Chapter 37: Taking the Hook

Later, the Fells Family butler arrived on the top floor.

Coming out of the hallway, he found the young mistress chatting amiably with a stranger. Since the incident with the Kenny family, the Fells had become very protective of Lily, and these floors were reserved for the Fells siblings alone. The old butler, En, subtly probed the visitor's presence.

Who was this man? When had he arrived? How had he gained access to this floor? The old butler's hands trembled slightly as he held the tea set. However, seeing the young mistress smile, obviously familiar with this visitor, eased his concern.

"David, allow me to introduce you. This is a blood relative of our Fells family. His name is Oboro."

Lily's keen hearing had detected the butler's presence, her own aura calm and steady.

A relative?

"Greetings, Mr. Oboro."

The older man, impeccably dressed in a suit and bow tie, his beard neatly trimmed, embodied elegance. He bowed respectfully, holding his ten as he assessed the newcomer.

David had served since the time of the old patriarch and knew the family bloodlines intimately. What unknown relative was this?

"As of today, he replaces my brother Garu as head of the family," Lily spoke quietly.

David studied Oboro before he replied, "Understood!"

"Please summon the family leadership for an immediate meeting." Oboro smiled at the old man.

"Immediately!"

David set down the tea service, bowed to both and left.

"He shows remarkable confidence in you."

Oboro watched the butler's retreat.

"He raised my brother and me. He's as good a father as any."

Lily replied, then asked, "You eliminated the leadership to prevent information leaks about your activities, correct?"

"Partially. I understand the dynamics of your family. Garu's death will create instability, some may consider seizing power. Isn't that common in your world? Beyond blood inheritance, many rise through internal conflict. Could you guarantee the loyalty of every leader?"

Oboro moved away, waving dismissively: "If you can't see, don't watch. Perhaps some music instead. It's late. Good night."

"Good night."

Butler David proved to be remarkably efficient. Within hours, the Fells family's business leaders converged on headquarters. Luxury vehicles lined the building's entrance as a crowd of mobsters escorted the executives to the conference room.

"David, calling us at this hour, what's going on?"

"Any word from the boss?"

"Old man, we heard from Boss Garu."

In the brightly lit room, a dozen figures surrounded a long table, speculating about their summons. The butler had invoked the authority of the family chief. They assumed that Garu had returned.

But rumors circulated. Neither Garu nor Kuga, Sam or the others could be reached. They knew that the Boss had faced someone in Tandon, someone formidable.

When David finally appeared alone, without Garu, questions erupted.

"Everyone, please settle down."

David approached the main chair and gestured for silence: "This meeting was called by our patriarch, but our new patriarch."

"New?"

The leaders exchanged confused looks.

When had the leadership changed?

Footsteps approached.

All eyes turned to see a stranger enter, his aura controlled but radiating quiet strength.

"Who is he?"

Someone demanded.

"Allow me to introduce to you a younger relative of our patriarch and your new leader, Mr. Oboro. Miss Lily, as the only direct heir to the family, confirmed this appointment hours ago," David explained.

"Absurd!"

A corpulent man with prominent ears slammed the table and rose angrily: "How dare they make such decisions without consultation, without even informing us!"

His small eyes flashed rapidly.

No one here was a fool. David's words confirmed it, Garu was dead.

The rumors were true.

Though shocking, their immediate concern was succession. That meant opportunity.

"Exactly!"

Other leaders disagreed.

"You question the young mistress's judgment?"

David's expression went blank, "With Master Garu's passing, Miss Lily has absolute authority!"

"A woman's judgment, and a blind one at that! She would trust the fate of our family to a stranger!" The fat man sneered. His former respect for Lily vanished.

The butler's expression hardened.

"Gentlemen, please be quiet for a moment."

Oboro, silent until now, stood beside David. He clapped for attention, "Please, be patient!"

Surveying the hostile faces, he continued mildly, "I have not summoned you for approval or opinion, only to inform you and bid you farewell."

Before David could process Oboro's words, Oboro's aura flared with Ko as he moved with inhuman speed. A dark blur crossed the table like a ghost, moving between the rows of executives. David heard only sharp cracks before Oboro reappeared at the far end of the table.

The dozen-plus executives, without exception, had their necks twisted 180 degrees, their heads turned backward, their lives instantly extinguished. Their final expressions frozen in surprise, their defensive Ken proving useless against Oboro's overwhelming force.

"Promote replacements from below. Look for ambition, ability and hunger for advancement. You understand these things better than I do, so I leave it to you!"

Oboro yawned, as if he had completed a small task, and walked out: "I need sleep!"

"Yes, sir."

David collected himself and bowed to acknowledge the order.

Upstairs, Lily had followed Oboro's suggestion and had music played in her chambers. The melody flowed soothingly, tinged with melancholy, reflecting her mood, whether she was mourning her brother Garu or the family leaders who'd just perished below.

Butler David proved to be exceptionally capable. His years of service to the old patriarch showed, and within days he'd stabilized the family, with new leadership taking their roles.

The succession and Garu's death could not remain hidden. Oboro chose to announce it openly. He made it prominent while pointing the blame for Garu's death at the Kenny family.

The Fells-Kenny feud ran deep. Both Lily's condition and her father's death were due to Kenny's actions. No one would question their involvement in Garu's demise.

It was standard Mafia politics. The Kenny family's territory bordered the Fells' holdings. Everyone knew that Kenny had long coveted the casino operations.

With the Fells family in turmoil, their aggressive "neighbors" would naturally move first.

Within a day, word spread through the nation's underworld.

"What did you learn?"

In an office, Kenny Goler, the eldest of his family, stroked an expensive cat as he addressed his subordinate.

"Confirmed. Garu and his security, all dead. They've lost significant manpower, leadership completely replaced. They're severely weakened. The new leader, Oboro, supposedly a distant relative of Maibo. But something's strange. Their entire leadership eliminated overnight. For an outsider to rise without warning, he must be extraordinary."

The subordinate analyzed.

"As for Garu's murderer, no clear trail. They're keeping it quiet, but they're spreading rumors about our involvement."

"Hmph, that woman has always been the brain of the Fells family. Garu only had brute force and cruelty. Although his guards were formidable, casinos generate massive wealth. Money buys quality protection. But now opportunity knocks.

"Curious, would you protect your murderer or your enemy?"

The men shook their heads.

Kenny Goler stroked his cat, "But announcing the succession so quickly shows weakness. Or are they expecting the Ten Dons to intervene? Though I doubt the Dons even remember the Fells."

"Boss, you suspect deception?"

The men caught his meaning.

"The Fells have been active of late. Most of their forces have been assigned to casino security. They're clearly on the defensive. Headquarters is noticeably understaffed."

"Understaffed?"

Goler's eye twitched. The cherished cat suddenly found itself rudely discarded.

It yowled in protest.

"So Lily and Butler David may have secretly moved. Even fled, but the Fells' most important assets remain. We just have to find them! This building symbolizes the power of the Fells. Abandoning their base shows true desperation.

"The new head of the family is just a figurehead. A sacrifice! No wonder."

Goler crossed his fingers and thought.

"Their casino cash flow is critical. We can't delay. They'll use that money to recruit and boost morale quickly. Even if we can't absorb them completely, taking their headquarters and some of their casinos would be profitable."

"Summon our people!"

"Alert Yorknew City, we move tonight!"

"Understood!"

The subordinate hurriedly complied.