Kai stared at Roric, momentarily speechless. The din of The Pit, the throbbing ache in his ribs from Razor's shiv, even the persistent, low-level hum of the System in his mind – it all seemed to fade into the background. "Leader?" Kai finally managed, his voice barely a whisper. "You want me to be the leader of your new crew? You don't even know me."
Roric's smile didn't falter. "I know what I saw. I saw control, even when you were clearly new to that kind of brutality. I saw power you weren't even fully using. Most brawlers in The Pit are just that – brawlers. All rage and flailing. You were different. Calculated. And when you decided to end it, you ended it. That's leadership potential, whether you see it or not."
"I was just trying to win a fight to get some credits," Kai said, deflecting. Suspicion warred with a strange, unwelcome flicker of something else – intrigue? Or maybe just the desperate hope for a lifeline. "What makes you think I know anything about leading a crew?"
"Instinct," Roric replied smoothly. "And observation. The way you moved, the way you assessed your opponent. You're not just muscle. There's a mind at work there. Most crews in District 7 are run by thugs who think brute force is the only answer. They're predictable. They stagnate. I envision something… more efficient. More agile. A crew that uses brains and brawn."
He gestured vaguely towards the roaring sounds of The Pit. "This place? It's a meat grinder. But it's also a crucible. It shows you who people really are when the pressure's on. I've seen dozens of so-called tough guys crumble. I saw you adapt and overcome. That's rare."
Kai thought of the eviction notice, the ten-day deadline. He thought of his mother's terrified face. This offer, insane as it sounded, dangled a potential solution, a way to get credits, perhaps even security, that didn't involve him lone-wolfing it and risking exposure every time he needed to… feed. But it also screamed danger. Leading a crew meant visibility, responsibility, inevitable conflict. And what if Roric found out what he really was? What the System was?
The System, as if on cue, offered a silent, private notification:
[New Opportunity Detected: Faction Leadership (Nascent Crew – 'Roric's Initiative').] [Potential Benefits: Resource acquisition, localized influence, combat experience, potential for Anima development through structured conflict.][Potential Risks: Increased exposure (Conduit & Anima), rival faction hostility, internal power struggles, deviation from core System directives if Faction goals conflict.] [System Recommendation: Analyze offer based on Conduit's long-term survival and evolutionary imperatives. Awaiting Conduit decision.]
"Evolutionary imperatives." The System's cold phrasing sent a chill down his spine. It saw this as another step in his "development."
"Why me?" Kai pressed, still skeptical. "There have to be other fighters, more experienced people."
"Experienced in what?" Roric countered. "Bullying and extortion? Failing to see the bigger picture? I'm not looking for another street boss. I'm looking for someone who can inspire loyalty, someone who can think strategically, even if they don't realize it yet. Someone with… untapped potential." His gaze was intense, unwavering. "You have that. I can see it. The question is, can you?"
Kai's mind raced. The fear of the package owners was still a raw nerve. Leading a new, unknown crew might offer a degree of anonymity, a way to build a buffer around himself. Or it could paint an even bigger target on his back. He thought of Leo, his mother, Elara. If he had a crew, resources… he could protect them better. He could ensure they were never homeless.
But the cost? What would the System demand of him in such a role? What would Roric demand?
"I… I don't know anything about leading," Kai admitted, the weight of the offer, the desperation of his situation, pressing down on him. "I just fought my first Pit fight. I needed the money."
"Everyone starts somewhere," Roric said, his voice softening slightly, though the intensity in his eyes remained. "Money will be part of it, of course. A significant part. The right crew, run the right way, can be very profitable. And I'll be there to handle the logistics, the connections. I just need someone at the point, someone who can command respect, someone who can make the hard calls and back them up. Someone like you."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "You don't have to give me an answer right now. Think about it. Collect your winnings from tonight. See how far that gets you." He gave a wry smile. "Then, when you realize it's not enough, when you realize you're capable of more than just surviving one fight at a time, find me. I'm usually around."
Roric gave a small nod, then turned and melted back into the deeper shadows of the collapsed transit tunnel, leaving Kai standing alone, the echoes of the crowd and the weight of an impossible offer swirling around him. Leader of a crew. Him. The idea was as terrifying as it was, in a strange, desperate way, tempting.