"No questions," the old man said.

Gonda’s mouth closed.

The words came through the phone with no anger in them, and that made them harder to push back against. A shouting man could be negotiated with if his pride was touched correctly. This man sounded as if Gonda’s fear was only a detail already counted.

"You heard the task," the old man continued. "Do it, and our alliance remains. Do it, and you will receive what was promised. Refuse, delay, or warn the wrong people, and I will understand that you chose World Zone."

"This is not a small matter," Gonda said.

"It is not meant to be. If you do it, our alliance remains. If you do not, I will understand that you have already chosen the other side."

The line cut.

For several seconds, Gonda did not lower the phone.

Kundra was the first to break the silence. "Boss, what happened?"

Gonda placed the phone on the table and rubbed his forehead. The room felt too warm. The wine beside him had not been touched, but his mouth still tasted bitter.

"What happened?" Kundra asked.

Gonda did not answer immediately.

His mind ran through every road.

If the Rust Gate assassination had not happened, he would have chosen World Zone without thinking too much. They had a name, men, structure, and foreign reach. But Maren Voss had died even when World Zone wanted Rust Gate. They had not saved him, and they had not stopped Tobin from taking the chair.

The nameless side had no clear face, but it had results. They were protecting Tobin by forcing Gonda to move. If they could move him for Tobin, then maybe they could move someone else for him later.

"Boss," Kundra said again, softer this time.

Gonda looked up.

"We are going to Rust Gate."

Kundra’s expression changed. "Now?"

"Now."

"For what?"

Gonda stood and took his coat from the chair. "To choose before both sides decide....I am useless."

The Rust Gate warehouse was already close to breaking when Gonda arrived.

It was not their main base, but it had become the place where both sides were measuring each other. Half the yard was filled with men loyal to Niko, which meant men still saying Tobin’s name. The other half stood behind Harlan Pike. Some carried pistols openly. Others held knives or metal rods. A few had shotguns angled toward the ground, ready to rise at the first wrong movement.

No one looked relaxed.

Two men had died earlier that day near the south storage point. One was from Niko’s side, and one belonged to Harlan. Since then, both sides had shouted more than they had fired. No one wanted to be the first fool to start a full bloodbath before knowing who would win.

Niko stood near a stack of crates with four men around him. His face was tight, but he tried to look calm.

Harlan stood opposite him, older, heavier, and more comfortable in the open. That was his advantage. Men saw him standing there and wondered why Tobin had to speak through phones.

"Tell Tobin to come here himself!" one of Harlan’s men shouted.

"Say that again and you will not leave this yard," a man from Niko’s side snapped back.

Two guns rose at the same time, and several others followed before anyone fired.

"A leader does not hide!" Harlan shouted. "A leader stands where his men can see him."

Niko lifted his gun. "Say one more word and see what happens."

Harlan laughed. "You will shoot me? Or will you call Tobin first and ask permission?"

Several men on Harlan’s side laughed.

Niko’s jaw tightened, but he did not fire.

That hesitation hurt him more than any insult.

Then the gate opened.

Everyone turned.

Gonda walked in with Kundra and six armed men behind him.

The yard became quieter at once.

Even Harlan stopped smiling for a second. Then his smile returned, wider than before. He had heard enough from World Zone to believe Gonda was at least leaning away from Tobin’s side.

"Good," Harlan said loudly. "You came at the right time."

Niko’s face became guarded.

Harlan stepped forward and pointed across the yard. "Everyone listen. Gonda is here. He knows what is happening. Tobin cannot lead this gang from a hole. Our alliance is not with a coward hiding behind a boy."

Some men looked at Gonda.

Harlan turned slightly toward him. "Tell them."

Gonda did not answer at once.

He looked around the yard, at the guns, the men, and the hunger for a clear winner. If he hesitated, both sides would smell it.

So he smiled.

"Harlan is right about one thing," Gonda said.

Harlan’s shoulders relaxed.

Niko’s eyes darkened.

Gonda continued, "My alliance is with Rust Gate."

Harlan turned toward the men as if the matter had already been settled.

Gonda pulled his pistol.

The sound was small compared to the silence that followed.

He fired once.

The bullet hit Harlan in the chest.

Harlan stumbled back, his mouth opening in shock more than pain. He looked at Gonda as if the world had made a mistake. Then his knees gave out, and he fell onto the concrete.

For one second, no one moved.

Gonda raised the gun again, not toward Niko but toward the men behind Harlan.

"My alliance is with Tobin," he said loudly.

His men lifted their weapons at the same time.

The men on Harlan’s side froze. Some raised their guns halfway, then stopped when they saw how many barrels were already pointed at them.

Gonda’s voice carried across the yard. "Anyone standing against Tobin is standing against me. If you still want to follow a dead man, step forward."

No one stepped forward.

One man dropped his gun first. Another lowered his shotgun. A third cursed under his breath and backed away from Harlan’s body.

Niko stared at Gonda with disbelief, then understood what had just happened.

He lifted his own gun high.

"Rust Gate stands with Tobin!" he shouted.

This time, more voices answered him.