He spoke to a few street vendors, buying small items, making polite conversation. He listened more than he spoke, letting them talk, letting them tell the stories that were whispered in the alleys."Terrible thing, what happened here," an old woman said, selling small charms. "The old ways, they are gone. This new one, Kaito... he has no respect for tradition. Only power.""What happened to the men?" Bucky asked, keeping his voice neutral."Disappeared. Then found. Here." She pointed to the shrine. "A message. For everyone. No one speaks against Kaito now. No one challenges him."Bucky nodded, his expression grim. This was worse than he thought. Kaito wasn't just regrouping; he was consolidating power with extreme prejudice. He was building an empire on fear. And Max had sent him to deal with it.He spent the rest of the day tracking Kaito's movements, piecing together his network. He learned that Kaito wasn't just a local boss; he was reaching out, making alliances with other, smalle

Lena felt a chill run down her spine. Max had worked so hard to untangle her from the criminal side of the Becker empire, to help her consolidate the legitimate businesses, to give her a chance at a clean life. Now, Andres was here to tear it all down."He's sending a message to everyone," Lena said, her voice low. "Not just the Red Dragon. To the whole city. To me.""Precisely," Ronald confirmed. "He wants to show he's not to be messed with. He wants to create fear. And he's very good at it. His reputation precedes him. Stories from China... they're not pretty. He's known for extreme violence, for making examples, for not leaving loose ends.""So, what's his play?" Nathan asked, already pulling out a notepad. "He's here for Max's legacy, isn't he? And by extension, Lena's.""He sees it as his birthright," Ronald said. "He believes he's the true heir to the Becker name, the one who should lead the family into a new era. And he'll use any means necessary to get it. He'll try to strong-

The heavy wooden door creaked open, letting in a sliver of light from the hallway. Princess Anya stepped inside, followed by two silent guards who positioned themselves just outside the room. She wore a simple, elegant dress, a stark contrast to the ceremonial robes Max and Trisha had seen her in before. Her face was calm, almost serene, but her eyes, Max noticed, held a deep, tired sadness."Good morning," Anya said, her voice soft. She carried a small tray with a teapot and three delicate cups. "I hope you slept well. I brought some fresh tea."Max, ever wary, simply nodded. Trisha, however, offered a small, genuine smile. "Thank you, Princess. That's very kind of you."Anya placed the tray on a low table. "Please, call me Anya. And it's no trouble. I just wanted to make sure you were... comfortable." She poured the tea, her movements precise. "Is there anything you need? Anything at all?""Freedom would be nice," Max said, his tone dry, but without malice. He watched her carefully.

The kitchen light hummed, casting a pale glow on Bucky's intense face. He was hunched over the small table, a map spread out before him, covered in scribbled notes and circled areas. Sarai stood in the doorway, a knot of worry tightening in her stomach. He hadn't noticed her. He was deep in thought, lost in whatever dangerous world he inhabited these past few weeks."Bucky?" she asked, her voice soft, almost a whisper.He flinched, his hand brushing against the map, making it crinkle. His head snapped up, eyes sharp and alert, like a predator caught off guard. Then, seeing her, the tension in his shoulders eased, and his gaze softened, though a flicker of something unreadable remained. "Sarai. You're still awake?""Couldn't sleep," she replied, stepping further into the room. The air around him felt heavy with unspoken things, with secrets. It had been this way for too long. He'd come home late, sometimes in the early hours, smelling faintly of smoke, damp earth, and something metalli

He practically dragged her out of the service door, into the cold, damp alley. Shots rang out behind them, splintering the doorframe."They saw you!" he hissed, pulling her along at a frantic pace. "They know you're with me now! You're a witness!""Bucky, what... what was that?" she choked out, stumbling to keep up, her lungs burning. "What did you do to those men? You killed them!""No time!" he snapped, pulling her harder, his eyes darting around for an escape route. "Just run! Keep up! Don't look back!"They ran through the maze of dark alleys, the sounds of shouting and gunfire echoing behind them, growing fainter as they put distance between themselves and the casino. Bucky was incredibly fast, but Sarai was struggling, her body screaming in protest. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, her mind a dizzying swirl of terror and disbelief."Where are we going?" she gasped, tears starting to sting her eyes."Just follow me! Don't stop for anything!"They burst out of the alleys onto a d