Jack strolled through the bustling atown night market, humming to himself, hands tucked in his pockets, occasionally snatg a free snack from vendors who either loved him or were too scared to say no.

  The smell of sizzli skewers, fresh baozi, and cheap cigarettes mixed in the air as neon signs flickered, painting the streets in reds and yellows.

  Then it hit him—"Shit. I fot to buy a suit."

  Boss Lu Yi's wedding was tomorrow, and while Jack was the craziest lieutenant in the gang, even he couldn't show up in his usual leather jacket and ripped jeans.

  He veered left, pushing through the crowded alleys, past noodle stalls and mahjong parlors, until he reached Madam Wong's Tailor Shop—a tiny, cluttered store run by an old woman who had been dressing gangsters since before Jack was even born.

  The momeepped inside, Madam Wong smacked the back of his head with her measuring tape.

  "Aiya, Hou Wu! You wait until the st minute again, you useless monkey!"

  Jack grinned, rubbing his head. "You know me, Auntie Wong. I like the thrill of a deadline."

  She scoffed, dragging him to a raised ptform, already pulling out tape, pins, and fabric swatches.

  As she worked, she grumbled. "You run around like a crazy person all day. One day, someone will catch you, and I won't be sewing you a suit—I'll be sewing you a burial robe."

  Jack grinned wider. "Damn, Auhat's dark. You been watg gangster movies again?"

  She ignored him, tightening the measuring tape way too much around his waist, making him gasp.

  After a few minutes, she stepped bad nodded. "Bck suit. Red tie. Cssy. But you need accessories."

  Jack raised an eyebrow. "What kind of accessories?"

  Madam Woured vaguely. "A watch, a bracelet, maybe even an earring. Something that makes you stand out."

  Jack thought about it, rubbing his . "An earring, huh?"

  With his shopping bags full, Jack strolled through the night market, chewing on a stick of grilled mb, when somethi off.

  This was his territory. He knew every vendor, every scam artist, every street performer.

  So when he saw a all—one covered in faded red cloth, filled with tris, charms, and a-looking antiques—he paused.

  Behind the stall sat an old man with pierg golden eyes, skin wrinkled like old part, wearing a robe that looked out of p modern atown.

  Jaarrowed his eyes. "You new here, old man?"

  The old man didn't answer directly. Instead, he stroked his long white beard and muttered,

  "A traveler arrives not when he pns, but when fate demands."

  Jack blinked. "What?"

  The old man chuckled. "Even a monkey must wear his before he rules the mountain."

  Jack scratched his head. "Man, you sound like one of those fortune cookie writers who took too much acid."

  Then—his eyes nded on something.

  A single earring, stick-shaped, dangling like a tiny staff.

  Something about it called to him. His fingers itched to grab it.

  He pointed. "How much for that one?"

  The old man smiled faintly. "A warrior should wear his legend before he writes it."

  Then, he ha to Jack—for free.

  Jack frowned, shaking his head. "Nah. This is my territory. I make the rules here."

  He pulled out a wad of cash, dropping it oable. "We don't take freebies. If you're selling, you get paid."

  The old man nodded approvingly, but his golden eyes glowed for just a sed as Jack took the earring and clipped it onto his left ear.

  A strange warmth spread through his body, but it was gone before he could think too much about it.

  Jack rolled his shoulders. "Alright, old man. Wele to my market. Don't scam anyone, or I'll be baake sure your tris bee toothpicks."

  The old man just smiled, watg him leave.

  Jack yawned, stretg. "Damn, I need some sleep before the wedding."

  And with that, he walked off into the neon-lit streets, the stick-shaped earring swaying slightly in the night air.

  …

  Jack woke up to the sound of someone banging on his front door like the cops had finally decided to arrest his ass.

  He groaned, rubbing his face, then swung his legs over the side of the bed. His apartment was a mess—empty beer s, half-eaten takeout boxes, a pile of clothes on the floor that probably could've filed for citizenship by now.

  Another bang on the door.

  Jack yawned, stretg as he stumbled toward it. "If this is a hitman, I just wanna say—good luck. I'm hard to kill."

  He swung the door open and blinked.

