Esme's eyes sparkled with renewed purpose, and she nodded eagerly. "Then when we secure our position, we won't just survive—we'll thrive. "

"But, Elijah, don't you think... if we're all successful, everyone else will just be competing for the same prize? Won't it be a problem for us?" She frowned, clearly trying to calculate the potential downsides.

Elijah stared at her, his expression turning cold. He was done with her constant calculations. She was already thinking about dividing up the spoils before they even secured their victory.

He let out a tired sigh, then continued. "Look, we'll all be judged on performance. The ones who make the biggest impact will get the recognition. As the initiator, we are definitely the first choice."

He shot her a pointed look, then added, "Our first priority is getting out of this mess alive. Don't forget—they're still hunting us."

"Let's move quickly," he said, his voice low and commanding. "They won't dare make a move during the day."

Elijah's words were like a spark in dry tinder. Esme's depressed mood evaporated, replaced with a fierce pride. "Yeah! This is an opportunity for everyone else. It's up to them to seize it!"

........

Axel felt more at ease after installing a small, hidden camera in the corner of his room. There were still no new missions, which suited him just fine—he was happy to focus on his training.

With the Blood Refining Stones he had gotten from Lachlan, his Force was steadily pushing past the 530 mark. Progress was slow but steady.

That uneasy feeling of being watched from the window came and went, but Axel remained indifferent, pretending not to notice. Whoever was keeping an eye on him was patient—too patient. If they weren't making a move yet, neither was he.

Then came a sharp, hurried knock on the door.

Axel frowned. No one had disturbed him in the past two days except Gabriel. He stood up and opened the door—only to be slightly surprised by the person standing in front of him.

The visitor was a woman, dressed in a khaki coat with the brim of her hat low over her face. But even with her features partially hidden, Axel recognized her immediately.

"Axel, I'm giving you a great opportunity. After some discussion, we've decided to let you join our organization." Esme's voice was cold and detached, as if she were sizing him up.

Even after his victory in the last fight, it was clear she didn't see him as anyone important. The events of last night hadn't spread yet—she still thought they were in a position of power.

From his vantage point near the window, Blackstone had been watching Axel like a hawk.

For two days, he'd been waiting for an opening, but Axel had done nothing except train in his room. There had been no good chances.

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Now, seeing a woman step inside, Blackstone's first thought was that Axel had caved to desire and called in a prostitute.

But the way they were talking? It didn't look like that at all. Something about this woman was off.

Suspicion flared in his mind. Who the hell is she? Without hesitation, he moved—crossing the distance in just a few quick strides and climbing onto the roof of Axel's dormitory. He was now directly above them, just one floor apart. At this distance, he could hear everything.

Axel stared at Esme, unimpressed. She reeked of blood, and her left arm was noticeably bulkier than the right—wrapped in hidden bandages. She moved stiffly, favoring her side. Injured.

Considering what Declan had mentioned before, Axel put the pieces together instantly. They got ambushed. And now they were here, asking for help—though Esme sure as hell wasn't making it sound like that.

"Hurry up and answer," she pressed, impatience creeping into her voice. "Opportunities don't last forever. If Elijah wasn't so insistent on forming an alliance, I wouldn't even be here."

Axel almost laughed. An alliance? That was fucking rich. She was offering charity.

Instead of responding, he simply waved a dismissive hand. "If it's such a great opportunity, go offer it to someone else."

Esme's patience snapped. Her expression hardened. "Did you not hear me? There's only one chance. If you refuse, you won't get another shot!"

Axel's voice was ice cold. "And I said no. Goodbye." If she had come to ask for help, maybe he would have listened—maybe even offered a few pointers. But this?

Esme's face went red with anger. She hadn't expected him to reject her outright. Who the hell did Axel think he was?

She gritted her teeth. "Fine," she spat. "Once we take over Hollow District and wipe out every street gang, I hope you don't regret this."

Axel just sighed, shaking his head. What a joke.

At first, Axel thought Esme was just playing hard to get. But the sharp, decisive tone in her voice made him realize something—

She really thought that by joining forces with the Whisper Syndicate candidates, they could overthrow the entire street gang network in Hollow District.

If Axel had heard this before joining the Steel Serpents, he might have entertained the idea. But now? It was laughable.

He had seen the Steel Serpents up close. Just in their ranks, there were at least three third-level Awakeners. And that was just one gang. The combined forces of the district—big and small—were beyond anything Esme or Elijah could comprehend.

In fact, the street gangs let them escape on purpose. They were baiting them into gathering their people together… just to slaughter them all at once.

Axel let out a cold chuckle. "I won't regret it. Trust me."

Esme clenched her fists, seething. She had lowered herself to come to Axel, and now he was brushing her off like nothing?

"Oh, you think you're so fucking great, huh? Fine. You won't join? Then I'll tell everyone who you really are. Let's see what the Steel Serpents do when they find out you're Whisper Syndicate. Think they'll skin you alive?"

High above, on the roof, Blackstone had been listening intently—until he heard those two words. Whisper Syndicate.

His eyes went wide, and he nearly jumped to his feet. Holy shit. This guy is Whisper Syndicate?!

It was like a gift from the gods. He had spent days trying to find or create dirt on Axel, thinking up ways to frame or alienate him—and now, just by eavesdropping, he had hit the motherlode.

In Sin City, the Whisper Syndicate were enemies of everyone. No one would hesitate to kill them on sight.

His excitement nearly made him slip. For just a moment, his presence leaked out—a flicker of aura he failed to suppress in time.

Inside, Axel felt it immediately. The same presence that had been watching him for days. The same person who had been lurking near his room. He heard everything.

Esme, still oblivious, was smirking as she watched Axel. She thought her threat had him scared shitless.

But Axel's heart had already gone cold. This situation was worse than his fight with Harrison. If the news spread, he wouldn't just be hunted by one gang—he'd have every major force in Sin City gunning for his head.

He took a slow breath. Then he scoffed. "The fuck are you talking about? If I were really Whisper Syndicate, why the hell would I be in Sin City?"

His voice was sharp, biting. "If you're gonna threaten someone, at least make it make sense. Seriously, are you stupid?"

Esme blinked, caught off guard. Wait… what?

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