Elias swiftly gathered his most trusted men—people who had fought alongside him through countless life-and-death situations. If an enemy still lurked among them, then there was nothing more he could do.
In the dimly lit meeting room, candlelight flickered, casting shadows over the solemn and contemplative faces of those present. Elias's gaze swept across the room, his expression cold and severe as he finally spoke—
"You are the men I trust most. I do not doubt you."
"But we have a breach. My base was infiltrated. Today, it was Livia who was kidnapped. That is something I will never tolerate."
There was no rage in his voice—not even a hint of emotion. His tone was disturbingly calm, yet everyone instinctively tensed.
"Our enemy is stronger and more cunning than we anticipated." His sharp eyes scanned the room as he continued in a low, steady voice, "So, from this moment forward, I will restructure my forces."
He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade, his tone unwavering—
"Each of you will select only the most trusted among your ranks to form the new core team. The rest will be reassigned to handle regular family affairs and will no longer be involved in covert operations."
A brief silence followed his words. No one had expected such a decision. This meant that the vast underground network they had built would shrink significantly, and many among them would no longer be privy to critical missions.
"Boss…" Someone spoke in a low voice, seemingly trying to plead their case.
Elias raised a hand to silence them, his tone firm yet not unkind.
"I am not casting them aside, nor will I let any of my men suffer."
"But from today onward, I no longer need a large organization—I need an absolutely loyal team."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Everyone understood the weight of his words.
Elias leaned against the table, tapping his fingers lightly against its surface before continuing—
"The fact that our enemy dared to deploy an armed force against me suggests that their background is far more complicated than we imagined. If they truly have military ties, then sheer numbers on our side will mean nothing."
"Instead of spreading our resources thin, I would rather hone my core force to be sharper and more precise. This ensures not only loyalty but also efficiency in executing orders."
He lifted his head, his gaze piercing. "You follow me not to be sacrificed needlessly, but to survive. To win."
For a moment, the air itself seemed to freeze. Then, the oldest member of the group gave a solemn nod and said in a deep voice—
"I understand, Boss."
One by one, the others followed, nodding in agreement. There was no resentment in their expressions—only steadfast determination.
These were men forged through fire and blood, and they understood what Elias's decision truly meant.
—He wasn't just seeking revenge.
He was seeking victory.
And that victory… had already begun.
The next morning, Elias once again walked through the streets, his steps steady, his expression cold. The morning light cast long shadows across the worn brick walls and graffiti-covered alleyways. At his arrival, vagrants and small-time gangsters instinctively backed away, their eyes filled with wariness and respect.
In an abandoned tavern, Red was already waiting. He leaned lazily against the counter, idly spinning a short dagger between his fingers, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
"Boss, here for a drink?" He lifted a half-empty bottle with a mocking grin.
Elias shot him a glance, uninterested in the banter, and stepped inside, scanning the gathering of street gang members. These men weren't affiliated with any major power—they were smugglers, enforcers, and opportunists who had previously made a living from petty crimes. But precisely because of their obscurity, they were the perfect candidates for an independent intelligence network.
"I've looked into your people." Elias finally spoke, his tone devoid of warmth. "They haven't been infiltrated by rival factions, nor have they drawn unwanted attention. Good."
Red whistled. "So, what? You're officially recruiting us 'wildcards' into your little operation?"
Elias's eyes darkened slightly, his patience wearing thin. "Cut the crap. Have you prepared what I asked for yesterday?"
Red raised an eyebrow before setting the dagger down, his interest piqued. "You really don't trust Marcellus, huh? What—because he took your precious girl?"
Elias frowned but remained silent.
Seeing this, Red smirked and stepped closer, his voice carrying a teasing lilt—
"Come on, admit it—you care a lot about Livia."
Elias met his gaze for a long moment before exhaling softly. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips—one laced with helplessness rather than amusement.
"Think whatever you want."
Red blinked, clearly dissatisfied with such a half-hearted response. He pressed further—"Oh? Then swear it. Swear that your feelings for Livia are nothing more than a sense of duty."
Elias hesitated. Then, without answering, he turned and walked toward the door, his voice trailing behind him—
"Keep an eye on Marcellus. Less talking, more working."
Red watched him leave, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips.
"Stubborn as ever, Elias."
But his silence…
Might have been the clearest answer of all.