About ten minutes later, the four SUVs pulled up to the hotel entrance.
The moment the assassins dragged out the four gang bosses, their composure shattered.
It was no surprise.
That night's gunfight—everyone in the underworld had heard about it.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads, knees turning weak.
But the assassins didn't give them time to steady themselves.
Those who could still walk were hauled inside. Those who couldn't were carried.
In a daze, the four were dumped into the second-floor manager's office.
Thud—!
The first to collapse to his knees was the weakest of them all—Takuya Matsuo.
For all the people he'd trafficked, for all the organs he'd sold, it didn't matter.
The more blood on his hands, the greater his fear now.
The others weren't much better.
They didn't fall straight to their knees like him, but none dared lift their heads.
The room was silent.
Alex sat in the boss's chair, studying them with amusement.
A hulking Black man.
An aging white man.
The trembling Japanese.
And a mixed-race Russian woman who still carried a certain allure.
The pressure mounted until finally Alex broke the silence.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
The only woman—Irene Lyudmila—was the first to respond.
"Respected sir, forgive my ignorance, but I cannot guess your purpose… However, if you give the order, I will comply."
Her voice trembled, but the words were fluent. Clearly rehearsed on the way over.
Her statement opened the floodgates.
Bruno Leo, Harold Black, and finally Takuya Matsuo all rushed to declare their willingness.
But Alex's reply wasn't words.
It was a bullet.
Bang—!
The round punched into Takuya's right leg.
"Ahhh—!"
His scream tore through the room, making the other three shudder violently.
Their last shred of defiance collapsed. They sank to their knees.
Two assassins moved in, gagging Takuya with cloth until the sound was stifled.
Only then did Alex offer a cold excuse.
"I don't like people who aren't eager to answer my questions."
Cold sweat dripped down three foreheads.
Alex let the silence linger, giving them time to let the fear sink deeper.
Then he spoke again.
"The reason I brought you here is simple. I want you to fold your territories and businesses into the Lighthouse Organization."
"I agree!"
This time Harold Black blurted first, followed quickly by Irene Lyudmila and Bruno Leo.
Takuya tried to mumble through the gag, desperate.
Bang—!
Another shot. This one into his left leg.
"Mmmph—!"
The gag muffled his howl, eyes rolling as pain nearly knocked him out.
Alex sneered, again offering a cold justification.
"I don't like people who refuse to answer my questions."
The other three trembled violently, each swallowing hard.
Alex lowered the gun, picked up his coffee, and took a slow sip.
His sharp gaze swept over them.
By now, the fear had sunk bone-deep.
Only one final strike was needed to crush all thought of betrayal.
"I am a fair man. I don't care what you've earned before. From now on, you will hand over half your quarterly profits. In return, the Lighthouse will guarantee your lives."
The three listened in dead silence, too afraid to even breathe.
Just as they were about to voice their agreement, Takuya ripped the gag loose and wailed:
"I agree! I agree! Respected sir, whatever you say, I'll do it!"
His words broke into sobs.
Alex only looked at him with that faint, mocking smile.
Then he raised the gun again and, without hesitation, put a bullet through Takuya's skull.
Bang—!
Blood sprayed.
The three survivors froze, pupils wide, minds blank with shock.
Until Alex's voice dragged them back into reality.
"I hate being interrupted when I'm speaking."
His tone was ice.
The kind of chill that crawled into the marrow.
A wave of his hand.
The assassins dragged Takuya's corpse away to be fed into the incinerator.
Alex holstered his weapon, sat back down, and sipped his coffee once more.
Then came his orders.
"The three of you—when you return, bring your families here to the Lighthouse Hotel."
"My advice—do it willingly. Otherwise, your end will be ugly."
"And one last thing!"
"I'm giving you one week. Use your gangs' methods to expand. I expect your territories to be at least twice their current size by the time the week is over."
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