The First Move
The city of Jinbei never slept, but tonight, it held its breath.
Leon Graves stood at the rooftop edge of an old building, his sharp gaze scanning the neon-lit streets below. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a crisp air that carried the distant hum of traffic. In the silence, he could hear the echoes of his past—the city he once ruled, now in the hands of a man who didn’t deserve it.
Victor Hale.
He had waited long enough. It was time to act.
Across the city, inside a dimly lit club, Victor’s men gathered. The establishment was more than a place for drinks—it was a hub for his operations, where deals were made and threats were issued. Unbeknownst to them, Leon had already made his way inside.
He moved through the shadows, his steps light and precise. Every corridor, every blind spot—he had memorized them long ago. His presence was a whisper, unnoticed until it was too late.
The first man never saw it coming. A sharp twist, a muffled gasp, and he was down.
Leon moved forward.
Another guard at the entrance—silent takedown.
By the time he reached the club’s back office, only one man remained standing—Elias Reed, one of Victor’s trusted lieutenants. The moment Elias saw Leon, his face paled, but he masked his fear with a smirk.
“The ghost returns,” Elias said, leaning back against the desk. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
Leon stepped forward, his voice calm. “Where’s Victor?”
Elias chuckled, shaking his head. “You think he didn’t expect you? He’s already five steps ahead. You were always too sentimental, Leon. That’s why you lost everything.”
Leon sighed, his patience thin. “And you were always too arrogant.”
Before Elias could react, Leon struck—quick, efficient. A single blow to the throat, and Elias gasped for air, collapsing against the desk. Leon grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close.
“Tell Victor… I’m coming for him.”
He let Elias go, watching as the man struggled to breathe, then turned and disappeared into the night.
Meanwhile, in Victor’s domain…
At the top floor of a skyscraper, Victor Hale stood by the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He already knew. The whispers had reached him before Leon even left the club.
He smirked, swirling the liquid in his glass. “So… the game begins.”
Victor turned toward a long conference table, where six men sat—his most trusted enforcers, each controlling a different piece of Jinbei’s underworld.
“Leon Graves thinks he can walk back into my city like a phantom of the past,” Victor said, his voice smooth yet commanding. “That’s his first mistake.”
One of the men, Derrick Wu, a ruthless loan shark, leaned forward. “We could move first. Strike before he gains ground.”
Victor exhaled slowly, placing his glass down. “No. Let him think he’s gaining ground. Let him believe he has the upper hand. Then… we take everything from him again.”
A low murmur of agreement passed through the room. Victor’s fingers tapped against the glass table. “I want every business he ever touched monitored. Every ally he ever had—questioned. If they show loyalty to him, we deal with them. If they stay silent, we make them choose a side.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Leon is playing chess. I’m playing a game where I control the board.”
Back on the streets…
Leon stepped into a quiet alleyway, his mind already calculating his next move. He had sent his message. Now, it was time to rebuild.
A dark figure emerged from the shadows—a man in a black coat, his face partially hidden under a hood. Marcus Lane, an old ally, but one who had remained neutral in the power struggle.
“Leon,” Marcus greeted, his voice low. “You shouldn’t have come back.”
Leon smirked. “And yet, here I am.”
Marcus sighed. “Victor isn’t the same man. He has more reach, more men. He won’t play fair.”
“He never did,” Leon replied. “That’s why he stole everything from me. But this time… I’m the one rewriting the rules.”
Marcus studied him for a moment before nodding. “Then you’ll need more than just old allies. I have something for you—information. But it comes with a price.”
Leon’s gaze didn’t waver. “Name it.”
Marcus hesitated, then spoke. “There’s someone you need to meet. Someone who’s been waiting for you.”
Leon frowned slightly, intrigued. “Who?”
Marcus took a step closer. “An enemy of Victor’s. One who hates him as much as you do.”
Far above the city, Victor finished his drink and set the glass down with a deliberate motion.
“Leon wants a war?” He smiled coldly. “Let’s give him one.”
The battle for Jinbei’s throne had officially begun.
To be continued…