Ninety Seven

Tokyo, Japan –

The Crimson Lotus Hidden Headquarters Renjiro Takahashi sat motionless on his cold throne, his lifeless eyes staring at the wall in front of him. In his hand, a small glass of sake, gripped tightly—but he didn’t even bother to take a sip. It had been six years since his son was murdered before his very eyes. Six years since he lost everything that mattered. Kei Takahashi had been his one true heir—the only hope for The Crimson Lotus. And Antonio had taken him away without hesitation, without mercy.

"Boss..." A broad-shouldered man entered the room cautiously, his voice laced with unease.

"We lost another smuggling route in Europe. Antonio’s people shut it down." Renjiro didn’t answer. The man hesitated before continuing.

"Some of the Latin American groups have also abandoned us. They say The Crimson Lotus isn’t what it used to be." Suddenly, Renjiro laughed—but it was dry, hollow, the sound of a man who had long since abandoned hope.

"They think I’m weak?" His voice was low and dangerous. The man swallowed hard.

"Not weak, boss. But… we’ve lost too much. We should consider pulling back for now." Renjiro’s eyes burned with madness as he sat up straight, his presence once again suffocating the room.

"Pull back?" His lips curled into a sick grin.

"I’d rather die."

BANG!

Without warning, Renjiro raised his pistol and fired—a clean shot straight to the man’s head. The body collapsed instantly, blood pooling on the polished wooden floor. Silence. From the corner of the room, a young woman with jet-black hair trembled in fear. She was one of many women Renjiro had taken—not as lovers, but as playthings. Renjiro turned to her slowly, his darkened gaze fixating on her shivering frame. He grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her forward until their faces were inches apart.

"Are you afraid of me?" His voice was a whisper, laced with something far more sinister. Tears slid down her cheeks, but she didn’t dare speak. Renjiro grinned. Then he shoved her to the ground, tearing at the silk of her dress ruthlessly.

"Let’s see if I can still feel alive…" he murmured, dragging her into the darkness.

New York City –

Government Safehouse Inside an exclusive conference room, Antonio Franches sat at the head of the table, surrounded by the world’s most powerful mafia leaders. Across from him, a seasoned Russian Bratva boss calmly smoked a cigar.

"Renjiro is becoming reckless," the old man mused.

"If he continues down this path, he’ll destroy himself before we even have to." Antonio nodded, his expression cool and unreadable.

"Which is why I want us to strangle every single one of his movements—legally and illegally." Across the table, Giovanni DeLuca, a powerful Italian mafioso, chuckled.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that, Antonio?" Antonio leaned back, completely relaxed, but his eyes gleamed with calculated cruelty.

"I have influence in government, law enforcement, and the corporate world. If we cut off his financial veins, pressure the officials still protecting him, and burn his operations in every country—he won’t be able to move." Giovanni’s smirk widened, impressed.

"You truly are different from the others. You fight with power beyond bullets." Antonio sipped his wine, eyes glinting with icy dominance.

"A war between mafia isn’t just about violence." His fingers tapped against the table.

"It’s about controlling the world that no one sees." And outside these walls—The Crimson Lotus was crumbling. Renjiro was spiraling. Every night he drank himself into oblivion. Every day he tortured whatever woman he had taken. Every second, he was drowning in his own rage and grief.

Until, finally— A visitor arrived. The Crimson Lotus Safehouse Knock. Knock. Knock. The door creaked open. From the shadows, a man in black entered, his presence alone enough to make Renjiro stiffen. Renjiro lifted his head, eyes dull.

"You again..." The Master—a ghost in the underworld—stood before him, his face forever hidden in the darkness.

"I told you before," the Master murmured, his voice eerily calm.

"I can help you destroy Antonio. But only if you follow my orders." Renjiro smirked bitterly.

"I’ve already destroyed everything. What more can I possibly give you?" The Master took a slow step forward.

"Antonio’s weakness is not his business… not his money…" Renjiro’s eyes sharpened.

"Then what?" The Master tossed an envelope onto the table. Renjiro opened it. Inside— A photograph of Cassandra Baker. Antonio’s wife. Renjiro stared at the image for a long moment. Then something inside him shifted.

"I can break him…" he muttered, gripping the photo.

"I can tear him apart from the inside." The Master smiled—a slow, calculated expression.

"Do as I say, and you will make Antonio suffer more than he ever has."

Unknown Location – The Crimson Lotus Dungeon The room was cold. Dark. Only small candles flickered, casting an eerie glow over damp stone walls. The air reeked of smoke, whiskey, and something far worse. Cassandra woke up with a throbbing headache, her body weak, her mouth dry. She tried to move her hands— Chains rattled. Her wrists were bound above her head, cold metal biting into her skin. Her heart pounded violently. Panic set in. Then— Footsteps. The door creaked open. And there—standing in the doorway— Renjiro Takahashi. Inside The Crimson Lotus Headquarters Renjiro's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he watched Cassandra struggling to catch her breath. Her uniform was torn, exposing her bare shoulder, the fabric of her tight skirt ripped enough to reveal the soft skin of her thigh.

