Great news for certain.

They received even greater news from Serpent. The venom has been developed, poisonous as expected through examinations.

They can never be more ready to face off the Sinister Scales.

———————————

"Argh! Motherf*cker!"

Furious screams echoed in the dark garage, lasting for several long seconds before dispersing.

Bob in expensive clothing cursed vulgarities like it was the end of the world. His Mohawk hair is tilted to one side, making him look like a half bald man.

"F*ck you! F*ck your whole f*ucking generation! When I get out, you will die Atlas! I swear! I swea..."

The garage gate slid open, allowing light to slowly pour in as Atlas and his gang appeared by the gate.

"What did you say Bob?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I'm berating myself. I'm berating myself." Bob transformed from a fierce tiger back into a tamed kitten.

Atlas chewed on a juicy pear in his hands, untying Bob while wrapping unconscious Barnes back up again, in case he tries to do anything sneaky.

The trap is set. Now they just need the appearance of the Sinister Scales.

——————————

The explosive news has gotten out, sending the Warrior society into a frenzy.

"The secret son of Borus, Leader of Sinister Scales, has been abducted!"

"Who dares to challenge the King of Daxrim City?!"

"The Coiling Dragon Arena must be the mastermind behind all!"

"Some eyewitnesses say the kidnappers are a bunch of teenagers! What's their motive?"

Rumors have spread faster than the speed of light.

In the meeting room of where the co-leaders once gathered for a conversation regarding Atlas, now accommodates less familiar faces and more unfamiliar people.

"There's no way these information can spread across the network that efficiently. The Draco Family must be behind this." A woman in a white fox mask said. She has a very sharp jaw, like a fox.

"It could be the Draco Family. But judging from the orders they have executed, its gradually unlikely." Elder Yan spoke as one of the familiar faces mentioned.

The familiar faces like Elder Yan and a bald man did not bother to wear masks, while everyone else masked their ident.i.ties with a mask, only able to be determined through their different tones of vocal.

"We can't trust them. They're gaining more information on us, while hiding more of themselves. Too secretive. Too dangerous." A man in yellow striped mask shook his head.

"It's always like this. One step closer to unveiling parts hidden in the shadows, and the source is coincidentally cut." Elder Yan grunted. "The crowning cla.s.s 1 Family... I would have preferred Qin as the leading family over the Draco Family. It's a shame that that incident happened."

Another masked man sighed. "Isn't this exactly why we can't fully trust one another anymore?"

——————————

"Hmn~ Hmn~" Humming a light tune, a fifty-ish man with distinct features shaved off his beard cleanly, double checking for missed spots in the mirror in front of him.

Although with a unimpressive height of 1.7 meters, he carried a cold, merciless and sinister atmosphere around him. For his age, he is extremely well-built and spirited, showing no signs of excess fat or fatigue.

He fitted himself into a blue robe, tidying himself for a little longer, before he heading to the door, pus.h.i.+ng it open.

Outside, stood 10 men lined in two rows, 8 of them bowing and 2 of them stepping by his side, guarding him in the middle.

The very old fas.h.i.+oned Chinese courtyard with four gigantic living quarters was constructed over hundreds of years ago, rumored by laypeople to be owned by a major personal who is capable of shaking Daxrim City's economy with a stomp of his foot.

The man raised his fist, making it easy for the two men to equip him with steel knuckles.

As a loud crack of grinding bones indicated a long body stretch, the man gently lit up a cigarette.

"It's been a long time since someone dared to challenge our superiority. My only son. Has been kidnapped by some children who has barely matured. The Sinister Scales won't tolerate this."

He banged his fist together, sending a seismic ripple floating in every direction, fluttering the leaves and branches of the indoor plants.

"I, Borus, will crush all their brains for laying their hands on my son."

"But sir," one of the men beside him questioned. "It could be a trap. The Coiling Dragon Arena is constantly on our trail and too much for us to handle."

Borus listened, but he has already made his decision. "I've got nothing to lose. He's my only child."

—————————

"I bought that building. That building. And that. Basically, I bought the properties around the area to prevent harms to civilians." Atlas pointed to the few old industrial buildings nearby the mansion. Successful mercenaries are rich enough to do such elaborate things.

He excluded the street markets as the fight won't be large enough to disrupt that far of a distance.

He saw Serpent walking out one of the industrial buildings he's been inventing the venom in with an enclosed test tube.

"This is my masterpiece. Colorless, tasteless, deadly. I'll call it, A7." Serpent smiled at his work. Sunlight pa.s.sed through transparent liquid, polis.h.i.+ng his already white skin to a even paler shade.

He gazed around, landing his sight onto Atlas. "So, is everything set and ready?"

Signing a thumbs up, Atlas answered back. "Terrain is confirmed. All possibilities thought through."

He paused, smirking nonchalantly. "If all goes to planned, the mission will be accomplished."