...
A group of figures in dark cloaks, faces obscured by the hoods they wore, stood scattered across various vantage points, their eyes trained on the burning wreckage. They blended seamlessly with the shadows, unseen by the city's bustling citizens. Though they were separated physically, their communication was constant.
Quiet, tense voices crackling through the tiny earpieces of their headset.
The voice of a man, a sharp and cold came through first, slicing through the static. "Multiple safe houses compromised. They hit us hard," he muttered. He stood atop a building overlooking the wreckage of one of the smaller headquarters, his posture rigid as he scanned the scene below. "Whoever did this knew exactly where to strike."
Another voice joined in, this one calmer, but with an edge of curiosity. "It wasn't a random attack. They were precise. We didn't even get the chance to defend. Our men were wiped out before they knew what hit them."
"That's because we weren't dealing with amateurs," a third voice chimed in, colder than the rest. The speaker, a cloaked figure hidden in the shadows of an alley, leaned against the wall, arms crossed as they observed the burning remains from below. "This was surgical. Someone knew exactly where to strike us, and they sent trained killers. This wasn't just a message. This was war."
The first voice, still filled with tension, spoke again. "But who has the guts to go against us? Against Dragon Talon? Who would be stupid enough to provoke an organization with international reach? It's suicide."
A long silence filled the line for a moment as the others contemplated the weight of that question. Dragon Talon was feared across the globe for their precision, brutality, and influence. Few dared to challenge them, and those who did rarely lived to tell the tale.
Finally, a fourth voice crackled into the conversation. "It's not stupidity. It's arrogance. Whoever this is, they're confident—too confident. They didn't just attack one location; they hit multiple safe houses in one night. That takes planning. Resources. And more importantly… someone who thinks they can stand against us."
The figure in the alley shifted, their voice sharp with suspicion. "Whoever this is, they know our organization. They know where to hit. I wouldn't be surprised if they had inside help."
"You think someone from within turned on us?" the second voice asked, disbelief lacing their tone.
"It's possible. No outsider could've known the location of all these safe houses without help. But if it isn't an insider, then…"
A pause.
"Then they're dealing with someone with immense resources," the cold voice continued, the figure's hand clenching into a fist. "Someone with access to advanced tech and skilled mercenaries. This isn't some petty gang trying to make a name for themselves."
"The Xia family?" the first voice suggested, though there was uncertainty behind it. "They've been involved with us for a while. Maybe they're playing both sides."
The second voice responded with frustration. "The Xia family doesn't have the kind of reach or tech we're talking about here. They wouldn't risk taking us on directly. This is bigger than them."
Silence stretched across the connection again as the cloaked figures continued watching the burning buildings. Their minds raced with possibilities, trying to piece together who could have orchestrated such a bold and devastating attack. In the distance, the wail of sirens grew louder as emergency responders made their way to the scene, but the shadows remained still, hidden from view.
"Then who?" the first voice finally asked, breaking the silence.
A different voice, one that had remained quiet until now, finally spoke up. It was low, almost a whisper, but filled with certainty. "There's only one person in Luminae who's made enough moves recently to challenge us like this. Zastan Williams."
The name hung in the air like a heavy weight, and for a moment, no one spoke.
"Zastan Williams?" one of them repeated, his voice filled with skepticism. "The kid who's been expanding that ridiculous milk tea business? You're saying he did this?"
"He's not just a businessman," the whispering voice continued. "We've underestimated him. The Xia family made the mistake of hiring us to deal with him, but clearly, they didn't understand who they were dealing with."
"Even so," the second voice added, still disbelieving, "Zastan Williams is just one person. He couldn't have pulled this off alone."
"He's not alone," the whispering voice responded sharply. "He has resources, men, and more importantly, power. We've all seen the reports. He's been recruiting, building something behind the scenes. And whoever he's working with… they have enough tech to outclass even our best operatives."
The first voice scoffed, though there was a hint of unease. "Even if this Zastan kid has resources, it's only Luminae. He can't touch the full strength of Dragon Talon. This is just a local setback."
"That may be," the whispering voice replied, "but this is more than a setback. He's challenged us directly. If we don't respond in kind, we'll look weak. And you know what happens if Dragon Talon looks weak, don't you?"
Silence. They all knew. Dragon Talon thrived on fear and reputation. If word got out that they had been attacked and couldn't retaliate, it would damage their standing not just in Luminae, but internationally. That wasn't something the organization could afford.
