The attacker did not hesitate at all. Trapped in close quarters with no room to swing the blade, she ducked down and sank her teeth hard into the cartilage of Cruz’s ear.Agony shot straight through his nerves. Casting aside any distinction of gender in an instant, Cruz drove his knee sharply into her abdomen before slamming a heavy fist down onto the top of her head. The fierce woman crumpled to the ground in agony and failed to rise for a long while.Two successive blade wounds tore into his back, and an icy chill washed over his entire body. As Cruz twisted aside to dodge, an iron shovel crashed violently into his left arm. A sharp cracking sound echoed out, and his whole arm went numb on the spot.Gritting his teeth through the excruciating pain, he kicked the shovel-wielding brute to the ground, twisted the man’s arm backward in a lock, and the two of them tumbled together into the snow.The narrow gap between the car panels pinned the assailant in place, leaving the other attack

Moments later, a nurse hurried over with a grave expression. "The second casualty, Little Thai, suffered severe trauma to the occiput and massive ear hemorrhage. Initial examinations confirm his life is no longer at risk, yet the brain damage is irreversible. His projected physical recovery will cap at sixty percent, and he will most likely suffer permanent hearing and speech impairments."Dusk froze on the spot, his voice trembling. "He’ll be disabled for good?"The doctor nodded in silent confirmation. This hospital housed the top-tier medical resources across Sector Seven, so transferring the patient elsewhere would yield no benefits whatsoever.Cole immediately promised to cover all medical expenses in full and oversee every phase of the rehabilitation program personally.Kane sank into somber thoughts. Brothers who had fought side by side were either maimed by critical wounds or locked behind bars. Trapped within this murky, perilous territory, none could guarantee their own safe

Cole knew full well that the Mercer family had suffered a total collapse in public reputation and lost popular support entirely over Ellington’s corruption and illegal firearms trafficking scandal, meaning Merrick posed only a limited threat. Even so, Kane had issued an ironclad order: Cole had to win the election by an overwhelming landslide. The victory would bolster the standing of their backers while cementing Cole’s public image as the universally favored candidate.Pierce stationed himself permanently in the South Curtain District to oversee all campaign work. He organized parade floats, distributed promotional flyers, and held door-to-door speeches. In addition, he spent large sums purchasing grain, cooking oil and winter coats to win over voters household by household. These massive expenses were covered by corporate donations secured through Cole’s business connections, costs far beyond any individual’s means.Elections were never merely a contest of funds; they were brutal,

Once they learned about Ford’s background, Pierce, Dusk and their crew hurried over to greet him warmly and raise their glasses in a toast. The unwritten rules of this circle were plain and simple: connections mattered regardless of closeness, and anyone with even a shred of usable value was worth currying favor with in advance.Ford took the opportunity to settle in, openly announcing he would foot the entire bill for the night. He completely seized command of the gathering, turning from a guest into the de facto host and dominating the whole scene. Raven rubbed her forehead in helpless exasperation, her temper fraying badly.Moments later, Cruz returned carrying warm drinks. Spotting Ford pestering the two women relentlessly, he sidled up to Kane and lowered his voice to speak.“I had everything lined up perfectly to seal the deal tonight, then this guy showed up and ruined it.” Cruz’s tone was sharp with urgency. “I’ll handle him. I’ll get him dead drunk within an hour, so you can

At the intersection of Dirt Lane, Kane met up with his men and spoke bluntly. “I appreciate everyone pulling overtime on the holiday. I will personally cover all overtime pay, which will be distributed in full next month.”The team leads politely tried to decline the offer, but Kane stood firm. “Business is business. Joy Palace is three hundred meters ahead. Execute a full-site inspection. Move out now.”The officers pinned on their official badges and followed closely behind the two men toward the club.Inside Joy Palace’s main lobby, several managers were chatting and taking a break when rapid footsteps echoed through the space. Kane led his team bursting into the premises.He roughly brushed aside the doorman and spoke in a frigid, stern voice. “Official inspection by the Black Street Police Division. Switch on all overhead lights immediately. All patrons move to the left side of the hall, all staff to the right. We will verify residency documents and screen for contraband one pers