With the second wave of battle concluded…
night fell.
The city's neon lights flickered to life.
Lighthouse Hotel.
In the underground parking lot, a dozen bounty hunters crept among parked cars.
Even after watching over twenty fellow hunters cut down mercilessly at the hotel entrance,
their hunger for the "huge bounty" did not fade.
But they dared not confront the hotel's assassins head-on.
Instead, they waited.
Waited for the next High Table enforcement squads to arrive…
Then,
in the chaos of crossfire,
they would strike from the shadows,
snatch a head or two,
and collect a handsome reward.
All of this…
was seen by Alex Cross.
But he did not care.
In his hand, he calmly held the crimson insignia,
waiting for the third High Table assault.
Giselle Gang – Irene's Office.
Irene sat behind her desk, flipping through files.
Bruno, Harold, and Viggo sat smoking on the sofa in silence,
watching,
waiting for Irene's decision.
Her brow was furrowed.
Three hours ago, Susie had asked her to take her family away from Lighthouse Hotel for two days.
No explanation was given.
But Irene, sharp as ever, sensed something,
her new employer was preparing for something big.
Sure enough, as her men reported back,
two waves of heavily armed, near-military strike teams had already tried to storm the hotel.
Both had been annihilated.
That was exactly why Bruno, Harold, and Viggo had come.
Viggo argued:
if the enemy could send nearly two hundred men twice,
a third and fourth strike were certain.
No matter how strong the Lighthouse was,
sooner or later, they'd be overwhelmed.
He urged the others,
rather than keep following the Lighthouse,
they should seize this chance to form a four-man alliance,
carve up the Night Demon's territory,
and stake their claim in New York's underworld.
Bruno and Harold hesitated.
They remembered the Lighthouse's brutal methods all too well.
So they turned to Irene for the final say.
But Irene didn't answer.
She continued flipping through gang dossiers,
searching for a way to take over the Night Demon's former turf without a fight.
Her silence came from conviction.
She stood firmly with the Lighthouse.
Her new "weapons distributor" title had already filled her coffers.
Even selling at only slightly below market prices,
the volume was staggering compared to her old retail business.
Steady supply from the hotel and clubs,
and the terrifying power backing it all,
unimaginable.
She was certain.
The hotel would not fall.
Her role would be to prepare a gift once the battle ended,
not to sit idle like Harold and Bruno, puffing cigars and pushing responsibility onto her.
An hour later, Irene finally closed the files and looked up.
"You've been waiting so long, must I really spell it out for you?"
The three men turned toward her.
Her tone was calm, cold:
"You can leave. Whatever you decide, I remain with the Lighthouse."
"…Fine."
Viggo stood first.
He glanced at Irene, then at Bruno and Harold.
"Our cooperation stands, for now, we'll keep targeting the Night Demon's territory. The rest… we'll decide later."
He left.
Harold hesitated, then followed Viggo out, casting Irene one last complicated look.
Only Bruno remained.
He sat quietly, then asked:
"…Tell me, what chance does the Lighthouse really have of winning?"
Irene smiled with utter confidence,
imitating Alex Cross's tone:
"Certain victory."
Perhaps waiting for midnight fatigue to set in,
or perhaps the High Table delayed, unsure how many squads to commit,
but the third wave came late.
Five full hours later.
Past midnight, when New York's streets lay silent.
On the hotel monitors, headlights appeared.
"...One, two… five, six!"
"Mr. Cross Six buses this time, about 180 men!"
Ramsey's voice jolted Alex Cross awake.
He looked at the screen.
Six buses stopped near the hotel entrance.
Wave after wave of enforcers poured out.
This time, their armor had not improved,
but their weapons had changed.
At least a third carried Mossberg 930 shotguns.
Clearly, the High Table intended to fight fire with fire.
Alex Cross only smiled faintly.
He opened his palm.
The crimson insignia gleamed in his hand.
Inwardly, he spoke the command:
"Use… Emergency Squad Insignia. Summon ten… Rogue Warriors."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
pat reon .com / Samorash
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!