Louis sneered, "I've been waiting for that day, but now your son is in my hands, and if you want to save him, you'll have to come alone. We're all in the underworld, so I don't need to spell out the consequences if you call the cops!"

Louis instructed, "Remember, come alone, your son... has only thirty-seven minutes left before his blood runs dry! Whether or not you come is your choice!"

After saying this, Louis hung up the phone before Vic could respond and coldly told Vito, "Your fate is in your father's hands. If your position in his heart isn't significant, today might be your last day!"

Without paying any more attention to Vito, Louis left the room. He told Jerry, who was behind him, "Keep an eye on Dragon's activities. Even though Vito is in our hands, we can't be careless! Vic is not simple; he might try something sneaky!"

Jerry replied, "Don't worry, I've already arranged for surveillance. We'll have Vic's movements under control."

Louis smiled with satisfaction; having someone like Jerry as an ally was a great asset in life. He patted Jerry on the shoulder and said, "Well done, I didn't make a mistake in trusting you!" Jerry felt a bit embarrassed by Louis's praise and lowered his head awkwardly.

Vic, knowing that Vito was in Louis's hands, felt a sharp pain in his heart. Furthermore, he had just learned that Emmanuel had been rescued by Louis, and Emmanuel wouldn't spare Vito. Worried for his son's safety, Vic hurriedly gathered his loyal men and rushed to the hotel. On the way, he instructed his men to stay near the hotel. No matter what happened inside, they were to storm in together after ten minutes, ensuring that no one escaped.

Vic reached the hotel as quickly as possible, with over a hundred of his men strategically positioned nearby, all armed with guns. Vic stood at the entrance, took a deep breath, and entered. In the lobby, a man approached him and said, "Louis has been waiting for you; please go upstairs."

Vic grunted and checked his wrist, following the man upstairs. On the third floor, the man led Vic to a meeting room and gestured for him to open his arms. He thoroughly searched him, even finding two handguns. Then, the man smiled and pointed at the door, saying, "You may enter."

Vic hesitated for a moment but pushed the door open and walked in. The room was spacious, with a long conference table in the center, where Louis sat at the head, Emmanuel beside him, and about a dozen others behind them.

"Vic, you truly are a remarkable figure. You've finally arrived!" Louis said, looking at him with a smile.

Vic raised his voice, "Louis, I don't have time for your nonsense. Where's my son? I want to see him!"

Louis replied, "Don't worry; I'm a man of my word. Since you're here, I'll release him!" He then signaled to his men, saying, "Go and bring Vito here, quickly. Don't keep our guest waiting!" Two of his men promptly left the room.

Vic, seeing the two men leave, looked at Louis and asked coldly, "I'm here. Just tell me what you want."

Louis smiled and said, "I don't have anything to say to you, Vic. You'd better ask Emmanuel first." Emmanuel stood up and walked toward Vic, saying in a cold voice, "Vic, you're an elder of the organization, which is quite an honorable position. I've been good to you. Why would you plot against me?"

Vic sneered, "Just you? You should ask yourself if you're fit to lead the gang!"

Emmanuel remained silent, glaring at Vic. Vic continued, "In these past few years under your leadership, what has Dragon achieved? Now that it's finally growing, you've allied with Louis and act like close brothers. Sooner or later, he'll swallow Dragon, and you still consider him a good guy? Emmanuel, I'll tell you, you lack the qualities of a leader, and you lack the intelligence required for it. If Dragon continues under your leadership, its demise is inevitable. I know you've been good to me, so I spared your life."

Emmanuel quietly listened to Vic and then angrily said, "Fine, maybe I'm not capable of being a good leader. Does that mean you should be the one to take over? If you want to lead Dragon, gather all the elders and impeach me in an honorable way. What you're doing to me is despicable. Dragon's fate will be worse under your leadership!"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Vic laughed, "If it weren't for Vito's situation, I would have already destroyed Nightmare. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side. Louis, you're smart! Emmanuel is a fool, but I'm not. You better not think you can touch Dragon as long as I'm here!"

Louis thought to himself; he knew that Vic had a point. If there were an opportunity to take over Dragon when Emmanuel was vulnerable, he would seize it without hesitation. However, such opportunities hadn't presented themselves due to other challenges. Louis had questioned himself several times about whether he would abandon the friendship with Emmanuel for the sake of power. Each time, the answer in his mind was a resounding "yes," even though he knew it was wrong.

What is justice? No one can define it clearly. What seems wrong today might be right upon reflection, but there would be no chance for regret, and no one would thank or sympathize with you. To achieve success, one often had to give up certain things, like conscience and the concept of justice.

