At the Jenner family's estate, the atmosphere was nothing like the storm that had swept through Oracle City hours earlier.
The grand iron gates opened slowly, and a black luxury sedan rolled into the driveway lined with ancient oak trees. Warm golden light spilled from the mansion's tall windows, giving the estate a peaceful, almost untouched aura—like a sanctuary completely detached from the chaos of the outside world.
Inside the spacious living room, Christine and Bonna sat waiting.
The ticking of the antique clock on the wall seemed unusually loud.
Bonna's fingers were tightly clasped together on her lap, though she tried her best to appear composed. Christine, on the other hand, sipped her tea calmly, her sharp eyes occasionally flicking toward the entrance.
Moments later, the doors opened.
Robert walked in first, followed by Josh and Bob the butler.
They were laughing.
Laughing.
As if they had simply returned from a casual dinner rather than a life-and-death battle in the underground arena.
Bonna stood up immediately.
Her expression was flat. Too flat.
She walked straight toward Josh and stopped in front of him, her eyes scanning his face, his shoulders, his hands—searching for blood, bruises, anything.
"Are you injured?" she asked coldly. "Let's go to the hospital."
Josh blinked, slightly caught off guard by her tone.
"No, I'm fine. I promise," he replied quickly.
She narrowed her eyes and stared straight into his, as if trying to see through him.
The room suddenly felt tense.
"Bonna, don't scare your fiancé," Christine said with a soft chuckle, attempting to ease the atmosphere.
But Bonna didn't look away.
"How did you escape unscathed?" she asked again, suspicion clear in her voice.
Josh scratched the back of his head lightly, looking almost embarrassed. "Well... it turns out the Demon Bull had a lot of enemies. They took advantage of our fight to launch a sneak attack on him and seized control of Paradise Casino."
His explanation was smooth. Casual. Perfectly reasonable.
Robert, who had taken a seat on the sofa, nodded inwardly. He understood immediately that Josh was deliberately downplaying everything.
"Josh is right, Bonna," Robert added calmly. "Haven't you received the news already? There's a new mysterious owner of Paradise Casino."
Bonna's gaze shifted to her grandfather.
"We received it this afternoon," she said. "The whole upper circle is talking about it. So... there's a new powerful figure in our city now."
Christine set her teacup down gently.
"That's precisely why you must stop getting involved with underworld figures," she said firmly. "You nearly put yourself—and Josh—in serious danger."
Bonna lowered her eyes slightly.
"Just focus on the suburban development project in Berian City," Robert added. "We have enough capital now. There's no need to chase risky alliances."
His tone was light, but there was weight behind his words.
"Yes, Grandma. Yes, Grandpa," Bonna replied obediently.
Still, her eyes drifted back to Josh for a brief moment.
He gave her a reassuring smile.
But something about his calmness unsettled her more than any injury would have.
—
The following morning, the Jenner family officially injected five hundred million into the suburban expansion project in Berian City.
Bonna had successfully secured three hundred million through strategic negotiations and asset reallocations over the past few weeks. Robert personally added another two hundred million without hesitation.
Five hundred million.
It was a bold move.
Berian City's suburbs were considered an undeveloped gold mine. With infrastructure expansion plans quietly approved by regional authorities, land values were projected to surge within two to three years.
Most investors were still hesitant.
The Jenners were not.
Construction teams mobilized at dawn.
Excavators roared to life as the first foundation lines were marked. Surveyors moved efficiently across the land. Banners bearing the Jenner Group's insignia were erected along the perimeter fences.
The project had begun.
Inside the temporary on-site office, Bonna stood in front of a large planning board, reviewing blueprints with a team of architects and financial advisors. Her expression was sharp, professional, composed.
No one would guess that just the night before, she had been on the verge of losing someone important.
Nicole, Jane, Julie, and Megan arrived later that morning, bringing additional investment confirmations from their respective families. News of Paradise Casino's sudden power shift had caused many influential households to reassess their alliances.
Interestingly, several of them began leaning toward the Jenners.
No one said it openly.
But everyone knew.
The Jenner family's position in Oracle City had subtly changed overnight.
While the public believed a "mysterious figure" had taken over the underground world, insiders noticed something else—
Robert Jenner appeared unusually relaxed.
His business negotiations carried newfound weight.
Certain bureaucratic procedures that once required weeks were approved within days.
Pressure from rival families seemed to evaporate.
It was as if an invisible shield now stood behind the Jenners.
In the main office of the estate later that afternoon, Robert sat across from Josh.
Bob the butler stood silently by the window.
"You didn't need to hide it from her," Robert said quietly.
Josh leaned back slightly. "She doesn't need to worry."
Robert studied him carefully.
"The upper circles are already investigating you."
"I know."
"And you're not concerned?"
Josh smiled faintly.
"Let them investigate."
Bob's lips curved into a subtle smile.
Robert shook his head and chuckled. "Oracle City is too small."
Josh's gaze drifted toward the window, toward the distant skyline barely visible from the estate.
"Yes," he said softly. "It is."
Far away, in hospital isolation, Max Raider slowly regained consciousness.
His arm was in a cast. His ribs were wrapped tightly.
The moment he opened his eyes, the memory of two fingers blocking his ultimate attack replayed in his mind.
His body trembled. Not from pain but from realization.
Meanwhile, in several high-level conference rooms across the city, private investigations into "Josh" yielded almost nothing substantial.
Seven years abroad. Minimal digital footprint. No verifiable combat history. It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere. And that frightened people more than raw strength ever could.
Back at the Berian suburban site, the sun began to set over the vast stretch of land now buzzing with activity. Workers continued pouring concrete under floodlights. Trucks moved materials in and out in steady rhythm. Bonna stood alone for a moment, watching everything unfold. Five hundred million invested. A new chapter beginning. Behind her, Josh approached quietly.
