Strike Fear In The Heart Of Opportunity

Pow-!

A gang member fell to the ground and looked up in fear. Troy massaged his wrist, "If you want to stick around I recommend you lie low."

"Who the hell do you think you guys are?! This isn't your District, why are you acting?!"

"Does it matter? Do I need to repeat myself?"

"Fuck! We'll stay low. Clearly we don't stand a chance with the Street Dogs around."

Troy nodded and left through a door. Placing his hands into this jacket's pockets Troy couldn't help but frown. This whole situation felt like bullying the weak. It wasn't that Troy had guilt for doing this, but rather he felt like this was beneath Top Dog. From what he understood Top Dog wasn't the kind to do something like this. He usually only acted when needed, always letting the others have a chance to gain experience. An utter confidence in his ability to clean up any mistakes. Yet this time he was acting first?

Placing aside his confusion Troy approached Top Dog, "It's done. They should be smart enough to stay low."

"Good shit. You all still in condition to keep going?"

No one dared to say anything but yes. It was rare for Top Dog to depend on them with personal matters. Abandoning his trust because of a few injuries was against their best wishes! Top Dog still examined them each. Passing his standard he nodded, "Onto the next then. We're making good progress, word should be moving."

Troy's curiosity burned greatly. Still, nothing mattered more than loyalty in this situation so he kept his mouth shut. Instead he led his group to follow Top Dog down the streets. Currently they were patrolling, finding word about those trying to be opportunists. Once Top Dog gained even a small lead, he took them down without hesitation. There wasn't any verifying the claims. If there was even a murmur Top Dog took them down.

This was just a crude showing of strength. Yet the most effective option. In this city there was no justice, there was no innocence. Only the strong and weak. Those who were beat could only pity themselves for not being strong enough, or for being born with a lacking ability. Some who were bitter enough would gather numbers to take revenge, or even take far more extreme measures. However Top Dog did not care for the potential offended gang members. He only needed word getting out that he was silencing anyone who even talked about becoming a District.

Nothing works better than fear.

As they turned a corner another gang group almost bumped into them. One member of the opposing gang almost leapt forward to demand what Top Dog thought he was doing. A rash action that was rapidly stopped by the leader of the opposing group. With a nervous tone they spoke, "You. . . must be Top Dog?"

"And you are?", Top Dog didn't bother answering the question.

"Ounce. The name's Ounce, leader of a Street. Grey Night?", Ounce failed to form a coherent response in his nervousness.

Top Dog glanced at Troy, who shook his head. It seems no one knew who Grey Night was. Top Dog instead asked another question, "So, what's going on here?"

With the way Ounce was responding you would assume he was guilty of something, "W-We were just going to go grab some drinks!"

"That so?"

"Y-Yeah. Hey um. . . is it true that you're beating up gangs who are trying to become a District?"

The tension rose a level at that question. Immediately the group following Top Dog rose their guard. Top Dog also grew hostile, "Why?"

"J-Just wanted to confirm! We don't have such ideas, y-you know? I think I was lucky enough to be promoted to a Street thanks to Royal Dominion haha. . . ha.", Ounce felt like he couldn't even convince himself with his own words.

"So you say. You know you're sounding really guilty?", Top Dog took a step closer.

Ounce put his hands up to his chest in a submissive matter, "Listen! I know my own strength! I'm not trying to bite more than I can chew unlike those Twin Fang bastards!"

"What are you trying to say?"

"T-Twin Fang! A newfound gang that sprouted up when word got out Stella was killed. Some old-time enemies of Stella that wanted to take advantage.", in his haste to prove his innocence Ounce actually managed to speak clearly.

"Twin Fang is it? Where are they?"

"The old Bell building at the edge of Twin Peak Road. U-Used to be the homebase of Twin Winds before they merged to Twin Fang."

"You said they were new and upcoming, but now you're saying it's a merge?"

"The leader of Twin Winds isn't leading Twin Fang! The chain of command is different, might as well be a new gang. . . ?", Ounce could barely squeak.

"If I find out you're lying I hope you know I'm coming for you."

"I wouldn't dare!!", Ounce's voice turned to a high pitch.

Top Dog turned to his group, "You heard, let's move."

The group didn't speak any further and instead walked past Ounce's group. Once they left earshot Ounce fell to the ground and shook violently, "S-Shit! We got off lucky."

Lifting Ounce to his feet another asked, "That's Top Dog?? Fuck me, his presence was suffocating. Felt like I was gonna die when he stepped forward."

"I. . . I think we should get extra drinks."

The rest immediately agreed with Ounce's words. This was akin to finding the reaper in your path, only to learn last second that you weren't its target. A brush of death filled them with adrenaline. Top Dog's name was traveling at an alarming pace. Ounce felt lucky that he was able to recognize him from the rumors, else his group might already be six feet under the asphalt.

Ounce looked at the disappearing figures of the Street Dogs. Shaking his head he turned to lead his group in the opposite direction. If the rumors were true, then it seems Twin Fang would meet a premature end.

At this moment something flickered inside of Ounce. It only remained a small flame, but the danger it posed was immense. He looked back at the direction the Street Dogs disappeared to, a weird gleam glowing in his eye.

"The end of Twin Fang. . ."

"What was that?"

Ounce shook his head, "Nothing. My thought slipped out that's all."

"Let's not distract ourselves! We're drinking ourselves silly!"

Meanwhile Troy was speaking with Top Dog, "Do you want me to look into them?"

Top Dog spoke curtly, "No need."

Troy couldn't shake the feeling that they're being used. There was undoubtedly someone stupid enough to give Top Dog false information to eliminate a rival gang. This he was more than certain about. However seeing Top Dog not care about such schemes he couldn't help but frown. Even now he didn't voice his concerns and instead loyally followed behind Top Dog.

The truth was Top Dog did care. It was why he made the threat in the first place. His vast experience and senses told him that Ounce had genuine fear when speaking. So he didn't consider the matter. This came from an utmost confidence in himself. A feature Top Dog did not lack. It wasn't arrogance, although it seemed so to many. They were mistaken, Top Dog had no shortage of confidence in his ability and skill. It was through this confidence that his posture gave him a suffocating aura. A pressure of a predator, one wrong move and you'll be wiped.

If, by some twist of fate, he was being used to wipe out a gang. Then he merely needed to add another gang to the list of targets. No need to get his mind muddled through mind games. A privilege of the strong.

Top Dog looked up at a building. A casual expression on his face, "It's our target."

The Bell building was an old building ran by a company named Bell. Hence why Ounce called it that. You could still see the markings from the old sign on the walls, a section significantly less stained than the rest of the building. Top Dog approached the door, "Let's give them a warm welcome."

BANG-!

With a kick Top Dog shattered the hinges of the door and caused it to fall. This startled those inside, "Who the-"

"Sup. Heard ya were planning on being a District."

"Who the hell. . .", the person's eyes widened, "Shit!! It's Top Dog!"

There was only one thought in this person's mind: run. They sprinted down the hall and towards a pair of stairs. The others warily took up a fighting stance, but it was lacking spirit. Top Dog's mere presence already lowered morale significantly.

Troy watched as one of them escaped, "Want me to hunt that one down?"

"Nah, he's off to go warn the head honchos. Instead wipe the rest of them."

"On it Boss."

Troy removed his hands from his pockets and walked forward. The rest of the group followed him and prepared themselves for a brawl. As for Top Dog he remained at the entrance and looked upwards, "Hmm."

Sunrise was approaching. Signaling the near end of Top Dog's rampage.