CHAPTER 21: UNDERGROUND FIGHT CLUB

The school bell rang loudly, piercing the air and signaling the end of the day. Among the sea of students rushing out, C stood tall and calm.

He lifted his backpack onto his right shoulder. The strap landed perfectly on his shoulder, as if he were preparing for something more than just heading home.

He glanced back and saw Luna still at her desk, quietly packing her books.

"Hey Luna, come on. Let’s head to our usual spot."

Luna gave him a quick look. "Can’t you tell I’m busy?"

C sighed when he saw all the books stacked across her desk. Without saying anything, he stepped in and helped her put them into her bag.

"There. Let’s go."

Luna stood up, holding her bag with both hands. It was obvious the weight was too much for her.

With a gentle but firm gesture, C took the bag from her. He held it with one hand like it weighed nothing.

Luna blinked in surprise. "H-Hey! I can carry that myself!"

"I’m your bodyguard, remember? This is part of my job. So stop complaining," C replied calmly.

He walked out of the classroom, Luna following behind him.

---

Outside the school gate, now quiet with only a few people left, there was a simple wooden bench.

Its paint had long faded from rain and sunlight, but the bench still stood sturdy.

Next to it stood a bright blue vending machine, humming softly as it offered cold drinks and snacks.

The afternoon sun bathed everything in warm light, casting long shadows over the bench and vending machine. The scene felt quiet... peaceful.

Luna sat on the bench, her eyes staring off into the trees in the distance.

C arrived with two cans of soda, handing one to her as he sat down beside her.

I just don’t get it, C. Ivansia’s dad... I always thought he was a wise, kind man. I saw him during the school festival once, giving out gifts to students. He looked like someone you could trust..." Luna whispered, her voice soft.

"But what really happened to him? Do you know anything, C?" she turned to him with worried eyes.

C let out a long breath, spinning the soda can in his hand without opening it.

"Are you sure you want to know?" he asked.

Luna nodded slowly.

"All right. Open your phone. Search today’s headlines."

Luna looked confused, but she pulled out her phone anyway and unlocked it.

"Mind if I borrow it for a sec?" C said, holding out his hand.

She handed it over, and C quickly typed something in before handing it back.

"There. Also... I saved your number on my phone."

Luna’s eyes widened. Her face turned red and her hand clenched.

"Y-YOU WHAT?! You borrowed my phone just to save my number?! You idiot!" she yelled, lightly smacking his arm.

"No! Look, dummy! Check your screen!" C said while covering his head with his arms.

Luna stopped hitting him and looked at the screen. A news article was open.

[BREAKING NEWS: Green Gold Investment Scam Collapses – Hundreds of Investors Lose Thousands of Dollars]

Her eyes trembled as she read the headline. Her lips parted slightly, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

"Is this... real?" she whispered, eyes trembling.

"Yes. It’s real. Ivansia’s dad... He was the one running the ’Green Gold’ investment scheme."

"But how do you know this?" Luna asked, still shocked.

Hmm... I think I found out about it around loop number... I’ve lost count. It was from documents shown in court about her dad.

"I investigated it myself," C replied briefly.

Luna pressed her lips together. "But this... this is a Ponzi scheme, right? It hurt so many people. How could he do this?"

"Yeah... He started it himself. At first, it looked legit. He had the network, the confidence, and the charm to make people believe they were investing in real palm oil plantations."

"So all this time... Ivansia didn’t know? She was being lied to by her own father?"

"That’s right. Scams like these always end in two ways... The scammer escapes... or gets caught in their own trap. Her dad ended up with the second one. He got too greedy. When investors started pulling their money, he didn’t even have time to save himself."

"Oh my God..." Luna covered her mouth. "She’s my best friend... but her family destroyed so many lives," Luna whispered.

C looked up at the sky. "Ponzi schemes don’t just steal money, Luna. They steal trust. And in the end, all that’s left is dust. That’s why right now..."

He paused for a moment.

"What we need... is money."

---

Deep below the city, hidden away from the public eye, there was a place only a few knew about.

An underground fight club — a twisted version of equality.

Corrupt officials, ruthless prosecutors, drug dealers, and other powerful people gathered here. In this place, their fancy titles didn’t matter. They were all the same: gamblers hungry for blood.

They placed bets on two fighters battling inside a crude red circle painted on the concrete floor.

That night, surrounded by cheers, sweat, and the heavy stench of alcohol, Theo stood in that red circle.

His handsome face — the same one that often stole girls’ hearts — was now beaten and bruised.

Bruises and scars painted his body like war medals, signs of nearly fifty matches he had fought and won that day.

And yet... his eyes still burned with fierce determination.

He moved with sharp focus, dodging his opponent’s punches with ease, and landed a powerful hit that knocked the man down instantly.

In this place, they called him The Unbroken.

It was a name he had earned through sweat and pain.

As the crowd’s cheers faded, Theo limped proudly toward the resting area.

A man approached him, handing over a thick wad of cash. "Five thousand dollars," he said. "That’s your cut for tonight."

"Fifty fights... and you won every single one? Damn, kid, you’re like a monster," the man chuckled. "By the way, how old are you?"

"Seventeen," Theo replied, barely catching his breath.

"Seventeen?! You’re insane. You know... almost everyone here was betting on you. If you lost even once, the owner of this place would’ve made a fortune"

The man leaned in and whispered near Theo’s ear. "So be careful. They might try something dirty next time."

Theo didn’t respond. He just stared ahead, sweat dripping from his chin.

The man walked away, leaving Theo alone.

He looked at the money in his hand with no expression.

For Theo, it was never about pride. Never about glory.

He fought not to win... but to save someone.

Every drop of blood, every bruise, every victory — was a step closer to getting her the money she desperately needed.