Kaleb and his sister, Annie, stood off to the side, silent. They watched Jax with a look that bordered on reverence.

Annie gently tugged on her brother’s sleeve. “Kaleb, look. They actually came back alive. They must be really strong.”

Kaleb nodded slowly. “Yeah. Strong.”

He didn’t want to admit it. In this guild, he and Jax were roughly the same age. But the difference between them was now staring him in the face.

Kaleb didn’t have the guts to venture into the wasteland to scavenge. Jax, however, had returned not just intact, but armed with a heavy iron hammer and wearing a set of pristine, expensive leather armor.

The envy burned in Kaleb’s gut like acid.

Viper, leaning against a wall nearby, spat out a few more sneering remarks. When no one rose to the bait, he scowled and slunk off toward the market, his mood visibly sour.

Lunch was held in Gareth’s room. The Guild Leader poured a splash of murky, home-brewed wine into everyone’s bowl.

“So,” Gareth began, his voice overly cheerful, “you three worked hard these past few days! How did the mission go? Well, doesn’t matter—the important thing is you’re back alive!”

Jax simply nodded, focused on his food.

Viper, eyeing the new leather armor on Jax’s shoulders, couldn’t contain his jealousy. He swirled his wine cup and sneered. “Hmph. Didn’t bring back a single Credit for the guild, yet he sits here eating and drinking our supplies. Some people have skin as thick as a city wall.”

Before Jax could react, a flash of killing intent crossed Silas’s face. He slammed his bowl down.

“Viper, watch your mouth. Those two Cores I handed to the Leader earlier? Those came from the Boss.”

Viper blinked, then narrowed his eyes at Silas. “The hell is wrong with you, man? You’ve been out for one week and you’re already calling him ‘Boss’? You really are spineless.”

The air in the room grew heavy. Just as Silas looked ready to leap across the table, Jax cleared his throat.

“Who said I’m not paying my share?” Jax’s voice was calm, cutting through the tension. “I told you before we left: this was a private contract. It had nothing to do with the guild. The spoils are mine.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the table. “You sit here making sarcastic comments now, but where were you when we walked out that gate?”

Gareth shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had wanted to go, truly, but the fear of dying in the sand had paralyzed him. He had chosen to be a coward. Now, seeing Jax return victorious, shame heated his cheeks.

“Alright, alright,” Gareth interjected hastily, waving his hands. “Viper, drop it. We’re all brothers here. Why make things so tense? Come on, drink! Let’s celebrate their safe return. Don’t down it all at once, save some!”

Jax didn’t bother engaging with a bottom-feeder like Viper. He knew the type well—the “old oil” of the army. The kind of veteran who cowered in the back lines during a firefight, only to shoot from the shadows when it was safe, stealing credit and loot.

A complete opportunist.

Silas used to be similar, but Silas had vision. He had made the right choice. Viper had missed his chance.

Jax reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of glowing crystals, and tossed them onto the table.

Ten Cores clattered against the wood.

“A small gift,” Jax said indifferently. “Split it among yourselves. Now, if there’s nothing else, don’t disturb us. We need to rest.”

He downed his wine in one gulp, then reached over and took the cup from Barnaby’s hand, downing that too.

“Kids shouldn’t drink. Come on, big guy. Bedtime.”

Jax stood up, grabbed Barnaby by the arm, and walked out of the room without looking back.

The silence left in their wake was thick.

Viper stared at the ten Cores on the table, naked greed shining in his eyes.

Without a word to the others, he reached out and snatched two Cores, stuffing them into his pocket.

“Ten exactly. Two for each of us. I’m taking my share. That’s fair, right?”

Kaleb, watching this display, felt a surge of disgust.

“You really have the nerve to take that?” Kaleb shook his head. “I don’t want it. Annie, let’s go. We’re not taking charity.”

He grabbed his sister’s hand and dragged her out of the room.

That left only Gareth, Silas, and Viper.

Viper didn’t miss a beat. He pointed at the remaining pile, grinning. “Since the kids don’t want theirs, I’ll take one more. Me and Old Ding get three each. Leader, you take the remaining four.”

He grabbed a third Core before anyone could object.

Silas sat frozen, a cold light flickering in his eyes.

He knew exactly what it took to get these. He had watched Jax risk his life in Sector 33. He had swung the pickaxe himself until his hands blistered.

And these parasites? They sat here safe in the AC, lifting nothing heavier than a wine bowl, and demanded an equal split.

