Chapter 148 Behind the Mask of Allies

Chapter 148 Behind the Mask of Allies
The next morning, Alpha Rolex contacted Salto again to dig deeper into Mr. Tama's involvement in distributing the mysterious AXIOS company invitations. This time, he decided against discussing it at length over the phone. He asked Salto to meet in person so the explanation would be more detailed and avoid any misunderstandings over a line vulnerable to wiretapping.

Salto arrived at a hidden, rarely frequented cafe a dimly lit corner of an old building that Alpha Rolex had often used for secret meetings since his days in disguise. The clinking of coffee cups echoed softly in the distance. Salto's face appeared slightly nervous as he walked toward the corner table. He sat down across from Alpha Rolex, who was staring at him with sharp, inquiring eyes.

"Explain everything, Salto," Alpha Rolex said without preamble, setting down his steaming coffee cup. "What is Mr. Tama's actual plan with distributing so many invitations?"

Salto took a deep breath, wringing his fingers to try and calm his nerves before he began to explain.

"To be honest, Alpha, I don't fully understand Mr. Tama's grand plan either," Salto confessed softly, briefly casting his gaze downward before looking back into his leader's eyes. "What I do know is that he wants to introduce AXIOS widely to the city's business circles, building an image in a short time as a major player to be reckoned with."

"To what end?" Alpha Rolex pressed, emphasizing each word in a low tone. His suspicion grew stronger. "Why the sudden rush?"

"I think..." Salto answered hesitantly, pausing to take a breath. "Mr. Tama wants to use AXIOS's reputation and financial power to attract the attention of various key players, including other major clans, perhaps as a first step to expand his own influence beyond our initial agreement."

"Expand his own influence?" Alpha Rolex echoed in a cold tone.

"Correct, Alpha. He was the one who approved the cash flow for AXIOS from the very beginning. He moves fast behind the scenes," Salto added, validating those suspicions.

Those words made Alpha Rolex even more vigilant. His mind raced as he reassembled the pieces of the puzzle. He realized that Mr. Tama, who had been his ally in his mission of revenge, turned out to have personal ambitions far greater than merely helping uncover the truth behind the Borne Clan family tragedy.

In the middle of that tense conversation, Alpha Rolex's phone vibrated loudly on the table and rang again. A breaking news notification popped up on the screen, displaying an official announcement that made his eyebrows raise in surprise. A financial article stated that Moza Group, which had reportedly changed ownership mysteriously a few days ago, would now officially attend the exclusive AXIOS event tonight. Even more surprising, Alpha Cimone was listed as the official leader attending in person to represent the company.

"Cimone... attending the AXIOS event on behalf of Moza Group?" Alpha Rolex muttered, reading the headline.

He immediately hit speed dial and called Maya to inform her of this latest development. However, before Alpha Rolex could fully state his intention, the call was answered by Maya's furious, resentment-filled voice over the line.

"I just heard the news too!" Maya said without greeting, her tone shrill with annoyance. "How could Cimone get that position so fast? I should have been the one to get the chance to lead Moza Group, not him!"

Alpha Rolex furrowed his brow at the possessive and emotional tone in Maya's voice. He leaned back against his chair.

"Why do you want that position so badly, Maya?" Alpha Rolex asked, puzzled. "Aren't you satisfied enough with your current position as the Luna of the Moreno Clan? That title already gives you immense influence."

"It's not enough!" Maya answered firmly, her voice laden with an ambition she could no longer hide or cover up in front of Alpha Rolex. "I want to ensure the entire business empire Cassen built is fully under my control. Moza Group should be a part of our power, not owned by an outsider like Cimone!"

"Cimone has deeply rooted networks there, Maya. It's not as simple as flipping a switch," Alpha Rolex interjected, trying to offer a rational perspective.

"But we were the ones who brought Cassen down, Rolex! We are entitled to everything he left behind!" Maya asserted stubbornly, her breath coming heavy over the phone. "I cannot accept it if Cimone suddenly steps in and reaps the rewards just like that!"

Alpha Rolex went silent for a moment, looking at Salto, who sat in quiet deference listening to the conversation. Alpha Rolex considered the request implicit in Maya's words. Although he himself had a pressing interest in monitoring the moves of Cimone—who was once Cassen's close ally the excessive ambition Maya displayed made him increasingly wary of the true limits of power she desired.

"Alright," Alpha Rolex said at last, trying to de-escalate the situation so Maya wouldn't act impulsively. "I will help investigate and deal with the Cimone issue. But you must be patient, Maya. All of this requires a solid strategy, not reckless moves that could endanger our newly stabilized position."

Maya went quiet for a moment on the other end, taking a long breath to compose her anger, though it was clear from her exhale that she was not entirely satisfied with the answer.

"Fine, I will wait for your decision, Alpha," Maya said softly yet emphatically. "But don't let Cimone enjoy the position that rightfully belongs to us for too long. The longer he stays there, the harder it will be for us to get rid of him."

"I know what I have to do," I replied briefly.

After ending the call, Alpha Rolex lowered his phone and looked back at Salto, who was still sitting across the table waiting for him. His mind grew increasingly weighed down by the winding complexity of the situation. So many players were on this chessboard with their own hidden ambitions and agendas Mr. Tama with his secret expansion plan through AXIOS, Maya with an unsatiable thirst for power demanding more, and now Cimone, who had suddenly emerged as a new player that could not be ignored.

He gazed at the street outside the cafe window. Vehicles passed by beneath a sky that was slowly dimming.

"It seems," Alpha Rolex murmured softly, staring out the cafe window with a sharp, cold, and calculating gaze, "the real fight is only just beginning. And this time, I must be far more careful in deciding who my true friends are among so many masks surrounding me."