The news anchor could barely keep his voice steady.

"According to police sources, Maren Voss, leader of the Rust Gate Crew, was killed today during firing on the forest road near North Mill. Police are calling it a gang conflict, but the scale of the attack has raised questions. Rust Gate has been one of the most active gangs in this province for several years."

The footage changed to a distant shot of the road.

A damaged truck stood at an angle. One escort car had its doors open. Police tape moved in the wind while reporters spoke from behind a line of constables. The anchor repeated Maren’s name twice, as if saying it again would make the news less difficult to believe.

"Several bodies were recovered from the scene," the anchor continued. "Sources say multiple senior members of Rust Gate Crew were present in the convoy."

That line mattered more than the anchor understood.

Senior members meant the upper layer had been cut together with Maren. It meant the people left behind would not have time to gather calmly and choose a leader by tradition.

Bruno sat in front of the television with a wide smile.

His fingers curled into fists on the arms of the chair.

He had imagined many things after Wil’s side marked Maren. Maybe they would send a shooter, a sniper, or silent poison inside a drinking room. He had even imagined Maren disappearing without a body.

They had killed the leader of a gang that had refused to bend.

And they had done it in a way that made the whole province hear the name.

Bruno leaned forward.

"So this is how they move," he whispered.

Before this, a small doubt had remained in him. Wil had power, money, information, and strange confidence, but Bruno had still wondered whether Gonda could truly be removed. Removing a gang leader was not the same as threatening one. If Wil only wanted to frighten people, Bruno’s future would stop at being a useful bridge.

Now that doubt was gone.

If Bruno proved his worth, Gonda’s seat could become his. Maybe not only that. Maybe he could rise higher than a street gang, maybe become the man who handled a whole country’s underworld branch for Wil’s side.

The thought made his chest feel hot.

He had already climbed once under Gonda. He knew how men bowed after power became visible. This incident gave him protection too. If Gonda had thought about crushing him before, he would think twice now. Touching Bruno meant touching the bridge to people who could erase Maren Voss.

Two of Bruno’s men were standing near the wall, watching the news with their mouths half open. They did not know the full story, but they knew enough to understand that Bruno was connected to something moving behind the attack. Their eyes moved toward him more than once, and for the first time Bruno did not feel like Gonda’s trapped subordinate in front of them.

He felt like someone with a path.

His phone buzzed.

Tobin.

Bruno picked it up at once.

The call connected to a shaky voice.

"What do I do now?"

Bruno stood and moved away from the television.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"Hospital. Some of our men are here. Some are at the warehouse. Everyone is shouting. They are asking who attacked us."

"Good," Bruno said.

"Good?" Tobin almost snapped.

"Yes. It means they are looking for someone to lead them. Listen carefully. Do not act like a survivor. Act like the man who is holding the crew together."

Tobin went quiet.

Bruno’s voice became firm. "First, gather the men who are not badly wounded. Send two people to protect the warehouse. Send two to check the families of the dead. Say it loudly so everyone hears you giving orders."

"And if someone asks who made me leader?"

"Do not answer like you are asking permission," Bruno said. "Say Maren is dead, the right-hand line is gone, and you are the highest man left who can stand. Say the crew needs a head before enemies smell blood."

Tobin breathed through the phone.

Bruno continued, "Show anger. Not fear. Say you will find whoever did this. Say Rust Gate will not die because Maren died. Men in panic follow the person who sounds like he already has a road."

At the hospital, Tobin stood in a side corridor with dried blood on one sleeve. Two Rust Gate men were sitting near the wall, heads wrapped in bandages. Another man was arguing with a nurse at the far end.

People kept looking at Tobin because no one else knew where to look. Every few seconds someone asked where the bodies had been taken, who would call the warehouse, or whether Maren’s house should be guarded.

Tobin answered none of it properly yet.

That was why he had called Bruno.

Everything Bruno said made sense.

That scared him.

The chair he had only imagined before was suddenly close enough to touch. Maren was dead. The right-hand man who usually stood beside him had been killed in the first escort car. The men above Tobin were either dead, wounded, or missing.

Only he was still standing.

"Tonight," Bruno said, "when the first shock lowers, you gather them. Do it tonight, not tomorrow. You say from now on you will lead until Rust Gate is safe. If someone refuses openly, you kill him. If you let the first challenge live, the second one will be worse."

Tobin’s fingers tightened around the phone.

"Kill him?"

"You wanted the chair," Bruno said. "Chairs like that are not given with garlands."

Tobin closed his eyes.

He had known this, but hearing it still made his stomach twist.

Bruno lowered his voice. "And remember one thing. After you sit there, your alliance is with us. With me first, then with Gonda’s side. Behind us is the international organization that protected me and made this happen. Stay loyal, and you will have protection."

"What if Gonda refuses me?" Tobin asked.

"He will not refuse what is useful," Bruno said. "You bring him men, routes, and a name that still has fear in the streets. He may not love you, but he will accept you."

"And Wil’s side?"

"They already opened the road for you," Bruno said. "Do not make them regret it."

Tobin looked toward the emergency room door.

Men were waiting for orders.

For the first time, they were waiting for his orders.

"I understand," Tobin said.

Bruno smiled again.