After tending to his wounds and luxuriating in a refreshing shower, Arslan made his way to his usual job, a routine that he was starting to feel disconnected from.
As he journeyed towards his workplace, a sense of clarity began to dawn on him.
The financial constraints that had once weighed heavily on his mind now seemed less pressing, thanks to the lucrative opportunities that had come his way in the past week.
The idea of settling his debts with just a few thousand dollars remaining, after carrying the job for Mr.
Spark, as he also had a lot of money lying around, made the idea of continuing his regular job less and less appealing.
Arslan found himself in a position of strength, with the resources to expand his ventures, whether in acquiring products or hiring additional manpower if he wanted to.
Compared to the challenges from before, Arslan now stood in a far more favorable situation, where everything appeared to align in his favor.
While a part of him felt grateful for the system that had facilitated his success, he also acknowledged that not all credit could be attributed to external factors.
Some of his achievements were the result of his own calculated decisions and actions, taken with full awareness of the potential risks and rewards they entailed.
Arslan muttered to himself, pushing open the door to the burger joint where he put in his hours.
Despite his contemplation, he showed up right on time, ready to tackle another day.
“Morning!” Arslan greeted the manager with a chipper tone, only to be met with the usual grumpy look.
He punched in and made a beeline for his spot behind the counter.
“Hey,” the manager grumbled back, clearly not thrilled to see Arslan still around.
He harbored hopes that Arslan had taken off with Ryder, who had vanished into thin air and hadn’t returned.
Arslan inquired, taking a moment to tidy up his workstation before casting a glance at the manager, who met his gaze with a disapproving glare but remained silent.
Feeling the tension building, Arslan let out a resigned sigh, sensing his patience wearing thin with the asshole manager.
He decided to shift his focus and made his way towards the kitchen, noting the absence of customers to attend to at that moment.
As he made his way to the kitchen, Arslan encountered Zoe, a familiar face from his neighborhood whom he had known for years.
At 19 years old, Zoe was a budding artist striving to save up for Art school.
Known by her graffiti alias, Zest, her vibrant creations adorned the streets of their community, capturing the attention of passersby.
Engaged in conversation and enjoying the company of a friend, Arslan was interrupted when the manager unexpectedly approached him, handing him a mop and bucket as he spoke.
“The floor needs cleaning, go take care of it instead of slacking off,” the manager barked at Arslan, prompting him to meet the man’s gaze before straightening up in response.
“The floor looks fine.
It doesn’t seem it needs anything at the moment,” Arslan asserted, noting that it appeared relatively clean and didn’t seem overdue for a scrub.
The manager persisted, pushing the mop into Arslan’s chest with more force.
“It doesn’t look clean to me.
Now, go and clean it,” he demanded, his tone unwavering as he held the mop firmly against Arslan’s chest.
Arslan, unmoving, maintained his gaze on the manager, refusing to comply with the unreasonable command.
“Tell me, What the fuck have I ever done to deserve this treatment from you?” he confronted the manager, his frustration evident.
The manager, feigning ignorance, simply shrugged in response to Arslan’s pointed question, further fueling the tension between them.
“Like ever since I started working here, you’ve been treating me like shit day in and day out, I wonder why’s that ?” Arslan said to the manager “I don’t know what you’re on about, but if you feel mistreated or expect better treatment, feel free to file a complaint or just quit,” the manager retorted, a smug expression playing on his face.
He seemed content with either outcome, confident that his position was secure and unchallenged.
Arslan, still acutely aware of the manager’s hand pressing the mop against his chest, let out a weary sigh before casting a brief smile at Zoe.
With a gentle nudge, he motioned for her to step aside.
“Mind making some room?” he requested, a knowing look passing between them as she anticipated what was about to happen by moving away from there.
Arslan shot a pointed look at the manager, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“You realize this is assault, right?” he remarked, nodding towards the mop that was being aggressively pressed against his chest.
“So?” The manager shrugged nonchalantly, pushing the mop even harder against Arslan’s chest.
Unfazed, Arslan’s grin widened before he swiftly raised his hand and delivered a resounding smack, sending the manager stumbling back and crashing into the sink, drenched from the water within.
“Ugh!” the manager groaned, trying to regain his footing on the now-soaked floor.
“What are you doing?” he demanded, clearly taken aback by Arslan’s sudden action.
With a mischievous smile, Arslan took charge, grabbing the manager by the collar and lifting him up, their eyes locked in a tense moment.
“Just keeping things clean I guess,” Arslan quipped before tossing the manager back to the ground.
As the manager groaned in pain, Arslan couldn’t resist a grin as he dragged him around the kitchen, asserting his dominance in an assertive manner.
“Stop!
I’ll call the cops,” the manager threatened, but Arslan paid no mind, continuing to wipe the floor with the manager, who’s threats turned into desperate pleas.
Enjoying every moment, Arslan took his time cleaning the floor, dragging the manager around before tossing him over the counter with a forceful throw, landing him on the other side of the restaurant.
“Please stop, I’m sorry,” the manager pleaded as he crawled to the corner where Arslan went and sat calmly before him.
