The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 34: Between Power and Presence
Chapter 73:
Tristan sat beside the driver’s seat of a sleek black van, his posture upright and calm, yet the air around him pulsed with subtle intensity.
The driver, Dean, gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his other tapping against the door in irritation.
His expression was laced with frustration, his brows furrowed, jaw clenched.
He didn’t bother to hide the fact that he wasn’t thrilled to be here.
Tristan, on the other hand, had undergone a noticeable transformation over few hours.
He looked nothing like the rough-edged he used to be.
His black hair, once wild and untamed, was now neatly brushed back, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face.
His black suit fit perfectly, tailored to his lean but toned frame.
His eyes, deep and reflective, mirrored the same darkness as his hair.
His mixed complexion gave him an edge of mystery—one that made him stand out even among the elite of the Asura Gang.
Dean finally broke the silence. "Why didn’t you just call Tony? He’s the guy for this kind of stuff, right?"
Tristan’s gaze remained fixed on the window as buildings blurred past.
"He’s tied up with Kai. They went to meet with Ben," he replied, his tone calm and devoid of emotion.
Dean muttered something under his breath, clearly still annoyed.
He knew it wasn’t his place to complain.
Tristan might have only been seventeen, but within the gang, authority wasn’t measured by age—it was measured by power, competence, and loyalty.
And Tristan, for all his youth, had proven himself time and again.
Just a few weeks ago, Elijah—the founder and leader of the Asura Gang—had formally announced the structure of the gang to the vice leaders.
It was a pivotal moment that reshaped the hierarchy.
At the very top stood Kai, the Supreme Vice Leader.
Below him were six others: Jack, Tristan, Mai, Kevin, Lucas, and Aurora.
Each held dominion over different sectors of the gang’s operation.
Aurora, in particular, was tasked with expansion—her intelligence network was already spreading tendrils through the southern districts.
She’d begun by targeting the South District, an area the Asura Gang had only recently started encroaching.
The city itself was divided among power players.
The East and West Districts were dominated by the two Alpha gangs—long-standing rivals with influence stretching into the Central District, where they maintained a tense stalemate.
The South and North, however, were wilder territories—scattered with smaller, less organized Beta gangs.
It was here that Asura was making its move, having already elevated itself to the early stages of an Omega-ranked gang.
An impressive feat considering it had taken them only six months.
Kai had recently distributed a low-grade breathing technique—something passed down to him by Elijah.
Even though it was considered basic, the method dramatically enhanced physical strength and stamina.
It is the first stage of the "Crop Breathing Technique." And it was working.
Even Dean, despite his complaints and smoking habit, had managed to ascend to the Knight Beginner stage.
A celebration was already being planned for the New Year, which was just days away.
And yet... Elijah had permitted another party even before that. Why?
That answer, Tristan intended to find.
Dean pulled the van to a stop near a dimly lit alley in the South District, within Mike’s claimed territory.
The scent of smoke, alcohol, and cold air filled the atmosphere.
"Wait here," Tristan said coolly, stepping out of the vehicle.
Dean nodded and leaned back in his seat, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with practiced ease.
The glow of the flame flickered across his tired face.
Tristan walked toward the bar.
The entrance had been modified recently—a reinforced door allowed only authorized individuals through.
As he entered, he was greeted by the familiar interior: a bar counter polished to a shine, dim lights casting amber shadows, and music humming softly in the background.
In the adjacent room, a staircase led both up and down.
Upstairs was Sylvia’s office—and her personal residence, which she shared with Mai.
Downstairs was used for storage and supplies.
He spotted Vico and Ray behind the counter, cleaning up while dressed in trendy bartender attire.
They looked surprisingly at home in the environment.
Tristan chuckled. "You two look like you’re enjoying yourselves."
Vico laughed. "How could we not? Miss Sylvia treats us like royalty."
Ray added with a grin, "And the job’s decent. We meet new faces, pick up bits of information, and, well, there’s no shortage of drunk women to keep us entertained."
Tristan smirked. "Then you should’ve come to the party I hosted yesterday. You’d have had the time of your lives."
Vico shook his head, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. "You know why we couldn’t. Someone had to stay and make sure Miss Sylvia and Miss Mai were safe."
Ray nodded firmly. "Even if we could’ve gone, I wouldn’t have left. I’m starting to actually care about those two."
Tristan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his analytical side kicking in.
He had only tested them with that remark about the party—to see where their priorities lay.
And they passed.
He could sense it now—the slight shift in their aura.
They were both at the Beginner Knight stage.
"Looks like Kai passed the breathing technique on to you," he noted aloud.
The two nodded in confirmation.
Before he could ask more, a soft voice echoed from the stairwell.
"Right here."
Tristan turned toward the sound, watching as Mai stepped down into view.
She looked effortlessly stunning—even with her hair slightly tousled and her expression groggy from recently waking up.
Her presence filled the room with quiet grace.
Tristan smiled, "Even fresh out of bed, you still look beautiful."
Mai smirked. "Yeah, yeah. What do you want?"
He frowned, feigning offense. "Can’t I just come by to see you?"
Mai raised a brow. "Tristan, you only ever hang around Kai, Kevin, or Elijah. You showing up here for me? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all week."
Tristan chuckled. "Harsh. Am I really that cold?"
Mai crossed her arms and nodded, "Yeah."
His smile faded briefly, a shadow crossing his face.
Her words had struck closer to the truth than she knew.
And yet, rather than defend himself, he nodded internally. ’Yeah... that’s true.’
He cleared his throat. "Anyway, do you know where Elijah is? Kai asked me to talk to him."
Mai looked puzzled. "Why didn’t Kai go himself?"
Tristan shrugged. "Not sure. I think they had an argument."
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. "That’s unlikely. Three days ago, they were laughing together right here in this bar."
Tristan paused, thinking. "Maybe it’s because of Elijah’s first kill?"
Mai shook her head. "No, that wouldn’t be it."
"Then why has Elijah gone missing for three days, and Kai refuses to see him?"
"I don’t know," Mai admitted, concern flickering in her eyes. "But it’s not what you think."
"Do you at least know where he is?"
Mai nodded and reached for her phone. "Yeah. We were texting until about 3 a.m."
Tristan raised a brow. "You didn’t sleep?"
"Don’t sweat the details. I’m just showing you I know where he is," she said, flipping the screen toward him.
"He’s at the mountain in the Northern District, chilling near the summit. Just call him—he’s not hiding."
Tristan chuckled softly. "What love does to a person..."
"Shut up," she said, cheeks flushing faintly. "Now go talk to Elijah."
As Tristan turned to leave, a sudden thought popped into his mind. "Hey, before I go—why were you so angry with Kai two days ago?"
"That’s none of your business," she snapped, her tone sharpening.
He grinned knowingly. "So... it’s about Elijah, huh?"
"Tristan. I’m not going to tell you twice," Mai warned, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Alright, alright," he said, hands raised in mock surrender. "Keep them safe."
Vico and Ray nodded firmly.
Tristan turned, already halfway out the door, before teasing, "And was it a ki—"
He didn’t finish the sentence. A chair flew at his head at blinding speed. He ducked just in time, laughing as he slipped out the door before Mai could grab anything heavier.
Outside, the cold air welcomed him. He exhaled slowly, breath visible in the winter chill. His smile faded as his eyes turned toward the North.
Elijah. What the hell are you doing on that mountain?
