Chapter 106: Infamous
Byron and Reign sat shoulder to shoulder inside the black SUV, engaged in conversation.
Byron's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he turned to Reign, disbelief evident in his voice. "You want to get a driver's license? You don't have one already? " he asked
"Yeah, and I need someone to teach me how to drive," Reign added, his tone nonchalant, without feeling the need to elaborate on his lack of driving skills or provide any explanation for it.
With George now gone, Reign found himself tasked with handling missions solo. Having his own car would make his mission much easier to navigate.
While he was fast on foot, he couldn't rely on his stamina alone. Running everywhere would leave him exhausted and unable to function effectively.
"Alright, that's not hard," Byron agreed readily.
He made up his mind to take Reign to the same car dealership that he visited before.
Inside the dealership, they were greeted by the familiar salesperson.
However, Byron did not stay long; he just accompanied Reign, ensuring he was settled before taking his leave.
Reign soon discovered that the dealership offered additional services beyond just selling cars.
They provided assistance with obtaining a driver's license and also offered driving lessons.
With Reign's intelligence and quick learning, it didn't take him long to learn the ins and outs of driving.
Surprisingly, just two hours were enough for him to grasp everything he needed to know because of various reasons.
Unlike most learners, he didn't struggle with the fear of accidents or crashing. His confidence stemmed from his own endurance; even if he were hit by a truck, he knew he would survive.
This fearlessness made the learning process smooth and efficient for him.
After completing his driving lessons, he proceeded to the owner's office, where his license was waiting .
Normally, obtaining a license would require at least three days of processing.
However, in this world, money smoothed out all obstacles, and things could be expedited with enough cash.
There was a common saying that resonated with most: if something seemed difficult to acquire, it just meant one lacked enough money.
"Kid, how about you buy a new car? I heard you've earned quite a bit of money," the owner who had gifted Reign the Rapter spoke suggested.
"A car?" Reign pondered silently. He had grown fond of his Rapter, but he couldn't deny the temptation of another vehicle.
He reflected on his childhood fixation with toy cars, memories of happier times before he was kidnapped and subjected to suffering and brutal experimentation.
Occasionally, those old fixations resurfaced, reminding him of the innocence and joy he had once known.
"Can I trade in my Rapter?" he inquired, contemplating the possibility of exchanging his current vehicle for something different.
The owner of the car dealership chuckled after hearing his request.
It amused him that Reign, whom he had gifted the car to, was now considering a trade-in the same vehicle like it was the most logical thing to do.
"Alright, but I can only offer a deduction of 250,000 credits," the owner agreed, setting the terms for the deal
"Okay," Reign nodded , accepting the terms.
With that settled, he began browsing for other cars, eager to explore his options.
'I'm alone now, so I don't really need a big car,' he muttered to himself as he made his way toward the section housing two-seater sports cars.
These were stolen cars, but they had been extensively modified and refurbished, ensuring they were now safe and roadworthy to drive.
The price range for the sports cars ranged from 5,000,000 credits to 10,000,000 credits, with the top-quality ones fetching higher prices.
As he pondered his options, a realization dawned on him.
"Where are these cars coming from?" Reign mused aloud, puzzled by the origin of the vehicles.
In the confined space within the city walls, there was no way for a car manufacturing facility to exist.
"Oh, you don't know? They come from the Summit Assembly Bay ," the owner replied.
As a businessman and member of the Veiled Nights, he possessed insider knowledge of certain aspects of the city's workings.
"Summit Assembly Bay?"
"Yeah, they're, located west of here, and the place specialize in manufacturing," the owner elaborated, shedding light on the operations of the Industry Sector.
"I see, that place must be pretty big," Reign nodded in understanding.
The revelation that this place encompassed other areas unknown to him made sense, considering he hadn't explored extensively beyond his usual routes.
"Yeah, that place has a population of over 40,000 workers," the owner chuckled, further emphasizing the scale and significance of the Industry Sector.
"40,000?" Reign exclaimed, not out of amazement at the sheer number, but rather because he had just stumbled on a new hunting ground.
"I'll buy another pickup instead," Reign declared confidently, directing his attention to a rugged black vehicle that commanded attention on the showroom floor.
The massive frame of the truck towered over the others, exuding an aura of strength and durability.
Its bold grille and angular headlights hinted at its military-inspired design, while oversized tires spoke of off-road capability.
If the Industry Sector was situated far within the city, then it made sense to invest in a truck that could store large amount of fuel and boasted large wheels for traversing uneven terrain.
"Good choice. The Hammer will cost you 3,500,000, and that already includes the trade-in discount" the owner informed Reign, laying out the terms for the purchase.
The price may have seemed steep for a stolen vehicle, but Reign paid it little mind.
He knew he would just abandon it once he transfer cities.
For now, what mattered most to him was the convenience and functionality of his new ride.
"I'll take it," he agreed decisively, completing the transaction with Veiled Points.
With the rumble of the engine echoing through the air, Reign steered the new truck out of the car dealership and onto the streets of the Slump Area.
The sun cast long shadows across the worn pavement as he navigated through the familiar maze of narrow alleys and bustling markets.
***
Another week slipped by, and Reign's level continued to grow, by one after completing his missions.
However, a new challenge emerged: the lack of job demanding killing a lot of people.
Normally, the missions he undertook were intended for teams, with lengthy time frames for completion and high probabilities of failure.
However, Reign was an anomaly.
His success in completing mission after mission soon spread throughout the underground criminal world, catapulting his name to infamy.
"Rain of Terror" became the stuff of legend, whispered in hushed tones among those who considered themselves criminals.
'What should I do next?' Reign pondered to himself, leaning back in the car seat.
He realized that he could no longer depend solely on organization missions to advance his level.
At the same time, his name was becoming too infamous for his own good.
'Who the hell came up with 'Rain of Terror'?' he sighed to himself, frustration evident in his tone as he cursed whoever started that trend.