Chapter 37: Taking the Bait
Moments later, the Firth family's butler arrived on the top floor.
As he stepped out of the hallway, he saw the young lady laughing and chatting with a man he didn't recognize.
Since the dispute with the Kenny family, the Firths had been extremely protective of Lily… and this entire upper floor beHazeed only to the Firth siblings.
Who was this man?
When had he arrived?
How did he get here?
The old man's hand trembled uncontrollably as he held the tea tray… yet the radiant smile on the young lady's face showed she knew the man and that she was safe.
"David… let me introduce you. He's a blood relative of the Firth family. His name is Haze."
Lily's sharp ears had noticed the butler's arrival, so she introduced him.
A relative?
"Good evening, Mr. Haze."
The elderly man immaculately dressed in a suit and bow tie, his beard neatly trimmed bowed respectfully to Haze.
David had served the old patriarch since his youth; he knew the Firth family inside and out. What kind of relative was this?
"From today onward," Lily said softly, "he'll be replacing my brother, Shieldgaru, as the new head of the family."
David stared at Haze. "Understood."
"Please… contact the senior management and have them attend a meeting," Haze said with a polite smile.
"Yes, sir."
David set down the tea, bowed to both of them, and left.
"He seems to trust you quite a lot…" Haze remarked, watching the butler's retreating figure.
"He watched my brother and me grow up. To me, he's like a father," Lily replied. Then she hesitated. "You're replacing the top executives because you're afraid they might leak your secrets, aren't you?"
"It's more than that," Haze said, turning slightly away. "I've learned a few things about your family's situation. With Shieldgaru's death, his subordinates are bound to become restless. Some might even harbor thoughts of rebellion and usurpation. Isn't that a common trait in your mafia circles? Beyond inheritance, most leaders rise to power through internal conflict. Can you really guarantee their loyalty?"
He waved his hand and started walking off. "If you don't see it, forget it. Go listen to some music it's late. Good night."
"Good night," Lily whispered.
Still, the butler David was remarkably efficient. Within hours, all the Firth business managers had gathered at the headquarters.
Luxury cars filled the front entrance, and crowds of suited men gathered as the mafia's leaders were escorted into the conference hall.
"David, why call us here so late? What's going on?"
"Any news from the boss yet?"
"Old man, we heard something about Garu…"
Inside the bright hall, a dozen executives sat around a Haze table, whispering rumors and speculation.
David had summoned them in the name of the patriarch so naturally, they assumed Shieldgaru had returned.
However, for the past two days, rumors had spread: Shieldgaru couldn't be reached, and even Kuga, Sam, and the others had vanished. Everyone knew the boss had gone to Tandon to deal with someone dangerous…
When the door finally opened, and only David entered no Shieldgaru, no familiar faces the room erupted.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
David raised a hand. "This meeting was indeed called by the Patriarch… but by the new Patriarch."
"New?"
The executives exchanged confused looks.
A new boss? How could that be decided without their knowledge?
Just then, footsteps echoed outside.
A man they didn't know entered.
"Who's that?" someone demanded.
"Allow me to introduce him," David said calmly. "This is Shieldmaibo, a younger relative of the former Patriarch and of the new one, Mr. Haze. As the sole direct descendant of the Firth family, Miss Lily made the decision a few hours ago."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
A burly man slammed the table, face twisting in anger. "How could such an important decision be made without even notifying us?"
Everyone understood instantly:
David's words implied it clearly Shieldgaru was dead.
The rumor was true.
Shock rippled across the room, but greed quickly followed.
A new Patriarch… meant new chances for power.
"That's right!" another senior officer growled.
"Are you questioning the young lady's decision?" David asked coldly.
"With Master Garu gone, the young miss has full authority over the family!"
"She's just a woman! What does she know?" the fat man sneered. "You're really going to put the entire Firth family in the hands of a blind girl and some outsider?"
David's expression darkened.
"Enough," came a calm voice.
Haze, who had been silent until now, stood beside the butler. He clapped once, the sound echoing sharply.
"Everyone, please have patience," he said lightly.
His gentle tone didn't match the chill in his eyes.
"I didn't call you here to talk," he continued. "Nor to ask for your opinions. I called you… to inform you and to dismiss you."
"Dismiss ?"
Before anyone could react, a blur of movement flashed across the table.
Something black and fast swept between the rows like a ghost.
The butler heard a series of crisp cracking sounds and when he looked up, Haze was already standing on the opposite end of the table.
The dozen family leaders now sat motionless… their necks twisted 180 degrees, faces frozen in expressions of disbelief.
"Find replacements," Haze said casually. "Preferably ambitious men hungry for promotion, capable. You know better than I do who fits that. I'll leave it to you."
He yawned. "I'm going to bed."
"Yes, sir," David replied, bowing deeply.
Upstairs, Lily followed Haze's advice and asked the maid to play some music.
It was soothing… yet tinged with sorrow.
It mirrored her mood perfectly whether she mourned her brother's death or the slaughter of her family's executives downstairs, no one could say.
David was, after all, exceptionally talented. Having served under the old patriarch, he quickly stabilized the family. Within days, the new leadership was in place.
The change of power and Shieldgaru's death couldn't be hidden.
Haze leaked the news himself.
He wanted it public dramatic and he pinned the blame squarely on the Kenny family.
The feud between the Firths and the Kennys was Haze-standing. Lily's injuries and her father's death had been caused by them. Naturally, no one doubted the claim.
In the mafia world, it made perfect sense. The Kenny family's territory bordered the Firths', and everyone knew they'd been eyeing their casino empire for years.
Now, with the Firth family in turmoil, their "neighbors" were the first to stir.
Within a single day, the entire underworld had heard the news.
"Have you heard?"
Inside a lavish office, Goler, boss of the Kenny family, stroked his expensive cat and questioned his subordinates.
"We have, boss," one replied. "Shieldgaru and his guards are dead. The Firths lost a lot of men, and their upper ranks were replaced overnight. The new boss, Haze, is said to be a distant relative of Maibo. Still, it's strange wiping out all their senior members in one night? For an outsider to take over like that, he's no ordinary man."
"And the killer?" Goler asked.
"No clues yet. The family's keeping it quiet. But… they're spreading rumors that we killed Garu."
"Hmph." Goler smirked. "The only one in that family with any brains is that woman. Garu relied on brute force and fear. His bodyguards were strong, but… with the casinos making that much money, they could afford the best. Still, now? This is a rare opportunity."
He leaned back. "Tell me would you protect the killer… or the enemy?"
The subordinate hesitated, then shook his head.
Goler's eyes glinted as he tossed the cat aside. It yowled and fled.
"If Lily and that butler have fled, fine. Their main assets are still there. That building the symbol of the Firth family if they abandon it, they're done for."
"That new boss must be a scapegoat… a bullet shield! Ha!"
He chuckled darkly.
"The Firths rely on their casinos for cash flow. We can't waste time. Before they regroup, we'll strike. Even if we can't take everything, seizing their headquarters and a few casinos will be more than enough profit…"
He slammed his fist on the armrest. "No matter what tricks they're playing, it's worth the risk!"
"Go!" he barked. "Alert Cork City our men move tonight!"
"Understood!"
The subordinates bowed and hurried out.
(End of Chapter 37)