  Standing there, arms crossed, face already tired, was Xiao Ling—another lieutenant like him, but one who actually took her job seriously.

  Jack smirked. "Oh nooo, Xiao Ling, what are you doing at my pce? Are you gonna have your way with me? I'm too pure for this! Too i! Also, you're too wild for me, please don't break my heart!"

  Xiao Ling sighed so hard her soul nearly left her body. She pushed past him into the apartment without waiting for an invitation.

  "My car broke dowerday. I'm going to the veh you," she said, already regretting her life choices.

  Jack shrugged, pig up his suit and shoes from the couch. "Alright, you hitchhike with me, but you gotta hold my stuff as payment."

  Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow. "You wao hold your suit?"

  Jack grinned. "Nah. Carry it like a loyal servant. e o's go, sve. Bring my stuff to my car!"

  Xiao Ling deadpanned, but grabbed his suit anyway. "I'm going to crash this car into a river with you i."

  Jack skipped ahead, humming happily as she muttered death threats under her breath.

  …

  They drove through atown, the city waking up around them as Jack tapped the steering wheel to an offbeat rhythm.

  Xiao Ling g him and squinted. "Are you wearing an earring?"

  Jack turned his head dramatically, flipping his siick-shaped earring so it swayed. "Oh, you noticed? Took you long enough."

  Xiao smirked. "What happened? You finally realized your feminine side?"

  Jack gasped. "How dare you assume my fashion choices are gehis is peak masity."

  Xiao leaned ba her seat. "So what, you just woke up and decided, 'Yeah, I'm gonna be a pirate today'?"

  Jack grinned. "Nope. Some weird old man gave it to me for free."

  Xiao's eyes narrowed. "You took jewelry from a weird old man?"

  Jaodded. "Yup."

  She blinked. "And you just… put it on?"

  Jack shrugged. "He said some cryptic shit. I liked the vibe. Also, I paid him anyway, so it's not weird. Market rules."

  Xiao sighed, ping the bridge of her nose. "Yon cursed one day, and I'm not dealing with it."

  Jack grinned wider. "Oh, e on, I already act like I'm possessed. What's the worst that could happen?"

  The versation derailed from there, mostly with Jack rambling about the art of scamming rich people and Xiao pretending not to listen.

  Before they k, they arrived at the wedding venue, a massive ba hall decked out in red and gold, with security already stationed around the perimeter.

  Jack parked the car, stepping out and stretg. "Alright, time to do wedding shit."

  Ihe vehe other Triad lieutenants were already gathered, cheg assigs, talking security, and pretending they didn't hate each other.

  At the ter of it all was Suhe sed-in-and, flipping through a clipboard, barking orders. Sun Jie was serious, effit, and didn't like bullshit—which meant he didn't like Jack.

  "Alright," Sun Jie said, addressing the group. "Today is a truce day, but we're not getting pt. We've statiora men around the perimeter. I expect every lieutenant to do their part."

  He went down the list, assigning roles:

  One lieutenant would hahe entrance checks.

  Another would patrol the kit and hall.

  Another would watch over the VIPs.

  Jack waited patiently, rog on his heels, until Sun Jie reached the end of the list and…

  …didn't assign him anything.

  Jack blinked. "Hey. What about me?"

  Sun Jie looked down at his clipbain, trag his finger down the list.

  "Hmm. This one… no, you 't be trusted with that."

  "This one… no, you won't give proper orders."

  "This one… if I give it to you, I'll probably get shot in the five minutes."

  Jaarrowed his eyes. "You're running out of options, bud."

  Sun Jie sighed, sing the room, then poio the front door. "You. Guard the entrance."

  Jack grinned, giving him finger guns. "Got it, boss!"

  Then, instead of going to the entrance, Jack immediately walked toward the backstage area.

  Suared. "What… are you doing?"

  Jack stopped, turned, and smiled ily. "What?"

  Sun Jie rubbed his temples. "Why did you even ask for a job if you're not gonna do it?"

  Jack grinned wider. "Because I like to feel included."

  Suook a deep breath, closed his eyes, and muttered something about patience.

  Jack skipped off backstage, leaving the sed-in-and re-evaluating his life choices.