Chapter 359: Returning To Shadow Reapers

"You’ll have a home."

"You’ll have work when you’re ready."

"You’ll have people who’ll look out for you."

"I won’t force either choice."

He stepped back quietly and waited for their choice.

Some spoke quietly among themselves while others thought in silence.

Eventually... Tom stepped forward first. "I’ve decided."

West nodded. "Go ahead."

"I’m coming with you."

He smiled slightly. "I want a fresh start."

Nadia immediately crossed her arms. "Well, somebody has to make sure your jokes don’t get worse."

West grinned. "So that’s a yes?"

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

Five others also chose Misty High City.

Robin, Rowan, a cheerful sixteen-year-old named Eli, a reserved girl named Mira and another quiet boy named Tomas.

Now they were seven in total.

The three left remained standing together with looks of uncertainty.

One girl looked around the room before speaking. "...I’ve never been anywhere except Orizon."

Another nodded. "My little brother might still be somewhere in this city."

The third quietly added, "..This is still home."

West wasn’t disappointed, instead... he smiled warmly. "Then stay."

Their eyes widened in surprise. They thought he’d be offended by their decision.

"You don’t have to come with me to make me happy."

"You’ve made your choice."

"And that’s exactly what I wanted."

He extended his hand. "I’ll make sure you’re placed somewhere safe."

"The best care available."

"If you ever need help..." he handed each of them a small card. "My people know how to reach me."

The three accepted them with trembling hands. "Thank you..."

West shook his head. "No."

"Live well."

"That’s thanks enough."

As the evening came to an end, the seven who had chosen to accompany him began quietly packing what little they owned... which were technically things they acquired while being in this safe house.

For the first time in a long time, their belongings weren’t chains or worn blankets from a cage.

Instead, they carried clean clothes, a few books, small keepsakes from the safe house, and something far more valuable... a future they had chosen for themselves.

•••

•••

The flight back to Misty High City departed just after sunrise.

For West, it was simply another plane ride but for the seven teenagers accompanying him, it was their first time setting foot inside an airport.

Robin stood almost frozen beneath the enormous departure board with her eyes darting from one glowing screen to another. "...It’s so big..."

Rowan, who usually tried to look composed, couldn’t stop looking through the massive glass windows at the airplanes parked outside.

"So those things actually fly..."

"I honestly thought people exaggerated."

Nadia folded her arms. "I know they fly."

A second later she quietly added, "...I’ve just never actually seen one this close."

Tom chuckled. "Don’t pretend you’re not impressed."

"I’m not."

"You’ve been staring at the same airplane for five minutes."

"...Shut up."

West couldn’t help laughing. "You guys are making this way more entertaining than I expected."

The seven exchanged embarrassed looks.

After checking in and making it through security, they eventually arrived at their boarding gate.

The moment boarding was announced, excitement quickly turned into nervousness.

Robin pulled West’s sleeve lightly. "...Are you sure this is safe?"

West smiled. "Safer than driving across half the country."

Eli swallowed. "...What if it falls?"

"It won’t."

"...What if a wing breaks?"

"It won’t."

"...What if—"

West raised a finger. "If planes crashed every day, nobody would keep flying."

Eli considered that for a moment before nodding. "...That actually makes sense."

Soon enough they found their seats. Robin insisted on sitting beside the window.

The moment the aircraft began taxiing toward the runway, her grip on the armrest tightened considerably. "So..."

"...This is normal?"

West glanced over. "Very."

The engines suddenly roared and the aircraft accelerated.

Robin squeezed her eyes shut in terror while Nadia grabbed Tom’s arm without realizing it.

When the wheels finally lifted off the runway, a collective gasp escaped all seven.

"We’re flying..."

"We’re actually flying!"

Robin slowly opened one eye before opening the second.

The city became smaller and smaller as clouds stretched endlessly beneath them.

Robin’s mouth slowly fell open. "...It’s beautiful."

West leaned back comfortably. "Told you."

Within half an hour, most of their fears had vanished.

Instead, they were glued to the windows, pointing at rivers, cloud formations and tiny towns below.

Even the flight attendants found themselves smiling at their childlike wonder.

West simply watched quietly.

Seeing them experience ordinary things for the first time reminded him just how much had been stolen from them.

When the drinks arrived, Nadia looked suspiciously at the tiny juice box. "...Do we have to pay extra for this?"

West laughed. "No."

"It comes with the flight."

"...Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Rich people really live differently."

...

...

Several hours later, the captain announced their descent.

