388 The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Leading the crowd, he pushed open the main doors. The spacious office building was a place everyone dreamed of; if even one person in a family could work here, it would be an endless honor.

Because this place represented supreme power.

The arrival of the Hepburn Family did not surprise the staff inside in the slightest, as if they had known all along.

This left Hels and the others feeling extremely bewildered.

Without overthinking it, they went straight to Office Number One and reached out to gently push open the closed door.

The moment the door was pushed open, the middle-aged man sitting inside stopped what he was doing and slowly looked up, his face showing not a hint of emotional fluctuation.

Before Hels could speak, The Chief gave a self-deprecating smile. "You've come!"

Hearing this, Hels frowned slightly. "You knew I would come? Why were the people outside not the least bit surprised to see us arrive?"

The Chief sighed and stood up to look at the scenery outside the window. His eyes revealed a sense of reluctance—reluctance to leave this world, reluctance to leave this nation, and reluctance for his unfulfilled mission.

After a moment, he turned to face Hels with a face full of loneliness and slowly shook his head. "Are you very confused right now? Why were you able to come here so smoothly without anyone coming out to stop you?

Hels, oh Hels. You think you've won, but you're actually wrong.

The reason you could walk here so smoothly isn't because your plan was so good, but because they needed you to walk here.

Lost. You've lost, I've lost, everyone has lost. We all thought we were the players on the chessboard, completely unaware that we are all just pieces in someone else's hands."

Hearing these shocking words, Hels could no longer remain calm. "What did you say? Who are they? The Kane Family and the Nalanck Family?

Impossible, they don't have the ability. You're lying to me, right? What players and pieces? As long as I control this place, then I am the player, I am the final winner."

"Heh~"

Looking at the ferocious expression on his face, The Chief couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

He knew that Hels had actually figured it out; he just didn't want to admit it.

What kind of place was this? Even if the Hepburn Family had planted many people inside, to want to enter here without firing a single shot...

Was that even possible?

"Whether you admit it or not, it no longer matters. Because in the final end, we will all die, including the people from the other two major families. They... will also have their clans exterminated."

"Impossible, it won't happen! I still have the army in my hands. That's right, Helena has already controlled a military base. Even if these 'they' you speak of have great ability, wanting to destroy my Hepburn Family won't be an easy task.

Even if I die, as long as the Hepburn Family is not destroyed, then in the end, I still win."

Seeing that the other party was still being stubborn, The Chief took this opportunity to let this old fellow die with his eyes closed. If it weren't for the other party's sudden move, he wouldn't have been left without even a chance to resist.

He... wanted to let Hels die in despair. That would be the punishment the man deserved.

"Hels, you really are a senile old fool, still fantasizing about reaching the top in one step. Helena controlling the military base? What a massive joke! Do you think Atlantis is a fool?

Or do you think Helena is a god? All-powerful? Possessing an immortal body?

Simply ridiculous. If my guess is correct, Helena hasn't contacted you, has she?

Have you ever thought about why, if she really took control of the base, she didn't report the news to you immediately?

And the troops you recalled from the border? By now they have likely been dismantled. And the underworld forces you cultivated in secret?

They were dealt with by those people long ago. And you... Hels, you are still being kept in the dark, intoxicated by your own fantasies.

Tell me, aren't you ridiculous? Aren't you pathetic? But more than that, you are hateful. You will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame, and your Hepburn Family will be remembered with infamy for ten thousand years.

You damned old thing, don't you know? Our country is about to be stolen by outsiders!"

He roared out that last sentence, his tone filled with endless anger, sorrow, and helplessness.

The level of terror those people possessed left him helpless. If they hadn't taken the initiative to reveal themselves, he wouldn't even have known of their existence.

In contrast, upon hearing these words, Hels froze on the spot.

His lips were trembling. He didn't think The Chief was lying to him. Thinking carefully, everything the other man said was not impossible.

He had been too arrogant and conceited.

Ultimately, this was the place where he was born and raised. No one was willing to hand it over to others. As the saying goes, even if the meat rots in the pot, it shouldn't flow outside.

"We still have a chance! Yes, yes, contact the people from the other two major families and tell them the truth. We still have a chance to resist. Even if we die, there are still two major families to block them."

Seeing him like this, The Chief felt his heart wasn't completely rotten yet, but so what? It couldn't change anything at all.

"It's useless. We are under house arrest, and no message can get out. The reason we've been able to live until now is because they are waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for the people from the Kane and Nalanck families to arrive."

"No! If they come, then we really won't have a chance. We can't just sit and wait for death. Right! Everyone outside is my person. I can lead you all to fight our way out."

Hearing this, The Chief looked at Hels with some disbelief. This old guy really was senile. If it were truly that simple, they wouldn't be under house arrest here.

Suddenly!

Gunfire erupted outside. Hels's expression changed drastically. "Oh no, they're here."

As expected, the people from the two major families surrounded the place. Seeing that the Hepburn Family was already there, the two patriarchs looked at each other and smiled.

"They really are here. That old fellow Hels—he couldn't have thought that by taking control of this place, he'd control the whole situation, could he? Truly wishful thinking."

"Exactly. As if we'd agree to that. The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole is behind. We are the final winners. However, we still have to thank Hels. If not for him, we wouldn't have found a suitable excuse."

"Hahahaha, you're right. The excuse is... suppressing a rebellion."