Iron City began to tremble.
Not from earthquakes or disasters—but from a shift in power.
Since the death of the Sagara couple was announced, the underworld moved faster than ever. Information traded hands. Weapons changed owners. Small gangs searched for protection while major ones prepared for war.
And at the center of it all…the name Aleena Sagara spread like wildfire.
That morning, Aleena stood before her bedroom mirror.
She wore a simple black suit. Elegant but firm. Her hair tied neatly, her face pale—too little sleep, too much grief.
Naomi stood behind her, arms crossed.
"Today you go to headquarters," Naomi said. "Not as the boss's daughter. As the leader."
Aleena nodded softly.
"If anyone tries something—" Naomi paused, eyes hardening, "—I step in first."
Aleena gave a faint smile. "I don't want you hurt."
Naomi snorted. "Relax. I'm hard to kill."
A convoy of black cars rolled out of the Sagara estate.
Four escort vehicles. Bulletproof glass. Cleared roads.
Still, a bad feeling clung to Aleena's chest.
And that feeling…was right.
At a major intersection, the traffic light turned red.
Suddenly—
CRASH!
A massive truck slammed into the lead escort vehicle.
"AMBUSH!" someone shouted through the radio.
Gunfire exploded. Glass shattered. Aleena screamed as her body lurched forward.
"LEENA, DOWN!" Naomi pulled her beneath the seat.
Bullets hammered the car like metal rain.
Naomi drew her gun—steady hands, cold eyes."Open the right door! NOW!"
The car screeched to a halt. Naomi exited first, firing without hesitation.
Aleena trembled. Her breath came in sharp gasps. Time felt distorted.
And amid the chaos…one name echoed in her mind.
Arlo.
Elsewhere, inside Iron City's tallest tower, Arlo stared at his phone.
"Sagara convoy attacked," Raka reported quickly. "Downtown."
Arlo frowned.
"Not our people," Raka added. "Different style."
Arlo stood up."Prepare a team."
Raka glanced sharply. "You stepping in personally?"
"I want to see," Arlo replied coldly. "Who dares cause chaos in my territory."
The ambush grew brutal.
Two escort cars were destroyed. Naomi fought in close combat—knife against knife. Blood splattered the asphalt.
Aleena hid behind a car, ears ringing, hands stained with blood that wasn't hers.
"Please… stop…" she whispered.
Then—
Gunfire ceased.
Another black car stopped at the intersection. Its door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Cold authority radiated from every step.
Black suit. Sharp gaze. A face too perfect for such a cruel world.
Aleena froze.
Arlo.
Their eyes met.
For a moment…the world stopped spinning.
Arlo studied Aleena—no admiration, no pity. Pure calculation.
"Pull back," Arlo ordered his men calmly.
The mysterious attackers retreated instantly.
Naomi positioned herself in front of Aleena, gun raised."Stay away from her."
Arlo lifted an eyebrow. "Relax. If I wanted her dead, she'd be dead already."
The words pierced Aleena's chest.
Arlo stepped closer."This isn't your territory. And this isn't your war."
Aleena forced herself to stand, legs trembling.
"My parents are dead," she said quietly but firmly. "And since then, I've been attacked. So don't tell me this isn't my fight."
Their gazes locked.
Ice against fire.
"There's a third party," Arlo finally said. "And they want us killing each other."
Aleena clenched her fists.
"I don't trust you."
Arlo smirked coldly."The feeling's mutual."
Before leaving, Arlo added softly:
"Watch your head, Aleena Sagara. This city isn't kind to good people."
And somehow…those words sounded more like a warning than a threat.
That night, Aleena couldn't sleep.
Arlo's face haunted her thoughts. His cold stare. His low voice.
Enemy.
Yet also…the man who saved her.
Elsewhere, Arlo stood on his balcony.
"You're interested," Raka said casually.
Arlo didn't respond.
