Although she didn't fully grasp what Axel was thinking, Skye had worked with him enough times to be used to his unpredictable way of thinking.

  "He owns KTV clubs, commercial and residential real estate, and even a boxing ring. But the most profitable of his ventures is his Crown Casino."

  "I'm willing to bet that all his other businesses combined don’t even compare to this one."

  Axel leaned forward, his fingers intertwined as he asked, "What’s the security like at the casino? Any major issues?"

  This time, it was Kieran who answered. "Ah, you’re still young. Let me give you a lesson—there’s a lot of cash and valuables stored in that casino. The security’s stricter than a police station’s. I’d say half of Wolfe’s awakened people are stationed there."

  "Half? That might be too little. His casino and underground boxing ring are housed in the same hotel. The rest of his businesses are legitimate and don’t need that level of security."

  Axel fell silent, pondering. He had no personal grudge with Wolfe. If things were normal, he wouldn’t want to make an enemy of someone like him. But it was precisely because Axel was inconsequential that Wolfe thought nothing of having him killed.

  "I have a plan," Axel said, his voice steady, but a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. "But it’s gonna cost you. If it fails… well, it could end badly for all of us."

  The moonlight cast shadows across his pale face, the dried blood only making his gaze more intense. There was a certain sharpness in him now that demanded attention.

  Skye narrowed his eyes, lighting up a cigarette, and took a slow drag. "Let’s hear it."

  The others gathered around, ready to listen.

  Axel pulled out a stick and began drawing shapes on the ground, explaining his plan in detail. Skye wanted to interrupt a few times, but he stayed quiet.

  More than ten minutes passed, and finally, Freya couldn’t hold back. "No, Skye. This is too risky. I’ll admit, there’s a chance it could work. But if it doesn’t, you’ll lose your job and probably end up in prison."

  Axel fell silent. He had laid out everything—he knew the chances of success were high, but there was always a risk. And the one with the highest stakes in this was Skye. The choice was his.

  If Skye didn’t go for it, Axel would apply for police protection and leave Dune as soon as possible after the test day.

  Skye had smoked through three cigarettes by now. He was quiet for a long time before crushing the butt of his cigarette and throwing it to the ground. A plume of smoke left his nostrils as he exhaled.

  Seeing him like this, Freya knew him too well. She remained silent, understanding what he was about to say. Then, Skye flashed her a grin, the same smile he used to give when everything seemed too tough to handle.

  "I always remember what my dad taught me when I was a kid: money can’t buy my happiness"

  "If I get the chance to send him to the guillotine in personally, I’ll be damn happy about it."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Risk? There’s no such thing as no risk. You think I care about this position?" He waved his hand dismissively. He was not bothered. He had fought his way up from the slums—where he was now, he was happy with that. But there’s one thing he was not okay with: the infected.

  Whenever it came to the infected and the murders they caused, Skye would hunt them down without rest. This time, he’d failed, been mocked by Nash, and toyed with by Wolfe. Did he care? Maybe. But that wasn’t the main issue.

  Kieran, watching from the sidelines, grimaced. He wasn’t thrilled about being part of this plan. "Hey, why’s everyone ignoring me? I haven’t even said if I want to join in or not."

  Skye clapped him on the shoulder, flashing his trademark grin. "Don’t worry, brother. You’re a key part of this. I’ll buy you a drink after—my dad brewed it himself. I don’t give it out to just anyone."

  Kieran slapped his hand away, looking at Axel with a pained expression. Axel let out a long sigh. "Be a good role model, Mr. Kieran. You promised you’d protect me, and look at what I’ve become?"

  Kieran’s face twisted in embarrassment. "Well, just don’t forget to help me to disguise myself."

  Freya stood still, her gaze flicking between the men as they reached a consensus. She understood, all too well, that Axel’s plan was far too risky.

  "Let’s get moving. Time’s ticking. Mr. Skye, it’s your turn to show what your connections can do," Axel said, his voice sharp, but his eyes burned with determination. He was too weak to participate himself, but he had laid out everything he could think of. He wouldn’t be able to rest until everything was done and settled. The hospital would have to wait.

  As Axel started to rise, Kieran hesitated. He took in the sight of Axel’s bloodstained collar, the boy’s pale face, and sighed inwardly.

  ....

  The Crown Hotel stood as one of Dune's proudest landmarks. A massive, multi-purpose establishment, it combined everything from business, gambling, and boxing to leisure activities. Day in and day out, it was raking in cash.

  For a small border town with a population of only a million, it was an extraordinary sight. Its clientele wasn’t just made up of locals—government officials, awakened individuals heading into the wilderness to hunt, and soldiers investigating various matters made up the majority of its guests.

  At that very moment, inside a private room near the entrance, a group of burly men puffed on cigarettes. Skye sat at the center, surrounded by his five closest allies—each of them awakened.

  "This is the plan," Skye said, leaning forward slightly. "It’s risky, no doubt about it. But you all know the drill. Worst case? We get hit with a charge of rioting, maybe two days in a holding cell. It’s nothing we can’t handle."

  The room fell into a thick silence after Skye laid out the details. The bearded man sitting across from him—his arms covered in tattoos of dragons and skulls—scratched his head.

  "Brother," he said, his voice low but sincere. "We’ve got your back. If we can help, we will. But... you should be careful. "

  The others exchanged uneasy glances. They knew they were about to make a move against Wolfe. But at least they weren’t being asked to do anything too extreme—just a little sabotage here and there. They were mercenaries, after all, accustomed to battling mutant beasts in the wilderness. Braver than most awakened folks in the city.

  That said, they weren’t naive. If things went sideways, they might walk away fine. But Skye? He’d be the one to take the fall.

  Skye waved them off, his demeanor as calm as ever. "I’ve got a backer. Do you really think law enforcement is afraid of a businessman like Wolfe?"

  The group let out a collective laugh. None of them were in the system, so it was easy for them to accept this statement.

  Kieran, however, couldn’t help but turn away with a sigh. He’d seen enough of Skye and Axel by now. They were two peas in a pod, both masters at spinning their own webs of deception with a straight face.

  "Let’s move out," Skye said, standing up and clapping his hands together. "Time to make our move."

  The group quickly got to their feet, ready to head out.

  "To the Crown Casino!" one of them cheered. "We’ve been itching to go there for ages. Let’s see those beauties inside."

  Kieran followed the group out of the room. There were six of them in total, all awakened, and as they made their way out, the room fell into a tense silence again.

  "Where are the rest of the team?" Skye asked.

  This wasn’t just about the six awakened people in front of him. The plan was much bigger, and it needed the cooperation of the law enforcement bureau as well.

  Skye paused for a moment, feeling a twinge of guilt. He didn’t give these guys much, but he often asked them to take risks on his behalf.

  Freya glanced at her phone and answered flatly, "They’re all here. They’ve arrived."