Larry Flanagan sat at the breakfast table, staring down at his plate as the sound of his stainless steel spoon clattering against ceramic echoed through the dining room. The morning light streamed in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the table where his wife, Eileen, and their son, Morty, sat with him. But none of them were enjoying breakfast.The food lay mostly untouched, growing colder by the minute.The tension in the room was palpable. Larry’s hands trembled slightly as he gripped his spoon, his mind racing. He barely noticed Eileen watching him with concern. Morty, sitting across from him, knew exactly why his father was in such a state.It had been two days since the guilty verdict on the Numa family.Two days since Henry Numa, his son Edgar, and several of their closest associates had been sentenced to prison.Two days since Larry had failed to keep his promise.He had assured Henry that neither he nor a single member of his family would see the inside of a pri

The moment Ivan’s accusation cut through the smoky air of the Grimshade Bar, the atmosphere turned electric. His words "That’s a lie"hung between them like a blade poised to strike. The usual murmur of the bar faded into the background, leaving only the tense silence of their booth. Jacob’s fingers tightened around his glass, the ice cubes clinking softly, he despite his unusual silence throughout the conversation, as he was in deep thought of his own, Ivan's words to Morty had brought him back to the scene.Morty’s chair screeched violently against the wooden floor as he shoved back from the table, his face flushing crimson "The hell did you just say to me?" His voice was low, dangerous, the way it got before he threw a punch. But Ivan didn’t flinch,His gaze, cold as a sniper’s scope, locked onto Morty "You heard me... I know your father visited Henry Numa the day he died, and I know that you know as well..." He replied, tapping the table with a single finger "So either you’re ly

Lloyd’s expression froze, a flicker of something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Armstrong noticed immediately. "You look like you just saw a ghost " Armstrong remarked, folding his arms as he eyed Lloyd carefully. "That name mean something to you?" Lloyd hesitated, calculating how much to reveal. Finally, he exhaled through his nose and said, "I've encountered them before... in Hilburg, They operated under the radar, quiet but efficient, at the time, I thought they were just a localized Budville gang making noise across borders. But if they’re based in Lazan... that’s a different beast entirely" Armstrong nodded slowly, his tone shifting. "A network that stretches from Budville to Lazan, maybe even further, would make anyone uneasy... Especially if they’ve managed to avoid detection, hat’s a level of coordination most criminal outfits can only dream of" Lloyd said nothing, but inwardly, unease twisted in his gut. If the Capital M gang had such reach, then his assumpt

The following days in the capital were unusually relaxed. For the first time in a long while, Lloyd took a step away from political intrigue and personal vendettas. Instead, he spent the time guiding Ivan through the sprawling grandeur of the imperial capital... a place Ivan had barely set foot in until now.Their first stop was the Imperial Gardens, a vast expanse of lush greenery, marble walkways, and flowering trees arranged in symmetrical harmony. Ivan, usually indifferent to such things, found himself pausing at the koi ponds and the towering cherry blossom trees."Didn’t think you were the sightseeing type"Lloyd said with a smirk as Ivan crouched to observe a koi fish flicker beneath the lily pads."I’m not" Ivan admitted "But damn... this place has a weird way of making you forget you’re in a city"Next, they visited the Hall of Banners, a museum that commemorated the seven Dukes and their historic campaigns. Ivan stood in front of the Dragon Duke’s banner, the red and gol

The shrill sound of Lloyd’s phone pierced the stillness of early morning, dragging him abruptly from the warm depths of sleep. His hand shot out from beneath the sheets, fumbling blindly on the nightstand before it found the device. He glanced at the screen...an unregistered number, causing him to scowl.He knew who this probably was, but he wasn't really in the mood to deal with it The glow from the phone lit up the sleeping face of Lisa, her chest rising and falling in soft, measured breaths.She didn’t stir, but the sound had been close. Too close.Without hesitation, Lloyd rejected the call. The last thing he wanted was to disturb her rest.He leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead before slipping out of bed.Dressing in silence, he began his morning workout, using the private gym in the family basement . The space had been converted months ago into a minimalist gym with nothing but a yoga mat, resistance bands, a pull-up bar, and his own mental discipline.He had bo