The neon-lit streets of Downtown New Haven buzzed with music, laughter, and nightlife. But in the corner of an upscale bar, tension cut through the noise like a knife.
Aiden sat quietly at the counter, nursing a glass of water instead of whiskey. His sharp eyes scanned the mirror behind the bartender, already noting the men who had followed him inside.
They weren't civilians. Their movements were too precise, too controlled. And they weren't here for drinks.
---
The Young Master Appears
A voice broke the atmosphere—loud, arrogant, filled with disdain.
"So it's true. The ghost of the battlefield hides among peasants."
The crowd parted as Leon Moretti, heir to the brutal Moretti Family, strode in with his entourage. Expensive suit, diamond watch, and the cocky swagger of a man used to ruling the city's streets.
At his side, bodyguards in tailored suits glared at Aiden like wolves circling prey.
Leon smirked and pointed his cane toward Aiden.
"They say a shadow killed those hijackers on Flight 317. Efficient. Elegant. Silent. And then I see you—alone, sipping water like some washed-up mercenary. Tell me… was it you?"
The bar grew silent. All eyes turned.
Aiden didn't move. His calm voice cut through the tension:
"Walk away, kid."
Laughter erupted from Leon's men.
"Did you hear that? He called Young Master Moretti a kid!"
---
The Spark of Violence
Leon's smile turned sharp, his pride wounded.
"No one in this city talks to me like that. Not cops, not gangs, not even the other Families. And you—some nobody—dare?"
He raised his hand, and his guards lunged.
What followed lasted less than five seconds.
Aiden shifted once—fluid, invisible.
A guard's arm snapped. Another hit the floor, choking on broken ribs. A third was hurled across a table, shattering glasses and bottles.
The bar patrons screamed and scrambled for the exit.
Leon's eyes widened. His arrogance cracked.
"You…" His voice trembled. "You really are him."
Aiden's gaze locked on the young master, cold and merciless.
"I told you to walk away."
For the first time in his life, Leon Moretti—young master of the Iron Fangs—took a step back.
---
Aftermath
By the time police sirens wailed outside, Aiden was already gone, slipping into the night like a shadow.
But news of the clash spread instantly. The Moretti heir had been humiliated, his guards crushed in public.
The city whispered louder than ever:
The Silent Blade is back.
And in the halls of power, the other Families smiled darkly. For them, this wasn't just a rumor anymore. It was confirmation.