Over the following week, Oracle City entered a period of unprecedented activity.
While ordinary citizens continued their daily routines, the upper echelons of society could clearly feel that the balance of power was quietly shifting. Every influential family, government official, and underground organization had their eyes fixed on the movements of the Jenner family.
Rather than slowing down after destroying the Grant family, the Jenners accelerated their expansion.
With the Grant family's businesses officially absorbed, Robert Jenner immediately reorganized the newly acquired assets. Experienced managers from the Jenner family were assigned to oversee the former Grant enterprises, while trusted executives from their allied families were invited to participate in joint operations. Instead of monopolizing the profits, Robert deliberately shared business opportunities with his allies, strengthening the alliance from within.
His strategy proved to be remarkably effective.
Within a single week, the allied families experienced a significant increase in revenue. New construction projects, commercial partnerships, and investment agreements were signed almost every day. The morale of the alliance rose to an all-time high as everyone began believing that standing beside the Jenner family had been the right decision.
Meanwhile, the massive suburban development in Berian City progressed at an astonishing pace.
With more than five hundred million in initial funding, Bonna Jenner immediately began transforming the vast suburban land into a luxury residential district. Roads were widened, utility lines were installed, and teams of architects worked day and night designing villas, commercial centers, parks, and recreational facilities.
Although the project had only just begun, wealthy investors from neighboring cities were already expressing interest in purchasing future properties.
The project had become one of the hottest topics in the regional business community.
At the same time, Trisha Jenner continued supervising the mysterious construction project in the heart of Oracle City.
The enormous building rising from the city center remained shrouded in secrecy. No one outside the five allied helmsmen knew the company's identity, yet the speed of construction astonished every business expert who witnessed it.
Rumors spread daily.
Some believed it was a multinational corporation entering Oracle City.
Others speculated that it belonged to a hidden financial conglomerate from the capital.
No one could confirm the truth.
The only certainty was that once the building was completed, Oracle City's commercial landscape would never be the same.
---
While the Jenner Alliance rapidly expanded its influence in the business world, another force was quietly rising within the shadows.
Paradise Casino.
Ever since the mysterious defeat of Max Raider, the casino had undergone dramatic changes.
The management was completely reorganized, security was tightened, and numerous unfamiliar faces appeared among its staff. Behind the scenes, Joseph, the Southern Underground King, faithfully carried out every order given to him by Josh.
Following Josh's instructions, Joseph avoided provoking the major underground organizations directly.
Instead, he focused on expanding into smaller territories.
Using both diplomacy and overwhelming force, Paradise Casino steadily absorbed underground groups from neighboring cities. Within a single week, two medium-sized cities had completely fallen under Paradise Casino's influence.
The speed of the expansion shocked the entire underground world.
Leaders from nearby cities were forced either to submit or disappear.
Those who resisted found themselves defeated almost overnight.
No one knew who the mysterious owner of Paradise Casino truly was.
Some claimed he was a retired grandmaster.
Others believed he was backed by an ancient organization from outside the province.
The rumors became increasingly outrageous, but one thing remained undeniable.
The new owner was ruthless, decisive, and frighteningly efficient.
---
As Paradise Casino's influence continued to grow, the structure of Oracle City's underworld changed completely.
For many years, only two supreme powers had ruled the city's criminal world.
The Southern Underground, led by Joseph.
And the Northern Underground, commanded by Victor Kane.
The two kings had maintained an uneasy balance, constantly competing for territory while avoiding an all-out war that would weaken both sides.
Now, a third force had emerged.
Paradise Casino.
Within only a week, the casino had grown from an ordinary entertainment establishment into an underground power capable of rivaling the two kings themselves.
For the first time in decades, the underworld stood divided among three equal factions.
The Southern Underground.
The Northern Underground.
And Paradise Casino.
The entire criminal world held its breath.
Everyone knew that such a balance could not last forever.
Eventually, someone would make the first move.
---
Inside a luxurious villa located in the northern district of Oracle City, Victor Kane quietly listened to reports from his trusted subordinates.
A large map of the surrounding cities lay spread across the conference table.
Several territories had recently been marked in red.
One of Victor's advisors pointed toward the map.
