"Very powerful?"
"Oh, tell me, how did you figure out they were powerful?" The middle-aged man didn't turn around, he said faintly, a smile playing on his lips.
"There was a Western woman among them. She merely glanced at me, and I lost consciousness. After that, my actions were beyond my control. If the other two hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have known I was being controlled," the white doorman said with lingering fear.
"Another transcended being?" the middle-aged man murmured to himself, not particularly surprised. The doormen at the entrance were all weak, as they didn't believe anyone would dare cause trouble on Mafia territory. /
The methods of transcended beings were strange and unpredictable. It wasn't surprising that some powerful transcended beings could briefly control the minds of ordinary people.
There were even rumors that Blood Phoenix, ranked number one on the world assassin list, was skilled in mind control. Many transcended beings had their minds corrupted by her and served her.
"The World Gang Tournament is getting closer, and the major gang leaders are gathering here. I wonder which faction these people belong to." The middle-aged man's thoughts flickered, and he didn't ponder further because he had received news from above that he had more important things to do tonight.
With that in mind, he summoned someone and instructed, "Make arrangements. Tonight's gladiatorial match will be of the highest caliber. You know how to arrange it."
"Yes." The subordinate was slightly surprised upon hearing this. The highest caliber gladiatorial matches involved duels between peak transcended beings. Each battle could potentially result in the loss of a peak transcended expert.
Such high-level duels were rare, usually occurring only once a year, as peak transcended beings were vital assets to any faction.
Furthermore, if a peak transcended being broke through, their status would skyrocket. A Saint was undoubtedly a high-ranking figure in any faction, with a completely different standing.
After his subordinate left, the middle-aged man's gaze returned to the surveillance screen.
"Oh, another unknown expert? Should I go and probe their strength?" Suddenly, another somewhat sharp voice echoed in the room...
A young man in a black suit emerged from the darkness. His gaze was also fixed on the surveillance screen, with a hint of excitement in his eyes. He licked his lips, eager to act.
The middle-aged man was well aware of Summers' intentions. He shook his head and said, "Summers, I must warn you, we've been informed from above. The 'Big Circle Gang' and the 'Hells Angels' will be here tonight, so you'd best not cause trouble."
"What a shame. Such a gem. You can tell they're unfathomable. I really want to get a taste of their power," the young man named Summers said, shaking his head with regret.
"Why does this woman look so familiar? I feel like I've seen her somewhere before," the middle-aged man murmured, staring intently at Aile Bella on the screen.
"How many beautiful women do you *not* find familiar?" Summers quipped, pouting.
The middle-aged man ignored Summers' words, his eyes fixed on the screen. Suddenly, he seemed to realize something, and his hair stood on end. His face instantly turned pale, and his eyes, glued to the surveillance screen, were filled with terror.
"What's wrong?" Summers, noticing his companion's abnormality, asked in surprise. What had he seen to be so frightened?
"It's her!" The middle-aged man found it unbelievable. Although many important figures would be present tonight, compared to her, they would all pale in comparison.
"Who is she?" Summers asked, utterly bewildered.
"She is someone you, and even the forces behind you, cannot afford to offend," the middle-aged man stated firmly.
"Heh heh, it's rare to find someone even I, Summers, cannot afford to offend. Tell me, what kind of background does this little lady have, that even our Mafia dares not provoke her?" Summers chuckled, clearly not believing his companion.
He knew that his family's influence ranked among the top three among the various factions of the Italian Mafia. Their clan even had powerful Saints overseeing them, giving them considerable influence throughout the entire Italian Mafia.
As for himself, he was an elite disciple of his generation, having reached the peak of the transcended realm before the age of thirty, just one step away from becoming a Saint. He had defeated numerous powerful rivals to secure a spot in the World Gang Tournament.
With his qualifications, he had truly encountered few people he couldn't afford to offend among the younger generation.
"Vampire!"
Just as Summers was scoffing, lost in his own thoughts, the middle-aged man calmly uttered two words, causing the smile on his lips to freeze instantly.
"Vam... Vampire?" Summers was also incredulous. That mysterious and powerful race was a formidable force with a history far longer than the Italian Mafia. While they were low-key, their strength was such that no one dared to underestimate them.
Even the holy and powerful Church of Light was powerless against the vampires.
"Vampires are indeed powerful, even stronger than our Mafia. But I don't believe the vampires would seek revenge on us for simply laying a hand on one of their women. She couldn't have reached a level that I can't afford to offend," Summers said, acknowledging the vampires' strength but still believing this particular vampire woman wasn't beyond his reach.
"Heh heh, if you knew her name was Aile Bella, you wouldn't have such a foolish thought," the middle-aged man said with a cold laugh.
"It's her?" Upon hearing the name, Summers was as stunned as the middle-aged man had been earlier.
"She's here? Is she here to support the Transcended Alliance again?" Summers felt like crying at the thought.
While he hadn't met Aile Bella, he had heard stories about her. In a past World Gang Tournament, she was supposedly invited by the European underground organization, the Transcended Alliance, to lend support.
It was during that tournament that Aile Bella, with her overwhelming power, swept aside all opponents, allowing the Transcended Alliance to shine and win the championship.
Summers had painstakingly cultivated to the peak of the transcended realm just before the start of this year's Gang Tournament, and he had fought his way through numerous battles to secure a spot as a contestant. He had hoped to make a name for himself in the tournament and embark on the path to glory.
But if Aile Bella were to participate again, everyone else would essentially be mere supporting actors.
With a look of sympathy at Summers, the middle-aged man said, "Actually, you don't need to be so pessimistic. From what I see, she's probably not here to compete this time."
"Why do you say that? If she's not competing, why would she come to Elba Island? Is it just a coincidence?" Summers asked urgently, firing off a series of questions.
"If she were here to compete, she would certainly not be competing for another organization. She would only be competing for the Transcended Alliance. Look at the group around her; they're all Asians. Where is anyone from the Transcended Alliance accompanying her?" the middle-aged man explained.
"Haha, now that you mention it, that seems to be the case." Once Summers understood, the cloud of gloom on his face instantly dissipated. He patted the middle-aged man on the shoulder, feeling his confidence return.
This time, he, Summers, would crush all his opponents!
...