Ren smiled, though the information Pedro III gave him was vague, it gave him a basic understanding of hierarchy of the prison. Essentially their where four main gangs, the black bulls, the daisies, the moles and the fire fighter's.
The gang that Ren was about to join the black bull's, ran a gambling den. Also, even though it was just a rumour they allegedly hosted a fighting ring behind the warden's back, making them the richest amongst the gangs.
The daisies where a female only gang consisting of inmates from the similarly female exclusive B block, they controlled all the supplies coming into the prison including the cafeteria meals. Since every woman in B-Block was automatically considered part of them, they had the most members of all the gangs.
The moles where the gang in charge of the mines, the top brass was shrouded in mystery and only a select few knew how to contact them.
Lastly the fire fighters. This gang was formed with the sole intent of breaking out of the prison as hopeless as that seemed. They consisted of the longest serving prisoners as well as the strongest ones. They earned sparks by bullying and shaking down other inmates and were on bad terms with the other gangs.
Other than the four gangs, there were a few inmates that were cherrypicked by the warden's and given the title of executioners. They enforced the will of the wardens and sent anyone whose balance reached zero to solitary confinement which was basically a glorified death sentence. They wore black uniforms instead of the usual grey ones and if they knocked on your cell you could pretty much expect to not see tomorrow.
Pedro III warned Ren to stay clear of the Fire fighters since the stories he heard about them made him question their sanity. However, Ren had other ideas, since they were already trying to break out of the prison it meant he could rope them to his side all the easier. He had no idea how he was going to break out of the prison but it clearly wasn't going to be a one-man job.
"Is that good enough"
Pedro III asked Ren, all that speaking in this hellish heat had made his throat sore. If Ren kept his word, he should have enough to at least buy some water.
"One more thing, why can't we leave our cell's after curfew."
Ren asked, he understood that it was a rule, but with no wardens enforcing it he couldn't think of a reason why the inmates would remain in their cells.
"Oh that, I heard after curfew starts, a monster is released. No one knows exactly what it is because anyone who's laid eyes on it is eaten without exception."
Pedro spoke quickly, at long last his thirst would be quenched. His words made Ren frown, his break out would probably require some prep work and after curfew was the best time to do it. Still, there was no use overthinking it, he would cross that bridge later.
"Alright follow me"
Ren said turning around and walking to the wooden stall with Pedro III sticking to him like glue.
"Oh, back so soon"
The man at the counter was surprised to see that Ren had already finished. Ren just took out the Fist sized crystal and dropped it on the counter.
"I was lucky, I guess. How much."
Ren said casually, the man grabbed the crystal and inspected it closely. Once he was done, he dropped it onto a small metal scale.
"Hmm… lucky indeed. 250 sparks, hand over your badge."
Ren took out his badge and just before he gave it to the man, Pedro III tugged on his sleeve and handed him his own badge with a merry smile.
"Give me 200 and put the rest in his badge."
Ren said while sighing, making Pedro's smile even wider. The man took the badges and placed his own on top of them.
"200… 50"
He said all three badges began to glow for a short time, once the light faded, he handed the badges back to them.
"Pleasure doing business with you"
Pedro III said running out of the mines, leaving Ren speechless. Shaking his head, Ren followed him outside.
"Mission accomplished."
Ren thought to himself, he was pretty pleased with today's proceedings. Now the only thing left was to reap the rewards.
Ren exited the dark tunnel and headed over to the mess hall, seated at the usual table where the members of the Black bull's
The boss quickly caught sight of him and signalled him to sit on the seat next to him and Ren did exactly that.
"Lad are you just gonna to sit there or do you have something to tell me."
The boss asked impatiently. Ren didn't answer him but discreetly handed him Adams badge under the table. The boss chuckled loudly and put his arm around his neck.
"Welcome to the bull's lad."
***
After Ren had finished his exciting meal of bread and water, the boss led him over to Block-A, the doors opened and Ren walked in after him.
When he laid eyes on the first floor, he was stunned to see that the whole floor was a wide-open space filled with numerous people gathered around tables, it was reminiscent of a casino, loud rowdy shouting filled the entire floor as people gambled their sparks on dice and card's.
"Don't be too shocked brat I haven't even shown you the best part."
The boss chuckled, Ren who was impressed by the scenery, quickly regained his wits and followed the boss into the gambling den.
"What happened to the cell's… the inmates living here."
Ren asked curiously, he was sure that the cells had been destroyed to make space for the den. The boss scratched his beard and gave Ren a chilling smile.
"We borrowed a few tools from the mines to clear some space, as for the inmates… let's just say our blue haired friend will be paying them a visit."
He chuckled bringing Ren through the crowds of people, over to the corner of the floor, where the one cell that remained standing was.
"This is what I like to call the VIP room."
The boss said waving his badge over the door causing to open. Once they entered the room Ren realised that it was surprisingly ordinary, in fact it looked pretty much identical to his own room with the exception of a few chairs and tables.
"Take a seat lad."
The boss said sitting down at the table Ren complied sitting opposite of him.
"Let's begin. I'm going to explain a few ground rules to you, as long as you follow them the prison is your oyster and I think your smart enough to know what happens if you break them."
The boss spoke, Ren nodded his head, he wasn't dumb, although water was a scarce commodity here, if he pushed his luck then he would be sleeping with the fishies.
"Good, now that the not-so-idle threat is out of the way. The rules are simple, don't lie to me, do everything I tell you to and most importantly keep them pretty lips of yours sealed."
He said seriously. Ren didn't have a problem with this in fact it was far better than he was hoping for
"Yes boss"
"Alright, after the stick comes the carrot, hand over your badge."
