System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 385: The Shifting Tides

The Ancestor let out a angry roar, his massive frame vibrating with a sudden, explosive surge of power. The five Falcons were thrown back, their boots skidding across the marble floor as they stabilized themselves, crouching low and ready to lunge back into the fray.

The Scavenger Leader quickly stepped in front of his grandfather, his hands raised in a calming gesture. "Grandfather, do not lose control! You’ll only give them an excuse to demand more resources for the Union. Remember the primary objective of this meeting," he hissed.

The old man took a long, jagged breath, slowly retracting his suffocating aura until not a trace remained. He gave a stiff nod. The obese leader then turned back to Ethan with a greasy, superficial smile. "A small misunderstanding, I hope the great Leader of Royal doesn’t take it to heart."

Ethan snorted, turning his back on them to look at McKenzie again, dismissing the Scavengers as if they were gnats. However, the Scavenger Leader wasn’t finished.

"It isn’t that I wish to continue crossing paths with the glorious Leader of Royal," the fat man began, his tone growing sharper. "But the McKenzie and Brooks families operate within our territory. We cannot simply stand by and watch our allies be humiliated. I hope you understand the necessity of our involvement."

Ethan turned his head, his eyes cold. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means we cannot allow you to treat our partners however you please," said the Scavenger Leader.

McKenzie was walking on air. The colossus he had always sought to please was now openly protecting him. After today, he could brag to the entire world; his enemies would have to think twice before clashing with a protected asset of the Scavengers.

In contrast, Chloe’s father was sweating profusely. While it looked like they were being defended, he could feel the venom behind the Scavenger Leader’s words. It was a blatant reminder: your families are on our land. He was being forced to choose between offending a powerful outsider like Ethan or risking the total annihilation of his clan by the Scavengers. There was no middle ground.

Ethan sensed the trap closing around the Brooks family. He looked directly at the Ancestor, his gaze piercing. "Are you sure you want it to be this way? Do these words represent the entire Scavenger family?"

The Ancestor felt the pressure emanating from Ethan. This "little fish" he once could have crushed at will was now a genuine threat. His side branch had already been humiliated and expelled by Ethan, but there was more to consider. The Blackwood Matriarch was standing right there, and his own sponsors, Olympus, had made it clear: they would not support a war against the boy. The Matriarch was a close friend of the Russian leader of Olympus; the Scavengers were just minor trade partners. Olympus wouldn’t lift a finger to save them if Anne decided to paint the walls with their blood.

However, Celestial and the Union had been equally clear. They wanted an excuse to dismantle Ethan, and the rewards they offered were staggering. The Ancestor hesitated, weighing the risk against the reward. He might survive a fight with Anne, but his grandson and his legacy likely wouldn’t.

Just as the Ancestor opened his mouth to speak, a voice cut through the tension from behind.

"Quite a lively gathering for a simple summit," said a handsome, middle-aged man approaching the group.

Beside him walked a very familiar face: Ross Bailey, the former Celestial zone leader who had controlled Massachusetts before Ethan took absolute power. Since Ethan had driven them from his territory, the Celestial forces had retreated in silence. Ethan had expected a counter-attack months ago, but they had vanished—until now.

Ross Bailey’s face twitched, a momentary crack in his composed mask. He remembered the humiliating retreat from Massachusetts all too well.

"It’s been a while since we last saw each other, Mr. Ethan. You look as energetic as ever."

"Things have been going well for me since some troublesome people decided to retire; it reminds me that I’ve been taking very good care of the Celestial assets that remained in Massachusetts." Ethan said, his voice smooth and laced with a deadly irony. "Feel free to visit any day. I’ll make sure you receive a... warm welcome."

Ross went rigid. If it weren’t for the presence of the Grand Leader, he wouldn’t dare bark at this walking calamity. News of Ethan’s recent feats had reached the highest circles: the assassination of a high-ranking elder from the Assassin’s Guild was one thing, but taking down a Phantom Member of Black Skull—a group with a 100% success rate—was something else entirely.

The Grand Leader of Celestial, a man whose presence was as stifling as a vacuum, made a casual gesture with his hand, dissipating the lingering killing intent in the air as if it were mere smoke.

"Shall we begin the meeting? I wouldn’t want our distinguished pillars, the ones who keep this country glorious, to suffer from such unfortunate misunderstandings," said the Celestial Leader.

The Scavenger Ancestor, seeing a golden opportunity to retreat with his pride intact, let out a grunt of feigned indifference. "Only out of respect for the Leader of Celestial will I let this conclude here. Let’s move," he growled.

McKenzie and his entourage scurried after them like rats following a ship’s captain. But as the group moved toward the main hall, Mr. Brooks remained frozen. He looked at Chloe; she stood there with a dazed, hollow expression, looking as if her soul had been scooped out of her body.

The Scavenger Leader paused, his small, pig-like eyes narrowing. "Brooks? Are you coming? Or have you forgotten who protects your borders?"

The threat was clear, but Mr. Brooks looked at Ethan, then back at his broken daughter. He made a choice that felt like jumping off a cliff. He grit his teeth, his voice trembling but firm.

"I’m sorry... but I have urgent matters to attend to. I won’t be able to accompany you further," said Mr. Brooks.

The Scavenger Leader’s face distorted with a flash of pure, unadulterated fury. "Is that so? I hope those ’matters’ are worth the price you’re about to pay, Brooks. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when the winds change."

Despite the venom in his voice, the Scavenger Leader didn’t dare make a physical move. Ethan was standing less than five feet away, his hand resting casually on his belt, his eyes fixed on the Scavenger’s throat. The fat man turned and stomped away, his rage radiating in waves.

Ethan stepped toward Chloe, ignoring the departing titans. The hallway felt suddenly quiet despite the thousands of people nearby.

"Chloe," said Ethan.

She finally looked up, her eyes focusing on him for the first time. A single tear escaped, tracing a path through the makeup she had been forced to wear.

"You shouldn’t have come here, Ethan," she whispered. "They... they’re going to kill you."