Robin actually sounded disappointed. "...Already?"

West smiled. "I thought you were terrified."

"I was."

"...Now I don’t want it to end."

The aircraft landed smoothly and an applause immediately erupted from several passengers.

West couldn’t help smiling while the seven looked around in confusion.

"Why’s everyone clapping?"

"It’s tradition for some people."

"Oh."

"I’ll clap too then."

By the time they exited the plane, each of them had a noticeably brighter expression than when they had boarded.

...

Unfortunately, West had forgotten one important detail.

The moment he stepped into the arrivals terminal... someone recognized him. "...Wait..."

"IS THAT WEST EINSTEIN?!"

Another voice followed. "No way!"

"Leader of the Shadow Reapers!"

Within seconds, phones were already pointed toward him.

People rushed closer. "Can we get a picture?"

"I’ve been following Shadow Reapers since the Iron Vultures incident!"

"My brother wants to join your gang!"

West rubbed his forehead. "...Here we go again."

Robin whispered, "...You’re famous?"

West sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."

Despite the growing crowd, he still smiled politely, taking several pictures before security finally helped create enough space for everyone to continue walking.

Outside the terminal, two large black SUVs were already waiting.

Several Shadow Reaper members stood beside them and the moment they spotted West, they bowed slightly.

"Welcome back, Gang Leader."

West nodded. "Everything ready?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Five climbed into one vehicle while West entered the second with the remaining members and other two kids.

Soon, the convoy left the airport.

As they drove through Misty High City, the seven teenagers couldn’t stop looking through the windows.

Compared to the slums of Orizon, everything felt impossibly clean.

Although the modern skyscrapers were not as technologically advanced as the city like areas of Orizon city, they covered everywhere.

Digital billboards covered entire buildings and neatly maintained parks appeared every few streets. Slums didn’t exist in Misty High.

Robin stared at a fountain illuminated by colorful lights. "...People actually come here just to relax?"

West nodded. "Sometimes."

Rowan pointed toward an enormous shopping mall. "How many stores are inside that?"

"...Hundreds."

Eli nearly choked. "Hundreds?!"

West chuckled. "You’ll see."

As they continued driving, West pointed out several landmarks. "That’s Central District."

"That tower belongs to the Awakened Association."

"Over there is Crescent Park."

"And that..."

He pointed toward an enormous stadium. "...is where city tournaments are held."

The seven absorbed everything with wide eyes.

Eventually... the convoy turned through familiar streets before stopping outside an enormous compound.

A massive emblem of a dark grim reaper decorated the front gates.

West smiled. "We’re here."

The gates slowly opened and the vehicles rolled inside.

The moment West stepped out, voices immediately erupted throughout the surrounding.

"THE GANG LEADER’S BACK!"

"Boss is home!"

"I told you he’d be back today!"

Members hurried over from every direction.

Some saluted while others waved casually.

"Boss!"

"Did you finally decide to retire?"

West laughed. "Not yet."

Another member joked, "We almost forgot what your face looked like."

The atmosphere quickly became lively and then, Jax appeared.

He marched dramatically across the surrounding before wrapping an arm around West’s shoulders. "Bro!"

"You’re finally back!"

"You have no idea how much paperwork almost killed me!"

West laughed. "Poor thing."

"My condolences."

"I’m serious!"

Jax suddenly noticed the seven teenagers standing awkwardly nearby.

He blinked in confusion. "...Damn."

He looked back at West. "...You’re a dad now?"

The entire gathering of Shadow Reapers members burst into laughter.

West immediately flicked Jax’s forehead.

Thwack!

"Ow!"

"You deserved that."

"I was only asking!"

Robin couldn’t suppress a small laugh.

Jax immediately noticed. "Oh?"

He walked over slowly and the seven instinctively took a step backward due to the years of trauma.

Jax noticed and his expression softened.

He crouched until he was eye level with them. "So..."

"I heard you’ve been hanging around our scary gang leader."

Robin nodded cautiously. "...He’s actually nice."

Jax gasped dramatically. "Impossible."

"I’ve been fooled all these years."

Even Nadia smiled as Jax placed a hand over his heart. "You’ve all been deceived."

"Our boss is secretly a softie."

West sighed. "Keep talking."

"I’ll double your paperwork."

"...I suddenly remembered I have work."

Everyone laughed again and within minutes, the atmosphere became surprisingly comfortable.

Although these kids weren’t much younger than Jax and West, due to their malnourishment, they looked very small. Jax himself would be shocked when he found out their ages.

...