Chapter 72: Russell Family, Jim Russell!

As the confrontation between Ned and Leo reached a boiling point, a new figure emerged on the scene.

Suddenly, the man who looked strikingly similar to Ned stepped forward, a look of quiet contempt in his eyes as he walked toward Leo.

"Are you the Southern River King?" he asked, his voice sharp and assertive.

Leo, taken aback by the direct question, shifted his gaze from Ned to the man, a slight tremor in his posture as he assessed the newcomer.

"Who are you?" Leo demanded.

The man didn't flinch. Instead, he answered with a calm that made Leo pause, sensing the weight behind the words.

"My name is Jim. I'm Ned's younger brother."

"Jim?"

The room fell into stunned silence. The name hit like a thunderclap.

"Jim—Jim Russell? The one who disappeared ten years ago?" someone finally blurted out.

The name carried heavy significance in New York. Ten years ago, Jim had vanished without a trace, sparking a media frenzy and police searches that lasted for months. The mystery of his disappearance had captivated the city, and yet no one had heard a word about him since.

Jim nodded, his gaze unwavering as he spoke.

"Yes, it's me. I fell off a cliff ten years ago and was presumed dead. But I survived, took a master as my teacher, and learned martial arts. Now, I'm a martial artist."

"Martial artist!" The words rippled through the crowd, sending shockwaves through the onlookers.

Jim's revelation stunned everyone. While Leo, the Southern River King, had some martial arts training, he could sense that Jim was on an entirely different level—far more dangerous and capable than anyone expected.

Jim continued, his voice brimming with pride.

"I've returned to New York to reclaim my place. I will be the one true king of this city. As for you," he turned to Leo, his eyes narrowing, "you are no Southern River King in my eyes. Do you want to argue with me?"

Leo, feeling the pressure of the man's presence, wiped the sweat from his brow, but inside, he was already calculating his next moves. While Jim was indeed powerful, Leo had his own backing—the King of Horizon, who had promised to deal with the Russell Family after their patriarch's upcoming 60th birthday.

Just two days remained until the Russell Family's moment of reckoning, and Leo was determined to hold his ground, at least for now.

But then, a loud roar broke the tension.

"Come on! What if you're a martial artist? The Russell Family will be destroyed anyway. You're all just fools!"

The voice belonged to Paul, who stood there, brimming with defiance.

Without warning, Jim sprang into action, his body moving so swiftly that it was a blur to everyone watching. In an instant, he closed the distance and kicked Paul in the chest with terrifying force.

"Say that again!" Jim's voice was low, menacing.

Blood erupted from Paul's mouth as he staggered back, but his resolve remained. Through gritted teeth, he shouted, "Even if you kill me, I'll still say it—your family has provoked the wrong people! Prepare for your downfall!"

Jim, enraged by Paul's defiance, kicked him again with such brutality that Paul was sent rolling across the ground. His screams filled the air as his body contorted in agony, bones snapping under the force.

"Die, you piece of trash!" Jim snarled, but before he could land the final blow, something unexpected happened.

A sudden, sharp whistle sliced through the air, followed by a flash of cold light. In a split second, Jim leaped back, narrowly dodging a projectile aimed directly at his head.

An assassin?

Jim's sharp instincts kicked in as he quickly assessed the situation. He had been in countless life-and-death battles with assassins before, and he recognized the black-clad figure who now stood before him—Alice, a deadly assassin from the Shadow Pavilion.

Alice, her face hidden behind a mask, scanned the room coldly, her eyes locking briefly with Amy before she spoke.

"You can keep your pride," Alice said icily, "but it doesn't change the fact that you married a eunuch."

The mention of James's condition was like a slap to the Russell Family. His situation was an unspoken tragedy that no one dared address, and Alice's casual remark sent ripples of shock through the room.

Ned, his face turning red with fury, stepped forward, his eyes burning with anger as he turned toward Alice.

"Did you—did you cause James's condition six months ago?"

Alice met his gaze without flinching.

"Congratulations, you're right," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

The room erupted in shock. Ned, whose world had been turned upside down by the disgrace his son had suffered, could no longer control his rage.

"Jim, kill her!" he shouted, his voice raw with fury. "Kill her! I want her corpse sent to James so he can do whatever he wants with it!"

"I see," Jim muttered, his voice low as he slowly stepped forward, his presence ominous.

The air around him seemed to thicken as he prepared for another deadly strike. His martial artist's aura was palpable, and even Leo, who had faced many powerful individuals in his time, could feel the oppressive force radiating from Jim.

It was clear now: the Russell Family was not just a powerful family—it was a family of killers.