The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 15: Council

Chapter 55:

The air was thick with smoke and the scent of whiskey as the gang gathered, not beneath the pool club as usual, but above it, sprawled across various areas of the dimly lit room.

The neon glow from the bar lights reflected off the polished pool tables, casting eerie shadows that flickered with every movement.

Tristan stood before one of the tables, while his sharp eyes scanned the room.

His attention lingered on Dean—a red-haired, red-eyed strategist who was idly flipping a coin between his fingers, its metallic clink filling the silence between murmurs.

Dean’s build was only second to Ben and Jack—two towering figures of brute force.

Despite being only eighteen, Jack had already caught up to Ben, who was twenty-nine.

His recent breakthrough into the Intermediate Knight stage meant that, even though Ben was at the peak of the same rank, their battle would be an unpredictable fifty-fifty.

No one could say for certain who would emerge victorious if they clashed.

Even Kai and Elijah, also at the Intermediate Knight stage, had to admit that in terms of sheer power and combat instincts, they were still a step behind.

However, there was one crucial weakness Ben and Jack shared—an overconfidence that bordered on reckless.

Against an opponent stronger than them or not, their arrogance could be their downfall.

Jack was lounging in a chair, lazily sipping whiskey with an air of utter indifference, while Ben puffed on a cigarette, exhaling slow clouds of smoke that curled toward the ceiling.

The two sat at the bar counter where Aurora, the club’s bartender and one of their members, served drinks.

Nearby, Mai sat with Aurora, observing the conversation.

At the entrance, Kevin and Lucas leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, surveying the gathering like seasoned bouncers at an exclusive underground club.

Elijah was the first to break the silence. He leaned forward, placing both hands on the counter, his crimson eyes gleaming under the dim lights. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

[The Monarch Activated]

"Thanks for coming, everyone." His voice carried the weight of authority, making even Jack glance up from his drink.

"We need to talk about the gang from the West—the ones who’ve been attacking us."

He paused for a moment, letting the tension build before delivering the next words like a hammer to an anvil.

"We’re about to attack them and finish this. Are you all in?"

Heads nodded.

Elijah’s gaze locked onto Dean. "You represent the men in our territory. What’s your take?"

Dean smirked, flipping his coin high into the air before catching it effortlessly.

His voice was calm, almost amused. "Nothing wrong with the plan—but what’s the strategy?"

Elijah nodded, then turned to Kai, who was already unfolding a large map onto the table.

Kai rapped his knuckles against the map, his usual smirk fading into a look of sharp focus. "Their main base of operations is here."

He tapped a spot at the center of the map.

"That’s where their boss will be. Security’s heavy, but predictable. We hit them from three sides. Elijah, you, me, Jack, Tony, and Dean will be cutting off the head of the snake."

Jack, who had been swirling his whiskey glass absentmindedly, suddenly grinned.

He cracked his knuckles, the sharp pop echoing in the room.

"Finally," he muttered, stretching like a lion preparing to pounce. His grin turned cocky as he pointed a finger at Ben. "I’ve been itching for action, especially since this guy refuses to fight me."

Ben took a slow drag from his cigarette before exhaling through his nose. He didn’t even bother looking at Jack, simply saying, "I don’t waste my time on a kid."

Jack’s smirk twitched. "Call me a kid again, old man, and I’ll make you regret it."

Kevin, lounging in his chair with his usual arrogance, raised an eyebrow. "You sure you’re not just excited to get your ass kicked?"

Jack shot him a glare so intense it could have boiled water. "Says the guy who had an intimate moment with the pavement last time we sparred. How was that, by the way? Get any kisses from the concrete?"

Kevin grinned, unfazed. "Minor setback."

"Gentlemen," Tristan cut in smoothly, rolling his eyes. "Can we focus?"

Kai, ignoring the ongoing banter, continued.

"Tristan, you and your men will hit their underground fighting clubs and gambling houses.

That’s their primary income source. Wipe out their leadership, seize their records, and take every dollar they’ve got.

By sunrise, those places should be under our control. If their men are smart, they’ll join us. If they refuse... well, you know what to do."

Tristan’s smirk twisted into something darker, something lethal. "That won’t be a problem."

Kevin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "And my job?" His voice was low, edged with anticipation.

Elijah’s red eyes flickered toward him. Kai didn’t even hesitate before answering.

"You’re handling their drug operations. Every lab, every stash house—wipe it out."

Kevin’s grin widened. "Now that’s my kind of fun."

Lucas crossed his arms. "And me?"

Elijah turned to him. "You’ll stay back with ten men to defend our territory. Same goes for Ben. Mai and Aurora will handle everything else here while we’re out cleaning house."

A brief silence followed as everyone digested their roles.

Then, after a long pause, Tristan stretched, cracking his neck. He let out a slow breath. "Well then," he said, his voice light but dangerous, "let’s get to work."

Kevin chuckled darkly. "Right."

Jack grinned wide, practically bouncing in his seat. "You know, I think I might actually enjoy this."

Elijah pushed himself up from his seat, his gaze landing squarely on Jack. "There is something seriously wrong with you."

Jack threw his hands up in mock innocence. "Hey, what can I say? Some people like painting, some like music. I like violence."

Ben, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke, his voice dry. "Yeah? I also like violence. But unlike you, I don’t talk about it every five minutes like a kid who just discovered sugar."

Jack opened his mouth to retort, but Elijah cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"We move at midnight." His gaze swept over each of them.

"This is the final push. If we take them down, we secure our power in the gangless area."

The weight of his words settled over the room.

Kai smirked. "You heard the leader."

The gang members exchanged nods before dispersing.

Jack downed the rest of his whiskey in one go, slamming the glass onto the table with a loud clink.

Ben stubbed out his cigarette. Tristan just started walking toward the door. Kevin rolled his shoulders, shaking out the tension.