Chapter 10: The Los Angeles Conference

"Why hasn't anyone said anything about Tom's disappearance? Wasn't there anyone with him when he was taken?" Jackson's mistress pondered aloud. Jackson realized she had a point. He still didn't know who Joseph was or why Tom had provoked him. No information had surfaced, leaving Jackson confused about Joseph's motives. Jackson called Johnson. "Big brother, did you hear? Tom's been taken! The man who took him thinks you're powerless and wants to dethrone you! We can't let that happen in Los Angeles!" Johnson flew into a rage upon hearing this. "What? Who dares to do this?" "And why didn't Tom respond to my messages?" he added, irritated. Jackson sighed. "Big brother, Tom has been captured. The one who took him thinks they can easily wipe out our entire gang!" Johnson sneered. "These people clearly have never encountered real power. They place life and death so lightly? Interesting. By the way, did Joseph give you a location? Tell me, and I'll have my men surround him. I refuse to believe anyone in Los Angeles doesn't fear us!" Knowing Johnson was ready to act, Jackson felt relieved. "Big brother, my son and our gang are counting on you!" After hanging up, Johnson ordered his men to gather weapons. "My weapons are as advanced as the FBI's! I don't believe this Joseph won't piss his pants when he sees them!" Johnson assumed Joseph and his crew were just some small-time street punks, not realizing the gravity of the situation. Staring at his arsenal, Johnson vowed, "Joseph, you stuck your head out, and now you'll pay. I'll make sure you die a thousand deaths!" Meanwhile, at the FBI headquarters in Los Angeles, Mayor Kyle was in a meeting with his top officials. "Report! We've found that Joseph was a resident of the Los Angeles slums five years ago. After falling out with some people, he was expelled from his family and separated from a woman named Lucy. After leaving Los Angeles, Joseph spent five years building the world's most feared assassination organization abroad—Hell." "They call him the Reaper. He returned because he learned his daughter was being tormented by Tom, Johnson and Jackson’s offspring, and that Tom had also tried to assault Lucy." "Enraged, Joseph came back to Los Angeles. He has over 300 satellites positioned over our city, with six Hell generals, each with hundreds or thousands of kills, now present." "Fortunately, they aren't here to wage war on Los Angeles..." Hearing this, Mayor Kyle slammed the table. "How come I never heard of Johnson and Jackson before? They even targeted a four-year-old girl! They're inhuman!" "You may say Joseph is terrifying, but I've heard of him as an ally. He only kills those he deems evil. He's even helped our country in the past, sacrificing much for us!" The revelation about Joseph left the other officials in shock. Kyle continued, "Joseph's name came from our enemies. Despite his fearsome reputation, he has a moral code. He doesn't kill the innocent and has even aided us in battles." Hearing this, Karen, the second-in-command of Los Angeles, stood up. "Regardless of their intentions, we can't let the Hell organization go unpunished!" "But now there's someone more formidable than them. How can we sleep soundly?" she exclaimed. Karen took a deep breath. "We must capture Joseph and make him work for us. If we fail, who knows how many will die?" Determined, Karen issued an order. "Everyone, prepare for battle. Tomorrow, we fight Joseph. Let's see what tricks he can pull!" But Kyle slammed the table again. "Do you know who Joseph is? Before he was expelled, his father was a great man, sacrificing for Los Angeles' development! How can you capture such a good person?" Ignoring their inability to capture him, Kyle argued, "Joseph hasn’t harmed anyone besides these people. His primary goal isn't war but rescuing his daughter and Lucy!"