And what did Luke stand to gain from all this? He had every intention of annexing these territories into his own faction.


    Although a ceasefire agreement prohibited factions from absorbing territories outside their own ranks to prevent an all-out mafia war, Luke no longer cared.


    He had already uncovered evidence of rival factions doing the same thing in secret, slowly expanding their influence under the table. If they were ying dirty, so would he.


    So, instead of cowering like the rest, Luke boldly seized these territories while working alongside Dave. He understood that the authoritiescked a deep grasp of the underground world, and that eliminating an entire faction or eradicating the drug trade was nearly impossible.


    In the underworld, the true masterminds always had scapegoats—disposable pawns to take the fall while theyy low, biding their time. Once the heat died down, they would simply restart their operations elsewhere, making the cycle endless.


    Luke refused to y by their rules—if they thought they could manipte the system and escape unscathed, he would prove them wrong.


    Besides, Luke suspected that the one feeding him information was none other than ck Puma. It was likely that ck Puma was using him as a diversion, shifting the underground world’s attention onto Luke while he operated in the shadows.


    This would allow ck Puma to focus on eliminating the current boss of the Northern Faction and reiming his position.


    The internal conflict within the Northern Faction was brutal, and the recent gunfight and bombing had already reached Luke’s ears. The second-inmand’s entire force had been wiped out, making it impossible to keep such events a secret.


    It was also clear that the current boss of the Northern Faction was preparing for a majoreback—perhaps the very reason ck Puma was keeping a low profile for now.


    Since the entire underground world was already in turmoil with infighting, Luke saw an opportunity to seize more territory and strengthen his power. He believed that his current limitations in the underworld were the main reason his investigations were stalling—without enough influence, his reach was restricted.


    By expanding his territory and increasing his manpower, he would gain a broaderwork of eyes and ears, allowing him to gather intelligence more efficiently and on a muchrger scale.


    A stronger foothold in the underworld meant faster ess to critical information, giving him the edge he needed.


    With this mindset, Luke went all out, working tirelessly day and night to dismantle the scattered forces involved in the drug trade. Meanwhile, Leo stayed in the shadows, leaving the heavy lifting to Luke and Dave. After all, as the saying goes, <i>"Work smart, not hard."</i>


    By letting them handle the grunt work, Leo didn’t have to lift a finger—he simply watched as the people he despised were dragged into their own downfall.


    All he had to do was sit back, enjoy the show, and n his next move. His only real task was ensuring their bait survived long enough to serve his purpose.


    "Sir, the doctor has arrived," Terry said, knocking on the side of the open door.


    Leo remained facing away, his leather chair turned so only its back was visible. His attention was fixed on the footage ying on his phone, analyzing how the hunt had unfolded between the forces they were targeting—Luke and Dave’s men against their enemies.


    "Let them in," Leo said nonchntly, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched the footage. In his other hand, he idly toyed with an unassuming ne, rolling it between his fingers before finally leaning back into his chair.


    The sharp click of high heels echoed through the office as the doctor approached. "Sir, has your wound healed properly?" she asked, striding directly to his side before kneeling beside him, her hands moving to undress him for an examination.


    Leo’s brows furrowed, and his expression darkened. If he had tolerated this before due to his injury, he certainly wasn’t going to let it slide now.


    "Why the hell is my doctor a woman?" he snapped, pulling away from her touch. "I always have male doctors treating me." His temper red as he put more distance between them, his piercing gaze making the woman flinch.


    "S-Sir..." The doctor hesitated, her voice wavering. "I was personally rmended by my professor. My senior brothers were all sent to the front lines to aid soldiers and civilians, tending to their injuries. They’re doing their part to assist our nation and its people. But because I’m a woman, my professor and senior brothers refused to let me apany them. Instead, they sent me here to assist you. Please understand..." Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded her case.


    "Then I can get another doctor. Why does it have to be a woman?" Leo said sharply, his tone cold and unwavering.


    "Sir, are you discriminating against women?" the doctor shot back, her own temper ring as tears slipped down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.


    Leo exhaled impatiently, his gaze hardening. "I don’t discriminate against women," he stated bluntly. "But it’s my choice who I hire to be around me. This has nothing to do with you personally. I simply prefer not to waste my energy guarding against women who see me as a stepping stone to my bed, when all I want is peace of mind and proper treatment."


    His words were direct and unapologetic. If she thought this was about gender, he would rather set the record straight now before rumors reached the ears of other doctors.