Date- 31 Mar 2321
Time- 12:20
Location- Sky Blossom City, Police Department car
The Circle’s sudden withdrawal from Sky Blossom city led to large ripples in the city. And an even more significant ripple occurred in the city’s black market. Circle stood at the top of the city’s market and the black market. It had a hand in every business and crime in the city. With the Circle fleeing from the sky blossom city to sun blossom city, many gray business opportunities became available.
Many forces in the city, be it small or big, were eyeing the gray business opportunities that once belonged to the Circle. But none made a move to takeover and fill in availability because they were too scared of the circle making a comeback. But there was one group that was not afraid of the circle or the repercussions that would follow. They are none other than the Bright Lions.
Bright Lions, the high school gang led by Nick, Tom, and Ed under the leadership of their capable and mysterious shadow leader, began to take over everything that once belonged to the circle. At first, nobody opposed the advance of Bright Lions and labeled them as fools blinded by greed.
But things changed once Circle decided to build its new nest in the neighboring sun blossom city. Hearing that the circle was laying its roots in some other city than the sky blossom city, the forces knew that the circle was not coming back and no longer hesitated to take what was left behind by the circle as they fled the city.
But it was too late. Bright lions had already filled most of the empty spots left behind by the circle’s absence. The city forces did not like this but chose to swallow their anger, fearing that the Bright family must be backing the Bright Lions. After all, the high school gang was headed by the juniors of the Bright family. And decided to compete for the remains that Bright Lions hadn’t touched.
‘Don’t tell me that the Bright Lions have taken over the crimes that the circle once used to run in the city.’ I asked in distress, hearing that Bright lions have replaced the circle in the sky blossom city market.
‘No, Boss, Bright Lions doesn’t involve itself in crimes. But what we do cannot be considered entirely legal either.’ Nick explained.
‘If Bright Lions don’t take part in crimes, then why are we in cuffs in the backseat of a cop car?’ I could not blame Nick for doing something I asked him to do. I should have been more detailed with my instructions.
‘I don’t know, Boss. The Bright Lions never took part in things that would disturb the public or the city’s interest. I have even stopped the members of Bright Lions from bullying schoolmates and collecting money from them. Other people in the police department aren’t even keen about our high school gang. I don’t know why we are being targeted by the 89th precinct’s Chief of Police.’ Nick explained how other higher-ups in the police department weren’t even keen about the Bright Lion gang, but Denise seemed to have taken a particular interest in us.
‘So you mean to say we did nothing wrong, and the chief of police is just abusing her power to show us the insides of 89th precinct.’ I said sarcastically. There had to be something. Otherwise, police chief Denise would not be so confident as she cuffed four high school students.
‘Sorry, Boss. It is my fault for not being more prepared.’ Nick, himself, didn’t seem to know what went wrong and why the police chief was targeting us. Still, he kept confession to an unknown crime and apologized for his incompetence.
‘Forget it. Tell me what all businesses you take over from Circle.’ I never considered that once the circle left, my people would fill in its place. Right now, I was not worried about being dragged to the police station. I was concerned about whether the Bright Lions had become the next circle. That’s something I would come to regret.
“Hello, deputy, what is it? I am on my way to the precinct.” I wanted to listen to Nick, but right then, police Chief Denise answered a call. I wasn’t eavesdropping. I happened to be stuck at a place where I could hear her.
“What? They are fast. Ok, then stall them. I will take these kids to my favorite picnic spot.” I couldn’t hear what the person at the other end of the call said. Without the full context, I could barely understand what Denise was talking about.
‘Boss, I am at the 89th precinct. I have prepared the top legal team. They will not let you set foot in the prison cell. You will be acquitted before you know it.’ Van contacted me through Hive AI. He seemed to have already reached the 89th precinct with the legal team. And already had contacted the police deputy chief regarding my arrest. But the deputy chief appears to be stalling and not giving them an answer.
Hearing Van, I understood what Denise was saying on the call. It seems police chief Denise’s deputy has contacted her, informing her about my legal team waiting for me at the precinct. But I did not understand what she meant by,
‘I will take these kids to my favorite picnic spot.’
I noticed that we had deviated from our original route, finally understanding what Denise meant. Since my legal team was waiting at the 89th precinct, she planned to take us to a different precinct or a secluded place.
“Chief, this is not the route to the 89th precinct,” I announced to Denise.
“I know that this is not the route to the 89th precinct. I am hungry, so I will be making a quick stop at a burger joint before dropping you off at the 89th precinct. Why are you afraid?” Denise smiled, asking me if I were afraid. It seemed as if she wanted me to be frightened, or she was trying to show me fear. I was not able to understand the intentions of this woman.
