The Golden Sunset Hotel was full.
Not with tourists.
Not with families.
Not even with sketchy businessmen in suits.
No, this hotel was now overflowing with criminals, ex-gangsters, and thugs nursing their wounds in fluffy bathrobes.
And Max? Max was chilling at the front desk, eating chips.
"Hey, room service is self-service," he called out. "If you need anything, too bad."
A guy with a black eye raised his hand. "Uh… do you guys have extra pillows?"
Max didn't even look up. "You got knocked out in two hits, right?"
The guy flinched. "I—I mean, yeah, but—"
"Then no. No extra pillows for weaklings."
The thug sat back down in silence.
Max's parents were still trying to process what was happening. One moment, their business was dying. The next? They were fully booked.
His dad was surprisingly chill about it. His mom? Less so.
She pulled Max aside, whisper-screaming. "Who ARE these people?!"
Max shrugged. "Loyal customers."
"They look like they belong in prison!"
"Yeah, but they pay. And let's be honest, Mom, isn't money the best kind of customer service?"
His mom clutched her head. "I don't know how this happened, but as long as they behave…"
Max patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. If they act up, I'll personally remind them of our hotel policies."
Translation: They will suffer.
---
Meanwhile, Outside the Hotel…
A black van pulled up across the street.
Inside sat a group of men dressed in sleek black suits—but these weren't just any criminals. They were professionals.
And their leader? Kaito the Hound.
Former enforcer for the Silver Fang Syndicate.
Has never lost a fight.
Knows over 100 ways to break a human body.
Right now, Kaito was staring at a blurry street cam photo of Max.
One of his men spoke. "Boss, this is the kid who wrecked our guys."
Kaito cracked his knuckles. "A high school brat? You're joking."
"He's not normal. He used… forbidden techniques."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. Forbidden techniques? That was impossible. The only people who knew those moves were…
"…Where did this kid learn to fight?" he muttered.
His underling gulped. "No idea. But if he keeps showing off those techniques, the underworld will—"
Kaito held up a hand. "Doesn't matter. We'll deal with him before that happens."
He turned to the driver.
"Take us to the hotel."
---
Golden Sunset Hotel – Front Lobby
Max had just finished his chips when the front doors swung open.
A group of six men in suits walked in like they owned the place.
Max took one look at their leader—the dude with scarred knuckles, slicked-back hair, and an aura of 'I've killed people for less.'
"…Lemme guess," Max said, propping his feet up on the front desk. "You're not here to book a room."
Kaito stepped forward. "You're Max."
"That's what it says on my birth certificate."
Kaito's men fanned out across the lobby, intimidating the other guests.
One thug sneered. "This is your army? A bunch of losers?"
Max nodded. "Yep. And yet, somehow, they lasted longer than you will."
Kaito's eyebrow twitched. "You got a smart mouth, kid."
Max grinned. "And you got a dumb face, but we all have to live with our flaws."
The room went silent.
Even Max's own customers winced.
"OHHHHH HE DID NOT JUST—"
One of Kaito's men cracked instantly. "You little—"
He lunged.
Bad move.
Max sidestepped so fast he vanished. Before the guy even realized what happened, Max's knee was already buried in his stomach.
The guy's feet left the ground. His soul almost left his body.
Max leaned in. "How's our hospitality treating you?"
Then he launched the guy straight into the ceiling.
BOOM.
The dude got embedded in the drywall.
Everyone froze.
Kaito's men suddenly weren't so cocky anymore.
Max stretched his arms. "Alright, who's next? Or do I have to start handing out loyalty cards?"
Kaito's eye twitched. "Tch. I see now… You were trained by him, weren't you?"
Max blinked. "Him?"
Kaito stepped forward.
"I don't know how you learned the 15 Forbidden Techniques… but I can promise you this."
The air grew heavy.
Max could feel it. This guy wasn't like the others. He was strong. Really strong.
Kaito cracked his knuckles. "You're just a kid playing with fire. And if you don't learn your place…"
He took a stance.
"…I'll break you."
Max sighed. Finally. A real fight.
He adjusted his sleeves. "Okay, okay, I'll behave…"
Then he grinned.
"Just kidding."
And the fight was on.