"Well, well… look who’s finally awake," Renjiro murmured, his voice dripping with mockery. Cassandra gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay calm.

"Let me go, you fucking bastard." Renjiro chuckled, stepping closer. He sat at the edge of the bed, his gaze slowly roaming over her body in a way that made her stomach turn.

"Goddamn," he mused, dragging a finger along his lower lip.

"I didn’t expect the woman who brought Antonio Franches to his knees to be… so fucking tempting." His fingers trailed toward her cheek, but Cassandra snapped her head away, the chains on her wrists clanking loudly.

"If you touch me, I swear I’ll kill you." Renjiro’s smile darkened, something sinister flashing in his eyes.

"You’ve got a fire in you. I like that." He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Antonio destroyed my life. He killed my son. Now, I’m going to take something even more precious from him."

Cassandra struggled against his grip, fury and terror battling inside her.

"You’ll never fucking touch me!" she spat. Renjiro laughed softly.

"Look at yourself, Cassandra," he taunted.

"You're already in my hands." His fingers trailed down, brushing over her exposed shoulder, sliding dangerously lower. A shudder ran down Cassandra’s spine—pure disgust and rage. Alexander was right. She should have listened.

"If you stay with Antonio, you’ll be dragged into his dark world, Cassandra. You might not make it out alive." And now—she was drowning in the nightmare she couldn’t escape. Renjiro leaned down, his face inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin.

"Tell me, Cassandra," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear.

"How far do you think Antonio will go to save you?" Something inside her snapped. Just as Renjiro moved to kiss her neck, Cassandra lunged forward— And sank her teeth into his hand.

"ARGHHH!"

Renjiro roared in pain, blood dripping from the fresh bite wound. Cassandra didn’t hesitate. She kicked him hard in the stomach, making him stumble back. Then—she ran. She had to get out. Now. Outside The Crimson Lotus Territory – Midnight The air was deathly still. Too still. Antonio stood in the shadows, his expression unreadable, his body dressed entirely in black tactical gear. With a single sharp motion, he signaled his men. Move in. One by one, the guards patrolling the perimeter fell silently, their throats slit cleanly before they could even scream. Marcus, crouched beside Antonio, whispered,

"We’re fifty meters in, and no one's noticed yet." Antonio nodded, his grip tightening around his weapon.

"Keep going. No noise." They moved swiftly through the dark corridors and courtyards of The Crimson Lotus hideout, eliminating every target in their path. A guard stood in the corner, smoking a cigarette, completely unaware— Until a knife flew through the air, piercing his throat.

BANG!

A silenced bullet took down another guard on the watchtower before he could even react. Within fifteen minutes, half of The Crimson Lotus' forces were dead. And no one had realized. Marcus glanced at Antonio.

"Boss, we’re almost at the main building." Antonio's jaw clenched as he stared at the large structure ahead. Cassandra was in there. His eyes darkened—pure, unforgiving rage.

"No survivors," he ordered.

"Kill them all." Inside The Crimson Lotus Headquarters Cassandra ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know where she was going—but anywhere was better than this. Behind her, she heard Renjiro’s furious roar.

"FIND HER!"

She sprinted down a long, dimly lit hallway, spotting a door ahead. With a burst of desperation, she threw it open— And hit a dead end.

"Shit." She spun around, frantically searching for another way out— But then— Heavy footsteps. And then—he was there. Renjiro stood at the entrance, his face twisted in pure rage.

"You’re really pissing me off, Cassandra." Her breath hitched.

"Stay the fuck away from me!" Renjiro smirked, stepping closer.

"And what exactly are you going to do, hm?" He lunged forward—

But before he could touch her—

BOOM.

The door burst open—

Gunfire exploded through the air. And standing there, in the smoke-filled entrance, was Antonio. His face was carved with fury, his gun aimed directly at Renjiro's head. Cassandra gasped, relief and shock hitting her all at once. Antonio’s gaze flickered to her, quickly scanning her condition. Then—his expression turned murderous.

"You made a fucking mistake, Renjiro." Renjiro gritted his teeth, his hand clenching into fists.

"You took everything from me, Antonio!" Antonio stepped forward, unshaken.

"And now I’m going to take your fucking life."

BANG!

The war had begun.

The Crimson Lotus Headquarters – Midnight

BANG!

A bullet whizzed past Renjiro's ear, slamming into the wall behind him. His head snapped around, eyes widening in shock. Standing in the doorway—Antonio Franches, gun raised, his gaze cold and murderous.

