"We must bring the wicked to justice!"
Angry voices rose from the crowd, echoing through the halls of the Malavant estate.
Kael Renforth, however, remained unmoved, his calm demeanor betraying only a cold, mocking smile.
Standing beside him, Deven fidgeted anxiously before whispering, "Master, should we take them all down now?"
Deven's voice carried unease. After all, he was the one who had killed Enoc Malavant. If the police intervened, his fate would be sealed. By standing with Kael, he had burned every bridge with the Malavant family—powerful allies whose influence even extended into the police force.
The crowd was momentarily stunned.
"Deven, the butcher of Port Avallon, calling someone 'Master'?!"
Elias Malavant's face twisted in disbelief. Deven had long been one of the Malavant family's most ruthless enforcers. To see him now groveling before Kael Renforth was beyond comprehension.
Elias steadied himself and snarled, "Kael Renforth! Is brute force all you know? Even if you slaughter every last one of us, can you kill morality? Can you silence justice? Your wanton violence will bring retribution upon you!"
His words rang out, appealing to the crowd. Elias, a seasoned businessman and master manipulator, deftly framed Kael as a villain threatening the moral fabric of society.
Kael remained unperturbed. A faint smile played on his lips as he addressed Deven, "No need. Let them summon reinforcements. We'll wait."
Rising from his chair, Kael's gaze locked onto Elias Malavant, sharp as a blade.
Elias felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine.
Kael's voice was low, yet every word struck like thunder.
"No grievance? No enmity? Your family crushed the Denvair name beneath your heel, insulted my wife, and forced others into despair for your gain!"
"Valen Malavant, a tyrant who preyed on the innocent."
"Enoc Malavant, a bloodthirsty despot who ruled with violence!"
Kael raised his hand and pointed directly at Elias, his voice rising like a battle cry:
"And you, Elias Malavant! You rose to power by exploiting the fall of the Denvair family, shamelessly trampling on their legacy. You thought we had no one left to fight back!"
The crowd erupted into chaos. Gasps and murmurs filled the room.
Every accusation was a dagger to Elias Malavant's reputation. His face burned with humiliation, and he stammered, unable to form a coherent response.
Before he could recover, the distant sound of sirens grew louder, and a convoy of police vehicles pulled up to the estate.
Gideon Vortannis's face lit up with vindication.
"Kael Renforth! Your captors have arrived. You'll have your chance to explain yourself—behind bars!"
From the lead car emerged a middle-aged man in a pristine police uniform. The officer moved with authority, leading a well-armed team into the estate.
Gideon's chest puffed with pride.
This was his moment. As the Malavant family's son-in-law, Gideon had climbed the ranks of the Port Avallon police force, rising from obscurity to his current position as precinct chief. Now, by capturing Kael Renforth, he would further cement his place in the Malavant family's good graces.
Gideon hurried toward the officer, his grin widening.
"Mr. Lee! What an honor to see you here in person. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner!"
But Lee walked past him without a glance, his expression as cold as stone.
Gideon froze in place, his forced smile faltering.
Lee's voice carried across the house: "Clear the scene. Now."
His team moved with precision, ignoring Gideon entirely. Within minutes, Enoc Malavant's body was removed, and the bloodstains were scrubbed from the ground.
Gideon's mind raced. Why wasn't he being acknowledged? Wasn't this operation meant to strengthen the Malavant family's grip on the city?
Confusion turned to dread as he realized something was terribly wrong.