The bouncers exchanged nervous looks and gulped anxiously. Even though the men were tall and muscular, they were thick-headed. Tyler’s confident attitude and surprising mention of the Secret Lair convinced them of his legitimacy. Moreover, they shuddered to imagine what Greg would do to those responsible for losing a precious artifact.“Mr. Dalmatian values his rare items collection more than human lives,” Mort whispered. “Let’s not hold back this man.”“You can pass,” Carl said to Tyler hurriedly. “But you won’t find Mr. Dalmatian in the main lobby. Go around the back and knock on the metal door thrice. Once the guard opens the slit, say the password—golden glove. He will usher you into the Secret Lair. Just be careful and don’t piss off anybody. The place is always overflowing with bigwigs!”“Talk to Wally—Mr. Dalmatian’s Assistant,” Mort added. “Perhaps he’ll arrange a meeting after the poker game.”Tyler nodded and followed the directions to the letter. He didn’t need to use his p

Greg Dalmatian’s dark monologue sent shivers up Jerry and Serpico’s spine. The duo were ruthless gangsters themselves but were obviously no match for the Brambles Lieutenant as far as brutality was concerned.Greg maimed, tortured, and killed for entertainment occasionally. Often, he kept trophies of his fallen enemies in the barbaric form of preserved eyes, hearts, or even stuffed corpses. He was a monster in plain sight.Jerry and Serpico nodded to him with respect and quietly returned to their seats.A thick crowd had already gathered around the center table since it was the first time an outsider had challenged the big three of Peridot City. Everyone was thrilled for entertainment but also anxious that it would end with the challenger’s murder.“Did you see the young man casually shell out a million dollars as if it were spare change?”“Maybe he won a lottery and is trying to make a fortune here?”“The Big Three appear pissed! He’s done for!”“The young man is not getting out of h

“No, that cannot be!” Greg Dalmatian exclaimed. “I heard the gemstone had been found. Sapphire City’s Mayor announced it in a public speech. How did you come across it?”“The rarest of rare sapphires, isn’t it?” Tyler said, admiring its outline. “I purchased a lump of coal at the annual minerals exhibition in Sapphire City. It turned out to be encasing the royal Mayfair.”“Initially, I was told it was worth a few million dollars. But once I got the gemstone examined at the lab, purveyors informed me it could sell at fifty million!”The crowd began murmuring in excitement.“Who is the young man? How does he have so much money?”“He even owns the Mayfair Sapphire. International museums and governments could purchase it for a hundred million!”“The gemstone could even be sold in the black market for three hundred million!”“The goddess of fortune has really blessed this young man with riches!”“I raise the bet to 140 million dollars!” Tyler declared.This time, Greg interlocked his finger

The entire hall was shocked into silence as Jerry Kramer and Serpico dropped dead. They were two of the Big Three that ruled over and terrorized Peridot City. A collective gasp echoed. Everyone was astonished that the lives of such bigwigs were snuffed out like commoners."What have you done, you bastards!" Greg Dalmatian screamed at his men in exasperation. "Are you blind or drunk?!"The four guards exchanged confused glances among themselves and checked their guns for defects. There was no issue with the pistol barrels."Sir, we fired our guns directly at Tyler!" one of them explained in alarm. "Mr. Kramer and Mr. Serpico weren't even in our lines of fire!"The guards were correct in their assessment because their bullets had undoubtedly swung away from Tyler to hit the duo.Greg growled aloud; he was having none of it. "Fools! Wastes of space! Where are the rest of you? Come out!"More of Greg, Serpico, and Jerry's underlings stepped out of the crowd, armed and loaded."Shoot again

A collective gasp echoed in the Secret Lair of the Bellagio Casino. It was as if the people gathered—the bureaucrats, politicians, mafiosos, businessmen, and other bigwigs of Peridot City realized an era had ended.The previous owner, the mighty Greg Dalmatian, who terrorized the city, was dead. His end was pathetic, tripping over his own toes and impaling himself over a cue stick."Some ribbons tie themselves," Tyler said without emotion. Wally immediately ordered the casino staff to remove the corpse and scrub the scene.It was not the first time the young man had to clean up a bloody mess. Greg Dalmatian, owing to his murderous proclivities, forced him to dispose of corpses almost every day. It was ironic that the gangster ended up becoming the corpse himself.The spectators present were asked to return to their tables and continue playing as long as no illicit bets were made.Tyler turned to Wally. The young man looked quite traumatized by the attack on his life. Greg had almost s