Jessica’s face was wet with tears. Her sobs came soft and fast as she clutched at her shirt.Shadow glared at her, voice sharp. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you crying? You only just met him yesterday — what is this nonsense?”Jessica didn’t answer. She spun on her heel, anger and fear mixing, and stormed back into the house before anyone could say more. The car doors closed with a hard click.Finally, Shadow turned to him. “You know that underling of yours is a troublemaker, right? Why did you even bring him here? You want the Halden family to kill all of us?!”Phantom’s voice was calm, quiet, but firm. “Come off it. Elijah can handle himself.”“Handle himself?” Shadow snapped. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. This is the Halden family we’re talking about — a martial arts dynasty! You think he can face them alone? Are you joking?”Phantom only gave a faint smile. “I trust Elijah.”Shadow stared at him in disbelief. “You’ll regret that trust if he doesn’t return.”Meanwhi

Edmund raised a hand. “Wait,” he said, voice low but firm. He stepped forward until he stood a few paces from Elijah and looked down at him. “So you are the one who dared insult my Halden family? How dare you?”Elijah said nothing at first. He kept his eyes moving around the hall, calm but not afraid.Aurora dad cut in, voice loud. “Why was only he brought here, Father? If he insults the Haldens, shouldn’t his whole bloodline be punished?”Murmurs ran through the room. “Yes,” some of the family agreed. “Yes.”Elijah’s face tightened. Anger rose in him — not wild, but sharp. He looked straight at the gathered Halden faces. “If you have a problem with me,” he said clearly, “then face me. Why drag innocent people into this? What have their bloodlines done to you?”A hush fell. The question hung in the air.Geneva stepped forward, eyes flashing. “Shut your mouth!” she snapped, voice full of venom. “How dare you talk back to our house? Have you forgotten where you stand?”Elijah laughed on

Edmund’s gaze hardened as he studied Elijah, still trying to comprehend how a young man had effortlessly humiliated his family. He took a slow step forward, hands clasped behind his back, voice deep and steady.“Who are you?” he asked coldly.Elijah turned his head, eyes wandering over the wide compound positioned by the pillars. His tone was calm, almost bored.“Me?” he said, with a faint, wry smile. “I’m no one.”.The bluntness of the reply made a few of the guards exchange uncertain looks. Edmund’s brow creased. “You have some remarkable skills for your age,” he admitted reluctantly. “It’s… impressive. If you want the Halden family to spare you for what you’ve done here, then consider joining us as one of our guards. You’ll have everything you need — a generous salary, housing, influence. What do you say?”A quiet tension filled the air. Everyone waited for Elijah’s answer, expecting gratitude, or at least respect.Instead, Elijah began to chuckle — softly at first, then louder, u

At the old dockyard, the night air was cold and heavy with the smell of salt and fuel. The faint hum of the sea mixed with the low rumble of engines as cars began pulling in one after another, their headlights cutting through the mist.Black SUVs, modified sedans, and motorbikes rolled into the wide, open lot between the stacked shipping containers. Each vehicle carried a name that meant power somewhere in the city.Doors opened, and one by one, leaders stepped out — men and women known across the underground. Each had their own crew, dressed in matching colors or jackets, silent but alert. No one spoke much; only the sound of closing doors and footsteps filled the air.At the far end of the dock, two tall men in dark coats handled the security checkpoint. Everyone that arrived was scanned with a handheld device — metallic beeps cutting the silence. Each gang leader handed over their weapons: knives, pistols, and even compact rifles. The guards placed them carefully on a long metal ta

A man from another table — one of the rival gangs — rose sharply, his chair scraping against the concrete. He smirked, glancing toward the Black Fang side.“Nice speech,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But don’t act like the Black Fang are the only ones holding this city together.”He stepped forward slightly, his men straightening behind him. “Our gang runs the main routes through Iron Vale. Every shipment, every deal, every coin passes through our hands. While others hide behind shadows, our master stands in the open — feared and respected by all.”His voice grew louder, filled with pride. “If there’s anyone fit to lead the underworld, it’s him. He doesn’t just rule a corner — he controls the flow of business across the city. Without him, half of you wouldn’t even eat.”He crossed his arms, giving the room a confident look. “So before you start talking about leadership, remember — power isn’t about fear. It’s about control. And no one controls more than us.”The room erup