Marvel: The Villain - Chapter 20
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The night deepened, and the clubās dance floor swelled with a growing throng of men and women, their bodies pressed close in a haze of sweat, liquor, and pulsing music. Jason lounged in his chair, his body relaxed but his mind sharp, a faint flush coloring his cheeks from the steady stream of Scotch whisky heād been nursing. The bottle on the table was nearly empty, its amber contents reduced to a thin layer at the bottom. His eyes, half-lidded and glassy, betrayed the alcoholās influence, but his senses remained alert, scanning the chaotic scene around him.
In a private room tucked away from the main floor, Franklin emerged, propped up by two tall, curvaceous dancers whose sultry smiles matched their revealing outfits. His grin was wide, almost boyish, radiating satisfaction from the private show heād just enjoyed. "Yo, boss!" He called, his voice cutting through the noise. "Itās gettinā late. Lemme drive you back."
Jason rose slowly, his lips curling into a teasing smirk. "You sure you can handle a wheel, soft-legs? You look like youāre still floatinā from those girls."
Franklin puffed out his chest, his pride unshaken. "Aināt much Iām good at, but drivinā? Man, I aināt met nobody who can outrun me."
They left the grimy club behind, the sour stench of the entrance fading as they headed to a nearby parking lot. Franklinās ride was a white Dodge Challenger, its paint chipped and body slightly wornāa secondhand purchase heād scraped together over years. It wasnāt flashy, but it had character, much like its owner.
They climbed in, and Franklin glanced at Jason. "Where to, boss?"
Jason rattled off an address, and Franklinās brows shot up. "Yo, thatās all the warehouses out there. You really crashinā in a spot like that?"
"Iām wanted by every cop and crook in the city," Jason said, his tone flat. "Safehouses are my only option."
"Shit, man," Franklin said, shaking his head. "If youāre cool with it, you can stay at my place."
"You live alone?" Jason asked, skeptical.
"Nah," Franklin admitted. "My folks died when I was a kid. My aunt Denise took me in. I live with her."
So, heās mooching off family too, Jason thought, a flicker of sympathy crossing his mind. "Thanks, but Iāll stick to the warehouse."
Franklin shook his head vigorously. "Nah, man, itās no trouble. My auntās greedy as hell. Slip her some cash, and sheāll let you stay forever."
The drive to Franklinās place was short, just five minutes from the club. The house was a modest two-story standalone with a small garden and a garageāan oasis of stability in a neighborhood overrun with vagrants and decay. Compared to Wesleyās sprawling mansion, it was humble, but in the slums, it was practically a palace.
Franklin pulled the Challenger into the garage and unlocked the front door. His room was a cramped ten-square-meter space off the entryway, barely more than a closet. Jason noted the setup with a pang of pity. Aunt Denise didnāt seem like the generous type.
A heavyset Black woman descended the stairs, her voice booming. "Hey, you freeloading punk! You finally decided to show your face?" Her eyes landed on Jason, narrowing with suspicion. "And whoās this? I told you, no bringing your deadbeat friends here."
Franklin bristled at her tone, but Jason stepped forward, cutting him off with a calming hand on his shoulder. He pulled out a stack of billsāthree or four thousand dollarsāand held it out to Denise with a charming smile. "Evening, maāam. Iām a friend of Franklinās. Iāll be staying a while. This is for the rent."
Deniseās scowl vanished as she snatched the cash, her face lighting up like a kid on Christmas. "Well, damn! Didnāt know this boy had friends with deep pockets. Thereās an empty room next door. Franklin can fix it up for you." With that, she turned, her ample backside swaying as she climbed the stairs, already counting her windfall.
Franklin muttered under his breath, "Boss, you gave her way too much."
Jason shrugged, his eyes lingering on Deniseās retreating figure. "A little cash saves a lot of arguing. Worth it."
Franklin grimaced, clearly unconvinced. Three grand was a fortune to a guy like himāGod knows how many jobs heād have to pull to make that back.
While Franklin cleaned the spare room, Jason took a quick shower, the hot water washing away the grime of the night. He collapsed onto the stiff, creaky wooden bed, the mattress offering little comfort but enough for his exhausted body. The whiskyās lingering warmth lulled him into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, Jason woke to the familiar glow of the system interface.
[Ding! Villain ally āFranklin Clintonā successfully recruited.]
[Ally: Franklin Clinton]
[Abilities: Theft Mastery (Level 4), Driving Mastery (Level 6)]
[Market: Click Here]
Note 1: Abilities purchased for allies in the market receive a 50% discount and ignore individual attribute requirements.
Note 2: Allies recruited through the system possess absolute loyalty.
Jason blinked, rereading the notes. A 50% discount on ally upgrades, no attribute restrictions? What the hellāam I the protagonist, or is Franklin? But the second note quelled his unease. After Paulās betrayal, trust didnāt come easy. Jason had learned the hard way that loyalty was just a matter of price. Knowing Franklinās allegiance was ironclad, guaranteed by the system, eased his paranoia. A disloyal ally with boosted skills would be a liability he couldnāt afford.
He pushed open the bedroom door, and the savory aroma of frying bacon hit him like a wave. In the kitchen, Franklin stood at the stove, apron tied on, flipping strips of meat with practiced ease. "Yo, boss, breakfastās almost ready. Grab a seat."
Jason nodded, pulling out a chair. "Whereās your aunt?"
Franklin snorted, his tone dripping with disdain. "Out shopping with her trash friends. Bet you anything sheāll burn through that cash in a few days."
The mention of money sparked a thought. Jason needed $1 million to upgrade Firearms Mastery to Level 6. Propping his chin in his hand, he mulled over his options. "What do you do for cash, Franklin?"
"Uh... vehicle recovery," Franklin said, a bit sheepish.
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Whatās that?"
"Folks buy cars on loans they canāt pay back. My jobās to repo those rides for the dealers."
"Sounds like a small change. Anything else?"
Franklin shrugged. "Stealinā cars, drivinā cabs, haulinā garbage, towing... anything with wheels, Iāve done it."
His Level 6 Driving Mastery wasnāt just talkāthis kid lived behind the wheel. Jasonās mind flashed to Kingpinās crew, specifically the biker gang known as the Speed Freaks. Dressed in garish cyberpunk gear, they roared through the city on tricked-out motorcycles, using their speed to courier drugs and boost cars on the side.
Franklin set a plate of bacon and eggs on the table, but Jason stood, his mind elsewhere. "Eat up. Iāve got a call to make."
Back in the bedroom, he dialed Wesleyās number.
"Hey," Jason said.
Wesleyās voice exploded through the line. "Hey?! What the hell, man? Thanks to you, every gang in New Yorkās losing their damn minds!"
Jason picked at his ear, unfazed. "Whatās the problem?"
"You wiped out the Russian mafia!" Wesley snapped. "Now every crewās paranoid, thinking youāre either coming for them next or youāll get nabbed by the cops and rat them out. The whole underworldās a powder keg."
Jasonās lips curled into a cold smile. "Theyāre right to be scared."
Wesley scoffed. "Oh, really? Well, guess what? Every gang in the city pooled their cash. Theyāre offering $15 million for your head. International hitmen are already circling."
Jasonās grip on the phone tightened, but his voice stayed steady. "..."
Wesleyās tone softened, almost pleading. "Jason, give it up. You canāt survive this. Not with the streets and the feds both gunning for you."
Jason stared at the floor, his silence stretching long and heavy. Then, a spark of defiance ignited in his eyes. "Let them come."
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