The morning air in the yard smelled of sweat, smoke, and lingering tension. The riot had ended hours ago, but the whispers still buzzed like angry bees. Inmates speculated about who had orchestrated it, who had died, and who was now untouchable.
I stretched, my body aching from bruises and adrenaline, and tried to keep my head low. But I knew better than to hide. Eyes followed me—the silent acknowledgments from those who had noticed my role. Some curious, some wary, others calculating.
Jun appeared beside me without a sound. "Come on," he said, his tone casual, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. "It's time you meet someone important."
I followed him through the maze of corridors, away from the yard. The clamor of chaos still lingered behind us, but this hallway was eerily quiet. At the end, a reinforced steel door loomed. Jun knocked once, sharply.
The door opened. Inside, the warden sat behind a massive oak desk. A man of imposing size, his cold gaze pierced me like a blade. "Jun," he greeted without looking up. "And you must be the new recruit."
I stiffened. "Hasegawa… Akira, sir."
Jun stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder. "This is Hasegawa Akira. He handled last night's operation for us. Officially, he's part of Kurohane-gumi now."
The warden's eyes flicked to me, lingering just long enough to send a shiver down my spine. Then he leaned back, a faint smirk on his lips. "I see. So, you're under our protection. Do well, and you'll be fine. Step out of line, and… well, I'm sure you understand."
Jun gave me a nod. "Take a good look around, Akira. This is how this place works. Guards don't serve the state here—they serve us. Kurohane-gumi controls what happens in this prison, and we decide who lives and who doesn't."
I listened, my mind racing. Jun continued, voice low but firm: "VIP rooms, privileges, even what passes as justice in here… it's all bought or enforced. The riot last night? Consider it tolerated. And the target's death? Strategic. This is your first lesson in survival."
The warden's gaze cut into me again. "Remember, every favor has a cost. Every shadow has eyes. Keep that in mind, boy."
I nodded, swallowing hard. The weight of it hit me—this wasn't just survival. This was a game of power, and one misstep could cost more than a few bruises.
Jun clapped me on the shoulder. "You did well last night. But this is only the beginning. You're officially one of us now. There's more coming, and you need to be ready to act, think, and survive."
I left the office with a mix of adrenaline and apprehension. The prison wasn't just walls and bars—it was a chessboard, and everyone had a piece to play.
And now… I was officially in the game.