In an instant, everyone turned their gaze toward Arthur.At that moment, Arthur sat quietly with his eyes closed, as if he hadn’t heard a single word spoken in the room.The hall fell into silence.After a long pause, he slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint of determination flickered within them.Arthur Hawthorne had turned seventy this year. Over the decades, he had witnessed countless storms in Gravemonth City and survived them all.During the era of his grandfather, Edmund Hawthorne, the Hawthorne family had once dominated Gravemonth City. At that time, their power was so great that even the Iron Serpent operated under their influence.Although the family had declined since those days, no one in the city dared to underestimate them.Arthur slowly scanned the room.Every chairman present was staring at him, waiting for his decision.After a moment, he spoke calmly.“In terms of strength, our Silver Vulture alliance cannot compete with the Iron Serpent.”His tone was steady and deci

“Greetings, Mr. Howe.” The moment Christopher entered the conference room, the chairmen of the major conglomerate families immediately stood up and greeted him with respect. Christopher walked to the head of the table and took his seat calmly. With a casual gesture of his hand, he said, “Please, sit.” Only then did the chairmen slowly return to their seats, though the tension on their faces remained obvious. Christopher’s gaze swept across the room. His expression was calm, yet his eyes seemed to weigh every person present. Without wasting time, he spoke directly. “So,” he said, “what brings all of you here today?” The other three chairmen exchanged quick glances but said nothing. Their eyes instinctively turned toward Arthur Hawthorne. Arthur understood. As the leader among them, he slowly stood up. “Mr. Howe,” he said respectfully, “we came here today seeking your protection.” Christopher leaned slightly back in his chair. “What do you mean by that?” he asked

“Attack!”“Charge!”The battlefield erupted into chaos. Metal clashed, wood splintered, and screams pierced the night as the two sides collided with unrelenting ferocity. Blood sprayed across the ground, soaking the earth and the fighters’ uniforms alike.The Iron Serpent, elite and disciplined, fought with precision. But the sheer numbers of the Big Families’ forces were overwhelming. Every swing, every step, every fallen comrade reminded Darius of the danger they faced. Ants could indeed crush an elephant if enough of them swarmed. Pools of blood formed beneath the Iron Serpent as his men fell one by one.Darius’s mind raced. He had anticipated the Big Families would be stretched thin after previous skirmishes. His plan had been simple: send his three thousand elite fighters to sweep through and crush the remaining resistance. Yet now, the plan was crumbling. The Iron Serpent was surrounded, their momentum stalled, and the battlefield had turned against them.“Mr. Kane! We need to r

Outside the gates of the Kane Mansion, Darius stumbled out of the car, his clothes stained with blood and dust. The once-feared underworld overlord now looked like a hunted man, his eyes filled with panic. He rushed inside without hesitation. “Dad? Why are you back?” Ronan asked in shock from the hospital bed where he lay recovering. “There’s no time to explain,” Darius said urgently. “We have to leave. Now!” Even in such a desperate situation, Darius couldn’t abandon his only son. If he escaped alone, the Obsidian Tide and the Silver Vulture would certainly capture Ronan and use him as leverage. “Dad, why? I’m still recovering,” Ronan said weakly. He was still healing from the injuries Christopher had inflicted on his lower body. Darius had no patience left. He grabbed Ronan by the shoulder. “No more questions! We have to go. It’s now or never!” Seeing his father’s frantic expression, Ronan finally realized something was terribly wrong. “Dad… what happened?” he as

Seraphina was genuinely shocked. The Lancaster family had secretly formed an alliance with the Iron Serpent. According to their plan, Christopher should have been trapped in Gravemonth City, busy dealing with that powerful gang. Yet here he was—standing right in front of her. How could he possibly appear here so quickly? Did something unexpected happen with the Iron Serpent? Unable to contain her confusion, Seraphina frowned and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be in Gravemonth City?” Christopher let out a soft chuckle. “You really thought I wouldn’t discover your alliance with the Iron Serpent?” he said calmly. “Unfortunately for you, the Iron Serpent has already been wiped out.” His eyes turned cold. “And now… it’s your turn.” Seraphina’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? Wiped out?” Her heart skipped a beat. The Iron Serpent was the most powerful gang in Gravemonth City. Their influence stretched across the entire underworld. How could they possibly be d