Chapter 177 Black Fox Crisis
The air in Luminous Hall's top-floor office was thick with tension; unease seemingly hanging in the room. Black Fox, nursing a bruised face and a casted arm, sat slumped behind his massive desk, his usual swagger replaced by a brooding silence. Around him, various branch heads treating their own injuries echoed his grim mood.
Melissa was wearing a tight cheongsam, standing behind him with a face obscured in the dimly lit room. The only source of light came from the glowing tip of his cigar, casting shadows on the faces of the men gathered around the desk.
"Boss, we can't just let this slide," one of them growled, his voice laced with anger. "They walked in here, trashed our place, and humiliated us in front of the whole city!"
"We're the Black Foxes, for God's sake!" another chimed in, slamming his fist on the table. "If we don't retaliate, we might not maintain our foothold in Wavehaven. We'll be a laughingstock!"
Black Fox took a long drag from his cigar, the smoke curling toward the ceiling. He was at a loss. Times had changed; the days of open gang warfare were long gone. The police had cracked down hard, and the younger generation had little interest in joining their ranks. Even the Black Foxes, once the undisputed rulers of Wavehaven's underworld, could barely muster two hundred men.
And these newcomers… they were different. Ruthless. Organized. They had stormed Luminous Hall with over three hundred men, each one seemingly trained in combat. The Black Foxes had been completely outmatched.
In his mind, retaliation seemed like suicide. However, inaction meant losing face, territory, and everything they had built.
Black Fox glanced at Melissa, hoping for a solution. However, she remained silent, her face unreadable.
The phone ringing cut through the tense silence. He glanced at the caller ID; Brother Seven.
The Seven Brothers were a different breed. They are a gang led by seven gangsters who call each other brothers.
As old-school gangsters, they had long since retired from the day-to-day running of Wavehaven's underworld, but their influence remained absolute. They were the keepers of the old ways, the enforcers of the unwritten rules that kept the city from descending into chaos.
Black Fox answered the call respectfully. "Brother Seven."
"Black Fox," a gravelly voice boomed through the receiver, "We've heard about your… predicament."
"Brother Seven," Black Fox said, his voice tight with frustration, "Tell me, was this within the rules? These outsiders think they can waltz into our city and do whatever they please!"
A heavy sigh came from the other end. "Rules? These days, the only rule that matters is power. And these newcomers… they have it in spades."
"They even had the audacity to pay us a visit at the council hall," Brother Seven continued, disgusted. "Brother Three tried to reason with them, but they… they crippled his men right in front of us. Walked out without a care in the world."
Black Fox was stunned.
'To attack Brother Three's men… in front of the Seven Brothers? It was a blatant act of disrespect; a declaration of war.' He felt uneasy.
"Black Fox," Brother Seven said seriously, "Take my advice; cut your losses and give them what they want. These people… they're not playing by any rules. They have powerful backers who you can't cross. Push them, and they'll crush you. They'll take everything you hold dear."
Black Fox hung up , his hand trembling. He was trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place. He slammed his fist on the desk, his frustration boiling over.
"I've never backed down from a fight!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room. "I'm not about to start now! These outsiders think they can scare us and take over our city? I'll show them what happens to those who underestimate the Black Foxes!"
He grabbed a machete from the wall, its blade gleaming under the dim lights.
"Gather the men!" he yelled, his eyes blazing with defiance. "We're going to pay these newcomers a little visit. Tonight, we settle this; one way or another!"
His gangs, their faces fearful and excited, roared their approval.
Black Fox turned to Melissa, his expression softening slightly. "You stay here. This is men's business, so you don't need to be involved."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice low and serious. "You've served me well, Melissa. If… things go south, don't try to avenge me. Just disappear. Go somewhere safe and start a new life."
His gangs exchanged uneasy glances. This was it then. Their boss was prepared to fight to the death.
However, only Melissa understood the true meaning behind his words. Black Fox, for all his bluster, was not a fool. He knew the odds were stacked against them. He was giving her a way out, a chance to escape the coming storm.
She looked at him, her heart heavy with pity and admiration. In this crisis, this man whomshe had manipulated for the past six years, was showing more courage and loyalty than she ever thought he could.
She instinctively reached for her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen.
'Could I ask for help? Could I involve my family in this mess?' she asked herself inwardly.
However, she quickly got a negative answer.
It was impossible. Her father, the head of the Clark family, would never stand for it. He'd disown her, disband the Black Foxes, and unleash his wrath upon those who dared to threaten her.
She looked at Black Fox. Seeing his hand gripping the machete and his determined look, she sighed. There was no other way.
She'd stand by his side, for better or for worse.
But just as Black Fox turned to leave, his hand on the doorknob suddenly froze. He turned back, his eyes wide with surprise before nodding curtly.
A figure stepped into the room, his footsteps silent as his presence calming the tension around the room. He was young, dressed simply in a white shirt and slacks, his face an unreadable mask.
He said nothing, but his arrival spoke volumes.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
