Chapter 112: Game Of Tongue

Nash blinked at the glowing system message. He shifted on the bed, the ice pack slipping off his lap with a cold slop that drew a hiss through his teeth.[System Gift , "10 Tickets to the Concert of Baby-boom"]

Description: A neat stack of glossy paper tickets, each marked with pastel explosions and glittering print. They are valid entry for the Baby-boom live concert, scheduled in 3 days, held in Clover District.

[Special Rare Quest , "Crown of a Leader"]

Conditions: Invite each member of the Blacklist personally by yourself, no third parties allowed.

Reward: Unknown.

He stared, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand.

Baby boom? Explosions and glitter... It sounds like a pop thing, but in the Clover District? It’s one of the chicest areas... well, chic as in better preserved than our usual dumpy vibe. What’s the play here?

He shifted again, propping himself on an elbow, the bed creaking like old bones under him. The quest name intrigued him, "Crown of a Leader."

So the quest about himself was about being a leader? It was quite strange. In the underground, it was complicated to say that this concept had any meaning.

The strongest would eat, the weak would be trampled, the smart would bow to the strongest and bite from him.

It was the law here, horrible when you were on the weak side, and Nash was the good person to confirm that.

So being a leader?

Plus, there was no details on the reward, just "unknown", not the usual stats points or special crystal, not even a negative outcome, like the system wasn’t forcing him.

That meant two things: a trap or a treasure, the kind of gamble that could make or break a hustler.

The key here was in the conditions: Invite each personally, no middlemen... that’s one-on-one, face-to-face grind. No group texts, no passing notes like kids in class.

Why? Forcing bonds? Getting deep into their heads?

Thinking about it, it made sense. If he could invite Jaz, he could use her to convince Jinzo, and if Jinzo came, it would be easier to drag Mac and Drex, especially if someone like Alicia or Nia were doing the talking.

Here the system wanted him to act alone, for the team.

Till now, he had been a lone wolf, self-centered rat scraping by. This smelled like the system shoving him to step up, forge a real pack out of these misfits.

The goal was simple: unity, know their ticks, build loyalty... crown means leading, not just playing.

But the location... a concert?

He shifted once more, the fever making his skin itch, thoughts churning like sewer water, best way: start soft with girls for momentum, then tackle boys, maybe Jinzo last to avoid blowback.

He checked social media and discovered Baby-Boom, maybe cute on the outside, a kind of pop group with Asian singers, but the lyrics and themes were raw beneath the glitter, stories of street life, sex, and madness sugar-coated.

It sounded a lot like their world.

An easy pitch for the girls, Baby Boom was also doing anime openings, Jaz could already be considered convinced. Maybe Nia’s party atmosphere, Alicia’s... whatever, she’ll take the bait with a little push.

The guys, on the other hand?

Jinzo’s ego was a wall, Mac and Drex his shadows... he could convince Jinzo by talking about Jaz... but Jaz was closer to Jinzo than him.


What if he convinced her not to come? And all the other guys? He didn’t know anything about Drex or Mac, he didn’t even know the other guys’ names.

Yeah, the quest was going to be hellish. Empty reward... fun, it could be power or a fuck... but intriguing, like spotting a lost wallet in a crowd.

By the next morning, the system’s rapid Recovery had patched him up enough to move without groaning, the ache a dull hum instead of a scream.

Nash hit the team’s hangar in Ironline, the district’s rusted skeletons and tag-splattered walls. Inside, the team vibe was split. Drex, Mac, and the boys lobbed lazy shots, clangs echoing sharply; Jinzo sat heavy on a bench, face stormy.

Nia stretched like a cat, eyes sly. Jaz crunched chips to hide her nerves, Alicia bent low in a stretch. When Nash walked in, the girls perked. Nia came over with a teasing grin.

"Finally crawled outta bed? A whole day gone... You sure you didn’t just get knocked out from what we did in the showers?" she purred.

Alicia’s face burned pink, and she tried to look tough, arms crossing over her chest.

"H-hey, tune it down, idiot!" she scolded Nia, then shot Nash a sharp look. "Missing training like that... tch. Figures you’d be the type to get wiped out after something like that," she said, while being the one who walked like a duck twice after facing him.

Her voice mocked him, but deep down she couldn’t hide that she was glad to imagine he really had been wrecked by it.

From across the hangar, Jaz looked up mid-snack, eyes soft with envy. When their gazes met, she gave a little wave, shy and almost sad.

The boys froze mid-drill, eyes cutting sharp. No greetings, not for him. They just stood in silence, full of jealousy.

Nash caught it.

Alert, boys pissed... they must’ve seen me with the girls. Jinzo looks ready to blow. Play it cool; you need to be on their good side.

He let the greetings stand, tossed a quick nod, and acted casual.

"Had to rest off yesterday, body fried," he said. Then, noticing the heat from the corner, he decided to ease in. Pretending he was heading to change, he slipped toward the hall.

Nash made sure his voice carried just enough when he announced he was going to change. As he expected, Nia peeled off from the others and followed him, closing the locker room door with a sly grin.

She didn’t waste time, pressing him against the cool metal, her mouth crashing into his in deep, delightful kisses that kept him from speaking.

