The estate was quiet, but not peaceful. Lucius's council gathered in the war room, the air thick with anticipation. Darius Veylan, the Butcher of Shadows, flexed his hands, the scent of steel and blood lingering on him. He was ready for any order.
Silvio Marcellus, the cunning Fox, reviewed maps and plans, his eyes cold and calculating. He could anticipate threats before they appeared and act with deadly precision in Lucius's absence.
Ravenna Veyra, the Black Widow, hummed softly, her obsession with Lucius flickering in every movement. Chains and blades surrounded her, but her attention was solely on the Devil's commands.
Cain Mortalis, the Silent Executioner, stood silently in the corner. His axe gleamed in the dim light. His reputation was known to all; his weapon spoke louder than words.
Dr. Adrian Crowe, the Devil's Advocate, adjusted his glasses. "Reports indicate a faction is gathering against us. Politicians, businessmen, and some who call themselves patriots. They will strike, but we are ready."
Victor Draemont, the Iron Tycoon, tapped the table, his influence stretching across the nation. Businesses and banks moved under his control, laundering the Mafia's wealth into legitimate gold. "We control the economy. If anyone tries to move against us, they will feel it in their pockets and their lives."
Lucius's crimson eyes swept across the council. "The shadows stir," he said, voice low but filled with authority. "And I will see the teeth before they bite."
Selene knelt before him, still recovering from her trials. Her hands were steady now, her eyes filled with loyalty. "What is my task, master?" she asked.
"You will hunt those who plotted against me," Lucius said. "Torture them. Extract their secrets. Bring me every name and every connection before they can strike again."
Selene bowed, chains rattling softly. She had walked through fire and thorns and would never betray him again. Pain had forged her into a weapon, a faithful viper at the Devil's side.
Darius stepped forward. "Enzo is ready for field work. He will accompany Selene on her mission. Together, they will find the enemy before they find us."
Silvio adjusted the layout of the city in his mind, directing the team. "They move quickly but leave traces. Follow the patterns. Trap them before they realize we are aware."
Ravenna's eyes glimmered. "I will make them scream. Loyalty must be enforced through fear and pain."
Cain Mortalis simply lifted his axe. Its edge shone like a promise of death. No words were needed.
Adrian Crowe had already begun bending the law. Judges were convinced that any interference against Lucius's empire was treason. Politicians who hesitated found their reputations destroyed overnight. Crowe's brilliance ensured that enemies had no safe ground.
Victor Draemont contacted his networks, freezing accounts, redirecting shipments, and ensuring that the Mafia's enemies would face ruin. "Their wealth will betray them," he said simply.
Selene and Enzo moved through the city like shadows. Each building they entered, each enemy they confronted, fell under the calculated wrath of Lucius's council. Names were collected, faces were marked, and connections traced.
By the time dawn approached, the hidden enemy had been cornered. Victor's businesses revealed their ties to the government. Adrian's manipulations ensured no official could protect them. Cain's axe waited silently for the unworthy.
Lucius observed it all from the tower. Crimson eyes glimmered with satisfaction. "Do they understand yet who commands the shadows? Do they tremble at the Devil they sought to challenge?"
The surviving enemies were brought to the estate. They knelt, faces pale, limbs shaking. Selene stepped forward, presenting them like trophies to Lucius. "These are the ones who conspired against you," she said.
Lucius's smile widened, his laughter low and poisonous. "You thought yourselves safe behind wealth and law. You thought you could touch me and escape. I am the Devil. I am the shadow in every council, the hand in every court, and the fire in every heart. Tremble."
The council bowed, their loyalty reaffirmed. The enemies quivered, their pride crushed, and the city would soon learn that the Devil's reach was limitless.