In Hiphia, Gerry sat solemnly in the grand hall of the Ford family mansion, a massive Ford emblem displayed in the center. He was seated on an antique wooden chair, its backrest intricately carved with two lifelike dragons, seemingly ready to soar at any moment. Gerry’s hand rested on the dragon’s head, a testament to the chair’s craftsmanship that could rival even modern techniques.
If selling this exquisite piece of art in an antique auction, it could easily fetch millions of dollars.
Beside the antique wooden chair was a wooden table, its craftsmanship matching the chair’s in every way, equally breathtaking in its artistry.
Despite being surrounded by such an elegant setting, Gerry’s face was filled with grimness. His gaunt features twitched occasionally, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“This is outrageous!” he roared, slamming the table with his palm. A thunderous crash echoed through the hall, leaving a hole in the table.
Gerry’s three sons sat below, exchanging nervous glances, too afraid to speak up.
Recently, the Ford family had encountered an unprecedented challenge. An obscure family, the Adams family, had left them at a loss. First, the banks continued to support the Adams family, ignoring the Ford family’s influence and keeping their financial chain intact.
The Ford family’s attempts to undermine the Adams family-both through indirect business attacks and direct confrontations-were all skillfully countered. Even more shocking, the Adams family not only survived but grew stronger, securing multiple projects and branching into real estate and hospitality, catching the Ford family completely off guard.
In Hiphia, the Ford family had never faced such a formidable opponent. In the past, they had crushed numerous strong adversaries without exception. But this time, the more pressure they applied, the more resilient the Adams family became, as if a mysterious and unknown party was supporting them secretly.
The Ford family had never encountered such an unusual situation.
Could it be that the Adams family had a powerful backer? The Atkinson family, perhaps? No, the Ford family had already investigated and found no ties. The Atkinson family’s dealings with the Adams family were limited to steel supply, nothing more.
If not the Atkinsons, then who else would dare go against the Ford family?
After some deep thought, Gerry’s expression was dark and inscrutable. The Ford family members were equally anxious. Even the usually calm and composed third son of Gerry, Leonel, was frowning deeply, at a loss.
“Marlon, have you heard anything about Beckett?” Gerry turned his gaze to Marlon.
Marlon hesitated, then sighed. “Beckett has gone off the grid. It is said he’s on a family trip abroad, but I haven’t been able to reach him for days.”
Gerry’s frown deepened as he looked at his second son, Cutler. “What about Jack? What did he say?”
Cutler’s expression was heavy. “Jack hasn’t given a direct response. He brushed me off with a few casual words and then hung up, claiming he was busy. It seems he doesn’t see the Adams family as a threat. I questioned a few close contacts, and they believe the Adams family has no strong backing-maybe they’ve just been lucky recently. If they did have support, the Atkinsons would be the most likely. But, after thorough investigation, we found that the Atkinson family’s involvement with the Adams is limited to a single business deal.”
Gerry’s brow furrowed further. His gaze shifted to Leonel.
Leonel understood what his father wanted. “Father, I think we shouldn’t underestimate the Adams family. We should first observe and gather more information. For a seemingly ordinary family to grow so quickly, they must have something unique. We’ve tried to suppress them multiple times to no avail. This requires careful consideration. So, I suggest we wait a bit longer.”
“Wait a bit longer?” Marlon sneered. “We don’t have that kind of time to waste. If we can’t handle a mere Adams family, how will other families perceive us? We should take strong measures, send people to disrupt their operations, and make it impossible for them to function.”
Cutler stood up in agreement. “I support Marlon’s approach. Since we can’t take them down through business, let’s take direct action. At the current pace, the Adams family will be a first-rate family within a week, rivaling us. That would be a major threat. We have underground resources at our disposal, so why not use them? I’ll contact Cheetah and his men to handle it. The head of the Adams family is a woman, so Cheetah can pressure her into understanding what she should and shouldn’t do.”
Both Marlon and Cutler had decided to act openly, involving Hiphia’s underworld.
Gerry’s gaze sharpened as he finally turned to Leonel. “Leonel, what do you think?”
Gerry had grown accustomed to relying on his youngest son, Leonel, in various family meetings in recent years.
Leonel remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Marlon and Cutler’s plan could work. However, Cheetah might not be up to the task. I know someone who could solve this issue more efficiently.”
“Who?” Everyone turned to Leonel, curiosity piqued.
Leonel’s lips curved into a subtle smile as he uttered a name. “Damian Morgan.”
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Everyone fell silent.
They all stared at Leonel, stunned and unable to believe their ears.
Damian Morgan. The name was well-known throughout Hiphia. Ten years ago, he was a notorious figure, infamous for his brutal and lawless actions. It was said that if he set his sights on a woman, he would stop at nothing to have her, no matter the cost.
Back then, he was a force to be reckoned with, commanding the entire underworld of Hiphia. Even the Ford family, the city’s foremost power, was reluctant to provoke him. One misstep, and lives could disappear without a trace.
He was a madman, a terrifying figure beyond words.
Damian had once befriended the head of Hiphia’s third-ranked family, the Clark family. Shortly after, the Clark family head’s wife was involved with Damian. No one knew what sort of influence Damian had, but he managed to convince the wife to murder her own husband.
Later, to cover up the incident, Damian Morgan slaughtered the entire Clark family.
He became a wanted man and fled across Hiphia. During his escape, knowing his time was limited, he embarked on a killing spree. It’s estimated that during his time in Hiphia, he murdered hundreds, including children, the elderly, and the young.