Chapter 99
Henry's eyes remained fixed on the ceiling for several seconds before he finally spoke. The fading sunlight reflected in his green irises, while the faint aura surrounding his body continued to pulse with his steady breathing.
"I was an orphan," Henry said. "I was born and raised in the Fifth District, in a children's home that had more children than beds and more problems than solutions. I never knew my parents, and nobody ever came looking for me. As far as I knew, the world had simply forgotten that I existed."
Tristan and Silas exchanged a brief glance but remained silent.
"The woman who ran the orphanage was named Mrs. Chen. She was not my mother, but she was the closest thing I ever had to one. She was old, exhausted, and responsible for more children than she could reasonably care for, yet she never allowed us to go hungry or feel unwanted. She taught me how to read, write, and understand the difference between right and wrong. Whatever I became later in life, she deserves much of the credit."
Silas leaned forward.
"What about the other children?"
Henry smiled faintly.
"They were my brothers and sisters. We did not share blood, but we grew up together, protected one another, and learned how to survive together. Some were older than me, while others were younger, but we all understood that we had to depend on each other."
He paused before continuing.
"When I became old enough to work, I took whatever jobs I could find. I delivered packages, cleaned tables, and carried boxes in warehouses. None of those jobs paid enough to support the orphanage, but I sent whatever money I could to Mrs. Chen. She never complained about how little I sent. Instead, she complained that I was working too hard and neglecting myself."
Tristan raised an eyebrow.
"Then how did you end up fighting underground?"
Henry chuckled.
"There was a fight club near the orphanage. I heard that the winner could make more money in one night than I could earn in a month, so I decided to try my luck."
His expression became slightly embarrassed.
"I lost my first fight in less than a minute. My opponent was larger, stronger, and far more experienced. He knocked me down three times before the referee stopped the match."
Silas smiled knowingly.
"But you went back."
"I did. I returned the next night, and the night after that. I lost more times than I can remember, but I refused to accept that I could not improve. I watched the experienced fighters, studied their movements, copied what worked, and discarded what did not."
Henry's voice became more animated as he remembered those years.
"Eventually, I started winning. The money I earned helped the orphanage, and the younger children had better food, new clothes, and shoes that actually fit. Mrs. Chen also stopped looking exhausted all the time."
"What about this gym?" Tristan asked. "I heard you won it in a fight."
Henry nodded.
"A wealthy gambler once bet the deed to his gym on a match against me. I still do not know why he thought he could win, but he lost. I walked away with ownership of the building and no idea what I was supposed to do with it."
A genuine smile appeared on Henry's face.
"The gym eventually became my home. After I became too old to remain at the orphanage, I moved there and slept on a mat in the back room. I trained during the day and fought at night, but I never stopped visiting the orphanage or sending money to Mrs. Chen."
He looked down at his hands.
"Those children were my family. I could not abandon them simply because I had found a place of my own."
Silas studied him for a moment.
"That is a remarkable story. A lot of people who grow up under those circumstances become bitter, but you did not."
Henry shrugged.
"It is not remarkable. It was simply my life. I did what I had to do."
Tristan suddenly grinned.
"Speaking of your life, there is something I have wanted to ask you for weeks. You can face dangerous opponents without hesitation, but whenever a woman actually flirts with you, you turn red and suddenly forget how to speak."
Henry's cheeks immediately began to redden.
"I do not."
Silas laughed.
"You are doing it right now."
Henry crossed his arms.
"I am not afraid of women. I simply do not have time for that nonsense. There are too many things that require my attention."
Tristan's grin widened.
"That is not what Mira told me. Apparently, she smiled at you last week, and you became so distracted that you walked directly into a pole."
Henry's face turned crimson.
"That was unrelated. I was thinking about security."
Silas laughed harder.
"Of course you were."
"The pole was badly positioned," Henry insisted.
Tristan leaned back, clearly enjoying himself.
"At least you are not as ridiculous as Silas. I heard he hired three women from the club last month."
Silas's expression immediately changed.
"That was a business arrangement."
Tristan raised an eyebrow.
"All three of them were extremely attractive business associates?"
Silas sighed.
"I needed information from customers who frequented the club. Those women had access to people I needed to speak with."
Henry looked at him with genuine surprise.
"Three women in one month? That is impressive."
Silas rubbed his forehead.
"Can we please stop discussing this?"
Tristan laughed.
"Fine. We will spare you."
The three men laughed together, and the tension from their earlier conversation disappeared. Outside the window, the evening crowd continued gathering as the fight club prepared for the night's matches.
After a moment, Silas looked toward Henry.
"What about the women in the gang? Some of them clearly like you."
Henry's expression became serious again.
"I work with them. I train with them, fight beside them, and depend on them. Getting involved with someone from the gang would create complications that I do not need."
Tristan shook his head.
"That sounds like an excuse."
Henry remained silent.
"There is a difference between starting a serious relationship and allowing yourself to enjoy someone's company," Tristan continued. "You do not have to marry anyone simply because you find them attractive."
Henry looked toward the window.
"Maybe I overthink things. I have spent most of my life taking care of other people. I worried about the orphanage, the children, Mrs. Chen, and eventually everyone who depended on me. I do not know how to stop thinking about everyone else's needs long enough to consider my own."
Silas placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Taking care of yourself is not selfish."
Henry looked at him but did not respond immediately.
The three men remained quiet for several moments as the final light disappeared from the sky. The noise from downstairs had grown considerably louder, with gamblers and spectators filling the building as the first match approached.
Tristan eventually stretched and stood.
"We should head downstairs. The first fight is in an hour, and the betting stations will need supervision."
Silas rose as well and adjusted his jacket.
"Agreed."
Henry remained on the mat for another moment before standing.
The three men walked toward the door together and descended the stairs. With every step, the noise from the fight club became louder, until the roar of the gathering crowd completely replaced the quiet conversation they had left behind.
Tonight's fights were about to begin, and the three men returned to their responsibilities.