Chapter 1247:

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Everyone wanted a share of the Axe Gang’s spoils, but the Axe Gang wouldn’t let themselves be divided.

It was no secret why they surrendered—the Dark Hills stood at the top, and that was that. Even if the Dark Hills decided to hand over a few territories, the plan would fall apart.

Each gang receiving just one territory would take a serious bite out of the Dark Hills’ strength, leaving them a shadow of their former selves.

If that happened, the Axe Gang might rethink their loyalties, and the Dark Hills could lose even more—ending up with nothing to show for their efforts.

Any attempt to untangle this mess felt hopeless.

That was the beauty of Maren’s scheme—she had engineered a perfect stalemate.

No matter how hard Mason and Orlando looked, they couldn’t find a weak point.

One of the leaders leaned forward. “Mr. Rhodes, it’s time to decide. We need a clear answer today. If you refuse, we’re not going anywhere. Divide the territories among us, or we’ll camp out here. And if we’re not home by morning, our crews will come knocking.”

A silent agreement seemed to unite the other gangs, every eye on Mason, the pressure building by the second.

𝘛𝘩о𝘂𝘴𝘢𝗻𝗱𝘀 o𝗳 𝗿e𝖺d𝘦r𝘀 𝗈𝘯 𝗴𝘢𝗅no𝘃el𝘴.с𝗈𝗆

The message was crystal clear—a warning wrapped in a demand.

An uninvited group of gangsters amounted to a declaration of war.

The Dark Hills had no hope of withstanding such a united attack.

Mason tried to keep the mood light, forcing a casual laugh. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. My word is my bond. I’ve never gone back on a promise.” But the tension was getting to him—being boxed in like this left him simmering with frustration. Still, he understood the stakes; if he didn’t bend, the Dark Hills could be destroyed by sunrise.

“Everyone, please go home tonight. Give me one night to think it over, and I promise—you’ll have an answer everyone can accept.”

Skepticism hung thick in the air. “You’re not just buying time, are you, Mr. Rhodes?”

“Come on now, give me some credit. You’re all sharp enough to see through any game I might try. Even if the Dark Hills swallowed the Axe Gang whole, we’d still be no match for a coalition like yours. What’s the difference if you show up tomorrow instead?” Mason explained, his tone steady.

That argument landed; heads around the table began to nod in agreement. One night wouldn’t shift the balance. If Mason tried anything clever, every gang would return at full strength by sunrise.

No one there believed Mason was foolish enough to challenge all the local gangs just for a bigger slice of the Axe Gang.

“Fine, we’ll take you at your word—this time.”

With tension eased, the other gangs backed off, unwilling to press further. At the end of the day, profit was everyone’s goal. No one wanted a war if they could help it. Pushing Mason too hard could set off chaos that would hurt them all.

So the big players nodded their farewells and filed out, leaving Mason with a brief window to think.

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