MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

"Are you sure about this, Damon? That's a serious matter," Victor asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Damon sighed deeply, his hands resting on the table. "From what Joey's told me, his brother hasn't answered any of his calls. We think he's missing."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening as he processed Damon's words. "Missing? That's not something to take lightly."

Damon nodded. "Joey wanted to go to LA to check things out, but I figured you might be able to help more. You've got connections, people who could look into this faster than we could."

Victor rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he mulled over the situation.

After a moment of silence, he looked up at Damon. "Thanks for bringing this to me. I'll need to talk to Joey directly and figure out the next steps."

Damon nodded, relieved. "Yeah, I thought it'd be better if you were involved. Joey's been stressing about this for days."

Victor exhaled, his tone firm. "This isn't something Joey or anyone else should try to handle alone. I'll make some calls and see what I can dig up. We'll find him."

Damon remained quiet, glancing out the window of the café. Enjoy new chapters from empire

While he wasn't sure how Joey would feel about him looping Victor in, he knew it was the right call.

Victor's experience and network could make all the difference.

Victor placed a hand on Damon's shoulder. "You did the right thing, Damon. This is about family, and if anyone knows how to fight for their family, it's you."

Damon offered a small smile, grateful for Victor's reassurance.

Things were still heavy on his mind, but knowing Victor was on board made him feel better.

While Damon had never met Joey's brother, Joey was family to him, and that made Joey's brother family too.

It was as simple as that in Damon's mind.

Victor must have sensed the heaviness in the air, because he clapped his hands together, breaking the somber mood. "Alright, enough with the serious talk for now. Let's shift gears. You've got me worried about your sanity, coming in this early to talk about missing people."

Damon smirked. "I could say the same about you, moving gear around at the crack of dawn. What's up with that? You're usually the guy in the office, not the storage room."

Victor chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Fair enough. Let's just say I'm trying to get back to basics. Been focusing so much on the business side of things that I figured I'd get my hands dirty again. Remind myself what it's all about, you know?"

Damon raised an eyebrow. "By organizing gloves and shin guards?"

"Well, the real reason is, I'm opening a new gym," Victor said, looking directly at Damon.

Damon blinked, confused. This came out of nowhere. "Wait… you're closing the old one?"

Victor shook his head. "No, I'm not. See, before I met you, that gym had a purpose. You remember, I was trying to make a champion out of it, but somewhere along the line, I lost focus. I shifted my attention to other things and forgot the goal."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more resolute. "But your recent performances and how your peers react to your success… it made me think."

Damon tilted his head, still unsure where Victor was going with this.

"My goal was to create a champion. You're going to be one soon, there's no doubt about that," Victor continued. "But now I realize it's about more than just one champion. I want to open a purely MMA-focused gym, designed specifically for fighters aiming to reach the top. And I need your help."

Damon smiled, a mix of awe and curiosity in his expression. "How would I help?"

Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression calm yet determined. "I want you to be the face of it," he said simply.

Damon blinked, still trying to process the idea. "The face of it? You mean… like a brand ambassador?"

Victor chuckled softly. "More than that. I want this gym to represent everything you've achieved, and everything you stand for. Discipline, resilience, evolution. You're not just a fighter, Damon. You're an example of what happens when talent meets hard work."

Damon leaned forward, his elbows on the table, intrigued. "So, what exactly are you envisioning?"

Victor took a sip of his coffee before continuing. "I'm opening this gym with one goal in mind, to cultivate champions. I want it to be a place where fighters come, not just to train, but to grow. We'll focus entirely on MMA, striking, grappling, everything. And I want you involved in every aspect. Not just as a name on the wall, but as someone who inspires the next generation."

Damon said, "But I am the next generation."

Victor nodded, his expression steady yet thoughtful. "Exactly. And that's the point. Imagine what it would mean for younger fighters, hell, even fighters your age, to see someone they can relate to doing what you're doing. It's not just about being a role model; it's about showing them what's possible."

Victor leaned forward, his voice taking on a deeper resonance. "Damon, I don't want you in this just as a fighter under me. I want you as a partner."

Damon froze for a moment, his breath catching as the weight of Victor's words settled in.

He stared at the older man, who held his gaze with unwavering conviction.

Victor's expression softened, a proud smile spreading across his face. "I've watched you grow, not just as a fighter but as a man. You've built something incredible for yourself, and I couldn't be prouder of you. I know I'm not your real father, and I'm not trying to be. But, Damon… you're the son I never had. And for the record," Victor added with a playful grin, "I couldn't have picked anyone better to be with my daughter."

Damon let out a surprised laugh, shaking his head as a smile broke through. "You're really laying it on thick, huh?"

Victor chuckled, his pride shining through. "Maybe. But I mean every word."

Damon joked, "Well, your pitch is convincing. How could I possibly say no?"