I dont know the story to answer this question, but this seems like foreshadowing because its foreshadowing that Nick Potter, Brain Boss and Jay Perkins are bad people who you should stay away from.
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a mark that things may not be as they seem.
