Chapter 178 Bottom line
Inside the room, over half the gang leaders present were at the internet café brawl. They instantly recognized the man before them—Paul Two!
This was the same Paul Two who could take on a hundred men and walk away without a scratch; the one who brought the entire Black Fox gang to heel, forcing their leader to bow!
Elbert reached the long table and settled into a chair. "Everyone, relax. No need for theatrics," he said calmly.
Silence gripped the room. No one dared breathe, let alone speak.
Led by Black Fox, the gang members quickly shed their menacing auras and sat up straight.
Elbert surveyed his injured subordinates, his brow furrowing. He had no affection for the Black Fox gang. Their operations were shrouded in darkness, a stark contrast to his own commitment to righteousness.
He considered his options. Mobilizing the police to bring them to justice was the most straightforward solution. Afterward, he could guide the Black Fox gang toward legitimate business.
"Mr. Paul," Black Fox exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency. "Our gang has been challenged. You have to back us up!"
"Understood," Elbert replied flatly.
"Mr. Paul, a new gang has sprung up in Wavehaven. All of them are outsiders!" Black Fox continued, his voice anxious. "They got hundreds of men in just a few days! They're ruthless and have already challenged several gangs. Today, even the Black Fox gang felt their wrath!"
"Understood," Elbert repeated, his tone unchanged.
His men exchanged confused glances.
'Mr. Paul's reaction seems weirdly down. Could he be… afraid?' they thought.
"Sir," Black Fox pressed, "Rumor has it their leader is no ordinary man. We can't possibly defeat them without your help!"
Elbert remained impassive. Gang violence was not the answer; this was a matter for the police. He saw no reason to involve himself further.
He pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. A click sounded behind him. Melissa leaned forward, a lighter flickering to life in her hand.
The movement drew Elbert's attention to her face, previously hidden in the shadows. Two angry red scratches marred her otherwise flawless complexion.
The wounds were superficial, barely breaking the skin; however, they were prominent on Melissa's face. To anyone else, they would be insignificant, healing within days. But Elbert's blood ran cold.
Melissa Clark, the elegant, untouchable woman who secretly controlled the Black Fox gang, had been injured. And it was clear that the fight had left its mark on her.
Fury washed over Elbert. He felt nothing for the Black Fox gang, but Melissa… Melissa was different.
In his eyes, she was humble, kind, and treated him with unwavering respect and trust. He knew if he asked, she'd follow him to the ends of the earth without a moment's hesitation. He was in her debt.
And if she respected him, he'd move heaven and earth to solve her problems. Her safety was top priority; a line he would not allow anyone to cross.
An invisible wave of energy pulsed from Elbert, chilling the air around him. The lighter in Melissa's hand sputtered and died.
His brow was furrowed, his expression thunderous. She could sense his rage, like a barely-contained inferno threatening to erupt. It was as if a monstrous beast stirred within him, ready to unleash its fury.
She had no idea what triggered this. She only heard Elbert grind out one word in a low voice, "Who?"
"The Dragon Pride Syndicate," Black Fox stammered, caught off guard. "They're led by three brothers. The younger two are both expert fighters, but the eldest… calls himself Godlike. No one's ever seen his face."
"Godlike?" Elbert echoed, his frown deepening. Black Fox clearly knew as little as he did.
Melissa relit the lighter and held it to his cigarette. "Paul," she whispered, "Have you heard of cyborgs?"
Elbert's eyes sharpened. Information about the Dragon Pride Syndicate flashed through his mind.
Vortex Darkwood, Raven Darkwood, Midnight Darkwood. Three brothers, from a family of fighters. Raven and Midnight were both former fighting champions. Vortex, the eldest, had returned from abroad three months ago, his true identity a chilling secret – an A5-level cyborg.
The brothers recently got a lot of money. Within a month, they had amassed over 500 men and plunged headfirst into Wavehaven's underworld, leading to the current chaos.
Elbert's eyes glinted ruthlessly.
"So it was these clowns. No wonder the underworld was in such turmoil." He whispered.
He had seen enough with Melissa's injuries. His initial plan shifted. Letting the Darkwood brothers be arrested wasn't enough; he needed to send a message that resonated throughout the entire underworld.
The message was— [Touching the Black Fox gang, and harming Melissa… You're inviting a storm.]
"Who hurt Melissa?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.
Melissa's heart skipped a beat.
'Is he… concerned for me?' she thought.
The gang members looked at each other in confusion. Only Black Fox seemed to understand as he quickly replied, "It was Midnight. He led the attack today, and Melissa was caught in the crossfire."
"Then he'll be the first," Elbert said, his voice low. He slowly got up.
The gang members stared at him, bewildered before finally understanding. "He's going to take them down one by one! Brilliant!"
"Mr. Paul, we've got eyes on Midnight. He's at a bathhouse right now, with only a dozen men. It's the perfect opportunity to strike!"
"Yeah, Mr. Paul, we're with you! Let's take him down!"
"Grab your weapons, boys! We're going hunting!"
Melissa watched from behind Elbert, a shiver running down her spine. She couldn't explain it, but his aura was terrifying. It was as if a demon had been unleashed, ready to ravage everything in its path.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the image. It must be her imagination. However, a part that had always lurked beneath the surface knew the truth.
This was the enigmatic Mr. Paul, and she had never seen him this angry.
'This chilling aura and barely-contained fury… what was I thinking, underestimating him?'
'If he unleashed his full power, the entire underworld would tremble. And if he lost control… the consequences would be devastating.'
After pondering for a while, she felt troubled.
She knew, with a certainty that sent her chills, that Vortex, Raven, even cyborgs… they were nothing to him. The Dragon Pride Syndicate might be powerful, but they were ultimately just thugs. They didn't deserve to die.
Moreover, she couldn't let Elbert stain his hands with their blood.
Suddenly, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes wide with fear. "Paul," she pleaded, "Don't."
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