Chapter 206: The Battle Of The Rejected Corps (part 1)
There had been a string of good news for Max lately, business booming, his influence rising, but beneath the surface, a problem still loomed. One he hadn’t shaken off.
Dipter and Chad had left him with a lasting issue, something far more dangerous than any school rivalry or gym dispute: a lingering connection to the Rejected Crops.
And that connection... wasn’t something Max could just cut loose.
After school, Max stood outside at their usual pick-up spot, a quiet corner just beyond the school gates. The sun was beginning to dip behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the pavement. That was when Wolf arrived, leaning casually against a nearby lamppost, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.
It was the first time they were meeting face-to-face with the Rejected Crops again since the fallout, since Max had rejected them.
"Half of me wants to double the fee again," Wolf said coolly, glancing toward Max with a half-smirk.
Max’s eyes snapped to him, flashing with quiet fury. In the past, he might’ve tolerated the greed, might’ve even brushed it off. But now? If Wolf tried to double his price again, Max was ready to tell him to walk.
Wolf raised his hands slightly, reading the look. "Calm down, I won’t," he said, easing the tension. "I won’t. It’s just... I can feel it, Max. Things are getting more dangerous since we rejected them last time. You’ve stirred something big."
He straightened up, voice lower now, more serious.
"You should know by now, the Rejected Crops demand complete loyalty from those under them. If someone shows too much promise and isn’t one of them, they don’t just ignore it. They don’t let you thrive on your own. If they can’t have you... they’d rather no one can."
Max took a breath, eyes narrowing. "I know. But I was in a very specific situation back then. I couldn’t afford to tie myself down to them, not when everything was still up in the air."