Inside the conference room of the Pengellet headquarters, Ke Luoke sat at the round table, facing the high-ranking members of smaller gangs like the Wild Wolf Society and the Hell's Angels. They were shamelessly dividing up the territories that belonged to the Pengellet family right in front of him.
Ke Luoke's anger simmered beneath the surface, his hands clenched into fists as he stared daggers at them, trying to hold back his rage. If it weren't for the presence of Councilman Jack and several other councilors watching silently from behind, Ke Luoke would have already drawn his gun and started a fight.
The leaders of the small gangs noticed Ke Luoke's restraint and their eyes gleamed with confidence. They assumed the Pengellet family must be severely weakened—otherwise, how could he swallow his anger and sit there listening to them divide his family's territory?
By Pengellet's usual standards, they would have already issued death threats—or even launched an attack—instead of just sitting there quietly while their lands were parceled out.
The gang leaders exchanged glances, growing bolder by the second, certain that today they would make their move, and even the city councilors present wouldn't be able to stop them from grabbing what they wanted.
"Bang!"
A fat, bald man slammed his hand hard on the table, his face full of defiance. "What are you Pengellets going to do? Is there no one here to stand up and lead?"
"Should we just wait here and let them look down on us?" the Hell's Angels leader growled.
Seeing that Councilman Jack and the other officials made no move to stop the chaos, the bald man's smile grew wider. He thought the moment had finally come.
He threw his teacup onto the floor.
The crash silenced the room for a moment before everyone drew weapons, pointing them threateningly at one another.
The bald man, like a gang leader asserting dominance, pointed directly at Ke Luoke. "Either your Pengellet family obediently surrenders the territories of Green, Cameo, Oak, and Cooper districts—"
"Not a chance," Ke Luoke interrupted, his expression fierce, locking eyes with the bald man.
"These four districts are the heart of our family's operations—the source of nearly all our income. Bars, casinos, clubs—everything is there. If we lose them, the Pengellet family will be nothing but a name."
He clenched his fists tighter. "Fat Pig, tell you this: our family fears no threats. If you want those four districts, you'll have to take them from our cold, dead hands."
The bald man sneered, his finger tracing a deadly slash across his own neck as a threat. "Then your Pengellet family is waiting to be wiped out."
Ke Luoke's eyes flashed with murderous intent as the bald man and his gang began to retreat. His fingers twitched toward his gun, considering whether to take them all out here and now. But he quickly dismissed the idea — killing these few wouldn't stop the others, and it might even ignite the wrath of every small gang.
Suddenly, the conference room door swung open.
A handsome boy, about fifteen or sixteen, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a silver sword, walked in.
"Young Lord," Ke Luoke greeted immediately with a respectful bow.
The Pengellet gang members also lowered their heads to show respect.
The young lord's voice rang out through the room.
Even the city councilors, who had been ignoring the bickering, turned to look at the boy with curiosity and scrutiny.
Everyone was eager to see Vega—the young man who, at such a young age, had led a team to completely destroy the Shelby family.
The bald man from the small gang alliance noticed that Vega had come alone, with only a dozen men, nowhere near the legendary army he was supposed to command. He signaled one of his subordinates, who quietly retreated to relay the news outside: Vega had only a handful of men left.
The bald man's heart soared. The last threat from the Pengellet family had vanished. This was their moment.
He laughed scornfully. "So this is what your Pengellet family has been waiting for? A little brat?"
"Is this the leader of your family? Looks like the Pengellet family is finished!"
Vega's sharp gaze swept the room filled with two or three hundred people glaring at one another.
Councilman Jack and his guards sat silently on the side, watching coldly, seemingly indifferent to the brewing storm.
Vega fixed his eyes on Ke Luoke and asked, "Why are there so many people here? Even cats and dogs have shown up."
Before Ke Luoke could reply, Vega's eyes landed on the small gang alliance.
"I don't recall inviting you guys," he said coldly.
"And from what I overheard, you're planning to kill everyone from the Pengellet family and seize their territory."
The bald man snorted and arrogantly pointed at Vega. "Little ghost, today your Pengellet family either hands over those four districts, or disappears from Nacro City."
He was about to continue when, suddenly, he clutched his throat, choking on his own blood as it sprayed across the table.
Without breaking a sweat, Vega drew the "Evil Ghost" hanging at his waist, and with a swift move, slit the bald man's throat.
A sinister glow flickered across the conference room.
The Evil Ghost had arrived.