Recruitment

"Brother Tiger, Brother Nine isn't going to make it!"

The fighting inside the warehouse had largely ended, and several men carried Old Ninth outside.

The Awakened's powerful strike earlier had been far beyond anything an ordinary person could withstand.

An ordinary person would have died on the spot, just like Beibei.

Old Ninth had held on until the fighting ended through sheer willpower.

"Fuck."

Old Ninth looked weakly at Little White Tiger, a relieved smile appearing on his face. "Awakened really are badass, huh? Then I can rest easy."

"Old Ninth!"

They had already lost Beibei. With Old Ninth going down too, everyone was on the verge of breaking.

Like Little White Tiger, Old Ninth was someone this whole crew believed in.

"Stop fucking crying. People die all the time in this world, don't they? It just happens to be my turn. This world's such a mess anyway, living's a fucking burden." Old Ninth gulped for air, already beginning to suffocate.

"Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I'll get you to a hospital. Hang in there, buddy."

Little White Tiger held Old Ninth, his heart twisting in agony.

This was his closest brother, a brother whose life was bound to his own.

"No... no point. Fuck, my insides are all torn up."

Old Ninth shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Take... take everyone and live well. Kids like us... from the garbage dumps... haven't had it easy." Old Ninth's eyes gradually lost focus.

Headlights lit up behind them.

More than a dozen vehicles smashed through the barrier at the logistics market's entrance and sped toward them.

"Brother Tiger..."

Tears streamed down Hi Dog's face as he pleaded, "Save Brother Nine!"

Little White Tiger looked at the gaping hole in Old Ninth's chest. He knew that even a hospital couldn't save him.

But he couldn't face Old Ninth's death.

"That vial of Demon Ancestors Blood can save him."

The Little Silver-Patterned Tiger's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

"Fuck."

Little White Tiger cursed under his breath. "I'm such a fucking idiot."

"What is it?" His brothers looked at him, their faces stricken with grief.

Now that he had a way to save Old Ninth, Little White Tiger's spirits lifted.

But he didn't dare linger here. Who knew whether the newcomers were friends or enemies?

This vial of Demon Ancestor's Blood had been suspended inside his body by a thread tied to a tooth, so it hadn't fallen into his stomach like the other three.

Naturally, the doctor hadn't found it during surgery.

Little White Tiger had been debating whether to return it to Mr. Li. Now he could use it on Old Ninth instead.

Without another word, Little White Tiger pulled out the Demon Ancestor's Blood and dripped it into Old Ninth's mouth.

"Move out!"

Just before the newcomers arrived, Little White Tiger vanished into the swirling snow within the logistics market.

"Ice Prefecture morning news: a major fire broke out on Red Three Street in our city's Xipu District at midnight yesterday. The fire has claimed eighty lives and caused hundreds of thousands in losses to goods. The person in charge of the Eight Treasures Logistics Center also tragically died in the blaze. The mayor has urged residents to observe fire safety precautions and announced a month-long fire safety inspection campaign."

The television reported the supposed cause of Old Xie's gang's destruction yesterday, leaving Little White Tiger and the others utterly bewildered.

After wiping out Old Xie yesterday, Little White Tiger had brought everyone back to the Black Clinic to lie low.

They had been worried the incident would blow up, only for it to be classified as a fire.

Everyone exchanged looks.

"Come on, bro. Boss. Have mercy on me. Could you stop coming to me every single time? There are hundreds of underground clinics across Ice Prefecture. You don't have to keep picking mine!"

The doctor who had operated on Little White Tiger last time looked helpless. He had finally gotten rid of these walking disasters, only for them to come back less than a day later.

"What kind of talk is that? We trust your medical skills. Worried we won't pay?" Little White Tiger felt his pockets. They were empty.

Hi Dog glanced at Little White Tiger and immediately understood.

He promptly gathered two younger brothers and their weapons, ready to go out and borrow some money.

"Don't... boss, I'm begging you."

The clinic doctor looked close to tears. "The man you robbed last time was my brother-in-law. Stop tormenting the people in this building. I'll treat you for free, all right?"

Little White Tiger rubbed his stomach, then patted the doctor's shoulder with some embarrassment. "Ahem. We'll still pay back what we owe you. I'll write you an IOU."

Little White Tiger picked up the pen on the table, but didn't put anything down.