"So what do we do?" the third voice finally asked, his tone more measured now. "Take him out?"
"We wait for orders," the whispering voice said. "But mark my words. This isn't over. Zastan Williams has made his move. Now it's our turn."
...
The Xia family's main branch had always maintained a level of indifference toward the struggles of the secondary branch. They had heard whispers of the conflict brewing between Zastan Williams and their less important relatives, but they had never considered it significant enough to warrant their attention. After all, Zastan was just one individual. A rather wealthy and resourceful one, perhaps, but still just one man. The secondary branch, with its influence and resources, should have been more than capable of handling the situation without any external interference.
At least, that was what the head of the Xia family had believed. His assumption was that Zastan would be dealt with swiftly, like countless others who had challenged the family's authority in the past. It seemed simple enough. But as the days passed, troubling news began to reach his ears. First, there were rumors of skirmishes, then the quiet disappearance of several Dragon Talon operatives sent to deal with Zastan, and finally, the most damning of all: reports of multiple deaths from the secondary branch.
Several members of his own bloodline had been killed in the conflict with Zastan.
When the confirmation of these deaths arrived, something shifted in the head of the Xia family. What had been a mere irritation, a minor concern, now transformed into something personal. The deaths of their people could not go unanswered. The pride of the Xia family had been wounded, and Zastan had shown himself to be far more dangerous than anyone had initially believed. It was time to put an end to this once and for all.
Sitting in his expansive office, surrounded by relics of his family's power and legacy, the head of the Xia family contemplated his next move. His eyes flickered over a portrait of his ancestors, the ones who had built the empire that now stretched across nations. He couldn't allow a single man to challenge the Xia name. No, this needed to be dealt with decisively, and with such force that no one would dare cross them again.
He reached for the phone, dialing a secure line connected to one of the higher-ups in the Dragon Talon organization. The phone rang twice before the gruff voice on the other end picked up.
"Who's this?" the voice asked, a tone of mild curiosity mixed with impatience.
The Xia family head's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it now. "It's Xia Wu. I need to speak with you about the Williams situation."
There was a brief pause, followed by a chuckle on the other end of the line. "Ah, Zastan Williams... I heard about that mess. Didn't think it'd turn out like this. What do you need?"
Xia Wu's fingers drummed lightly on his desk as he spoke. "I want to escalate the mission. It's no longer a simple job for your operatives. Too many of my people have died, and I want this handled with the utmost priority."
The man from Dragon Talon didn't respond immediately. "You want us to commit more resources? We're already stretched thin in Luminae, and from what I've heard, Williams isn't going down easily. This won't be a cheap request."
Xia Wu's voice hardened. "I'm not asking for more men. I'm turning this into a bounty."
There was a pause, and the man on the other end chuckled again, but this time with more interest. "A bounty, you say? Now you've got my attention. What's the offer?"
Xia Wu leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he delivered the next words with cold precision. "One billion dollars. I'm offering a billion for Zastan Williams' death."
The silence on the other end of the line stretched for a few seconds before the man from Dragon Talon let out a low whistle. "A billion dollars? Well now, that's something worth listening to. You're serious?"
"Deadly serious," Xia Wu replied, his voice chilling. "This man has crossed us for the last time. He's already taken lives from my family. I don't care who takes him down—just that it gets done. The bounty is open to anyone capable of killing him."
The higher-up from Dragon Talon chuckled again, this time more sinisterly. "One billion... well, that changes things. I'll post the bounty immediately. I can guarantee that with that kind of money on the table, you'll have every assassin, mercenary, and hitman across the globe gunning for him. No one will be able to hide from that kind of heat."
Xia Wu's lips curled into a thin smile. "That's exactly what I'm counting on. Make sure it's known that there are no restrictions. Whoever takes down Zastan gets the reward, no matter where they come from or how they do it."
The Dragon Talon operative grunted in approval. "Consider it done. I'll put it out on the bounty list within the hour. You'll have the world's deadliest people after him by the end of the day."
Xia Wu nodded to himself, satisfied with the outcome. "Good. I want his name off the map, and I want it done as soon as possible."
The higher-up from Dragon Talon laughed one last time, clearly thrilled with the prospect of what this bounty would do. "It's going to be a bloodbath. But for a billion dollars? They'll hunt him to the ends of the earth."
...