e Ebute-Metta sawmill struck exactly 8:00 AM. The morning rain had completely cleared, leaving behind a thick, humid heat that made the damp timber sweat.Outside the perimeter, the entire mainland axis had gone completely dead silent. Sledge had done his job perfectly. From the corners of Oyingbo down to the muddy alleys of Iddo, over four hundred street boys were silently standing in the shadows of the uncompleted buildings, holding iron rods, heavy sticks, and broken bottles. They weren't making a sound. They were just waiting like a massive, human crocodile ring surrounding the area.VROOOOM.The heavy, distinct hum of luxury engines broke the silence.Three flawless, bulletproof black Mercedes G-Wagons with tinted plates slowly turned into the rocky path of the sawmill, their tires crunching against the wet dirt. Behind them came two high-end corporate sports cars. It was the entire executive board of the Island cyber-cartel, arriving in style, trying to use luxury to intimidate the trenches.The lead G-Wagon stopped exactly in front of the warehouse doors. The doors opened, and Valerie stepped out, her high heels instantly sinking into the soft mud. She looked around at the damp environment with pure disgust, but her face remained a sharp, corporate mask.Next to her, Damini climbed out of his sports car, his diamond rings catching the morning sun, though his eyes were darting nervously toward the dark corners of the alleys where Sledge's boys were watching him like vultures."Adekunle! We are here!" Valerie's voice rang out, sharp and uncompromising. "Open the doors and let's conclude this nonsense."The heavy wooden doors of the sawmill slowly creaked open, revealing the dark, cavernous interior of the warehouse.Adekunle stood in the center, bathed in the dim light of the single halogen bulb. He was wearing his black t-shirt and jeans, his calloused hands resting casually inside his pockets. Sitting on the plastic chair right behind him, still wrapped in the wool blanket but holding his head up with absolute military presence, was Chief Solomon.Valerie walked inside, followed by Damini and four massive, foreign corporate bodyguards whose hands were hidden inside their expensive coats, ready to pull their weapons at the slightest movement."You actually brought him here," Valerie murmured, her eyes locking onto Chief Solomon. A cold, wicked smile touched her lips. "The dead General walking. You think this dirty warehouse can protect a fugitive from an international offshore syndicate, Adekunle?""Valerie, you talk too much for someone who is currently standing inside a death trap," Adekunle said smoothly, not moving an inch.Damini stepped forward, trying to show fake bravado while tapping his high-tech smartwatch. "Adekunle, don't try any street format here. My hackers have already monitored this entire grid. There are no automated servers leaking any ledger keys. You were bluffing on the phone!""I was bluffing about the servers, yes," Adekunle grinned, a slow, terrifyingly confident smirk that made Damini's heart skip a beat. Adekunle casually raised his hand and snapped his fingers once.CLAP.Instantly, the loud, chaotic roars of four hundred street boys erupted from the outside as they flooded out of the alleys, completely surrounding the three G-Wagons and the sports cars, trapping Valerie's bodyguards inside a solid wall of human muscle and heavy irons.At the same time, Sledge stepped out from behind a giant stack of timber right behind Valerie, holding his automatic rifle pointed directly at her neck. Corporal Titus appeared from the left, his service pistol leveled at Damini's forehead."You have the tech data and the digital money, Damini," Adekunle whispered, stepping into Valerie's personal space until she could smell the raw smoke and sawdust on his clothes. "But on this Mainland mud, my word is the supreme court. Welcome to the real board meeting, gentlemen. Sit down and let's negotiate your exit fees."