"Boss... Paradise Casino has officially taken control of two more medium-sized cities."
Victor remained expressionless.
"So they're expanding again."
"Yes."
Another subordinate added cautiously, "Many smaller organizations are beginning to pledge loyalty to them voluntarily."
Victor slowly leaned back in his chair.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
One of his captains frowned.
"Boss... should we attack before they become stronger?"
Victor shook his head.
"No."
His calm answer surprised everyone.
"The stronger they become, the more valuable they are."
He lightly tapped the table with his finger.
"I've spent years trying to crush Joseph and unify the entire underworld under my rule."
His eyes narrowed.
"Unfortunately, that old fox always finds a way to survive."
Victor's expression gradually turned colder.
"But now..."
He looked toward the map where Paradise Casino's territories had been marked.
"Paradise Casino has unknowingly become the perfect weapon."
His subordinates exchanged puzzled looks.
Victor smiled faintly.
"Once Paradise Casino weakens Joseph..."
"I'll destroy both of them."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"When that day comes..."
"The entire underworld of Oracle City will belong to me."
None of his men questioned his decision.
In their eyes, Victor Kane remained the most terrifying figure in the northern underworld.
However...
Neither Victor nor any of his trusted followers knew the truth.
Joseph, the Southern Underground King whom Victor had viewed as his greatest rival for years...
...was merely one of Josh's loyal subordinates.
Even more unbelievable was the identity of the mysterious owner of Paradise Casino.
Victor believed he was facing two separate enemies.
In reality...
Both forces were already under the command of one man.
Josh Silver.
A dangerous misunderstanding had begun to take shape.
Night quietly blanketed Oracle City.
The streets were still alive with traffic and bright neon lights, but deep inside Paradise Casino, only a handful of people remained active. Security had become noticeably tighter after the casino changed ownership. Trusted guards stood watch at every entrance, while the upper floors were strictly off-limits to ordinary guests.
Inside the highest private office, Joseph stood respectfully before Josh.
The mighty Southern Underground King, whose name alone could make countless underworld figures tremble, showed none of his usual authority. Instead, he lowered his head with complete respect.
"You summoned me, Young Master?"
Josh stood by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the glittering city below. His hands rested behind his back as his sharp eyes quietly observed the lights stretching across Oracle City.
Without turning around, he asked calmly, "How are things progressing?"
Joseph answered immediately.
"Everything is proceeding according to your plan. We've completely absorbed the underground forces of two medium-sized neighboring cities. The smaller organizations have either surrendered or fled. None dared resist Paradise Casino."
Josh nodded.
"And Victor?"
Joseph's expression became serious.
"He has remained surprisingly quiet. Based on my intelligence network, he's strengthening his forces instead of attacking. Knowing him, he's definitely planning something."
A faint smile appeared on Josh's face.
"He wants all three underground forces to weaken one another first."
Joseph's eyes widened.
"So... he intends to eliminate both me and Paradise Casino after we're exhausted?"
Josh finally turned around.
"That's exactly how Victor thinks."
"He has always believed you're his greatest obstacle. Now, he thinks Paradise Casino is another rival standing in his way."
Josh chuckled softly.
"What he doesn't know..."
"...is that both forces belong to the same person."
Joseph couldn't help but smile.
"If he discovers the truth, I'm afraid he'll die from anger before we even fight."
Josh merely smiled without commenting.
After a brief silence, he walked toward the wooden table inside the office.
There, he placed a small jade bottle on the polished surface.
Joseph immediately noticed it.
His heartbeat unconsciously accelerated.
The last time Josh gave Robert Jenner medicinal pills, the entire Jenner family's strength increased dramatically.
Could this...
Josh picked up a single dark-gold pill and gently tossed it toward Joseph.
"Cultivation Pill."
Joseph caught it carefully with both hands.
The moment the pill reached his palm, he felt a powerful wave of spiritual energy radiating from it. Even breathing near the pill made his internal energy circulate faster.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"You... Young Master..."
Josh interrupted him.
"This pill is enough to help you challenge the next realm."
Joseph froze.
"The next realm..."
He looked down at the pill with trembling hands.
For years, he had remained trapped at Peak Elite Stage.
No matter how hard he cultivated, he could never take that final step.
