CHAPTER 12
Among the ranks of bullies in Mereung, there were few of them with nobility titles. A bully with a nobility title cannot be touched, no one dared to challenge them—no one can even look them in the eye.
Ferdinand Alore.
He was only a Baron, yet he ruled with a viciousness that surpassed all others. A true menace. An incarnate of malice itself.
Beyond his reputation as a school bully, he was rumored to be a real gangster. For high schoolers—teenagers desperate for status—being part of a gang was the ultimate symbol of power. But not just anyone could claim the title. True membership meant more than just hanging around thugs; it required initiation, a rite of passage, a formal acceptance into the inner sects. Only then would they receive the tattoo and uniform—badges of honor that marked them as Nobles.
Once you had those?
Everywhere you went, respect followed. People feared you. Nobody messed with you.
Very few high schoolers ever reached that level.
Ferdinand was one of them.
Being in a real gang earned him perks. Money. Protection. Authority. He even had access to women—many of them older—who treated him like some kind of big boss.
In the entire district, Ferdinand was respected and feared by everyone. Not just the students.
And to top it off—he wasn't just all talk.
He had real skills.
At least, that's what Vincent believed.
After all, Ferdinand's punches hurt. Unlike the others, whose attacks he could endure, Ferdinand's fists made him vomit blood.
This guy was bad news.
So there was no debating this.
He had to run.
The moment that thought crossed Vincent's mind, a voice rang in his ears.
[Main Quest has been updated.]
[You have received a new quest.]
'Damnit!'
---
Quest Title: Rise of a Gangster
Subtitle: Unfear! Unfaze!! Unbroken!!!
Description:
They say there's a bully unlike any other—one who has earned his place as a Noble, a true gangster far beyond the wannabes that roam the school halls. If this is the real deal, then we have to take things to a higher level.
We will not fear!
We will not faze!!
We will not be broken!!!
Defeat Ferdinand.
Quest Reward:
+3 Common Cards
+1 Rare Card
Quest Failure:
You will lose the system.
---
Vincent's eyes shot wide open.
His entire body stiffened.
His eyeballs were shaking.
At first, even after Blu appeared in his life, he had still entertained the idea of losing a quest. Maybe he could handle the punishment, as long as he got to keep the system.
But this?
This was different.
He didn't even have to think too hard to understand the implications. Losing the system meant losing Blu.
If that happened, then—
Would all his rewards disappear?
Would the bag be gone?
His height? Would he shrink back to his old, pathetic self?
'No no no no—'
His breathing became erratic.
He couldn't afford that.
Not after everything had finally changed.
Things were different now.
There was no way he'd go back to being lame.
With no other choice, Vincent slowly turned to Roger—the guy he had beaten earlier.
Then, with courage he didn't fully understand, he stared directly into Roger's eyes.
"Take me to him."
His voice was cold and steady.
"I don't give a damn. Whether it's you or Baron Ferdinand… nobody is ever touching me again for free."
Roger gritted his teeth.
And then he realized something disgusting.
He had to crane his neck slightly.
The bastard was taller than him.
'Up until the day before yesterday, this short freak barely reached my chin. What the hell changed?!'
His fists clenched.
"Well, let's see how long that stupid courage of yours lasts," he sneered.
Then, he turned.
"Follow me, dimwit."
Vincent's hands gripped the straps of his bag. His palms were clammy, his breath shallow.
But he followed.
Step by step.
Minutes passed. The path led them behind the school's clustered buildings, deeper into an abandoned section far from prying eyes.
A burned-down building stood at the end of the alley.
Its walls were charred black—scarred by flames that had gutted it years ago. A few faded KEEP OUT tapes fluttered in the wind, remnants of a past warning that nobody cared to enforce anymore.
Vincent gulped.
Roger and the other two led him around the back.
And then—
There he was.
Ferdinand Alore.
He stood surrounded by several guys, his frame brawny, imposing.
Two women stood behind him.
They weren't high schoolers.
Vincent's stomach twisted.
Ferdinand's face didn't match his age. He didn't look like a student. If anything, he looked like a man who had failed too many times—someone who had been stuck in high school for decades.
And worst of all?
His stature.
The sheer size of him made Vincent's heart beat out of rhythm.
Then, Ferdinand's gaze landed on him.
The cigarette fell from his lips.
He stomped it out with his fancy boots, smirking.
"Hey, hey! My friend!"
He pushed off the wall, arms spread like he was about to hug Vincent.
Then he stopped.
His smirk faded. His brows furrowed.
"What the hell is this?"
His eyes narrowed at Roger.
"He's clean?"
Roger lowered his head.
"I told you before… this bastard… he—"
"Roger, you said he got lucky."
Roger's expression twisted. Sweat beaded down his face.
"Rooooo...gggggeeeerrrrrrrrr."
Roger flinched. His shoulders tensed.
"You said it was luck! Pure luck! This guy shouldn't be standing before me unscathed."
His eyes flicked back to Vincent.
Then—sudden realization.
He froze.
His expression darkened.
"Hey… my friend. Did you just grow a foot overnight?"
Vincent scratched the back of his head, forcing a sheepish smile.
"Puberty, I guess…"
For a second, everything was silent.
Then—
CRACK.
Ferdinand's hand swung sideways—
A flesh-tearing backhand slap smashed into Roger's face.
Blood flew.
Roger crumpled like a ragdoll, groaning.
"THIS IS YOUR FAULT, YOU BASTARD!" Ferdinand roared.
"It's your fault this little shit dares to look at me with his head raised!"
Then—he moved.
Before Vincent could react—
Ferdinand's body surged forward.
A punch.
It came from below, fast, powerful.
Vincent's pupils shrunk.
There was no way to dodge.
The impact was certain.
But—
Just as his eyes darted to the incoming fist, his lips curved into a grin.
'Thank goodness I received this…'
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