Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 225: Secret War

"There will be no discussion of numbers."

Samuel’s words fell like a thunderclap in the room.

For the first time that night, Umal’s face went slack, the smug curl of his lips vanishing in an instant. The way his expression shifted from self-assured to rattled was nearly comical.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice dropping in dangerous disbelief.

Samuel simply nodded toward Xander’s horrifying remains on the floor. His skull lay cracked open, the blood pooled thickly beneath his corpse.

"Someone just died because of your product."

Umal scoffed. "That’s the point," he countered, regaining his composure. "Besides, you were the one who provided the victim."

Samuel, still staring at Xander’s body, clenched his jaw. The sickening and haunting sound of his death still echoed in his ears, playing in a repeat in his head. He had seen killings before—he had even ordered them —but this? This was

beyond a simple execution, it was inhuman.

Samuel gestured toward the tester, who was still in his euphoric, frenzied high. "That thing isn’t a man anymore, but a beast."

Umal only smiled, a knowing, dangerous look.

But Samuel wasn’t finished.

then anyone who touches it could go on a rampage and harm innocent bystanders, my men, and turn District One into a

mean they don’t still watch. A drug that grants superhuman strength and causes near-instant addiction?" He scoffed. "That’s an open

for Umal to answer. He

the Red Dragon gang. We’ve survived this long by keeping our

Umal offered a thin, unruffled smile. "No road to greatness is

His voice lowered, almost seductive in its persuasion. "I’m here

expression remained unreadable, but his fingers tapped the table contemplatively. Umal took his silence as

a little more modification, we could reduce the

drug’s a drug. All it needs is the

waved off the complaint. "Then we sell to those who can control their baser instincts. We don’t push this onto commoners, they’re too unpredictable. Instead, we market it to those in power. The rich. The elite. Those who have everything

moguls, politicians, even officers getting their hands on this. They have a public image to maintain, meaning they can’t afford to cut loose and show their darker urges in view. Not when it would destroy their carefully built empires. So we’d keep Ignis off the open market at

catches a whiff, have you forgotten that part?" His voice dripped

you forget what I just said?" Umal’s own voice rose in challenge. "I said richer districts. With withdrawals so severe, addicts will do anything for another fix, including offering you protection, and even killing your enemies. And by the time the government realizes what’s

pressed on, pointing at the tabletop for emphasis. "That’s how you avoid scrutiny of District One. Let the other districts take the hits, while you funnel Ignis in from behind the scenes. No other supplier has

at one another and while some showed cautious, intrigued looks, others were still repulsed by the memory of

Finally, Samuel spoke.

"But what about my safety? Titan’s safety?" His eyes darkened. "You’re conveniently ignoring what might happen if my own men get bright ideas, like doping themselves with this stuff for some power grab. A scenario like that spells internal chaos. Anyone with a shot of Ignis might think they can overthrow me. I’d have factions at war in