Chapter 26

Michael stood in the center of the command room of the MFH headquarters, his eyes staring at the large screen in front of him that was transmitting the news of the defeat of one more Mutiiner group by The Jackal. His right hand gripped the edge of the desk hard, his fingers almost turning white from the force with which he held back his emotions. The news hit him like a crushing blow, not just because of the loss of power over the smaller groups, but because once again, The Jackal showed an advantage that could not be underestimated.

"Jhonny!" he muttered, his voice filled with disgust and seething anger. The name sounded like poison on his lips, and every time he uttered it, it felt like a new wound opening up. "That man is so greedy... scooping up everything he can grab without a second thought!"

Behind him, some of his closest attendants stood awkwardly. They knew that when Michael started ranting like this, there was no point in trying to calm him down. In fact, trying to argue with him would only make things worse. They just stood still, waiting for his next order.

One of them, a large man with piercing eyes named Darren, raised his voice, albeit hesitantly. "Sir, we all know The Jackal has indeed targeted many groups. But---"

"But what?!" snapped Michael, his eyes flashing with anger, facing Darren. "Are you trying to defend them?" Michael's hand moved quickly, hitting the table so hard that a thumping sound filled the room. "Do you think they're just playing around, Darren? They're not targeting other groups for fun. Jhonny is dangerous! And the longer we let him move, the harder it will be for us to stop him!"

Darren immediately lowered his head, trying not to provoke more anger from Michael. The atmosphere in the room became tense, as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the leader's next outburst.

"We were the strongest Mutiiner group all along!" exclaimed Michael, his gaze flicking back to the screen that displayed The Jackal's movements. "We are! MFH! People looked up to us because we had unrivaled power, strategy, and influence. And now what? Now that greedy group shows up, sweeping away everything we built, as if they were the greatest!"

Michael turned and walked back and forth, his hands clenched at his sides. His every step echoed throughout the room, creating a tense atmosphere amongst the loyal foot soldiers.

"What do we know about their weaknesses?" asked Michael suddenly, stopping in the middle of the room and looking at Darren and the others with an expectant gaze. However, all he got was silence.

Someone behind Darren, a woman named Isla, replied cautiously, "Sir, we don't have enough information yet. The Jackals are a relatively new group, and they are very protective of their internal secrecy. We have not been able to find any obvious weaknesses."

Michael snorted in frustration. "Damn! They're more solid than we thought. It's hard to believe a newly established group could be that strong. Jhonny is too smart for a green group leader. But there are always weaknesses..." He squinted, his mind spinning, trying to find an opening he hadn't seen yet.

Suddenly, an old memory flashed through his mind. The face of Alice, a young woman who had been a part of his life for a short time and then he sold her to Jhonny. It was a smart decision in his eyes back then, profitable for him. But now, something was bothering her. Why would Jhonny pay so much for someone like Alice? Why was he interested in her?

A faint smile began to grace Michael's face as the thought grew. "Alice..." he whispered, almost as if talking to himself.

Isla gave Michael a confused look. "Excuse me, sir?"

Michael raised a hand, stopping her before she asked further. "Alice," he said louder this time. "Jhonny bought her from us, remember? A woman who was never really part of the powerful Mutiiner group before. Why her? Why would Jhonny, with all his resources and power, bother buying a seemingly insignificant woman?"

Darren looked up, beginning to realize where Michael's thoughts were going. "You think he might have a relationship... more than just a member of the group?"

Michael nodded slowly. "I think so. He must have a reason for buying Alice, and I'm sure it's more than just tactics or combat. It's about feelings. Jhonny didn't buy Alice without something deeper behind it."

Isla leaned closer, trying to follow her leader's thoughts. "So, what do you want to do about it, sir?"

Michael smiled slyly, a smile that let everyone in the room know that something sinister was being planned. "We're going to capitalize on this. If Alice is really important to Jhonny-in any way-we can use her to divide The Jackal. Jhonny may be a great leader, but even the best leaders can crumble if their trust is shaken from within."

"We'll create a slander," Michael continued. "Spread rumors among The Jackal's people that Alice is a threat. Bring false evidence if necessary. Alice wasn't part of the group to begin with, was she? Then the people there must still be hesitant to fully trust her. Let's use that hesitation as a weapon."

Isla nodded slowly, understanding the plan. "If The Jackal's people start suspecting Alice, they'll start distrusting each other. Trust is the foundation of any strong group."

Michael laughed softly, his voice cold and calculating. "That's right. And without trust, The Jackal will begin to crumble from within. Even Jhonny won't be able to save the group if his own members start doubting him."

"And if Alice really is close to Jhonny," Michael continued, his voice filled with seething hatred, "then we can destroy him through her. Jhonny will be weak before the people he cares about, especially if he harbors feelings for Alice. It will be a beautiful game."

Darren looked a little doubtful, though he tried not to show it. "But, sir... what if Alice doesn't play such a big role? What if we miscalculate?"

Michael glanced at Darren with a cold smile. "That's a small risk. Even if we're wrong, the slander will still break trust in The Jackal. They already face many enemies. Add a threat from within, and they'll start to crumble. Jhonny may be tough, but he can't lead a group that doesn't trust each other."

Isla smiled faintly. "And when they start to crack, we'll be there to destroy them completely."

"Absolutely right," Michael replied, his voice full of conviction. "The Jackals may be a threat now, but not for long. With a little push from us, they'll fall apart. And when that happens, I will destroy Jhonny myself."

Michael's anger boiled beneath his calm smile, and his errand boys knew that this plan would be executed ruthlessly. In his mind, The Jackals had already begun to disintegrate, and it was only a matter of time before they fell into his hands.

"Execute this plan immediately," Michael ordered firmly. "I don't want to wait any longer. The Jackals must be destroyed before they can challenge us further."

His henchmen rushed out of the room, ready to carry out his orders. Michael looked back at the screen in front of him, his eyes blazing with hatred and ambition. In his head, he was already envisioning the destruction of The Jackals-and especially the destruction of Jhonny.