Arthur pushed the door open without any hesitation, the metal handle clicking softly behind him. His entrance wasn't loud or dramatic, but it carried weight—like the air shifted just because he stepped in. He moved with that calm, grounded style he had, the kind that didn't demand attention but still got it. Ryan followed right behind, trying to keep his own breathing steady even though this meeting had been sitting heavy in his head the whole week.

Inside, Leon and Maya were already waiting.

Leon was lounging in his chair with his legs slightly apart, fingers tapping on the table like he had been practicing a rhythm out of boredom. He lifted his head when he saw Arthur, and a grin spread across his face—wide, confident, and just a tiny bit competitive.

Maya stood next to the whiteboard, one hand lightly holding a marker, her stance sharp but also warm in a way. Her hair was tied back, and even from the doorway, Ryan could tell she had been planning all day. The board behind her still had faint smudges from whatever she had erased earlier, like ghosts of ideas that didn't make the cut.

The moment Arthur entered, Leon leaned forward, elbows on the table, smile widening.

"Hey Arthur, long time no see," he said with that tone that always made things sound like a challenge wrapped in a greeting.

Arthur didn't answer. Not even a nod. He just walked straight to the nearest chair and sat down with a low, controlled breath. No expression, no reaction. Just quiet. The kind of quiet that said he didn't need words to hold his ground.

Ryan slipped into the chair right next to him, trying to match Arthur's calm even though his heart was beating a little faster than usual. He didn't want to look nervous, not in front of them. Not today.

Maya looked at the three of them with a soft smile—gentle but edged with stress, like she was glad they were here but wished the world was easier.

"It's been seven days," she said, raising her chin slightly. "I hope we all brought the intel… and anything important we can use."

Her voice filled the room in a way that made everyone focus. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a pale glow that made the air feel still.

Leon nodded first. "Yeah, I got some nice chunk of knowledge."

Ryan followed, his voice quieter. "Me too."

Arthur simply said, "Yeah," short and steady.

Maya clapped her hands together softly. "Alright. Let's start with Leon."

Leon's grin sharpened. He loved this. He shifted in his seat, back straightening like he was preparing for a big reveal. Ryan could almost feel the excitement rolling off him.

"So," Leon began, leaning forward and lowering his voice like someone sharing a secret, "the West Crew high people in school… they were acting too sus. Like, too careful, too hidden. Something was off."

He spoke with his hands, cutting shapes through the air.

"So I followed them. Not just once. For a few days. Day one? Nothing. Day two? Nothing again. But I had a feeling, so I kept at it."

He paused, eyes gleaming.

"On the fifth day, I finally got something."

The room grew a bit quieter. Even Arthur opened his eyes and gave Leon a small glance.

Leon continued, "These guys… they were trading something to old people. Looked like painkillers or some medicine at first. But the price? Too high. Way too high. Painkillers don't go for that kind of money."

Ryan swallowed slowly, imagining the scene. Teenagers handing packets to elderly people in a dark corner. It felt wrong in every possible way.

"Well," Leon said, lifting his chin, "after the old people left, I knocked the West High crew guys out and took the packets."

He said it casually, almost proud of himself. That was Leon—reckless, bold, always wanting to outshine everyone.

"I checked it up on the web," he continued. "Looked everywhere I could. Turns out it's not just expensive… it's illegal. Some kind of prohibited drug. Not painkillers. Something far worse."

Ryan felt a chill pass through his chest. That wasn't small intel. That was dangerous intel.

"And," Leon finished with a smirk, "I have the packets. I hid them really well."

Silence settled into the room—not awkward, but heavy. Real heavy. Like the kind that comes right after something big drops.

Maya blinked, processing everything. Then she stepped closer to the table, her expression shifting from surprise to serious appreciation.

"Wow, Leon…" she said softly. "That's way too important. And really good info."

Leon's face lit up like he'd just been crowned king. His chest puffed out, and he leaned back smugly.

"Didn't I say I'd make it more flashier than Arthur?" he said, smiling like he already won a competition only he believed existed.

Arthur let out a slow sigh. Not annoyed—just tired of Leon being Leon. He folded his arms across his chest, eyes closing for a split second before opening again with calm focus.

"I'll tell next," he said.

Leon's smile faded a little, and Ryan straightened his spine subconsciously. When Arthur spoke seriously, everyone listened.

"The main building," Arthur began, voice steady and deep, "consists of three forms."

Maya immediately uncapped the marker and turned to the board.

"In one area," Arthur said, "there is the left-hand man of the crew leader. His team has about twenty members. They control the front portion of the building. They're the loud ones—easy to spot, always moving in groups."

Maya drew a rectangular block with organized strokes, marking it with a quick number twenty.

"Then," Arthur continued, "the second area, near the back alley, is for the right-hand man. His team has at least fifteen members. Smaller group. Quicker. They operate mostly at night."

Maya added another block, connecting it to the first with a thin line.

Arthur's voice didn't rise or drop. It flowed cleanly, sure of every detail.

"And then the last area," he said, "has the crew leader. And of course… there might be more executives with him. Hidden ones. People who don't step out often."

Maya drew the final block and circled it twice, as if marking danger. The board was slowly becoming a full layout, the kind you'd see in a strategy briefing. A map of their enemy, piece by piece.

She stepped back, studying it with thoughtful eyes. Her finger traced the lines lightly, as if checking whether everything fit perfectly.

Then she clicked her marker closed with a sharp _tick_ that echoed in the quiet room.

"Thanks, Arthur," she said. Her voice softened with real appreciation. "That was very meaningful info."

Arthur gave a small nod, nothing more. But Ryan felt something shift—respect in the room, calm and quiet.

Leon stared at the board, expression a mix of admiration and irritation. He always hated how Arthur's simplest words could hit harder than his longest stories. But even he couldn't deny the importance of what Arthur said.

Ryan looked between them all—the whiteboard with the three zones, Maya's focused eyes, Leon's proud smirk fading slowly, and Arthur's calm expression. The room felt charged, like the start of something big.

He felt a tight breath leave his chest.

Everything was moving now.

Everything was real.

Maya stood in front of the board, the map shining in the bright light above them. The shapes were simple, but they held weight—twenty here, fifteen there, executives hidden in shadows.

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