The realization washed over Larry like a wave of relief, his muscles still aching from the intense battle that had pushed him beyond his previous limits. His body felt heavy, yet his mind was becoming increasingly clear as the fog of unconsciousness lifted completely.
A sudden knock disturbed their moment of revelation. The sharp sound echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention to the door. Raxa moved to open it, his footsteps measured against the wooden floor. The door swung open to reveal the Gamblo family leader standing tall and silent in the hallway. His presence was imposing, his broad shoulders and battle-hardened frame filling the doorway with an aura of quiet strength that spoke volumes of his experience in combat.
"What are you doing here?" Raxa asked, studying the leader's unchanging expression. The silence that followed was thick with tension, like the calm before a storm. The leader remained motionless, his stance rigid and formal, eyes fixed forward with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the air itself.
In the background, Arashi and Blond came into view, their footsteps joining the tense atmosphere as they approached from the dimly lit hallway. Their faces showed a mixture of curiosity and wariness as they too questioned the Gamblo leader's unexpected presence. Still, he maintained his stoic silence, standing as still as a statue in the doorway, seemingly waiting for something - or someone - specific.
Larry observed this strange scene from his position, the tension in the room growing with each passing second. Something about the situation compelled him to take action, to break through this wall of silence that had descended upon them. "What business does the Gamblo family leader have with me?" he asked, his voice carrying across the room despite his recent exhaustion.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The Gamblo family leader's composure shifted, his rigid stance softening slightly as he finally spoke, his voice filled with unexpected reverence: "Master, it is my honour to serve you! From today onwards the whole family will serve you without question."
Larry felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. This kind of attention was exactly what he'd been trying to avoid throughout his life - it would only make him stand out more to potential dangers, painting an even larger target on his back. His mind raced as he tried to find a way to deflect this unwanted responsibility that had suddenly been thrust upon him.
"Didn't you say you'll serve Pandion?" Larry questioned carefully, attempting to redirect the leader's loyalty toward its rightful recipient. "That means your master to call is Raxa, the leader of the gang." He gestured toward Raxa, hoping to emphasize his point and shift the focus away from himself.
The Gamblo family leader's response was swift and unwavering, his voice carrying a certainty that left no room for argument: "I did, that's why we'll be serving you directly instead of Raxa from now on under the tutelage of the gang Pandion."
Larry couldn't hide his unnerved expression at this declaration. This wasn't at all how he'd hoped things would play out. The implications of such loyalty from a powerful family weighed heavily on his shoulders, adding another layer of complexity to his already complicated situation.
"Very well! Make sure to serve him well," Raxa interjected suddenly, seeming completely unfazed by this transfer of loyalty. His casual acceptance of the situation only added to Larry's bewilderment.
"Gracious!" the Gamblo family leader responded with a deep bow, his formal manner unchanged despite Raxa's casual tone.
"Wait! You're okay with it?" Larry couldn't help but interject, looking at Raxa with undisguised disbelief. The ease with which his friend accepted this major change in their power structure was baffling.
"Yup, I am! You've defeated him not me so it makes sense to me," Raxa replied with a casual shrug, as if they were discussing something as trivial as lunch plans rather than the loyalty of an entire family organization.
Larry made a silent 'tch' sound in his mind, realizing he was fighting a losing battle against this tide of change. After a moment of resigned acceptance, he turned his attention back to the Gamblo family leader, deciding to at least learn more about the man who had pledged himself to his service. "What's your name?"
"The names Gable, in short Codename: G," came the response, his voice carrying a hint of pride at the introduction.
"Awesome to make acquaintance Gable!" Larry replied, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in this increasingly bizarre situation.
What happened next caught everyone off guard. Gable stepped into the room, moving with surprising grace for someone of his size, and approached Larry's bedside. In a move that seemed to belong more in a medieval court than a modern gang headquarters, he took Larry's left hand and kissed it while bowing down like a knight pledging fealty to his lord.
Larry immediately withdrew his hand, hissing in embarrassment, "I'm a man dude!" The gesture, while perhaps meant to be respectful, had crossed a line he wasn't comfortable with.
Gable's laughter filled the room, warm and genuine. "Understood." Despite the formality of his previous action, his laugh revealed a more personable side to his character.
As their interaction continued, Larry finally got a clear look at Gable's appearance. His blue hair and red eyes were striking, unusual features that somehow suited his impressive build. Every movement spoke of contained power and years of training - exactly as Larry had noticed during their earlier confrontation.
Gable caught him staring and asked, "Anything wrong master?"