Emmanuel sneered, "Vic, don't try to sabotage the relationship between me and Louis. I trust my judgment and Louis's character. Only a person like you would constantly doubt others."

Vic, angered by Emmanuel's words, pointed at him and shouted, "Me? If you think you can lead Dragon better, why don't you take over? You're so naive, Emmanuel. Louis is getting close to Dragon not just for his personal gain. With me here, you won't touch Dragon!"

Louis couldn't help but admire Vic's intelligence. He hadn't been able to seize Dragon yet, not because he didn't want to, but because he lacked the opportunity. First, he had to deal with Tiger, then Devil, and when it seemed like he was making progress, there was a major shake-up in the government.

Louis had often asked himself if he would give up the opportunity to take over Dragon for the sake of his friendship with Emmanuel. Every time, the answer that flashed in his mind was a firm "no." He wouldn't let it slip through his fingers, even though he knew it was wrong.

Emmanuel coldly said, "Vic, don't try to drive a wedge between me and Louis. I trust my judgment, and I trust Louis's character. Only someone like you would constantly be suspicious of others."

Vic, furious, clenched his teeth. He wanted to beat Emmanuel senselessly despite his hatred for Vic.

At that moment, Vito was dragged into the room by two men. After entering, they dropped Vito on the floor and whispered to Louis, "Vito is dead." Louis remained expressionless. Even if Vito hadn't died yet, he wouldn't let him go alive, especially after his disrespect toward Emily, which Louis couldn't tolerate.

Vic saw his son on the floor and rushed over. Vito had no color left in his face and lay motionless. Vic had a terrible premonition and tremblingly reached out to feel Vito's nose, but there was no warmth. He touched Vito's neck, searching for a pulse, but found none.

Vic, tearless, hugged Vito tightly. The pain of losing a child in old age was something not everyone could endure, and Vito was Vic's only son. After a few minutes, Vic burst into tears, holding onto Vito's lifeless body.

Emmanuel, despite his enmity with Vic, felt sympathy for him at this moment. Louis casually lifted his chin, calmly waiting for Vic to finish crying. In his mind, he had already sentenced Vic to death, not because Vic had rebelled, but because he was too clever and would become a formidable rival if he ever became the Dragon's leader.

After a long while, Vic slowly put Vito down, as if he was asleep and he didn't want to wake him. He stood up, stared at Louis, and said through clenched teeth, "Louis, what grudge do we have that you'd kill my son? Today, you'll pay for it with your life!"

Louis said solemnly, "Your son deserved to die! Do you know why? Because he dared to touch Emily. That alone is enough for him to die a thousand times!" He then looked at Vic, whose face had turned pale from grief, and coldly added, "You want to take my life in exchange? I don't know what made you say such a thing, but you must die today."

Vic laughed, pointing at Louis in a fit of rage and shouting, "I die? You won't live either. No one in this room is getting out alive today. You all will die, and you'll all be buried with my son!"

Louis retorted, "Are you still counting on your men? Stop dreaming. Even if they make it here in time, you might catch a glimpse of them being taken away by the police if you look out the window."

Vic was astonished and opened his mouth in disbelief. He turned toward the window, drew the curtains, and saw police lights flashing outside. Dozens of police cars were parked nearby, and in the dim light, he could vaguely see officers arresting people. Vic turned back to Louis, and if looks could kill, Louis might have been reduced to dust.

Louis chuckled, "I knew you'd be curious about why the police are here. I've been monitoring your every move, and I even know the contents of your conversations with your men. You thought you could hide your ambush nearby? I arranged for the police myself. Don't worry; I doubt anyone will escape."

Vic sighed deeply, admitting defeat. He knew he didn't have the same determination as Louis; he didn't possess the true aura of a leader. Louis exuded the presence of a king. Louis calmly said, "Vic, don't make unnecessary resistance. You chose to enter this gamble, so you should have considered the consequences."

Vic, realizing he had lost, knew he didn't have the same conviction as Louis. That kind of determination couldn't be faked; it was an inherent quality. Vic felt a chill in his heart, and he knew he had lost the moment he walked into the room. Louis sat down, picked up a cigarette, and leisurely smoked, completely ignoring Vic, who was holding a bomb.

Vic had lost, and he knew it. His resolve was not as strong as Louis's. The aura Louis emanated was that of a true leader. Louis nonchalantly said, "Vic, don't make futile resistance. You should have expected the consequences when you entered this game."