"Raise your hands. Legs spread. Move your body." The commands were given by a stout-looking man at the building's door, and the workers obeyed without hesitation. Except for Arnold, who remained motionless, his face crossed between 'I'm so bewildered' and 'fuck this.' He'd come to work earlier this evening with excitement and trepidation. Tonight, was the night of the mysterious event, and he'd been chosen as one of the workers serving at the event the day before. When he entered the premises, he encountered an unusual mob standing in a rowdy queue while they were carefully checked. Every member of staff and worker was subjected to comprehensive searches to verify that no one was carrying any mobile devices or unapproved equipment. But why was this so? And what on earth was going on? What type of terrible thing was taking place that cameras weren't even permitted? Should he be concerned? Should he turn around right now and go home before things get out of hand? One voice in Arnol

Arnold felt he was going through a trap door when he arrived at the scheduled meeting spot to have supper with Kein. The weight of his emotions, both angry and frustrated, was dragging him down, and he couldn't help but feel nervous. Arnold had been feeling off-kilter since the killer and traitor had called a few days before, demanding dinner. He still couldn't shake the strange feeling that had overwhelmed him since that phone conversation, and it was getting worse by the minute. He walked inside the spooky eatery as if nothing was wrong and as if he had no ulterior agenda, but he knew better. Something was wrong. It wasn't even something minor. The entire evening felt strange. Arnold could also sense that something significant would happen tonight, and it would change the trajectory of his life. Tonight would make or mad Mr. Kein's destiny too, and as he pulled the restaurant door open, Arnold exhaled deeply. The entire establishment was deserted, devoid of customers, and he la

"Good day, boss. Arnold Stone completed the assignment successfully." The voice on the other end of the line kept talking. "Members of his gang took care of the body. It's safe to say that Mr. Kein, the target, has been eliminated." Mr. Black sat in his dimly lit office, phone to his ear, listening as one of his most loyal lieutenants confirmed Arnold's effective execution of the legendary gang leader, Mr. Kein. Earlier, Mr. Black had been apprehensive about picking up the phone when the call came through because it carried the news of his most lethal work yet. If he responded, he'd be mentally prepared to learn whether Arnold had completed the task. In this situation, either Arnold survived and blasted Kein's head, or the opposite occurred. He'd sighed slowly, his hands shaking violently, and swiped the answer button, and now he was here. "Oh, my goodness!" Mr. Black exclaimed, a rush of relief and delight flowing through him. He had to take a minute's break before proceeding. "T

It was a beautiful afternoon, and Mr. Xiu sat in his comfortable living room, waiting for Arnold. He'd sent for the younger man earlier today. They needed to talk about something serious, and Mr. Xiu had a lot of questions for his protégé. Mr. Xiu couldn't stop thinking about the news and the things they'd labeled Arnold as since he saw it last night. It made him concerned that Arnold was spiraling out of control. Most importantly, he needed to confirm that everything he'd heard and seen on television the night before was a lie, and only Arnold could confirm if it were genuine. Damn! The words of the reporter who had mentioned Arnold repeatedly repeated in Mr. Xiu's thoughts. There had been reports about the death of a notorious mobster, who had been none other than Kein, Xiu's childhood friend as well as the one he'd just reconciled with a few days before, and while he'd been surprised at first, he'd heard the most suspicious news. The suspects who had queued up in connection wi

"Damn, you, Arnold Stone!" Mr. Black mumbled, his teeth clenched. "You may be winning this battle right now, but I'll be damned if I let you claim victory at the end." The words were delivered with such malice that they almost sounded like a curse, but he didn't mind. Mr. Black returned his gaze to the television and listened as the news reporter went on and on about the recent gang activity in the city. Arnold, of course, was orchestrating these events. Arnold Stone was a lunatic, a brilliant individual, and Mr. Black would be lying if he said he didn't feel frightened by him. He was terrified at the prospect of Arnold ascending to the renowned throne as the leader of the dangerous world of underground crime. Despite his loathing and dread of the guy, Mr. Black couldn't deny the admiration, pride, and satisfaction he felt when he thought of his battle with Stone. It felt kind of... good. He felt better knowing that someone in the world would dare to issue such a challenge—not that