didn't interrupt. When she spoke, her voice was quiet but firm. "Strength isn't always noise. Sometimes it's patience. Watch. Listen. That's how you find the cracks."
Shun's smile faded, and he nodded. "Right. No use cracking jokes if the whole thing blows up. We'll keep it subtle."
Nirvikar nodded. "Ken, you're the point for talking to the old Hounds who might be open to talking. No promises, just see what's possible, do bring some man for protection."
Ken rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "I'll handle it carefully. No pressure. Some of those guys won't be eager to fight anymore."
Nirvikar leaned forward, hands clasped. "I'll be going to the bar myself first. Not to shake things up, just to remind people we're still here."
He looked at them, serious but open. "Any ideas? Things I might be missing? This needs to work."
Rina was the first to answer, her calm voice steady. "Small favors. Simple things that build trust without showing weakness."
Jin raised a brow, scoffing softly. "Favors don't mean much if people think you're weak. You have to remind them who's in charge."
Rina didn't rise to the challenge. "It's about balance. You can be firm and still build trust."
Ken nodded slowly. "There's truth in both. Paying off debts quietly or helping out can make people useful. At the same time, you can't let anyone think you're an easy target."
Shun smirked. "Maybe we hand out free drinks too, huh? Just kidding. But seriously, watch for anyone playing both sides. Selfish people cause the most damage."
Jin folded his arms, pacing a little. "We deal with those fast. No second chances."
Nirvikar's eyes scanned the group. "Good. Keep it tight. No mistakes allowed."
No cheers, no promises. Just the quiet weight of what was coming next.
---
Nirvikar pushed open the door to the bar, the faint scent of smoke and stale beer greeting him like an old, unwelcome friend. The low murmur of conversation dropped slightly as heads turned his way. He didn't flinch. Not anymore.
He moved through the dim space with a calm, deliberate gait, eyes scanning. Some faces showed recognition, some suspicion. The loyal, the undecided, and the wary—all tangled together like a low simmering storm.
Near the back, a group of men with old Hounds tattoos eyed him. One stood, stepping forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Thought you'd stay hidden, didn't you?"
Nirvikar stopped, voice steady but quiet. "I'm here to remind you—this place has a new order. I'm not here to start a fight. But I won't back down from one."
The smirk faltered. The man weighed him, then nodded slowly. "We'll see about that."
Nirvikar's gaze swept the room again, noting who shifted, who stayed still. Quiet presence, patient observation—he'd learned this was stronger than noise.
"Give me a drink."
- - -
As he walked back through the dim alley toward the warehouse, his mind wandered briefly, a ghost of a smile touching his lips.
If the old me had walked in here... I'd be stammering, palms sweating, maybe knocking over a chair or two. A nervous wreck, barely able to form a sentence without sounding scared.
And now? Calm, measured, with people watching like I'm the storm they don't want to face. Funny how the world changes a man.
Remembering what Daiki said about himself, surviving but not living... Reminded me of my current self, funny how deep it cuts through me, I still don't know what I want except power, and I don't even know if this is a curse or a blessing yet. But one thing's for sure—I'll rise. I'll make it a blessing if I have too, I'll live.
Later, back in the warehouse, Nirvikar sat forward, elbows on knees, and laid it out.
"The bar's fractured but holding. People are watching, waiting. I handled the greeting—no violence, just a firm greetings."
He looked at Rina, Jin, Ken, Shun, and Daiki. "You know what to do. Daiki tightens patrols, Jin, Rina, Shun—you're the eyes inside. Ken, you talk quietly to the old Hounds. You guys will move carefully, but with purpose."
No one said much, but the weight of the plan settled over them.
Nirvikar leaned back again. "This isn't about being loud or flashy. It's about control—steady, quiet control. That's how we'll keep it."
---
Day 1
The warehouse was quieter than usual as Nirvikar watched Daiki and the patrol team head out into the streets. Fifteen strong, moving with purpose. He checked the radio once more and Daiki's voice is steady and is reporting calmly so far.
Inside, Rina, Jin, and Shun prepared for their second visit to the bar. The tension there hadn't eased, but the group's presence was already stirring whispers.
Nirvikar stepped outside, phone in hand. His next move was clear: build the name of Firelight—not as a gang, but a crew with a purpose.
Day 2
A small crowd gathered near Shinjuku's eastern district, where rumors of a devil sighting had spread. Nirvikar moved with practiced calm, the hum of his presence drawing eyes.
The devil was fast, sharp—dangerous if underestimated. But Firelight's leader was sharper. The fight was quick, precise, and brutal. When the dust settled, the devil lay defeated, his reputation is gaining Attention again.
Back at the warehouse, Rina's report came in. "Bar's shifting. A few more old members coming around, but some still hold their ground."
Jin's voice was tighter. "Saw some tough eyes looking at us. They don't like being pushed."
Shun's dry tone cut through the tension. "Good. Means we're doing something right."
Day 4
More patrols, more reports. Daiki caught a gang trying to sneak through a blind spot. No blood spilled, just a show of force.
Meanwhile Nirvikar kept hunting devils in public. Each kill was a message—Firelight was alive, dangerous, and organized.
A couple of street kids, some gangster's, and even legal devil hunters watching from afar, whispered about joining. Not as pawns, but as part of something bigger.
Day 6
The bar felt different when Rina, Jin, and Shun returned from their latest visit. "A few more quietly tipping their hats," Rina said, eyes sharp. "We're not invisible anymore."
Jin added, "But the ones who hate us haven't gone away."
Shun grinned. "Better. Gives us a target to lock on."
Nirvikar nodded. "Good. Keep it steady. This isn't a race—it's a rise for Firelight."
===========
AN:
Too many characters 😵 Too many personalities... I need to take a break lol, We'll see, I like creating chapters actually, so we'll see.
Leave your suggestions and Criticisms here, Even opinions matter. Have a nice day.
Word Count: 2259