Arslan removed his cap, name tag, and shirt, placing them before the manager with a smile.
“I quit.
Now, can you hand me the past week’s check?” Arslan requested, the manager nodding vigorously before rushing to write up the cheque.
As Arslan left, he muttered under his breath, “Fucking bastard,” a wide smile playing on his lips.
==================== After changing into more casual attire, Arslan headed to check in with his crew, finding Ryder and the others on high alert following the events of the previous night.
“What’s good?
Any unwanted visitors today?” Arslan inquired as he greeted Ryder who had his head wrapped with a dap.
“Nah, everything’s been quiet so far,” Ryder replied before flicking away his cigarette.
“We’re running low on product, though.
Know anyone who could help us out?” Ryder’s question prompted Arslan to consider names like Elijah and Mr.
Spark, but he swiftly dismissed them, wary of getting entangled in their schemes that would only lead to more trouble and headaches for him.
“You can speak to Elijah to sell to us, I know he would be more than happy to do so,” Ryder’s persistence broke through Arslan’s silence as he suggested reaching out to Elijah for a potential supply arrangement, convinced of the man’s willingness to assist.
However, Arslan’s quick dismissal indicated his reluctance to involve himself with Elijah’s offers.
“Nah, let me explore other options before considering him,” Arslan stated decisively before making his way out, leaving Ryder puzzled by his friend’s abrupt departure.
“Where are you off to?” Ryder called after him, seeking clarification on Arslan’s sudden exit.
“Taking care of something and Searching for a new supplier.
Stay vigilant,” Arslan replied, waving a dismissive gesture as he turned the corner and vanished into the bustling streets, his determined strides carrying him toward the underground network of subways.
As Arslan strolled through the streets, he opened his shop from his system.
With a practiced hand, he navigated the interface to select the [Street Intel] option, knowing it held the key to uncovering a potential new supplier for them.
Entering the desired information, Arslan followed the prompts to pay the required fee of $500, a small price for the valuable connections the system could provide.
A piece of paper materialized before him, a tangible result of the transaction that still held an air of mystery and intrigue for him, despite his frequent use of the shop.
Dismissing the virtual windows, Arslan retrieved the newly generated page, anticipation sparking in his eyes as he scanned the contents for promising leads.
As his gaze fell upon unfamiliar names interspersed among the familiar ones, a sense of excitement coursed through him, hinting at the prospect of fresh opportunities and potential alliances waiting to be explored.
With a focused determination, Arslan bypassed the familiar contacts he already knew and delved into the uncharted territory of the new names that beckoned to him from the page, each one a potential gateway to expanding his network and securing a new source for his operations.
= Connections for Illegal Goods= – Milo Santoro *Location: Lower East Side *Specialty: High-quality narcotics, including designer drugs.
*Warning: Known for reliability but can be ruthless in negotiations.
– Lena Vasquez *Location: Midtown Manhattan *Specialty: Facilitates large-scale drug and arms deals.
*Warning: Double-crossing is common for her; trust with caution.
– Vito Romano *Location: Brooklyn – Bushwick *Specialty: Small-time narcotics, like marijuana and ecstasy.
*Warning: Often entangled with dangerous clientele; tread carefully.
– Rico Delgado *Location: Queens – Astoria *Specialty: Fast distribution of meth and cocaine.
*Warning: Known for bad batches; could put you at risk.
– Talia Novak *Location: Greenwich Village *Specialty: Rare narcotics and unique items.
*Warning: Shady deals attract law enforcement; stay low-key.
– Carlos “Cash” Ramirez *Location: Harlem *Specialty: Street-level sales of crack cocaine and heroin.
*Warning: Unreliable and frequently disappears with cash; high risk.
– Jax Thompson *Location: Bronx – Fordham *Specialty: High-end narcotics, particularly pure cocaine.
*Warning: Known for violent outbursts; approach with extreme caution.
– Nina Choi *Location: Chinatown *Specialty: Intelligence on drug shipments.
*Warning: Loyalty is questionable; she plays both sides.
– Zane Mercer *Location: SoHo *Specialty: Sources hard-to-find illegal items, including firearms.
*Warning: Dangerous dealings can lead to serious consequences.
– Leo Caruso *Location: Staten Island *Specialty: Smuggling operations for narcotics.
*Warning: Known for skimming; trust is a gamble, and he’s connected to powerful gangs.
After perusing the list of names and their offerings, Arslan’s attention gravitated towards one in particular, Milo Santoro.
Recognizing the potential for growth and expansion in a partnership with Milo, Arslan knew he had to seal the deal.
However, the daunting challenge lay in how to approach this unfamiliar figure.
With no prior acquaintance or intermediary to vouch for him, the prospect of meeting Milo alone seemed risky and ill-advised.
Building trust with someone as influential as Milo required a strategic approach beyond a mere introduction.
“I have a lot to do with this.
But first, I must handle Mr.
Spark’s job,” Arslan mused, acknowledging the pressing tasks ahead.
With a sense of purpose, he made his way to the subway station, departing for a destination further away than his usual spots.