From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198: A Happy Max

Dud had been moments away from walking off until a single name froze him in place.

"The Billion Bloodline?" Chrono repeated the words, his brow furrowing. He said it like it should’ve meant something, but the name rang hollow in his mind.

That’s when Dud, with a swift movement, tapped Na in the stomach, harder than necessary. It wasn’t just a playful jab. It was firm, almost aggressive, like he meant to remind him of something... or hurt him for saying something foolish.

"I thought you said they were nothing to worry about," Dud said sharply. "Just a bunch of high school kids playing dress-up in some flashy uniform."

"A bunch of kids?" Chrono scoffed, visibly irritated. "Are you seriously bringing up some nonsense about teenagers again? Sure, a few of them have talent, Max and Wolf come to mind, but they’ve never managed to push beyond that, have they?"

He leaned against the wall, folding his arms with a smug tilt of his head. "They’re just a recruitment pool. Groups like ours have always picked off the best from schools like that. I’m surprised, Na. You of all people, wasting your breath on this?"

Na’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. He wanted to explain, to backtrack, to show them there was something more to this, but after being talked down so easily, he just let it go. They didn’t want to hear it.

The truth was, during that drive with Dud, Na had seen something that stuck with him. There were more students wearing those Billion Bloodline uniforms than he expected. And it wasn’t just the usual crowd. Some of them were from Max and Wolf’s school. Others were popping up in unexpected places.

So Na had done what he always did when something felt off, he looked into it. Just a little. Just enough.

And what he found... didn’t make sense.

There were newly opened gyms, real ones, not some converted garages. Their clothes were being sold like wildfire. Their symbol was spreading across the city like it had been part of a long-term branding strategy.

And this was all coming from some high school group?

No. It felt too big. Too organized. Almost like someone else, someone powerful, was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

Maybe, Na thought, it was just a new trend sweeping through the younger generation. Maybe a company had latched onto their image and ran with it. But still, why was this trend expanding into territories they controlled?

That part was dangerous.

Because if it was a company, then they weren’t dealing with just a street gang. They wouldn’t even have the influence to touch something like that. Not yet.

Only once a group reached the level of a syndicate would they have a say in such affairs. And if this group was tied to a syndicate, perhaps one that was keeping quiet, it could mean something big was coming.

Na didn’t know. And that uncertainty was enough for him to stay quiet.

"You’re right," he finally said, voice low. "It’s nothing we need to worry about. Just forget I said anything."

The next day arrived with a clear sky and a calmer heart.

Max stood tall, dressed for school. His thoughts felt more collected than they had in days. For once, there was no lingering pressure on his shoulders. He could spend his money freely again. He didn’t have to look over his shoulder every second worrying about Abby.

Chad had gone silent. There were no moves, no messages, no lingering threats.

’Still... I wonder what’s happening with Chad?’ Max thought to himself. ’The Rejected Corps were supposed to keep an eye on him, but I haven’t heard a thing. No updates, nothing. It’s strange.’

School life was, for the most part, calm, almost peaceful. And yet Max’s mind was still running with three problems that refused to go away.

The first was the Rejected Corps itself. It was a mess he could only handle case by case, as situations popped up.

Second, was the mystery surrounding his current body. Someone from the Stern family had killed the original Max Stern, and he didn’t know who. It could be any of them. All of them. He had to be cautious.

And lastly... the White Tiger Gang. The one he once led. Someone had betrayed him, and he still had no idea who. But one thing was clear, even with his vow, even with his newfound power, he wasn’t strong enough to confront them. Not yet.

"Even if it’s not official," another added, "everyone knows it. No school on the East Side is going to go up against him."

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