In an office building, five men and three women sat around a large round table in a conference room, all clad in business suits, yet remarkably young. The room buzzed with conversation until the door swung open. Silence fell instantly as everyone stood in respect for the man who entered.
He appeared older than the rest, likely in his forties, with thick, bushy eyebrows and messy black hair that clashed with his otherwise formal attire.
"Vice President Borris, welcome, sir," one of the men greeted, stepping forward with a tablet in hand.
"It seems you've all been waiting for a while," Borris said with a light smile.
"Not long at all, sir," the man replied politely, ushering him to the head of the table. Once Borris was seated, he gestured to the others. "You may sit."
With that, the meeting commenced. Representatives from the seven cities of the federal district discussed the Union's development, leveraging resources provided by GULAC.
As the meeting neared its conclusion, the man with the tablet spoke. "Any final ideas or opinions?"
Silence filled the room until a woman tentatively raised her hand. Awkward, unsettled glances passed around the table, and the man with the tablet shot her a sharp, almost threatening stare.
"Mrs. Sydney, you've already made quite a few outrageous suggestions. They're under consideration, but Vice President Borris has yet to approve anything," he said, barely containing his irritation.
"Calm down, Jericho," Borris interjected, tapping the man's hand. "We must listen to the people." Turning his attention to Sydney, he nodded. "Alright, you may proceed, but you're allowed only one request."
Sydney smiled gently. "That's all I need, Mr. Vice President." And with that, she began to speak.
---
Back at the clubhouse, Kai and Anton had just left Kenzo's office. Now alone, Kenzo leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. If this deal went through, he could finally pay off his debts and, if possible, abandon everything to start anew in Thotrium State, a B-Class city. A peaceful life. Though deep down, he doubted that was even possible.
"You look happy today," a familiar voice echoed through the office, snapping Kenzo from his daydream. His fleeting smile twisted into dread as he turned to see a white-haired, muscular man stepping inside. The man wore a long white jacket with the emblem of a black snake slithering across it.
"White Snake… what brings you here?" Kenzo's voice trembled.
The man sat leisurely in front of Kenzo's desk. "Gareth has a message for you, and unfortunately, I was chosen to deliver it."
Kenzo's grip tightened on the armrests of his chair. "Gareth… I haven't heard that name in a long time." His fear mixed with rage. Once, Gareth and Kenzo had been partners, running a gang together in the C-Class city of Yerlon. But Gareth had orchestrated a high-risk heist behind Kenzo's back, using him as bait for a GULAC branch robbery. By the time Kenzo realized the trap, it was too late. GULAC's elite security forces were already upon him. Though he never stepped inside the facility, he was caught outside with fake goods—goods planted by Gareth.
Recalling that betrayal, Kenzo shot up from his seat, slamming both fists on the desk. "You come here to deliver a message from that bastard?!"
White Snake chuckled darkly. "Oh, what's so funny?!" Kenzo snapped.
Before he could react, a gleaming blade was pressed against his throat. One small push, and blood would spill. White Snake's smirk didn't waver. "You talk like you're a victim, Kenzo, but don't forget the truth. You forced yourself on Gareth's younger sister, got her pregnant, and killed her when she refused to cover up your dirty secret. Then, when Gareth confronted you, you framed Liam, knowing full well that Gareth and Liam were at odds over territory. You let Gareth take revenge on an innocent man while you sat back and played the victim."
Kenzo's face drained of color. Sweat trickled down his forehead. "How… did he find out?"
White Snake removed his blade, stepping back slightly. "I'm not here to settle feuds."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Lucas, Kenzo's personal bodyguard, lunged forward, wielding dual axes. "How dare you threaten my leader?!" Lucas roared, bringing one axe down in a powerful vertical slash.
White Snake sidestepped effortlessly. Kenzo's breath hitched. 'Shit… Lucas, what are you doing? White Snake is an elite assassin. Some of the biggest corporations in the Union hire him!'
Now, the two warriors faced each other. Lucas, dual axes ready, stood firm. White Snake simply smiled.
'Why is he just standing there? Is he not taking me seriously?!' Lucas clenched his teeth. A creeping thought nestled in his mind.
"So, has that dreaded thought begun to sink in?" White Snake taunted, running a hand through his long white hair.
Lucas's fury boiled over. "Screw you!" He lunged, both axes swinging in an overhead arc.
White Snake laughed. "Hahaha! You sure have fire in your eyes, but let's see if it burns long enough."
Lucas struck nothing but air.
His stomach dropped. 'No… don't tell me—'
White Snake was suddenly beside him, whispering into his ear. "Some part of you knew that wouldn't work. Just look at your boss—he hasn't moved a muscle."
Kenzo stood frozen, his face pale.
Lucas's worst fears clawed their way to the surface.
"Is that all you've got?" White Snake asked, now a few paces behind him.
Lucas hurled an axe, following with a punch aimed at White Snake's gut.
White Snake blocked the axe with his blade and countered with a sharp kick to Lucas's ribs, sending him skidding across the floor. He crashed against Kenzo's desk, groaning in pain.
Lucas barely had time to react before White Snake's knee came crashing into his face. A sickening crack echoed through the office as blood gushed from Lucas's nose. His head slammed against the metal desk before he crumpled to the floor.
Kenzo remained speechless, still frozen in place.
White Snake sighed, disappointed. "Really? This is your best man?"
Through blurry vision, Lucas smirked. His fingers twitched. 'He missed something…'
White Snake's eyes flicked toward the second axe—flying straight at him.
He barely dodged, but the blade sliced deep across his cheek.
A slow clap filled the room.
"How did I miss that? Or maybe… I underestimated you?" White Snake mused, wiping the blood off his face. His expression darkened. The playful smirk vanished, replaced by a crazed gaze.
He lifted his leg to stomp Lucas's head.
"STOP!" Kenzo cried, for the first time, tears in his eyes.
White Snake halted an inch away from Lucas's skull. "Oh? What makes the weakest crime boss beg for his servant's life? Or… is it your own life you're trying to save?"
Kenzo bowed his head. "Please… I'll do whatever you ask. Just spare him."
White Snake grinned. "Three months, Kenzo. That's how long you have to pay up. Otherwise, Gareth will make sure you and your family suffer." He turned to leave. "And trust me, this is a threat, not a warning."
As the door closed behind him, Kenzo collapsed onto the floor, laughing bitterly. "Just hours ago, I was threatening someone else's family. Now, someone is threatening mine. Karma really is a bitch."
TO BE CONTINUED…