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.

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

addiction?" He scoffed. "That’s an open invitation for both the authorities and the Alpha King to crack down on us. And do

Umal to

of the Red Dragon gang. We’ve survived this long by keeping our heads down. I’d like

to greatness is easy. There’ll be casualties along the way, but what matters is who

leaned back in his chair, completely at ease despite the growing hostility in the room. "I’m not just here to sell you a drug, Samuel." His voice lowered,

table contemplatively. Umal took his silence as an invitation to

with a little more modification, we could reduce the violent

joke," One of Samuel’s men scoffed. "There’s no such thing as modification, a drug’s a drug. All it needs is the slightest nudge, and your so-called super-users unleash their

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 to lose if

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

scoffed, unimpressed. "Yes, and when the government catches a whiff, have you forgotten that part?" His voice dripped

"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 happening,

a war general with a map, Umal 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 it, so you monopolize the market. Demand explodes, your

showed cautious, intrigued looks, others were still repulsed by the memory of Xander’s slaughter. It was

Finally, Samuel spoke.

with this stuff for some power grab. A scenario like that spells