"Touch her again, and I’ll send you straight to hell." The Final Standoff Antonio’s custom Desert Eagle-Silencer was locked onto Renjiro’s head. The tension in the room was suffocating, every breath heavy, every second stretched thin. Cassandra could hear the pounding of her own heart, still trapped in Renjiro’s iron grip. Renjiro—known for his merciless brutality, for his fearless nature—smirked. Slowly, he unsheathed his prized katana, the blade gleaming under the dim lighting.

"You think a bullet can stop me, Antonio?" Renjiro sneered.

"I’ve lost everything. I’m not afraid to die." Antonio’s finger remained on the trigger, his expression unreadable.

"Dying won’t bring you peace, Renjiro," his voice was smooth but razor-sharp.

"You’ll just be another forgotten name in the underworld." Then—Renjiro lunged. With inhuman speed, he swung the katana in a deadly arc, aiming straight for Antonio’s throat. Antonio didn’t move.

BANG!

A sniper shot rang out from the rooftop across the compound— The bullet ripped through Renjiro’s left arm.

"ARGHHH!" Renjiro staggered back, blood gushing from the wound, his katana clattering to the floor. Antonio remained still, his gun never wavering. A voice crackled over Antonio’s earpiece.

"Clean shot, boss. Target's alive but won’t last long."

It was Phantom Antonio’s elite sniper. Renjiro’s face twisted with rage and agony. He knew—he’d lost. But he wasn’t going down without a fight. With one last desperate move, he grabbed Cassandra, yanking her back against his chest— A knife pressed against her throat.

"One more step, and I’ll slit her fucking throat!" Antonio lifted a hand, signaling his team not to fire. His rage burned like an inferno, but his expression stayed eerily calm.

"Let her go, Renjiro." Renjiro let out a bitter laugh.

"You’re not in a position to order me around, Antonio." Cassandra’s breathing quickened, feeling the cold steel pressing into her skin. Renjiro’s eyes blazed with hatred, his voice trembling with pure, unfiltered grief.

"You took everything from me!" he spat. Antonio’s jaw tightened but he let him continue.

"You killed my son!" Renjiro's hand shook, his grip on the knife unsteady.

"You burned my empire to the fucking ground! You left me with NOTHING!"

Antonio exhaled slowly, eyes dark as midnight.

"I don’t regret killing your son, Renjiro. He was a product of your evil. If he had lived, he would’ve become just like you." Renjiro snarled, his rage consuming him whole.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Antonio took another step forward, his voice like a blade cutting through the silence.

"And now you’ve stooped to kidnapping my wife because you can’t accept defeat?" Renjiro’s hand trembled.

"What else can I do, Antonio?"

His voice cracked, a broken man grasping for vengeance.

"I have NOTHING left but my hate!" Antonio stared him down.

"A man with nothing left doesn’t scare me, Renjiro." Silence.

Then— A dark chuckle slipped from Renjiro’s lips. His insane eyes flickered to Cassandra.

"Fine…" he whispered.

"Then let’s end this." At that moment— Cassandra acted. With every ounce of strength left in her body, she rammed her elbow into Renjiro’s gut.

"ARGHHH!"

The knife slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor. She yanked herself free, diving away from his grasp. And then—

BANG!

A single bullet ripped through the center of Renjiro’s forehead. Blood. Bone. His body collapsed, crashing lifelessly onto the cold floor. Dead. A horrible silence filled the room. Cassandra’s legs gave out, her breathing ragged, her hands still trembling. Antonio lowered his gun, his breathing slow, controlled. Then, in an instant, he was kneeling beside her. His hands cradled her face gently, his fingers brushing away the stray tears.

"Cassandra… are you okay?" Her watery eyes met his, her lips trembling.

"You came for me…" Antonio’s gaze softened, his thumb stroking her cheek.

"Of course I did." From outside—

A massive explosion rocked the compound. The Crimson Lotus Headquarters was collapsing. Marcus rushed in, panting.

"Boss! We’ve wiped out his entire army. The Crimson Lotus is finished."

Antonio didn’t take his eyes off Cassandra as he pulled her into his arms, holding her close.

"Make sure it’s erased completely. I don’t want a single trace of them left." Marcus nodded.

"Consider it done."

Elsewhere –

The Master Watches Far from the battlefield, in the darkened outskirts of the city, a man in black stood on a balcony, watching the flames consume what was left of The Crimson Lotus. A wine glass trembled in his grip. His jaw clenched.

"Renjiro has failed." Behind him, a masked figure knelt.

"Yes, sir. The Crimson Lotus is no more." The Master’s fingers curled into a fist, his rage seething beneath his composed exterior.

"Antonio Franches…" he whispered, venom dripping from every syllable.

"You’ve ruined my plans." He took a slow sip of his wine, his obsidian eyes locked onto the city skyline. Then, his lips curled into a knowing smile.

"But this isn’t over." He turned to his right-hand man, his voice calm, deadly, precise.

"Start again. I want a new strategy." The masked man nodded.

"Where do we begin, sir?" The Master’s smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with dark intent.

"We break him from the inside... with something he will never see coming."