The King of Black Fog

"I do basically agree with this behavior, but," Li Qianxia said with an air of a seasoned official at a major meeting, "this is generosity without considering the actual situation, a generosity that disregards the family's circumstances, which must be condemned."

Yang Qinglan's gaze shifted back to Li Changzhou.

"Don't listen to her nonsense," Li Changzhou laughed, "Where am I generous? I just don't like owing people favors, and of course, I don't like others owing me either."

Yang Qinglan pursed her lips and smiled, not sure whether she believed him or not, and reached out to place the 'poisonous celery' into the small jade cauldron.

◇

Hotel conference room, a long table, lights dim and bright, the sound of the Mediterranean waves faintly audible.

"These are five of the family's players," Yafeiluna introduced the players she had recruited to Yang Qinglan and Li Qianxia.

"Don."

"Gai Nuo."

"Phoebe."

"Renado."

"Cote."

The five of them introduced themselves one by one, among them Don, Gai Nuo, and Phoebe were women; Renado and Cote were men.

"Dark," Yang Qinglan nodded, wearing a mask.

Li Qianxia looked at her and then introduced herself: "Mist."

The two were wearing masks (bought at the market), speaking in English with a very authentic accent.

"Boss," Phoebe looked at Yafeiluna, her grey cat eyes staring, "Did you call us here just to introduce these two new family members to us?"

"No," Yafeiluna shook her head, "it is to introduce you to a 'Lord'."

"Lord?" Cote repeated.

The five exchanged glances, seeing the puzzlement in each other's eyes.

"Creak~"

The door was pushed open; a blurry figure came in as if torn from the night.

It was like someone about to leave the darkness but not quite coming out yet, the figure always shrouded in faint blurriness.

"This is why I won't submit to the church," Yafeiluna stood up, walked to the blurry figure, and knelt on one knee, "This is the 'Lord' I believe in."

Those present all stood up, but their expressions grew even more puzzled.

Then, they seemed to come to a realization.

Yafeiluna's instinct was already not a secret, various people aimed to suppress her prestige and had long publicized the secret of the 'Mafia Mistress'.

After Prague, Yafeiluna's power had advanced dramatically, everyone knew she had an even more powerful lover behind her.

Was this mysterious lover the person in front of them now?

"Rise," the blurred figure spoke, his voice hoarse and deep, with an air of strength and composure.

Yafeiluna stood up, walked beside the blurred figure, lagging half a step behind him, and followed him to the head of the room.

As they passed the five individuals, she introduced each one.

"This is Phoebe, her ability is marking and tracking targets,"

"Nice to meet you," Phoebe bowed to the blurred figure, "How should I address you? Boss? Or leader?"

"Lord," the Lord said.

"You—," Phoebe showed a troubled expression.

The 'Lord' ignored her, continuing forward.

Just as Yafeiluna was about to say something, she also had to hurry forward.

The five really didn't seem like ruthless players; probably they were just ordinary citizens before the value game, living lives far from the Mafia.

To say instincts are useless is not quite right, but mostly they are regrettable wastes and bland of taste.

Just like the Arhat Fist in The Return of the Condor Heroes, placed in modern times, everyone is a bit interested, but the interest lies only because it's martial arts, not because it's particularly strong.

The instincts of the five were at this level.

"Yafeiluna, this is for you," the 'Lord' waved his hand and tossed a jade bead.

Yafeiluna caught it, her expression slightly puzzled, then excitement surged on her face; just as she was about to speak, her body also made a gesture to bow down, but the 'Lord' raised his hand to stop her.

"Swallow it."

"Thank you, Lord!" Yafeiluna exclaimed excitedly as she placed the jade bead in her mouth, her already brilliant face seemed to glow even more radiantly.

Everyone curiously watched Yafeiluna, wanting to know what it was.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the 'Lord' began, "I have summoned you here to subjugate two other Mafia families and, incidentally, to expel the church's influence from Sicily."

All five looked at Yafeiluna, seeking confirmation whether this was merely a Holy Week theatrical performance.

"What the Lord has commanded us to do, we shall do; where you send us, we will go," Yafeiluna placed her hand over her heart and bowed to the 'Lord'.

The five exchanged glances, realizing this was no theatrical performance but a ludicrous and irrational reality.

Did this person really consider himself a 'Lord'?

And he planned to eliminate two other Mafia families and even drive out the church?

Even if drama needed logic, while reality did not, it still was not possible...

As Phoebe was frantically ranting in her mind, she suddenly remembered something—'Lord'?

A few days ago, there was only one 'Lord' in the world—God. But today, there were two 'Lords': God the 'Lord' and the player 'Lord'.

Regarding this, some didn't care, some were angry, and some saw no difference between the two—both were invincible.

Could this person be… ?

Bang!

The glass in the conference hall exploded all at once, shards trailing light and scattering like a torrential downpour.

"Be careful!"

All five sprang into action, shielding Yafeiluna while also being protected by her—ten wisps of grey mist appeared out of nowhere, wielding scythes to guard everyone.

"Yafeiluna, you bitch, how dare you refer to a human as 'Lord'!" a furious voice echoed from outside the hotel.

"It's Calvino," Tang said in a panic.

The expressions of the other four also changed; no one wanted to experience Calvino's 'torture'.

In reality, many people are not afraid of death, but of the pain before death.

"Yafeiluna, I give you one last chance. If you swear allegiance to me, I can plead with His Eminence the Bishop and the Reverend Mother to forgive your transgression," Calvino said.

"Herde is here too!" Phoebe started to panic.

If it were only Calvino, they might have stood a chance, but with the two of them teamed up, even if Yafeiluna's lover was that person, there would likely be casualties on their side.

If there were casualties, it could well be her!

"Calvino, Herde!" Yafeiluna cried aloud, "I too give you one last chance. Kneel and present your tribute, and I will beseech the 'Lord' to let you bask in His grace once more!"

"It seems this conversation will reach no resolution," Herde said in a cool voice, which seemed even closer now.

Yafeiluna's gaze was fixed on the darkness outside the window, as deep as the abyss.

Ten wisps of grey mist were ready to strike, and another ten hid themselves to avoid any surprise attacks from the other side.

"Attack!"

At Calvino's command, everyone tensed up, their hearts pounding in their throats.

Renado suddenly turned, facing the nearby Yafeiluna with open arms.

One spike after another emerged from his palms, dripping with blood, like leeches.

Yafeiluna stared in disbelief, anger, and confusion at the claws threatening to tear into her.

It was too late to command the grey mist.

The four around her also shouted, "Re—"

Bang!

Renado exploded like a balloon stuffed with fresh blood, organs, bones, and muscles, splattering blood everywhere.

Blood and remnants shot to the sides as a black staff with golden hints struck in the middle of Renado's body.

"—nado!"

The voices of the others were still filled with shock and anger, lingering on Renado's betrayal, but their blood-stained faces painted expressions of astonishment and horror.

The staff that burst Renado slowly retracted into the darkness, and only then did they realize it was a snake's tail.

The tail vanished, and a triangular snake head slowly swung out from the darkness.

The giant snake was four meters long, as thick as a human calf.

Its scale armor was black with hints of gold, regal and ominous. The serpent's body meandered, slinking to the 'Lord's' feet.

It slowly lifted its front body, its neck flattening, its golden vertical pupils eyeing everyone.

"Go kill them," the 'Lord', who had not moved his hands from the armrests even once, ordered softly.

"Hiss," the King Cobra flicked its tongue.