From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 711

Chapter 711: A Missing Link

The university classes had finally come to an end for the day. With the night sky rolling in over the campus, the streets naturally filled with students who weren’t ready to go home yet. Groups were meeting up at various local bars and restaurants, looking for any kind of entertainment to shake off the stress of their exams.

But one specific group of friends decided to steer clear of the usual spots. They headed to a small, low-profile venue on the edge of the district. It wasn’t popular with the university crowd because it lacked a real party scene, and the floor plan was tiny, only able to fit about thirty people maximum.

But that was exactly why they chose it. It was the perfect sanctuary for a group of students who just wanted to sit in a quiet corner and talk without being drowned out by music.

"Come on, guys!" Jono said, lifting his heavy glass mug high into the air. "If I knew you were all going to be this depressing, I would have just gone out clubbing with the mainstream crowd. When I go out at night, I want to forget about my worries, not drown in them."

Jono stared across the wooden table at Eric, the ace of the Wushu club, and Steve. After all the crazy incidents that had pushed them into the firing line at the university, the boys had become incredibly tight. They weren’t alone at the table, either; Yovan and Talia were sitting right beside them, looking equally drained.

"Well, things have definitely been better," Talia said, swirling the ice in her glass. "I mean, we’ve finally been able to focus on our studies, and no one from the local gangs seems to be causing us any trouble anymore. It’s just... I can’t shake it."

"You can’t stop thinking about him?" Yovan asked gently. "Honestly, I don’t blame you, Talia. And it isn’t just because you have a massive crush on the guy, either. We all feel it."

"Yeah," Steve muttered, leaning his elbows on the table. "It always felt like Max genuinely wanted to study here. He wanted to try his best to fit in and just be an ordinary kid. He saved our lives and helped us out when we were cornered, but we were never able to do a single thing for him in return."

Jono slammed his mug down on the table, the loud thud cutting through their heavy mood.

"Oh, come on, think about it logically!" Jono said, leaning forward. "You all saw what Max could do with his bare hands. Honestly, forcing a guy like that to live an ordinary life—going to lectures, graduating, and getting a boring corporate desk job—that would be like trapping a tiger in a cage. A normal life is way too boring for someone like him. He deserves a hell of a lot more than this place.

"I’m entirely certain that wherever he is right now and whatever empire he’s running, he’s doing incredibly well. So stop worrying about him."

Jono’s little speech actually managed to cheer the table up a bit. The group let out a collective breath and started to drink, the tension finally leaving their shoulders. But their peace didn’t last long. The sharp bell above the front entrance chimed, signaling the door opening.

Turning their heads toward the draft of cold night air, they spotted two guys they had become very familiar with since the campus lockdown.

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