The boss held out his hand and without any delay, Ren placed his badge into his palm
"2000"
The boss spoke while dropping his own badge on top of Ren's causing them two glow brightly.
"Do good work and the reward will increase. It's a shame that you can only transfer sparks from your own badge otherwise I would have given you the Blue hairs sparks."
Ren wasn't let down by this at all in fact with his new found wealth he could stay out of the mines for a few days.
"Balance"
Ren said once he got back his badge, this was a trick he learned from watching the other inmates. As soon as he spoke these words the badge glowed and projected small orange numbers above the badge
"2040"
"Huh, why am I missing 10 sparks."
Ren spoke out loud causing the boss to chuckle.
"I almost forgot you're a fresh face, every day at 3 pm you lose 10 sparks, guess it keeps the prisoners motivated to mine crystals."
Ren frowned, you only know the value of something after you lost it.
"Ha, why fret over ten sparks as long as you remain useful, that much is nothing… now let me show you something good."
The boss stood up and moved the bunk bed, revealing a wooden trap door that was underneath. Without missing a beat, he lifted the trap door, revealing a dark stone stairway that led underground.
"After you."
***
"How did you build all this"
Ren asked in stupor as he reached the bottom of the stairs. In front of him was a well-lit room… or maybe it would be more accurate to call it an arena.
In the centre of the arena there was a dirt covered stage, where two huge inmates were beating each other to a pulp. Around the stage were a row of stands, where around thirty crazed spectators with bloodshot eyes yelled insults and words of encouragement at the fighters.
But the best part by far was that the arena was cool. It was at this moment that Ren, who hadn't been out of the heat since his arrival, felt that joining the black bulls was the best decision he could have made.
"you enjoying the weather lad. You're boss here used to be quite the big shot outside the prison, obviously my pockets were deep, so I made some arrangements with a warden before my incarceration… this is the result."
The boss said while dragging Ren who was lost in bliss, over to a door at the back of the arena.
"I've appropriately named this place heaven's grotto, anyone who wants to settle their grudges, does so in this area while our blood thirsty patrons bet on the fight."
The boss said while stopping in front of a heavy-duty iron door, by now Ren had regained his senses and was staring curiously at the door.
"What's in there"
Ren asked hopefully, not wanting the pleasant surprises to stop. The boss smirked and knocked on the door twice.
"This is the VVVIP area"
The boss said smugly, the door opened revealing a sparkling interior and the tall bulky figure of Carlo.
"Welcome back boss… Is that you shrimp. Since you're here I guess that means your officially my junior now. Welcome to the Black Bull's HQ."
***
A few minutes later Ren was ferociously tearing into a juicy steak, gathered around him were the fifteen other members of the black bull's, merrily laughing at the spectacle.
The black bull's headquarters were just as cool as the arena, Ren was sitting on a comfy couch with a few others but to his left was a massive meeting table and to his right was a large desk that boss was seated at, puffing away at a large cigar.
"Damn kid that's your third one, where's all that food go."
The bald man next to him stared in shock at Ren's belly which didn't even have a bulge. Ren shrugged his shoulders and continued stuffing his face.
This man was Nicolas and he was in charge of the casino, not everyone who worked at the casino was a member of the gang, the workers at the table where just employees hired by Nicolas himself.
Other than him the boss had introduced him to the others in the room. There was Angel, Leo and Christopher. Three brothers who worked in the arena, this place was the black bull's main source of income so the boss left it in the care of people he trusted.
"Carlos normally I complain when you constantly try to bring us new members but this kids a riot."
Xavier chuckled, he was a tall bald man in charge of accounting and handled the Gangs funds while Carlos himself was in charge of muscle, tasks that required force. He was the boss's right hand man and was in charge of the rest of the gang members… save for one.
Much to Ren's surprise the huge man with a girlish face that made even Carlos look small in comparison was actually a woman named Rose, due to her immense size she was misgendered and wasn't put in Block B with the rest of the girl's. Rose was the remaining member who wasn't under Carlos and had the role of the boss's personal body guard.
BURP.
A large amount of gas passed out of Ren's mouth as he polished of his steak. He could still eat more but there was something he had to find out first, he got up and headed over to the boss's desk
"Oh, I see your enjoying the food lad"
"Yes boss, I'm loving the hospitality."
Ren responded with a merry smile that was mirrored by the boss.
"Music to my ears, so what can I help you with, or did you come to make small talk."
The boss chuckled causing Ren to bring up something that had been on his mind since he was introduced to the others
"Every member of the gang seems to have a role. I just want to know what mine is"
Ren asked, wanting to know what the boss had in store for him. The boss's face turned serious and he looked Ren dead in the eye.
"You know Carlos brings a lot of people over to join our gang, normally I turn them down without batting an eyelid… but I saw potential in you, so I gave you a test and you passed it with flying colours, it was then I realised that some of that potential had already been realised. You know that person you iced, well his brother is the leader of the moles… hey lad snap out of it I'm saying something important."
The boss stopped his explanation abruptly when he saw that Ren was stunned by his words, Ren quickly regained his composure, he would put this aside for now and hear the boss out.
"Anyway, his brother was a cocky shit who thought he could mess with me of all people, this is a grudge I wanted to settle privately so I had you teach him a lesson in my place. What I'm trying to get at is that your role here is a teacher, dishing out these lessons to anyone who barks up the wrong tree"
Despite the synonym, it was pretty easy to understand that the boss wanted him to be an assassin. Ren sighed, he felt like he was going full circle.
"You want me to be a hitman"
Ren asked with a strange look in his eye. The boss ashed his cigar, since Ren was being blunt, he would act accordingly.
"Yes, is that a problem."
Ren smiled faintly.
"Hardly"