"Rodger, you've got some nerve, bringing this many men to my estate! Are you planning a revolt?" Capone Rod's face was terrifyingly dark.
"Revolt? Hah! The Capone family isn't yours alone to command. Where's the revolt in that? Can't you see the situation, even now, Cousin Rod?" Rodger sneered, then slowly paced forward. "For the past year, under your leadership, the family's business has gone from bad to worse. The other three branches are extremely dissatisfied. Today, I've brought the leaders of the other two branches here to remove you from your position as family head and appoint a new one."
Rod's gaze, cold and sharp, landed on the two white-haired, slicked-back old men behind Rodger. "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, are you really going to throw in your lot with Rodger?"
One of the thin, white-haired old men said leisurely, "The two of us value business. We trust whoever can bring us the most profit. In the past, you could bring us profit, so we followed you. Now, Rodger can give us profit, so naturally, we follow Rodger."
Rodger smiled smugly, then continued, "Three of the Capone family's four branches support me. And most of the gang members who followed you over the past year have come over to my side. You have absolutely no chance of winning now, Big Brother Rod. You should just step down as family head yourself. Save us all the trouble."
"You…" Rod's face was livid; he trembled with rage.
"Father, why get angry? Isn't it perfect that they've all come together at once? We can wipe them all out in one fell swoop." Bege patted Rod's shoulder, a smile playing on his lips.
"That's right! I still have my good son! Hahaha…" Rod's grim expression immediately turned to wild joy.
Rod looked at Rodger and the others with a ruthless, bloodthirsty gaze. "A bunch of useless rabble. You all deserve to die."
"Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me. Kill them all!" Rodger's face was scornful, killing intent flashing in his eyes. He waved his hand, and his gang members immediately opened fire. Gunshots rang out, and Rod's men began to fall one after another.
Bege pulled Rod behind him and calmly said, "Kill!"
" Boss, I've been waiting for that order." Hank's face began to distort. Fur grew rapidly, his fingernails extended into incredibly sharp claws, and a long, black tail sprouted from his back, transforming him into a canine beast-man. He crouched low, then, with a burst of power, shot forward. He bypassed his own allies and plunged into the enemy ranks. His ten claws, like the points of knives, easily tore through bodies, scratching and killing the gang members.
"The little dog is fast," Sam muttered, then quickly charged forward as well. The eighty-odd men Bege had brought from the island rushed out, a ferocious force. Rodger's thugs were no match for them.
"Quick, shoot them!"
Unfortunately, Hank and the others, who had charged in first, had already taken out the gunmen.
Rodger's face changed drastically when he saw the situation. He immediately turned to a burly man beside him and urgently said, " Ajehan, quickly, take them out!"
"These guys are actually worth me drawing my sword." A cruel smile spread across the burly man's lips. He drew the sword at his waist, and his form, with incredible speed, charged into the crowd. With a single slash, he sent one of Bege's followers flying, leaving a deep gash across his chest. The man was clearly not going to survive.
"Such sharp swordplay. This man's swordsmanship is quite good." Modi's calm eyes suddenly lit up. His hand unconsciously moved to his sword hilt, and he took a step forward, ready to test his swordsmanship against this man.
However, Bege moved before him, transforming into a blur and rushing out.
Modi shook his head with a wry smile and retreated back to Rod's side.
The burly man was about to slash another person when, with a clang, another sword blocked his. His expression changed in shock, and he quickly retreated three steps, warily watching Bege, who had appeared in a flash.
Bege, a cigar clamped between his teeth, looked at the burly man and beckoned him. "Not bad swordsmanship. Come, try me."
The burly man's face was fierce. Gripping his sword hilt with both hands, he suddenly charged. His long sword thrust forward with a speed twice as fast as before.
"One Sword Style – Crushing Rock!"
He immediately used his best sword technique.
"Good speed!" Bege's eyes lit up. He casually swung his long sword forward, and the burly man's sword stabbed directly into the back of Bege's blade. The immense thrusting force couldn't budge Bege at all.
The burly man's face changed drastically. He started slashing at Bege, who easily blocked all of his attacks with his sword.
"One Sword Style – Breaking Boulder!" the burly man roared. He raised his long sword high and brought it down in a powerful, mountain-splitting blow. The long sword crashed down onto Bege's sword.
"Impossible!" The burly man's eyes widened in disbelief, unable to believe that his strongest sword technique had been blocked.
"Your swordsmanship is good, but your speed isn't fast enough. With the few moves you just made, I could have killed you at any time." Bege shook his head and forced the burly man back with his sword.
"Let me show you my swordsmanship." Bege sheathed his long sword. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and the intensity of his gaze made the burly man's face change dramatically. He felt as if he were being stared at by a ferocious, savage beast.
"Open your eyes wide and watch carefully." A cruel smile appeared on Bege's lips, and his body suddenly vanished. He then reappeared behind the burly man, his long sword slowly returning to its sheath.
"One Sword Style Iai – Leopard Shadow Flash!"
The burly man's eyes were wide. A bloodline appeared at his neck, and his head thudded to the ground. His headless body thumped as it fell.
"The opponent is still too weak." Bege sighed, taking a drag from his cigar and blowing out a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Bege tilted his neck, and a bullet whizzed past his ear. He looked at the shooter: Rodger.
Rodger's eyes were filled with terror, but he roared with forced bravado, "Bege, you're dead! Ajehan was a combatant of the Black Tiger Pirates. You killed him, and you'll face the Black Tiger Pirates' revenge!"
"Even if he didn't come looking for me, I would go looking for him. I don't give a damn about a pirate crew with a mere fifty million bounty," Bege sneered.
"For the sake of our shared bloodline, give up resistance. Otherwise, I won't show any mercy." Bege's cold eyes stared at Rodger, whose face grew even paler, the fear in his eyes even more apparent.
"Damn you, Bege, you've ruined my plans!" Rodger's face was contorted with rage. He fired a barrage of shots at Bege, but none of the bullets hit him.
Suddenly, another gunshot rang out from behind Rodger. A bullet pierced Rodger's heart, killing him instantly. The shooter was one of the old men from the other two branches.
The old man who fired the shot said coldly, "Can't you see the situation even now? Rod is stronger now. We don't want to be buried with you."
"Spineless cowards!" Bege looked pityingly at the fallen Rodger.
" Rodger is dead! Everyone, stop!" the two old men shouted, stopping the gang members from their branches.
"Rod, you've won this battle. The Capone family will continue to be led by you," one of the old men said to Rod with a smile, his tone relaxed and gentle, as if nothing had happened.
A strange, cold smile appeared on Rod's lips. He suddenly raised his pistol and swiftly shot each of the two old men, hitting them squarely between the eyes. They fell to the ground with shocked expressions.
"The Capone family needs reform. It no longer needs spineless cowards like you."