Chapter 44: The Intruder
Madness!
The gangs under Brown's jurisdiction had fallen into utter chaos. No sooner had he left than reports began flooding in.
For unknown reasons, many small clans had suddenly started shooting at each other, killing one another off. Some mid-sized clans were also drawn into the fighting. Even worse, the four major clans Badim, Gabriel, Stan, and Jose were out of control as well.
Shocked, Brown considered turning back but decided against it.
The matter the Ten Donss were meeting about was too serious offending them was unthinkable.
So all he could do was order his men to calm things down as best they could, to contain the situation until his return.
For the leaders of smaller gangs, contacting the Ten Donss was nearly impossible. Medium-sized forces might manage it, as the Fells family had once done but it took time. Brown's sudden departure had cut him off from his network.
Sending subordinates in his place lacked the authority his presence carried.
The Fells family's method of inciting chaos was, in truth, quite simple.
For small clan leaders, the chance to align themselves with the Fells family was irresistible. Rivalries and grudges among gangs were commonplace a few words, even a hint of support for one group, could spark bloodshed. If the Fells family disliked a particular faction, plenty of gang leaders would eagerly volunteer to "take care" of them no direct involvement needed.
As for the mid-sized clans, their leader Haze was known to be one of Brown's favored figures among the Ten Donss. So all they had to do was fabricate a story about "orders from the Ten Donss," and fighting would erupt. Even if the rumor were checked, confirmation would take time.
Of the other seven major families besides the Fells, all appeared to have bribed individuals to stir up trouble. With the Badim, Gabriel, Stan, and Jose clans in turmoil, the only unknowns were the remaining three main clans and those had to be handled quickly.
Thus, Haze personally went to meet their leaders.
He feared their interference might hinder his plan's progress.
After all, to outsiders, Brown was still within his own territory.
Such large-scale conflict, yet the Ten Donss hadn't shown up how strange.
Some might even believe the Fells family's claim that everything had been ordered by the Elders themselves.
Even if there were doubts, few would act the Fells family's power made people look the other way. The more people died, the better for the survivors; rebuilding would be easier. Some even wanted the chaos to grow, to profit from it later.
Either way, the feud among the great families was beyond their interference.
The Fells family's plan had been set in motion Haze ago it had simply now been triggered.
"Badim is dead!"
"The Stan and Jose families have suffered heavy losses their leaders were killed suddenly... The Fells family stepped in to suppress the unrest and implied it was done under your orders."
"…"
Days later, far away on another continent, Brown grew increasingly despondent. Frantic messages came nearly every hour. The speed and scale of the disaster had exceeded all expectation.
It was completely out of control.
"Damn it!"
Brown smashed his phone in rage, cursing furiously.
He couldn't understand why it had failed. He had recorded everything, sent messages, warnings even footage to every gang in his district.
"It's too late…"
Brown's face went pale.
He should have acted immediately!
He had underestimated the destructive potential of the Fells family. These gangsters rebellious scum, Haze suppressed were sick of the Ten Donss' rules. Deep down, they knew that with the Fells family's backing, they might not be the ones to suffer.
The more rivals who died, the greater their own chances of rising.
The Fells family had unleashed the evil within the underworld.
That evil was spreading and by now, almost impossible to contain. Even if they mobilized armed forces or the army itself, the results would fall short.
He should never have left. He'd missed the moment to extinguish the flames and now, the fire was everywhere.
Worse still, the Ten Donss' discussions already two weeks Haze were still ongoing. He couldn't leave!
…
"Master, the Ten Donss have dispatched large forces, ruthlessly exterminating rebels. Our headquarters has also been attacked destruction is imminent! They're purging all our assets. Once other gangs hear, they'll quickly adjust their positions…"
"We don't have much time. We must hurry."
The next day, Haze returned alone to one of his old haunts climbing the mountain to Brown's mansion on foot.
He didn't bring a car.
Listening to David's report over the phone, Haze smiled faintly and hung up.
The vast palace before him was at its weakest. Most of Brown's men were locked in bloody battle against the Fells family and their recruited rebels.
The Fells controlled considerable power now, but still only a fraction of what the Ten Donss commanded. A direct confrontation would be difficult the Elders' private army was too well-equipped, far beyond anything the mafia possessed.
Still, they could stall and distract them consume their strength.
"Who's there?"
Several guards spotted him, shined their flashlights, and raised their weapons.
"Enemy," Haze replied simply.
The next instant, a flick of his finger sent small stones piercing through their skulls blood spraying white in the floodlights.
As he walked through the gate, disappearing inside, gunfire erupted alarms blaring through the palace.
Floodlights snapped on across the compound, dazzlingly bright.
Under the glare, within the high walls and the empty square, a lone figure's footsteps echoed approaching steadily toward the center.
Zsh… zsh… zsh…
Around him, shadows shifted dark figures dropping from above, surrounding him in a circle.
Haze smiled faintly, scanning the scene eighteen in total, all Nen users.
Among them was Green, the boy in the baseball cap he'd met before.
Their auras were familiar.
"Head of the Firth family… may I ask what business brings you here at such an hour?" a cold-faced man said, arms crossed.
Even from ten meters away, Haze could smell blood on him.
"Isn't it obvious?" Haze replied calmly.
"Mr. Haze… are you sure you won't reconsider? You're strong, but we have numbers. We don't care about the mafia's world but if you turn back now, you might live a little Hazeer. When the boss returns, he'll deal with you himself. If you act now, you're just hastening your own death not a smart move."
Green grinned, showing his teeth.
"Have they all left? The original number should have been higher…" Haze asked coolly.
"Well… they went to clean up the mess you made. Satisfied?" a woman snapped irritably.
"Easy, Uka. The big shots aren't here he should be glad," another said with a laugh.
"Tsk."
"Most of you are from Meteor City, aren't you?" Haze said, unbuttoning his jacket.
"Yes," Green replied with a bright smile.
"No wonder… your telekinesis is quite something. Suddenly I find myself very interested in your hometown."
He removed his coat, slowly rolling up his sleeves.
A dozen people watched his every move, killing intent rising.
Haze crouched and placed his folded clothes on the ground.
Then his entire body burst into Nen energy. He looked up at them.
"Come."
He had barely finished speaking when a shadow flashed behind him a knife slicing toward his neck.
"Did you really think we'd wait for you to finish undressing? Idiot the fight already started!"
BANG!
But before the man could strike, a massive hand clamped over his face, slamming him into the ground, leaving a crater.
Dust burst into the air. The man's leg sank thirty centimeters into the floor but Haze didn't step on him. He simply leapt back to gain distance.
"Quick reflexes… looks like that was more a warning than a real attack," Haze said calmly, brushing dust from his foot.
Green's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Though his comrade had dodged, he was now kneeling, doubled over, coughing up thick clots of blood his insides shattered despite his psychic barrier.
This man… was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
"You've seen my fights, haven't you? The Heavens Arena match that was half a year ago. You don't seriously think I haven't improved since then, do you? You're underestimating me…"
Seeing Green's face change, Haze smirked.
With a snort, he spread his palms, and a strange, human-faced button materialized in the air.
"Power on!"
"Loading game…" the button shouted.
"Go!" Green yelled, lunging forward, telekinesis surging.
In an instant, over a dozen ghostly figures attacked in perfect coordination.
"Hero… first one I've drawn in a while. Not bad," Haze murmured, watching them close in.
The game had begun.
(End of Chapter)