Her body rubbed up on him, hips grinding, hands tugging his shirt. Between breaths, she whispered, giggling.

"Missed you, king..."

He kissed her back, letting it linger before sliding a palm on her waist to steady her. When he finally pulled back, lips wet, he murmured.

"I got something for you. Ten tickets. Baby-boom concert, Clover District, two days. I want you there with me. And the team."

She blinked at him, eyes sharp but playful, still pushing kisses on his lips. "Concert? Hah... come on, Nash, why waste time? The whole point of bringing a girl to a concert is to fuck. Let’s go straight to the point," She nipped his lip.

He smirked, brushing his thumb over her jaw, talking between her insistent kisses.

"Think bigger. This is for the squad. Service for the team. You come with me, help me make them bond. I promise, I’ll pay you back after. You know I never joke with that."

Her pout deepened, lips brushing his ear.

"So... you’re making me wait? After not coming yesterday? You know I can’t fuck anymore but you?" But the spark in her eyes betrayed her heat.

Nash leaned in for one last slow kiss, whispering against her mouth.

"Really? Then, I’ll have to take responsibility and fuck your brain out like ten people. I hope you won’t pass out this time."

She sighed loudly; his words made her shiver. She was defeated, but holding him close.

"Ahn... Tch... fine. But don’t make me wait too long."

Even in surrender, she kissed him again, sealing the invite.

Later, in a side hallway, Nash was with Alicia. The girl leaned against the wall, arms crossed tight. He lifted the tickets a little.

"So? Baby-boom concert, three days. You’re in?"

She turned her head, pretending bored.

"Why even ask me? I’ve got better things to do."

But her eyes betrayed her, flicking at him then away, her foot tapping nervously. Alone with him, the air thickened; the memories of the shower were fresh, but she fought to hold her walls up.

Nash leaned closer, steady as ever.

"Come on. You know you need a break. And here, just us... feels like you want to say something."

Her breath hitched, arms loosening.

"Shut up... ah... fine, I’ll go. But not because I want... whatever you think." Her voice cracked between defiance and a hidden smile.

Their eyes locked, longer than either planned.

Then, the last, and probably the easiest, Jaz.

Nash found her in the kitchen nook, the giantess annihilating a bag of chips. Her mood was low, eyes down. He leaned on the doorframe, casual.

"Rough day? This about Jinzo again?" he asked.

She sighed, shoulders heavy,

"Oh, it’s you... It’s nothing, don’t worry. Just..." She started to speak but then stopped, words dying in her throat.

Whatever had happened, she still didn’t want to share it. Nash didn’t push.

"It’s fine, you don’t have to say it. I get you." The simple words, the kind of support that let her breathe easier.

Then, he smiled a little and focused on the plan.

"Hey, you know Baby-boom?"

She blinked.

"Not sure... sounds familiar."

Nash dropped hints, talking about the anime openings they had done, their outfits, the mix of cute and gritty. Her eyes widened as the memory clicked.

"Wait—they did "that time I got reincarnated as a tibia"? And have you seen their neon uniforms? Oh, I love that style!" Her tone lifted, genuine excitement.

He slid the tickets onto the counter.

"Well, guess what? They have a concert in Clover in three days. I’ve got the tickets, you in?"

She froze, letting the chips fall.

"With you...? That sounds... Is that like... like a date? I can’t! I can’t do that... If Jinzo saw..."

She grabbed her cheeks, trembling. From her point of view, Nash was making a move on her. This Nash with the vengeful dick, was planning to have a date with her.

And knowing him... it’d end in... sex...

"Are you hitting on me?" Her words tumbled clumsy, confused and embarrassed.

Nash chuckled softly, raising his hands.

"Hey, relax. It’s not a date. The whole team’s invited. Promise. Just music."

She was frozen on spot, then, slowly, she lowered her hands, and for a moment she looked almost disappointed.

"Oh... The whole team is... ah... I see. O-okay... if it’s for the team."

Nash could see her disappointment, what could really be on her mind? He could try, using her system, but that would be for later.

For now, his priority was on the right path.

The girls were hooked. Everything was going perfectly, just the boys now.

He had to analyze how to proceed.

Hit Jinzo first, he was the ex-king, so if he could snag him, then Mac and Drex would tumble like dominoes.

If four of the boys were in, the remaining three will join too.

He crossed the hangar to where Jinzo stood with Mac and Drex, the three talking low like guards on a corner.

Nash opened his mouth, ready to throw his pitch, but before he could even get a word out, Jinzo cut in, his tone sharp.

"Don’t bother. I already heard you trying to rope Alicia in. And Mac says he caught you talking to Jaz too."

Nash blinked, caught off guard. Jinzo’s eyes narrowed, voice cold.

"So what is this? Trying to grab every girl on the squad? Including mine?"

Mac crossed his arms, smirking.

"Yeah, looks like you’re the king of monkeys is building a harem."

Drex stayed silent, but the way he loomed behind made the message clear.

Nash was caught off guard. He had been heard? Where? How? He could have sworn he was alone with each girl.

Jinzo stepped closer.

"Spare me. You can invite whoever you want, but count me out. And Jaz? Don’t get any ideas, you bastard. She’s not going with you."