The War Master Realm...
It was a legendary level that countless martial artists dreamed of reaching.
Throughout the entire region, only a handful of people had ever entered that realm.
If he succeeded...
His strength would increase several times over.
Josh looked at him calmly.
"The pill alone isn't enough."
Joseph looked up.
"Your meridians suffered hidden injuries during your younger years. Although you've recovered on the surface, the damaged pathways inside your body prevent your true energy from flowing perfectly."
Joseph's pupils contracted.
No physician...
No martial arts master...
Not even he himself had discovered that hidden problem.
Yet Josh had seen through it with a single glance.
Josh walked toward him.
"Sit."
Joseph obeyed immediately, crossing his legs on the carpet.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the Cultivation Pill.
Boom!
The medicinal energy exploded inside his body like a raging river.
Joseph's face instantly turned red.
Veins bulged across his forehead as violent spiritual energy surged through every part of his body.
His breathing became heavy.
Sweat poured down his face.
The overwhelming medicinal force was far beyond what his body could withstand.
"Young... Master..."
His voice trembled in pain.
Josh stepped behind him.
"Relax."
Before Joseph could respond—
Bang!
Josh placed his palm firmly against Joseph's back.
A gentle yet incomparably pure stream of true energy poured into Joseph's body.
The moment Josh's energy entered—
Joseph's entire body shook violently.
He could clearly feel countless blocked meridians opening one after another.
Every damaged pathway that had accumulated over decades was being repaired at an unbelievable speed.
Josh controlled his true energy with incredible precision.
Like an experienced craftsman repairing priceless porcelain, he carefully guided the violent medicinal power through every meridian.
Crack!
Crack!
Tiny sounds echoed from within Joseph's body as years of hidden blockages shattered one after another.
Joseph's breathing gradually stabilized.
His aura continued climbing.
Late Elite Stage...
Peak Elite Stage...
The bottleneck that had imprisoned him for years began to tremble.
Outside the office, several elite guards suddenly looked toward the room.
"What terrifying aura..."
"It feels like someone's breaking through..."
"The pressure is unbelievable..."
None of them dared approach.
Inside the room, Josh remained calm.
His expression showed no strain despite continuously supplying true energy.
If another martial artist witnessed this scene, they would be horrified.
Using one's own true energy to cleanse another person's meridians was an almost impossible feat.
One slight mistake could destroy the recipient's cultivation—or even kill them instantly.
Yet Josh performed the process as effortlessly as drinking water.
Several minutes later—
Boom!
A powerful wave of energy erupted from Joseph's body.
The entire office trembled.
The windows rattled violently.
The tables and chairs shook under the immense pressure.
Joseph suddenly opened his eyes.
Two sharp rays of light flashed across his pupils.
His aura had completely transformed.
Compared to before, it was more stable...
More refined...
Far more powerful.
He slowly stood up, unable to hide the excitement on his face.
"I..."
"I broke through..."
He clenched his fists.
An overwhelming sense of power surged through every muscle in his body.
He had finally stepped into the legendary realm—
War Master.
His breathing became uneven.
Without another word, Joseph suddenly knelt before Josh.
His forehead touched the floor.
"Thank you, Young Master."
"You have given me a second life."
"My life..."
"My strength..."
"My future..."
"They all belong to you."
Josh simply waved his hand.
"Stand up."
Joseph immediately obeyed.
Josh looked at him with a calm expression.
"Don't reveal your breakthrough yet."
Joseph was slightly surprised.
"You want me to hide my strength?"
Josh nodded.
"Victor believes you're still at Peak Elite Stage."
"Let him continue believing that."
A faint smile appeared on Josh's face.
"When the time comes..."
"We'll give him a surprise he will never forget."
"Your mission is to defeat Victor and the entire northern underworld. Prove to the eyes of the other underworlds in the other cities that you can rule over here. Give this to your trusted and strong subordinates"
He gave him a bag full of high end medicinal pills for breakthroughs.
Joseph's eyes flashed with excitement.
He understood immediately.
His breakthrough would become the hidden trump card of Paradise Casino.
And when Victor Kane finally made his move...
He would discover far too late that the prey he intended to hunt...
...had already become a dragon beyond his reach.