Blade

Chapter 64: A king in ruin

Blade

For generations, my father and those before him ruled the Armani empire with an iron will, men who commanded respect and fear in equal measure, men who made even governments bow their heads. They believed power thrived in chaos, that fear alone kept men obedient. Perhaps they were right. But fear also breeds deceit, turns wolves into cowards wearing shark teeth.

When I took the throne, I reshaped the empire. We no longer thrive on blood and bullets alone, but on influence and control. In our world, loyalty is sacred, and betrayal is unforgivable.

Not every victory is earned through violence; some are won through power. Our wars are fought in the markets, through manipulation and dominance. But when diplomacy fails, blood becomes the language everyone understands.

Failure has never been an option when it comes to business or our alliances with other families. We honor those bonds with the highest respect, ensuring that peace is kept, and that no blood is spilled unnecessarily.

But lately, things have started to change. The balance that once kept the empire strong is beginning to crack. Between the constant attacks from an unknown enemy and my own growing distractions, I’ve neglected our alliance with the Asian families.

For years, that partnership stood firm... built on trust, trade, and shared profit. Now, whispers run through the streets of Shanghai and Hong Kong, rumors that they’re losing faith in us. And that is the last thing I need.

They depended on us for safe passage through Italy, using our ports to move synthetic drugs from East Asia into Europe. But everything went to hell when customs intercepted a massive shipment after one of our corrupt port officials was replaced. Then, last week, another shipment disappeared completely. My men swear it never reached our port. Somewhere between their docks and our waters, the cargo vanished—and with it, the trust we spent years building.

That single loss has cost them millions, and their anger has me on edge. My frustration only deepens now that I’m in the presence of the Asian mafia boss himself.

I’ve always despised Aran. The man is pure wickedness, a ruthless predator who makes even me look merciful.

I’ve done everything possible to avoid him and keep the business running smoothly, but ever since my life fell apart and my mind started to fracture, I’ve been blind to everything around me. I’ve acted on impulse instead of focusing on the empire and protecting the legacy that carries my name.

I swirl the whiskey in my glass, then down it in one go before pouring another, trying to stay calm instead of snapping like the wild animal I’ve been for the past week.

“The line of loyalty between our empire is starting to blur, Blade, and it’s all because of your negligence,” he says, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. The three guards behind his chair stand rigid, their hard expressions doing nothing to intimidate me. “This didn’t happen once but twice, and I’ve suffered heavy losses both times. What explanation do you have to justify the mess you’ve made?”

I set my glass on the table, the amber liquid rippling as a muscle tightens in my jaw. "I have no explanation for you, Aran, and I owe you no excuses. Do you really think I wanted this chaos?"

His expression hardens as he taps the ash from his cigarette into the tray, eyes narrowing with equal parts disdain and curiosity. "Watch your tone when you speak to me, boy. All I see is a man who’s lost his grip on his empire. A man too consumed by his own pathetic turmoil to notice the vultures circling above him."

Rage surges through me, but I bite down on my temper, choosing my words with care. One reckless response and I could spark a war I’m not certain I’d survive.