Behind the dazzling lights of a grand mansion towering on the edge of the city, there is a name that is never spoken aloud, Ares Valentino, the underworld knows him as The Phantom King, the most feared mafia boss in the world, he sat leaning against the edge of the pool that night, his body still wet from the water, yet his gaze was sharp and cold, as if daring anyone to come closer, his well–trained muscles were not merely the result of discipline, but symbols of strength forged through bloody battles and endless betrayal

Ares was not just a ruler, he was a living legend, his power stretched from illegal arms trade in Eastern Europe, to the drug cartels of South America, and even secret transactions that shaped the dark economy of Asia, in his presence, even the most powerful politicians and military generals could only bow their heads

Yet behind his unreadable and icy face, lay secrets few could ever know, quiet nights by the pool like this were the only times he could feel like an ordinary man, not the monster that the criminal world had shaped him into, his eyes empty, as if searching for an answer that even wealth, power, or blood could never provide, people said, if you stared into Ares’s eyes for too long, you would see the shadow of your own death, and perhaps, that was why no enemy had ever dared to confront him directly

The sound of footsteps slowly broke the silence, a subordinate emerged from the shadows, bowing respectfully before the boss

Subordinate: Boss, it’s time for you to get ready.

Ares glanced with a faint smirk, rising from the poolside, his wet body glistening under the lights, each step radiating authority that weighed heavily in the air

He sipped his whiskey, lit a cigar, and stared into the night without blinking

Ares: Tell them… I’m ready.

His men nodded, their footsteps echoing, marking the beginning of the coming storm