The doctor hadn't expected them to pay anyway. He had already contacted Mr. Li in private, and Mr. Li would cover their bill.

"Ahem, well... I can't write. You do it. I'll dictate."

Little White Tiger handed him the pen, leaving the doctor dumbfounded.

"Why does this feel like I'm the one who owes you money?" The doctor was utterly exasperated. "Forget it. I won't charge you. Seriously. I'm afraid I'll finish treating you and somehow end up fucking owing you a million or so."

Little White Tiger curled his lip and said nothing more. After last time, he wasn't worried about Old Ninth remaining unconscious.

Just then, Mr. Li knocked on the door.

It wasn't surprising that Mr. Li had found Little White Tiger. The doctor would certainly contact him; he might even be one of Mr. Li's men.

Mr. Li looked travel-worn, snowflakes clinging to his hair. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly when he saw Little White Tiger.

Little White Tiger's performance yesterday had been nothing short of impressive. He had beaten someone at the peak of the first awakening despite having only just awakened himself, giving Mr. Li considerably more influence with the big boss.

"Sir."

Whatever else happened, Mr. Li had gotten him out of prison and made him an Awakened.

He had to acknowledge that debt.

Little White Tiger stood, hesitated briefly, then gave Mr. Li a slight bow.

The other boys beside him hurried to their feet as well.

"There's a five-hundred-thousand bounty out there on your head. You're getting more fucking valuable by the day," Mr. Li said, half joking.

Little White Tiger had known this day would come when he killed Old Xie.

That was precisely why he hadn't foolishly taken over Old Xie's territory.

With Old Xie dead, the backers behind him would have to act. Otherwise, who would dare work for them in the future?

"Old Ninth's is eight hundred thousand."

Mr. Li hesitated briefly before adding that.

"Pfft!"

Little White Tiger choked on his tea, his face turning bright red.

"Don't go wandering around for now. Wait until things blow over." Mr. Li removed his gloves and thoughtfully rubbed the thumb ring in his hand.

Little White Tiger had grown up on the streets and was good at reading people.

Seeing Mr. Li like this, he had already guessed that the man wanted something from him.

After a long pause, Mr. Li spoke first. "What are your plans now?"

"We can't stay in the city anymore. We'll head outside."

Anyone who could survive outside the city was ruthless. Even a bare-assed kid beside the road might pull out a gun and shoot you at any moment.

With life out there like that, even the city's big bosses had to think twice before going outside to seek revenge.

Those people were vicious enough to rob even the Police Bureau, so those inside and outside the city had an unspoken agreement to leave each other alone.

"Once you leave the city, you're no longer treated as human." Mr. Li fixed Little White Tiger with a deep, searching gaze.

This was his only chance to bring Little White Tiger under his wing.

This little tiger had already grown up. No shackles could hold him anymore.

If he didn't recruit Little White Tiger while he was in trouble, Mr. Li would have no way of reaching him once he fled the city.

"Interested in working for me?"

After a long silence, Mr. Li finally put forward his proposal.

"I've still got a bounty of several hundred thousand on my head. Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble on yourself?" Little White Tiger asked with a broad grin.

"A bunch of scum doing filthy business. They're not worthy of going up against me." Mr. Li confidently lit a cigarette. "Come to think of it, we've known each other this long, but I've never properly introduced myself, have I?"

"My name is Li Youxian. I'm with the Farbridge Group, currently in charge of the grain business in Ice City. Follow me, and you'll be walking a respectable path out in the open. What do you say?"

The Farbridge Group was a multinational corporation ranked among the Dragon Kingdom's top fifty. Its businesses encompassed almost every industry. It was a true behemoth.

Compared with them, Old Xie wasn't even fit to carry their shoes.

"Little Tiger, I see a lot of promise in you and your brothers. Choosing the right path can save you decades of struggle."

Mr. Li smiled earnestly. "My foothold in Ice Prefecture isn't solid yet. If you're willing to join me, I won't make extravagant promises, but there'll be a place for you at the top of Ice Prefecture someday."

"What if I refuse?"

Little White Tiger's expression shifted uncertainly. Old Xie had hurt him once, and he no longer trusted these so-called big brothers.

"You took the Demon Ancestor's Blood. If you refuse, headquarters will send people to take you back there for research."

Mr. Li phrased it delicately, but his meaning was clear.

If Little White Tiger didn't develop under their watch, he would simply be taken to headquarters.