Larry replied with a resigned sigh, "Nah! Just grateful!" He missed the way Gable's eyes gleamed at his words, too preoccupied with adjusting to his new reality.
Raxa took this moment to outline their future plans, his voice filled with authority and purpose. "Now that the trouble's solved, let's fill our gang with more powerful individuals and once done we'll take every protection job of town as possible and run many stores as possible under the gang name Pandion, and if some go against us teach them hell."
"Piece of cake!" Blond responded confidently, his network of connections already spinning in his mind. "I already got many connections so it's not gonna be a tough nut to crack."
Arashi, ever focused on his specific role within the organization, asked, "Should I train the newbies that will join?" His expertise in combat training would be crucial for maintaining their strength.
"Of course, it's your core job in the gang," Raxa confirmed without hesitation, acknowledging the importance of proper training for their future members.
"Got it!" Arashi nodded with determination, already planning his training regimen.
"What about me?" Larry asked, feeling somewhat left out of the planning process despite his newly elevated status.
"You'll be the manager of Pandion, overseeing high end deals and stuff," Raxa declared, dropping yet another unexpected responsibility on Larry's shoulders.
"Wait! I've never done this, I'll mess it up," Larry protested, panic rising in his chest at the thought of handling such important responsibilities.
"Then I'll kill you if it comes to that," Raxa responded matter-of-factly, his casual threat carrying a very real weight.
Larry gulped, thinking to himself, 'Raxa's so heartless!' The direct threat of death wasn't exactly the motivation he'd been hoping for.
"Fret not master!" Gable interjected smoothly, seeing Larry's distress. "I've got the perfect assistant for you."
Larry's curiosity was immediately piqued, momentarily distracting him from his anxiety. "Oh! Who might that be?"
Gable's composed grin held a hint of mystery. "You'll see!"
"Now I'm much more interested to know!" Larry couldn't help but express his growing curiosity about this potential assistant.
The rest of the members left shortly after, leaving Larry to rest and recover while they busied themselves with expanding the gang's name, members, and reputation. The ten days that followed were filled with activity throughout the organization, though Larry remained largely confined to his recovery.
When he was finally back in the game, Gable returned as promised, bringing with him a young girl that immediately caught Larry's attention. Her platinum white hair cascaded in wild waves around her face in the distance. Her red eyes burned with a dangerous intensity, like embers from a long-dormant flame that could ignite at any moment.
She wore a sleek black jacket that clung to her shoulders, with intricate golden flames embroidered across it that seemed almost alive, dancing with each movement she made. On her back, a snarling beast's face—crafted with painstaking detail—seemed to glare at the world with the same ferocity she held in her gaze.
Larry, momentarily mesmerized by her striking appearance, motioned for her to step forward. She moved with purpose, her steps echoing against the pavement, metal glinting from the numerous piercings in her ears. Beneath her tough exterior, there was an air of mystery—untamed yet composed, fierce yet controlled. She had a presence that commanded attention, the kind of person who could walk into any room and silence it with just a look.
After maintaining a certain distance, she stopped and delivered her assessment, shattering the impressive image she had built: "What's wrong with your judgement, you for real want me to babysit this wimpy bastard Gable?"
Larry's ideal image of her shattered into pieces as she turned out to be a yandere, her true personality emerging in stark contrast to her impressive appearance. The disconnect between her striking presence and abrasive attitude was almost comical.
"Shut up! You're no match for master despite his appearance," Gable reprimanded sharply, defending Larry's honor despite his unimposing appearance.
"So I really look wimpy?" Larry couldn't help but ask, feeling somewhat deflated by the repeated references to his appearance.
"Not really master! You're quite close to healthy," Gable replied, though his words weren't particularly convincing and did little to boost Larry's confidence.
Larry could only laugh resignedly at his own misery. The situation had taken yet another unexpected turn in what was becoming a series of surprises.
Gable, apparently having had enough of the girl's attitude, delivered a hard knock to her head without warning. The next instant, she was facedown on the floor, her dramatic entrance completely undermined by this sudden development. Without another word, Gable turned and left the room, leaving Larry alone with his new assistant.
Larry found himself looking down at the girl with a smug face, realizing that his new position as manager of Pandion was going to be far more interesting than he'd initially anticipated.
Between his newfound authority over the Gamblo family, Raxa's deadly ultimatums, and now this unpredictable assistant, he had a feeling his life was about to become significantly more complicated. Yet somehow, watching his supposed assistant pick herself up from the floor, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation for what was to come.