"Hello, Dominion."

Gustav held his breath as he raised his brows, studying the exposed tattoos on the man’s wrist and neck. He glanced at the guards standing meters away from the man, then back at the man himself.

"How did he get in?" he asked under his breath, directing the question to Gin.

Gin pressed his lips together, already having a slight idea how. After all, this was a company, and they could only monitor so much. Not everyone in the building was a member of Dominion, even though most of the top positions were held by them.

Not to mention, this entire place was not under their control. This was neither their territory nor the White Serpents.

As Gustav studied the man from head to toe, Lukas had already moved forward. Gustav’s brows knitted as he watched Lukas march ahead.

"Interesting," Lukas stopped a few steps away from Silvestre. "A member of the White Serpent walking into a place he shouldn’t be. It seems the White Serpent truly has some big balls. I wonder where the confidence is coming from?"

Silvestre chuckled and shrugged. "It’s a matter of importance."

"Didn’t the White Serpent receive our message not long ago?"

After all, when Lucian and Gustav found out that the White Serpent had infiltrated Shyaan’s charity ball and drugged Lucian, Dominion had sent a warning and a demand — one that included the head of the person responsible.

The White Serpent had cooperated, but here they were again.

Silvestre smiled from ear to ear, tipping his sunglasses down and looking at Lukas over the rim.

"Mister Left Hand, can you send a message to your boss?" He tilted his head to the side. "Tell him... that the boss of the White Serpent came personally to speak with him."

Lukas furrowed his brows. "Boss?"

Silvestre simply smiled and shrugged before shifting his eyes to Gustav. The latter had walked closer, stopping beside Lukas.

Gustav studied the man from head to toe. Lukas glanced at him as well, unsure what to say. After all, even though they had every reason to turn Silvestre away, that was for Lucian to decide.

Not that they believed he was the boss, but the tattoos peeking out from his body told them he was far from a nobody within the White Serpent. They knew little about the White Serpents’ new boss, but there was one thing they did know: the bigger the snake tattoo a person had, the higher their position.

Without taking his eyes off him, Gustav raised his phone and tried to call Lucian one last time. If the big boss didn’t answer, he would have no choice but to make a decision himself.

Surprisingly, Lucian finally picked up. Turning his back to them, Gustav spoke quietly, filling Lucian in on the situation.

Lucian’s reply was brief.

"I’ll be there."

*****

Since Lucian decided to hear what Silvestre had to say, Gustav ordered his men to let him in. Silvestre was led to a smaller conference room with glass walls, visible to anyone outside.

Gustav and Lukas kept him company inside.

Meanwhile, Gin stayed outside, watching as Silvestre settled at the end of the small oval table.

"What’s going on?" Gin muttered near the reception desk, his eyes fixed on the people inside. "What does the White Serpent think they’re doing?"

Tank was already beside him, having rushed over the moment he heard. Leaning against the reception desk, he watched as well. It didn’t seem like anyone was talking — Gustav and Lukas kept their eyes on Silvestre without saying a word, while Silvestre simply leaned back in his seat, smiling at the two of them.

Even Tank couldn’t help but wonder what kind of sick game the White Serpent was playing.

"Don’t they know they’ve already been linked to the abduction?" Gin muttered. "But that’s impossible."

Even so, the enemy had found a way to use the police to retrieve Mole Guy. The White Serpent wasn’t foolish — they had surely already noticed Dominion’s movements based on where Mole Guy’s remains had been left.

Shouldn’t they be running?

Or were they truly that confident they could take on Dominion?

"This is giving me a headache," Gin muttered, exhaling slowly. "Tank, you should prepare. If this meeting goes downhill..."

He trailed off, peeling his eyes away from the glass wall to look at Tank.

"Tell Red about the situation here. Better if they’re aware — just in case this is a diversion."

Who knew? While Silvestre was here, his people might be lurking around the neighborhood.

Tank nodded and pulled out his phone. As he typed, he paused, catching a figure from the corner of his eye. He looked up just as Lucian came striding down the hallway, passing the reception desk without a glance and heading straight for the room where Silvestre was being held.

Everyone in the hallway stilled, their eyes following the big boss as tension thickened in the air.

*****

Inside the private conference room, Silvestre chuckled.

"By the way," he hummed, glancing through the glass wall at the people beyond it.

He smirked the moment he spotted that familiar, imposing figure approaching.

"He truly has the aura," he remarked before looking back at Gustav and Lukas. "And... I apologize in advance. I am not actually the boss of the White Serpent. I’m only here to deliver a message."

Even so, Gustav and Lukas’ expressions didn’t change.

"Oh?" Silvestre raised his brows, clearly expecting a stronger reaction. "That didn’t affect you much?"

Instead of answering, Gustav and Lukas rose to their feet, stepped back, and bowed their heads just as Lucian walked through the door.

Silvestre chuckled, shifting his gaze to the big boss.

"Lucian... De Luca," he said, rising from his seat. "What an honor."

Lucian assessed the man, noting his striking lack of caution. If anything, Silvestre, which was remarkable, considering he was deep in enemy territory, with no guarantee he would walk out alive.

I wonder, Lucian thought as he coolly made his way to the far end of the table and sat down. What makes this man think he can leave here unscathed?

He leaned back before fixing his gaze on Silvestre.

"I apologize for the confusion, Mr. De Luca," Silvestre began. "I claimed to be someone I am not only because I truly needed to speak with you. Allow me to properly introduce myself —"

"Time is precious," Lucian cut him off, leaning forward with one arm resting on the table, his eyes sharp and expression unreadable.

"Get to the point, Silvestre," he said, making both Gustav and Lukas glance at their boss in quiet surprise.

How did Lucian know the man’s name?

Silvestre raised his brows as well, certain he hadn’t given it to either of them. But Lucian didn’t linger on the reaction.

"What does the White Serpent want?"