The first light of dawn had barely touched the horizon, but Jax was already up, pacing with restless energy. Today was the day he would finally return to Redrock Bastion, and he couldn't sit still.
Sawyer, having finally resolved the headache of the partnership negotiations, had slept like a log. When he groggily wandered into the kitchen and found Jax surrounded by ingredients and cooking utensils, he paused, blinking in surprise.
"I didn't peg you for a chef, Brother Jax," Sawyer remarked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Jax grinned, flipping a ladle. "Just killing time. I saw your pantry was stocked, so I figured I’d whip something up."
"You didn't have to," Sawyer said, waving a hand toward the silent maid standing in the corner. "We have staff for that. Her cooking is top-notch."
The maid offered a helpless, albeit polite, smile but remained silent.
"I prefer my food with a kick," Jax said, pouring hot oil over a bowl of spices. "So I’m making something spicy. You handle heat well, Brother Sawyer?"
Sawyer hesitated, then nodded. "I can manage. Though, chili peppers first thing in the morning... isn't that a bit intense?"
"Haha! I’m just craving the burn. Alright, it's done! Oil-splashed noodles. Dig in!"
Jax passed a steaming ceramic bowl to Sawyer. The aroma of garlic, chili oil, and vinegar was potent enough to wake the dead. Sawyer reached for it eagerly, nearly dropping the bowl when the heat singed his fingers.
He blew on the noodles and took a tentative bite. His eyes immediately widened.
"Holy... I didn't expect this!" Sawyer slurped loudly, ignoring the heat. "This is incredible. Hands down the best noodles I’ve ever tasted!"
Jax shoveled a mouthful into his own face, mumbling through the chew. "Mmm. It’s passable. Just threw it together. So, when do we roll out?"
"Uh... didn't we agree on this afternoon?"
Jax glanced at the wall clock and groaned. "You're kidding. It's only nine? How the hell am I supposed to wait that long?"
The hours dragged by with agonizing slowness. By lunchtime, a bored Jax took over the kitchen again, preparing a spicy hotpot.
Although Sawyer’s tolerance for spice was average at best, the flavor was too seductive to resist. He ate until he was sweating bullets, enduring the inevitable gastrointestinal rebellion just to get another taste of Jax’s cooking.
By the time evening rolled around, Jax was pacing again, worried he’d be stuck at the villa for another night. Fortunately, Director Kaine was a man of his word. As the sun began to set, Kaine’s vehicle pulled up to the estate.
He walked in to find Jax in the kitchen yet again.
"Ahem. Brother Jax, are you planning to become our resident chef?" Kaine teased.
Hearing the voice, Jax slammed his spatula down. "You're finally here! What are we waiting for? Let's move!"
Kaine paused, sniffing the air. "Uh... aren't you going to invite me to eat first?"
Jax waved him off. "Eat? We need to go! Trying to mooch a meal without even bringing a housewarming gift? Shameless."
Kaine laughed, his stomach betraying him with a loud growl as the scent of the broth hit him. He reached into his pocket and produced a sleek, brand-new identity card.
"Who says I came empty-handed? Here."
Jax took the card. Seeing his name embossed on the high-quality material brought a genuine smile to his face. "Perfect." Then, his brow furrowed. "Wait. We agreed on three. Why is there only one?"
"Feed me, and I'll give you the rest."
"No way. IDs first, then food."
Kaine sighed but relented, handing over two more cards. Jax inspected them carefully. One for himself, one for Barnaby, and one for Elena. Barnaby was a wanted man, and Elena, currently hiding out in The Elysium Lounge, likely lacked valid documentation for the upper districts. These cards were their ticket to freedom.
Satisfied, Jax tucked the cards away and returned to the stove to serve Kaine.
Although Director Kaine was a high-ranking official from The Helios Syndicate headquarters, he was surprisingly down-to-earth. He wasn't part of the Boss's inner circle, and his relationship with Sawyer was professional but distant. He ate with gusto, and the moment the meal was done, Jax practically shoved them out the door.
With a final wave from Sawyer, Jax climbed into the car. The engine roared to life, and they sped off toward the looming silhouette of Redrock Bastion.
Returning to Redrock Bastion felt surreal.
