"Here, as promised. I brought the information related to black faction King in the government's database."
Liam threw a stack of documents on the glass table. The white faction members were currently gathering in a bar without their King's knowledge, discussing a topic that had been bothering them since the last raid.
"Tsk, took you long enough. It's been what? Two months since you said it?" Rachel took one copy of the document before glaring at Liam with spite, to which Liam only shrugged his shoulders.
"I am no hacker. It's quite hard to bypass the security system and dig through every layer of data to know more than just his basic information."
Pietro glanced at their interaction before picking up the papers on the table.
"No, instead, it's a perfect time isn't it? I'm getting bored waiting around for Haide's order for our next plan."
"Seriously, shouldn't we be stalking each other's faction right now? Why are we so laid-back about this?" With a glass in her hand, Violet clicked her tongue as she also picked one of the copies on the table.
Seeing his members' reaction, a huge grin bloomed on Liam's face. He sat down and started speaking.
"It's been two months, and spring has already arrived, so how about we hasten the process?"
"Let's be honest, I only have one wish from this war, power. Authority to control, standing on top of others, that's the kind of power I want. I reckon you guys also have the same desire, am I wrong?"
"Read the document I gave you carefully, we'll find every weakness we could exploit from this data."
"We will gather more manpower and make sure we can kill him within this month."
"So Keith, you'll be our proxy leader instead of Haide."
Keith crossed his legs as he shut his mouth. Liam sneered at his silence.
"Or are you hesitant to kill our enemy because he's your ex-partner?"
He flipped the document in his hand as he scoffed, "You've never marked him don't you? You never truly loved him, so why the hesitation?"
Locking his gaze with Keith, Liam continued.
"Let's do it. There's no need to be afraid of Haide. Once this war is over, we'll be of the same hierarchy anyway."
But Keith only sighed at Liam's obvious propaganda.
"You don't know who you're dealing with. Haide isn't as simple as you think he is. Even if we succeed, he could wreck your life because you disobeyed him before. I would rather be on his good side, especially since he's the one who holds the power to ask for our wish."
Liam frowned, "So you're a coward is that it?"
"I would rather say I'm cautious. I don't want my hard-earned business to be destroyed because of his anger."
"Hah! Both our King and Queen are cowards!"
"Watch your mouth."
Keith narrowed his eyes and the room was soon wrapped in a sharp mint scent that prickled the back of all alphas and omegas in their team.
"You guys seem too comfortable fulfilling your own ego that you forget the fact that I am also a dominant alpha."
He loosened his tie as he stood up, glaring at the trembling Liam in front of him.
"I could control you guys the same way Haide does. Isn't this the power you seek? The power to force people to grovel at your feet with a glance – making them tremble in fear as you look down at them."
Stopping his pheromone from spreading, Keith sat back down as he propped his chin with his hand.
"Why do you think I'm so scared of someone with the same hierarchy as me? If you guys know the reputation he has built in the underworld, you might never think about rebelling against him."
He took his time taking a sip of the wine before continuing, "He could wreck you while keeping you alive – making you wish you were dead instead."
Then he shifted his gaze to Rachel, "You feel it too, don't you? His grasp on your company."
She flinched and turned her gaze away, proving others the point of his words.
"Why do you think there hasn't been much plan to attack our enemy these past months? It's because Haide is still digging from the inside. You might not feel it now, but your family, your relatives and other things important to you are slowly being tied down by him. Even my company isn't safe."
"He would rather grasp our weakness to make sure we can't run away before he finally attacks." His voice sharp, "So it's better to hand him this document and wait for his instructions."
Keith took one copy of the document and stood up. Giving his members one last glance before leaving in silence. He walked down the stairs and went out of the building before entering his car.
Now alone, Keith could finally read the document in his hand.
"Yolan Carnel."
Basic information such as age, gender and address were printed on the first page. But once he flipped to the second, Keith frowned.
Details from Yolan's medical records to the latest transaction from his card were laid bare for white faction members to see.
His members were actually desperate enough to violate work ethics and risking his life just to obtain the smallest bit of information to kill Yolan.
Out of the information in this stack of papers, there were two things that caught his eye.
"His latest big purchase was a studio in the corner of Harpen Street."
The one that he barged into.
And…
"A medical check-up that proclaims him a dominant omega."
Keith stopped and read that line a few times before frowning.
All his life, he had known Yolan as a defect recessive, yet, he suddenly turned into a dominant?
"A change in pheromone glands? Is there even a case like this among male omegas?"
Male omegas were rare to begin with, as omegas were mostly women. Keith was lucky he could meet two male omegas as his lovers, but even then, his knowledge about them was only surface level.
'I only started caring after I dated Richie.'
Though after War of Throne started, they had broken up as Keith didn't have time to think about love when danger was hanging on his throat.
'If only I paid attention to these kinds of things before…'
But of course, it was already too late.
DING!
He snapped out of his thoughts when his phone rang. Reading the caller ID, his brows wrinkled into a frown.
"Yes, what do you need?"
A mocking laugh came out from the other side.
[You are quite loyal aren't you?]
Keith's grip on his phone became tight, he didn't like the way this conversation was going.
"What do you mean?"
[You know what I mean. How was it? The discussion with others without my presence?]
"You- How do you-"
Keith immediately looked around and rubbed every corner of his car. Finding there's nothing off, he took one last stare at the phone in his hand before he gritted his teeth.
"Did you plant a bug on me? How?"
This time a heartfelt laughter came from the other side.
[Do you know what my family's specialty is? We instill fear. One that will make you restless and slowly consume your mind. So what you said back then to our members was the right choice. If only you had said otherwise…]
A sudden silence.
The tension made Keith gulp as cold sweat dripped down his face.
[Well, it seems like I need to enforce discipline on the others. You're lucky you're capable.]
Haide stopped talking.
[Oh, by the way, don't forget to check the holographic board in the sky once you are out. We will be down by one member soon.]
"What?"
Keith was confused by what he meant before he heard a click from a gun's magazine from the phone. That's when he realized what his leader intended to do.
BANG!
"That crazy bastard!"
He ran out of his car and climbed up the stairs of the bar he had just left a few minutes ago. His heart pounded and his feet felt heavier with each step he took.
But he didn't stop until he arrived at the VIP room that his members had booked to hold their conversation. And to his fear, the door was opened and the pungent smell of blood coming from inside confirmed his suspicion.
"Haide!"
Keith shouted as he swiped his gaze across the room. And there he was, standing with a gun, the crest on his hand gave a soft glow.
Blood had splattered across the wall, painting the wallpapers red. On the floor lay Liam, who was the source of that same blood, lifeless. While others were trembling in fear as they watched Haide standing still in the center.
"Ah you're here."
Haide's face was calm, joyful even.
"I thought you were leaving, so I cleaned up the rebellious rats myself."
Wiping the blood that had splashed on his face, Haide smiled at the others.
"The first day I explained the rules of this war, you guys should have already understood what kind of person I am."
Haide stashed his gun back in the sheath, "I hate those who can't obey. Even if I have to suffer loss from my action today, I'll take it. So if you want to live longer and get your wish fulfilled until the end, you'd better listen to my plan."
"Especially you two, Pietro, Rachel, you're already on my watch list, so be careful with your actions and words. I have ears everywhere." He gave one last smile before taking the stack of papers containing Yolan's information on the table.
Walking past Keith on the doorframe, Haide pulled the document in his hand too before giving him a tap on the shoulder.
That small gesture made Keith flinch.
"I'll leave the cleanup to you."
Hearing the sound of Haide's footsteps fading in the distance, Keith let out a helpless laugh.
He's a maniac.
An utter maniac.