Gareth looked at Silas, sensed the volatility, and cleared his throat again. “Ahem. Well, since it’s decided, let’s split it. I’ll… I’ll hold onto the rest for the guild fund. When we have activities later, I’ll bring them out.”

He shot Silas a look, signaling that the meeting was over.

Silas stood up abruptly, suppressing his rage. He snatched his three Cores from the table and stormed out. As he passed Jax’s room, he glanced inside. Jax and Barnaby were already asleep, sprawled out on their bunks.

Silas exhaled slowly and turned toward his own quarters.

Suddenly, a head popped out of Gareth’s room.

It was Viper. He smirked and crooked a finger, motioning for Silas to join him outside.

Silas glared at him, ready to ignore the summons, but paused. He needed to set things straight before this slimeball pushed his luck too far.

The two men walked downstairs to a quiet corner of the courtyard. Viper leaned against a pillar, grinning like a conspirator.

“Old Ding, you’re holding out on me, aren’t you? You tossed out ten crystals just to shut us up. That kid must be loaded. And you—you’ve never been that generous, giving two straight to the Leader.”

Viper nudged him. “Did you score big out there? Come on, we’re brothers. Cut me in on the real stash. Don’t forget, I saved your life back in the day.”

Silas stared at him coldly. “Viper, I’m realizing something. You’re actual scum. You didn’t lift a finger, you didn’t risk your neck, and you still want to dip your hand in the pot? You think highly of yourself, don’t you?”

Viper shrugged, unfazed by the insult. “So what? He gave them up willing enough. Why shouldn’t I take them? Come on, don’t be stingy. Treat me to a drink. Take me to the club tonight, yeah?”

Silas looked back toward the guild rooms upstairs, then shook his head in disgust.

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Go by yourself.”

He turned to leave, then stopped and looked back over his shoulder.

“And Viper? If you talk to my Boss like that again, don’t blame me for what happens to you.”

Silas walked away. Viper tried to grab his arm, but Silas shrugged him off violently and disappeared up the stairs.

Viper curled his lip and spat on the ground. “Pah! What are you pretending for? So you killed a few Sandworms. Big deal. Next time I’ll go myself, and I definitely won’t be sharing with you ingrates!”

Back in the room, Gareth stared at the remaining Cores on the table, lost in thought.

He wasn’t stupid. He knew these weren’t easily won. And he knew Viper had essentially extorted them from Jax. If it weren’t for Viper’s mouth, Jax probably wouldn’t have bothered throwing them a bone at all.

As a Guild Leader, Gareth felt a pang of conscience. It was time to do something decent for a change.

After a moment of silence, he scooped up all the crystals, wrapped them in a cloth, and quietly walked to Jax’s room.

He knocked softly on the doorframe.

“Jax? You asleep?”

Jax wasn’t asleep. He was resting his eyes, planning his next move. With the capital he now had, things were about to accelerate.

He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at the doorway. “No. Come in.”

Gareth offered a tentative smile, slipped into the room, and sat down by the wall.

“Hey. Look, I’m really sorry about earlier. The guys… they’re rough around the edges, but they don’t mean any harm. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I don’t,” Jax said simply. “Don’t worry. I’m not planning revenge.”

Gareth visibly relaxed. He hesitated, then placed the bundle of Cores on the floor between them.

“This… you earned these with your life. I can’t keep them. It’s not right to take a man’s blood money.”

Jax looked at the bundle, but didn’t reach for it.

“Keep it, Gareth. Consider it my contribution to the guild.”

Gareth looked at Jax’s indifferent expression and felt a sharp pang of envy. To toss away wealth like this…

He gathered his courage. “Can I ask… did you find a good spot out there? How did you manage to get so many Cores in one run?”

Jax glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. “Why? You want to come with me?”

Gareth panicked slightly, waving his hands. “No, no! Just asking! Curiosity, that’s all. Don’t misunderstand!”

Jax studied the man for a second. The fear was real, but so was the greed.

“Tell you what,” Jax said, lying back down and pillowing his head on his arm. “I’ll give you a chance. If you want to come with me to farm Cores in the future, I can take you.”

He closed his eyes.

“But once we’re out there, everything goes by my orders. In the wasteland, I am the leader of The Dire Wolves. If you can accept that, come find me again tonight.”

Gareth sat there, stunned, staring at the man who had just casually usurped his authority—and wondering if he should say yes.