But deep down, one thing was clear—
Aleena Sagara was not as fragile as he had assumed.
And that…made her dangerous.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
Red and blue lights reflected off towering buildings, casting flickering shadows across sealed streets. Blood was cleaned quickly—too quickly, as always.
Aleena sat inside the armored car, trembling silently.
Her hands were ice-cold. Her nails dug into her palms, pain grounding her in reality—proof she was still alive.
Naomi sat beside her, jacket stained with blood. Her jaw was tight, eyes sharp.
"Are you hurt?" Naomi asked shortly.
Aleena shook her head. "No… but—"
She stopped.
Arlo's face surfaced again in her mind. His gaze. His voice. The way he stood like the city belonged to him.
Enemy.Threat.Or… something far more complicated.
Inside the Sagara medical wing, silence pressed heavily.
Doctors treated Naomi and the guards. The scent of antiseptic mixed with fresh blood. Aleena sat in a corner, hugging her knees.
Herman stood before her, pale.
"This was a calculated attack, Miss," he said carefully. "Not a warning. An assassination attempt."
The words made Aleena close her eyes.
An assassination attempt.
"They want me dead," she whispered.
Naomi crouched in front of her."And that's why you need to stop thinking like a victim."
Aleena looked up, eyes trembling.
"I'm not my parents," Aleena murmured. "I wasn't raised for this."
Naomi gripped her shoulders."But the world doesn't care who you were. It only cares who you are now."
Aleena fell silent.
Something inside her cracked… and something else began to harden.
Elsewhere, inside Arlo's tower, the atmosphere was ice-cold.
Arlo sat in his underground war room. Concrete walls. Dim lights. A massive map of Iron City glowed before him, red dots marking conflict zones.
Raka crossed his arms.
"This crossed the line," Raka said. "Daylight attack. That wasn't just a message to Sagara."
Arlo tapped the table slowly."It was a message to everyone."
"And Aleena?" Raka asked. "You sure she's not involved?"
Arlo paused.
Aleena's pale face flashed in his mind. The way she stood despite trembling. The defiance in her eyes.
"She's not behind it," Arlo said finally. "Too clean. Too… honest."
Raka raised an eyebrow. "You don't use 'honest' often."
"That's exactly why she's dangerous," Arlo replied.
That night, Aleena forced herself back to headquarters.
Her office felt different now. Colder. Heavier. The glass walls reflected a woman she barely recognized—tired eyes, unfamiliar strength.
Naomi stood at the door."I'll be outside."
Aleena nodded.
Alone, Aleena opened her father's desk drawer. Her hands trembled as she pulled out a black folder without a label.
Inside—classified documents.
Company names. Offshore accounts. Illegal routes. And one symbol repeated again and again.
A black bird with a broken wing.
Aleena swallowed hard.
"What is this…" she whispered.
Unbeknownst to her, the same symbol stared back at Arlo elsewhere.
Aleena's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She hesitated… then answered.
"Hello?"
The voice was low. Calm. Cold.
"If you want to stay alive," the voice said, "don't trust anyone around you."
Aleena's heart stopped.
"Who is this?" she demanded.
"You survived today," the voice continued. "Next time, maybe not."
The call ended.
Aleena collapsed into her chair.
And somehow…she knew it wasn't Arlo.
On his balcony, Arlo stared into the night sky.
Wind brushed his coat. Iron City glittered below—beautiful and merciless.
"Black bird," Arlo murmured.
Raka turned. "You found the symbol too?"
Arlo nodded."This isn't a small player."
"So sooner or later—"
"We'll have to work together," Arlo cut in.
Raka smirked. "Aleena's gonna love that."
Arlo looked into the distance."She doesn't need to love it. She just needs to survive."
Elsewhere, Aleena stood before her window, staring at the same city.
For the first time since her parents died, she whispered to herself:
I won't die easily.
Two leaders.Two enemies.One shadow looming over them both.
And the war…had only just begun.