A month ago, Jax had been a nobody—a "rat" scavenging in the slums, looked down upon by everyone. Now, he was returning as a legal citizen of the Middle District.
Redrock Bastion was a stratified society. The Inner City housed the apex predators—the top factions and warlords. The Middle District was the domain of small clans, corporate executives, and the wealthy. The Outer City... that was the dumping ground for the dregs.
Jax had spent his life staring at the Middle District from across the divide. Crossing that line meant he had finally flipped the script. The salty fish had turned over—he had made it.
As the car approached the massive outer gates, the security was as tight as ever. Jax remembered standing in this exact spot weeks ago, ignored and locked out.
This time, the vehicle bore the insignia of The Helios Syndicate.
The city defense guards didn't even ask for ID. The heavy gates groaned open without hesitation.
Jax spotted a familiar captain among the guards—the same man who had sneered at him before. The captain offered a respectful salute to the car, completely unaware that the "trash" he had despised was sitting in the back seat.
"Clear to pass!" the captain shouted.
Kaine didn't even glance out the window as the driver gunned it toward the internal checkpoints.
They passed through the buffer zone and approached the second wall separating the Outer and Middle Districts. This wall was fortified with heavy artillery. Jax’s eyes lit up as he scanned the Defense Towers lining the battlements. Unlike the scrap-metal ballistas of the slums, these were Tier 4 and Tier 5 constructs—sleek, lethal, and radiating power.
"We're here, Brother Jax," Kaine said, noticing Jax staring out the window.
Jax snapped out of his trance. His mind had already shifted gears, calculating how to infiltrate The Elysium Lounge. He didn't know the layout, but being a resident of the Middle District removed the biggest hurdle.
"Thanks," Jax said.
"Don't mention it," Kaine replied with a professional smile. "Just remember, if you're looking for partners, The Helios Syndicate is always open."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And don't forget, our current deal isn't finished. If you need anything, call me. Your villa is equipped with a secure line." Kaine handed him a personal business card.
The car rolled to a stop. Jax stepped out and looked up.
The villa was magnificent. It was a detached, multi-story estate that screamed wealth. In his past life on Earth, he had enslaved himself to a mortgage for a tiny apartment. Here, in the middle of the Apocalypse, he owned a mansion.
"Hiss." Jax pinched his thigh hard. The sharp pain confirmed it wasn't a hallucination.
"Haha! Finally! My own turf!"
He pulled out the key, unlocked the front door, and stepped inside. He pressed his thumb against the biometric sensor panel.
Beep.
"Welcome home," a soft, automated voice greeted him.
Jax let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. A blast of cool, conditioned air hit his face.
"Air conditioning? You have got to be kidding me. Yes!"
He sprinted to the living room and dove onto the massive, plush sofa.
"This is the life," he groaned into the cushions.
He spent the next hour exploring. Ten bedrooms, three studies, twelve bathrooms, reception halls, entertainment rooms—it was excessive, pristine, and entirely his. The closets were even stocked with high-end clothes, tags still attached.
Jax checked the time. Midnight.
"I wonder if the Lounge is still open."
He changed into a sharp suit from the closet.
Stepping out into the Middle District night, Jax navigated the clean, paved streets until he reached the city center. A towering building dominated the skyline, crowned with neon signage that buzzed against the dark sky.
The Elysium Lounge.
"Bigger than I expected," Jax muttered.
The parking lot was a showroom of luxury vehicles—sleek sports cars and armored limousines that seemed impossible in a world ravaged by monsters. It was a jarring disconnect. Outside the walls, people fought for scraps. Here, they burned fuel for vanity.
"Two different worlds," Jax sighed, adjusting his collar.
He walked confidently toward the entrance, but his momentum was cut short by a burly security guard.
"Membership card," the guard stated flatly.
Jax blinked. "Ah."
He had forgotten that places like this were exclusive. Without a membership, money meant nothing. He stepped back, frustration gnawing at him. Elena was in there, and he needed to make sure she was safe.
"Looks like I need to procure a membership," he muttered.
As he stood there contemplating his next move, a young man in a well-tailored suit approached him, a smooth smile plastered on his face.
"Brother, you look unfamiliar," the stranger said, his eyes scanning Jax. "First time here?"