Cody’s words were a mixture of determination and a heartfelt plea that might have convinced any ordinary person to change their mind.
However, Maximus was quick to react. He raised his hand and slapped Cody across the face, yelling, “You talked too much!”
Cody’s head spun, and his mouth was knocked open. He was dizzy, and his nose was bleeding.
“You … how dare you hit me?” Cody blurted out. He covered his throbbing face with his hands, trying to comprehend what was happening.
As the young master of the Ostrower family, he had never been so publicly humiliated. “Why did I hit you? Keep talking, and I’ll have to shut you up for good,” Maximus threatened sternly.
Cody was trembling with fear, and he dared not utter another word. He couldn’t believe that Dustin and Maximus had acted so recklessly, disregarding Pablo’s position and their safety.
“You two bastards sure are bold!” Pablo, who lay on the floor, roared in anger “This is the Golden Balcony, my territory, and part of the Langford family’s business.
“If you dare harm me, it’s a direct assault on the Langfords’ honor. After tonight, you will have no place in Oakvale!”
At this moment, he dropped all pretense and explicitly declared his powerful connections.
“What? The Langford family supports Mr. Hans?”
This shocked everyone. They realized how Pablo had risen to become the underworld’s overlord in South City in just ten years. It was with the support of the powerful Langford family.
Oakvale’s eight great families were categorized into two tiers: the upper echelon of four and the lower quartet.
The top four families wielded substantial influence, reaching all the way down to Aylka. Their members held pivotal positions or had influential connections, often occupying high- ranking offices or playing significant roles in society.
The lower four families were comparatively less powerful. Despite their wealth and influence, they couldn’t match the top four. The contrast between these two tiers was akin to that of a cat and a tiger.
The Swanson and Welch families in South City were notable examples of the lower four families.
The Langford family was among the top four and even made it into the top three! This earned them the title “the success gateway”, as forming a connection with the Langfords was seen as a ticket to prosperity.
“The Langford family? They sound quite formidable,” Dustin remarked, his eyes narrowing. He had a run-in with them during his time in Swinton.
“You’re scared now?” Pablo scoffed..
“Bastards! Do you think I’ve been able to survive here all these years without powerful support? Release me now and beg for forgiveness; I might spare your lives!”
Dustin scoffed and stomped his foot on Pablo’s face. “If I don’t release you, what then?”
“Punk! Are you challenging the Langford family?” Pablo gritted his teeth.
“Don’t just talk about them. Even if the Fallons show up, they won’t be able to save you today.” As Dustin spoke, he stepped on Pablo’s other arm and snapped it.
“Ah!” Pablo yelled in pain. Suddenly, the VIP hall’s door was abruptly burst open by a well-dressed young man who strode in with a group of formidable people.
“Hey! Who dares to cause a ruckus in the Golden Balcony?”
