As the timer rang on his phone, David took a deep breath and looked down at the contact list. Each of them were the men Jacob had personally chosen to replace the lieutenants of the False Face Society. Those that had passed his tests and therefore recruited to his personal circle of trust.
Though David doubted that Jacob trusted anyone.
He didn't seem the type that was paranoid, just a pragmatic type that didn't believe in things as fickle as loyalty and friendship. In David's opinion, it was what made Jacob so dangerous, he only trusted himself and relied only upon himself. Even when he delegated responsibilities to people, when he needed people to do certain jobs, Jacob was always watching over them closely.
David had felt that before, that unnerving gaze that watched his every more, watched for even the slightest inclination of betrayal. Not that David would, Jacob had already made it clear that he knew of his son and where he lived. David had also seen the way Jacob thought, he could barely understand what was going through his mind, but now he was seeing the plan taking shape.
Miscellaneous tasks that on paper, looked strange and weird, now made sense. The safety deposits brought to light people that were smart, crafty, intelligent and cunning. People that Jacob would use to replace the existing lieutenants of the False Face Society, rather than try and convince the existing ones to join his cause, risking that eventually getting back to Black Mask.
The sparing of the man who stole from him, just to use him as a means to gain a group of high-functioning addicts that he could use to get hooked on Venom. Not loyal, but dependent on him and therefore, reliable people.
Two tasks that in the grand scheme of things, seemed so strange, yet when looked at the whole, with the context behind why made perfect sense. David had only seen the latter in action, but at the time, he had not understood why, now he did. No doubt many had felt the same when Jacob first did the same with the safety deposits.
It was for those reasons, David was going to simply keep quiet and do his best. He had gone in a bit too deep, too quickly and now there was no way out. For his son, he did not want to get on the bad side of Jacob.
Dialling the first number, David took a deep breath. "It's time." He then hung up and called another. It became easier with time, each number call and those two words slipping from his tongue with greater ease. But David knew exactly what he was doing each time he spoke, each time he dialled that phone he was signing the death warrant of dozens of people.
Those deaths were on him.
-X- Line Break -X-
Smiling to himself, the man raised his glass, clinking it against his wife's, the two enjoying a nice anniversary dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot a few men, each sitting at their own tables, carefully surveying the area, just in case an attacker would arrive.
None ever did.
He was in the middle of the False Face Society's territory, no one would be stupid enough to make an assault this far deep. There were garrisons all around, the moment they did attack, they'd be surrounded and gunned down before they could leave. That was if they managed to make their journey here unnoticed.
There were lookouts on every street corner, on every building that made sure no one could enter without being spotted. Black Masks information network was meticulous and perfect, better than his fathers had been.
They could thank the Batman for that.
As bad as he had hit them, he in turn, made them adapt and become stronger to better combat him. 'What's that?' He thought, turning to look over his shoulder as everyone in the restaurant heard the screeching of tires.
Only for his eyes to widen when he saw masked men clambering out of cars, guns raised. Everyone inside screamed, ducking down for cover, his own personal guards rising to their feet and raising their guns to fire. But it was too late, bullets ripped through glass, wood and flesh as dozens inside were gunned down in an instant.
One of them pierced through his shoulder, the man collapsing to the ground, only to look upon his wife, desperately clutching at her gut, blood streaming out from between her fingers. "N-no." He muttered in shock, looking upon his wife, hand reaching out for her as she went still.
"He's over here." One of them men muttered, the crunching of glass sounding as they entered inside. No more bullets were fired, even as plenty of people still remained alive, whimpering and cowering in fear.
However, they weren't the target of this assault, he was.
Something that became very clear when he was kicked onto his back, looking up at the pistol pointed at him. He could stare right down the battle and even for a moment, see the bullet as it came towards him, right before it ripped through his head.
Blood and brains splattering across the floor.
-X- Line Break -X-
All across the city, in a matter of only ten minutes, every lieutenant in the False Face Society was gunned down in a similar manner. Whether they be at home with their families, enjoying a nice family evening. Whether they be out on a date with their wives or girlfriends. Whether they were coming back from the movies with their children. Whether they be at work or in a meeting.
None of them were spared.
Systematically, in a quick and efficient manner, every single one of Black Masks lieutenants were killed. All of it going exactly according to how Jacob had planned it, not a single one surviving the night.
Something Jacob watched unfolds as his phone vibrated with messages, each detailing their success. All the while he leaned back into the comfortable chair behind Black Masks desk, the man in question being dragged through the door moments later, held in the hands of two more Venom enhanced thugs.
He had no doubt attempted to escape down a little secret passageway, maybe link up with a few guards and head back upstairs, or escape through the back entrance. However, Jacob had the entire building surrounded.
Clearly, though the man had not come quietly, fighting when he realised he was trapped. Yet Jacob had brought every high functioning addict he had with him, each supplied with their own dose of Venom they could only use on his orders, or if they were getting overwhelmed.
"My, my, the tables have turned, haven't they, Roman?"
"So you were the one behind this, Jacob?" Black Mask questioned, chuckling humourlessly. "I should have never recruited you after all."
"No, you should have killed me sooner." Jacob retorted. "You wanted to keep me around for as long as possible, then kill me once you found someone more controllable to take my position. However, you let me swim for too long and allowed me all the time I needed to get all the pieces in place."
"I imagine you've recruited enough of my lieutenants? Tell me, how many agreed to your terms. You must have been lucky to not tell the wrong person, careful selection I imagine." Black Mask would have expected a few to not betray him, to report back to him about what Jacob was planning, he was surprised that wasn't the case. It was impressive though that Jacob had selected the lieutenants wisely, not choosing those that could've been tempted to rat him out.
Jacob shook his head. "I've done my own recruitment," his phone buzzed once more. "As of now, every one of your lieutenants is dead replaced by my own."
"Impressive." Black Mask noted, recognising the sense of the action. "But by cleaning the house as you have, you will be left vulnerable to attacks. The other families won't stay back after this, not even with Batman breathing down their necks. What you've done is too much of an opportunity to pass upon."
"I know," Jacob replied. "I never intended to be able to hold onto all of the False Face Societies territories after this move. That's why I've recruited new lieutenants, this is my test for them. If they can't hold onto their territories then they're useless to me. Besides, there are a few members of the False Face Society that you overlooked that are quite influential. I imagine they'll make the first move on trying to take over."
Black Mask at that moment chuckled once more. "I really should have killed you the first time you met."
"Yes, you should have." Jacob rose to his feet, drawing his gun. "I won't make the same mistake you did."
Aiming the gun, Jacob pulled the trigger.