In the heavy, oppressive silence that smothered the North Club, Ethan Smith remained an island of tranquility. He didn't even acknowledge the frantic, high-pitched jeering of Louis Clifford. His attention was focused entirely on his sister, Alice Smiths, who had moved with the clinical grace of a seasoned battlefield surgeon.With a flick of her wrist, several silver needles glinted in the neon light, sinking into the area around Adam Somner's heart. She was using a sophisticated technique to shield his cardiac vessels and central nervous system from the shock of his shattered bones. After administering a small, translucent pill into the unconscious man's mouth, she stepped back, her expression cold and professional."Get him to a secure medical facility," Alice commanded Sydney Harvey, her voice brooking no argument. "He must not engage in any physical exertion for at least a month, or his internal energy will collapse entirely, leaving him a permanent cripple. Consider h

The standoff at the North Club had reached a fever pitch, but the arrival of the heavy cavalry signaled a shift from private vendetta to state-level intervention. As the roar of the armored vehicles faded into an idle hum, the tension remained thick enough to choke the participants. Ron Sherock and Sydney Harvey stood their ground, though their expressions betrayed a simmering resentment. To them, the victory was within their grasp—the Clifford family's crown jewel, the North Club, was ripe for the taking. But then came Tim Burns.The intervention of the high-ranking official was like a cold splash of water on a grease fire. Sydney Harvey, in particular, felt the sting of disappointment. The Harvey family had nearly lost their primary protector, Adam Somner, in the opening gambit of this conflict. They had bled for this ground, and to see the prize snatched away by legal technicalities was a bitter pill to swallow."Mr. Burns is merely ensuring that the transition of