"Regretting it?" he asked gently.
She shook her head. "No."
Then, after a brief pause, she added,
"But next time... don't lie to me so easily."
Josh froze slightly.
She turned and looked at him—not angry, not accusing—just steady.
"I know you're stronger than you show," she said. "I don't know how strong. And maybe I don't need to know. But don't treat me like I can't handle the truth."
For a brief second, the playful ease in Josh's expression faded.
Then he nodded. "Alright."
The wind swept across the construction site, carrying the scent of dust and new beginnings.
Oracle City was shifting. Power structures were rearranging. And at the center of it all the Jenner family was quietly rising.
Later that day, while the upper circles of Oracle City were still speculating about the mysterious new owner of Paradise Casino, Josh quietly began reorganizing everything from the inside. The casino's internal structure, which had once revolved entirely around Max Raider's authority, was dismantled within hours. Key managerial positions were reviewed. Security teams were reassessed. Financial channels were audited. On the surface, it appeared to be a simple restructuring under new management. In reality, it was a complete takeover executed with surgical precision.
Very few people knew the truth.
Aside from the three most powerful men in Oracle City and the elderly couple, Robert and Christine Jenner, no one knew that Joseph—the South Underworld King of Oracle City—was merely one of Josh's subordinates. To the public, Joseph was an independent powerhouse who controlled the southern districts with an iron grip. His name alone was enough to silence disputes. Yet when Josh made a single phone call, Joseph answered with unquestioned obedience.
That afternoon, in a private office hidden beneath Paradise Casino, Joseph stood respectfully before Josh. The imposing underworld king lowered his head slightly as Josh gave calm, concise instructions.
"Transfer your most loyal men," Josh said. "Replace the core employees here. I want people who answer directly to you—and ultimately to me."
"Yes, sir," Joseph replied without hesitation.
Within hours, discreet movements began across the city. Trusted lieutenants from Joseph's southern territories were reassigned to Paradise Casino. Veteran enforcers took over security posts. Financial operators replaced accountants who had once been loyal to Max. Surveillance teams were upgraded. Communication channels were encrypted.
Not a single unnecessary disturbance occurred.
Anyone who resisted the transition was quietly removed. Some were compensated and dismissed. Others simply disappeared from the organizational chart. No chaos. No bloodshed. Just efficient restructuring.
But Josh's ambition did not stop at stabilizing Oracle City.
Once the internal foundation of Paradise Casino was secure, he issued another order.
"Expand," he said calmly.
Joseph understood immediately.
Josh instructed him to move against the underworld factions of the surrounding small neighboring cities. Medium-sized and large cities were to be left untouched for now. Those territories had deeper roots, complex alliances, and stronger backing. But the smaller cities? They were fragmented, ruled by minor bosses with limited influence and even less unity.
They were easy targets.
Over the next seventy-two hours, coordinated actions unfolded with astonishing speed.
In the first small city to the east, three rival gang leaders were forced into submission overnight. Their headquarters were surrounded simultaneously. Faced with overwhelming force and the reputation of Paradise Casino's new leadership, they chose surrender over annihilation.
In the second city to the south, resistance was stronger. A local boss attempted to rally his men and fight back. By dawn, his organization had collapsed. His closest aides defected before noon.
The third city fell without a single confrontation. When news of the first two takeovers reached them, the leaders there voluntarily pledged allegiance to Paradise Casino, requesting protection in exchange for loyalty.
Within days, the underworld of three small neighboring cities was completely absorbed.
All of it operated under the banner of Paradise Casino.
The news exploded across the region.
Oracle City was already unsettled by Max Raider's defeat, but this—this was something else entirely.
"Three cities in three days?"
"That's impossible."
"Who exactly is this new owner?"
In private clubs and high-rise offices, wealthy businessmen whispered in disbelief. Government officials quietly adjusted internal security assessments. Intelligence departments began monitoring unusual financial flows between cities.
What shocked them most was not merely the expansion.
It was the decisiveness.
There were no prolonged turf wars.
No dramatic public executions.
No chaotic power struggles.
Everything was swift, controlled, and methodical.
It felt less like reckless conquest and more like strategic consolidation.
The message was clear: this new ruler did not seek noise—he sought efficiency.
Within Oracle City itself, Joseph's visible activity raised eyebrows. Some suspected he had formed an alliance with the mysterious owner. Others believed he was trying to position himself as the second-in-command of the new regime.
No one dared to imagine the truth—that the feared South Underworld King was simply executing orders.
In the Jenner estate, Robert read the latest intelligence report with a faint smile. Christine glanced at him knowingly.
"He moves quickly," she remarked.
Robert nodded. "He's cleaning the board before anyone realizes the game has changed."
Meanwhile, in a quiet office inside Paradise Casino, Josh stood before a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city skyline. The evening lights flickered on one by one, illuminating streets that now lay within his invisible reach.
Joseph stood behind him respectfully.
"The three cities have been secured," Joseph reported. "Revenue channels are stable. Local leaders have pledged loyalty."
Josh gave a small nod.
"Maintain order. No unnecessary brutality. We're building stability, not fear."
"Yes, sir."
When Joseph left, Josh remained by the window for a moment longer. Oracle City believed a mysterious figure had risen overnight.
They did not know his name. They did not know his background. They only knew the results. Max Raider had fallen. Three neighboring cities had been absorbed. And Paradise Casino now stood stronger than ever. Speculation spread wildly, but one conclusion unified both allies and rivals alike. The new owner of Paradise Casino was decisive. And decisive men were the most dangerous of all.