The dim lights flickered against the walls of the dark office. As Ruby stepped inside, the only sound echoing through the room was the sharp click of her heels against the cold tiled floor. She was a seasoned criminal investigator, and everything about her radiated professionalism. Her sharp eyes pierced through the darkness, scanning everyone present with a calculated gaze.
Will sat behind his desk, dressed in a dark suit, his fist resting lightly on the wooden surface. His unwavering eyes betrayed no emotion. He had anticipated the sudden arrival of this investigator, but he still had no clue about her true intentions.
"Can I help you?" Will asked, his voice calm, laced with an air of practiced mystery.
Ruby didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied every detail of the room as if she were reading an entire history in a single glance. Finally, she locked eyes with Will and spoke in a low voice, "You're Will, aren't you? The new leader?"
Her words didn't surprise him—his name had already spread through the city's underworld—but the hint of doubt in her tone was unmistakable.
"Yes, I am," Will replied confidently, raising an eyebrow slightly. "But how do you know about me?"
Ruby stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "I know more about you than you think. But there are things I can't reveal just yet."
Will didn't move. "If you're looking for something, maybe it's time to say it. Otherwise, I might have to help you in a different way."
The tension between them was thick, every word carrying weight. But beneath the surface, there was also a strange mutual curiosity beginning to take shape.
Ruby smirked slightly, a hint of mischief in her expression. "You're not who you seem to be. Everything about you is wrapped in secrets. I'm here because I'm searching for something that might concern you… something important."
Her words sounded like a veiled threat, yet there was also an unmistakable intrigue in her tone as she fixated on the small details surrounding Will and his operations.
Will leaned back slightly in his chair, exuding an air of calm confidence. "We're all searching for something. But what exactly does my business have to do with you?"
Without hesitation, Ruby reached into her bag and pulled out a small file, placing it on the desk. Inside were photographs and documents, but her gaze remained locked onto Will. "You're preparing for a major confrontation with the Blue Shadow Mafia. Let me be the first to tell you—they've already started moving their pieces. We need to be ready."
But Will wasn't particularly concerned with her warning; he was more interested in how he could use this information to his advantage.
"And you?" he asked, his tone unwavering. "Are you planning to stay neutral, or are you here for something bigger?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, her eyes stayed on him, as if she were reading through him like an open book. "I don't expect you to believe me, but let me tell you this—as the leader of a mafia, you're more of a target than ever before. The longer you wait, the more you'll lose."
Her words carried an underlying threat, yet strangely, there was something compelling about the tension between them. Ruby felt as though she was uncovering something within this man that unsettled her in ways she hadn't anticipated.
The office door swung open suddenly as Jack entered, having noticed that Will was dealing with an unexpected guest. Though he trusted Will's judgment, the presence of a mysterious woman in the office made things complicated.
"What's going on here?" Jack asked casually, his sharp eyes shifting between Ruby and Will with evident suspicion.
Ruby didn't ignore his presence, but she also didn't react to it much. "I was looking for this man. He's giving me the information I need," she said, glancing briefly at Jack.
Jack let out a short chuckle, smirking. "Information you need? Sounds like you're spending way too much time in this office."
But his tone quickly grew serious. "What kind of information?"
Ruby didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shot a sharp look at Jack before finally speaking. "It doesn't matter. In the end, I'll figure out everything I need to. But don't waste this opportunity."
As the conversation unfolded, Will carefully analyzed every word Ruby had spoken. He knew she was hiding something, yet at the same time, he couldn't deny that she might be a key to unlocking certain doors in the complex world of crime.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he reviewed his mafia's plans in his mind before turning back to Ruby. "If what you're saying is true, then it's best we work together. No one survives in this world alone."
Moments of silence filled the room before Ruby spoke again, her tone now more serious.
"The mafia… everything around you… no one truly knows what happens behind the scenes. Even if you're a mafia leader now, you're just a small player in a game far bigger than you can imagine," Ruby said, her voice calm, yet her sharp eyes closely watching Will's reaction.
Will smirked slightly, unfazed by her words. He knew the underworld was full of sudden twists and cunning schemes, but he hadn't expected to face this kind of challenge so early in his journey. "Do you think I don't already know that? Everyone in this world, even the biggest mafias, has their own goals. Every move is calculated. And the game is never what it seems, Ruby."
Under his piercing gaze, Ruby took a slight step back, an unfamiliar feeling stirring within her. Perhaps she had chosen a path filled with challenges, but it seemed that Will was far more prepared for this battle than she was.
Suddenly, a different thought crossed Ruby's mind. "You realize that Blue Shadow won't leave you alone. They've sent their agents everywhere… we need a solid plan."
Before Will could respond, Jack re-entered the room, heading straight for Will. "All this talk about Blue Shadow—do you really think they can break through our defenses that easily?"
Will met Jack's gaze with caution. "Darkness never stands still, Jack. We need to be ready. This time, there's no room for blind trust."
As the days passed, Will's team began preparations for the upcoming battle against Blue Shadow. This wasn't just another mafia conflict—it was a fight for the survival of The Phoenix.
Jack walked into the strategy room where Will was planning alongside his most trusted men. The air was tense with anticipation. "If we want to strike first, we need to be ready to move immediately. There's no room for failure."
Will had decided on an unconventional approach. "Blue Shadow won't see this coming. We'll infiltrate their strongholds, hit them at the perfect moment, then disappear before they can react."
One of the team members hesitated. "But if we do this, we're putting ourselves at serious risk. This is dangerous."
Will scanned the room thoughtfully before speaking. "Risk is part of the game. If we want to succeed, we have to learn to operate under pressure. We move to Plan B if necessary."
At that moment, Ruby stepped in again, this time taking a more assertive stance. "I don't know if this will be enough. You won't be the only ones in this fight. We need to be prepared for the worst."
Will exchanged glances with Ruby before turning back to his team. "If you're willing to work with us, then make sure you're part of our strategy. We can't leave anything to chance."
Days passed, and with each new plan, tensions grew. Jack and Will had grown closer, sharing conversations they had never had before.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Jack asked, watching one of the members train with weapons.
Will turned to him, his voice steady. "I don't think—I'll make it work. With all of you, we can change the game."
Still, he couldn't shake off the memories of his early days in the city. Every step he had taken had been surrounded by danger. Was he really the right person to lead a mafia like this? Did he have what it took to stand against stronger organizations? These questions circled in his mind, though he refused to let them surface.
Suddenly, Ruby stood near him and said, "You can't win this war alone, Will. You need to start building real alliances."
Her tone was different this time—softer, almost as if she were admitting something to herself. There was something strange between them, as if the bright lights above only highlighted their vulnerabilities.
But deep inside, Will knew one thing for sure—the battle was truly about to begin, and everything was on the verge of change.