Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1122 1122: SRLE (22) | Breakfast and Bureaucracy

Ruby leaned forward, her Queen persona taking over. ”In the old timeline, the Syndicates had boundaries. We had territories. But right now? Itʼs filled with low-life criminals, rogue Awakened gangs, blood-cults, human traffickers, and illegal monster-smuggling guilds. Theyʼre all over the place. Thereʼs no code of conduct. No rules. Itʼs just total anarchy.”

Rudy looked at her, entirely unimpressed. ”Itʼs the Underworld, Ruby. Criminals and gangs are literally the job description. What the hell are you on about?”

”Iʼm talking about a monopoly, you idiot,” Ruby snapped back, though there was no real venom in her voice. ”Itʼs bad for business. If there are no rules, we canʼt tax them. We canʼt control the flow of mana cores or illegal artifacts. As long as these hundred little rat-factions are running around killing each other, the Obsidian Syndicate canʼt properly rule.”

”She has a point,” Maria agreed, taking a sip of her tea. ”When Father ran things, there was a hierarchy. Right now, every thug with a B-Rank fire spell thinks heʼs a Don.”

”Itʼs Obsidian Ross Syndicate, by the way,” Maria added.

Rudy sighed, setting his coffee cup down. He picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

”Fine,” Rudy said. ”Let me finish my eggs. Then Iʼll solve the Underworld problem.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow. ”Just like that? Youʼre going to unite thousands of bloodthirsty criminals before lunch?”

”No,” Rudy smirked. ”Iʼm going to give them an eviction notice. Eat your sausage, Queen. Weʼre going for a walk.”

They took the limousine deep into the belly of the ruined city, driving past the quarantine zones and into the subterranean network of the old subway tunnels.

In the previous timeline, this massive underground cavern was the Colosseum—the premier, highly regulated gambling arena where the Underworldʼs elite hosted their tournaments.

Now, it was a sprawling, neon-lit slum.

Thousands of Awakened criminals, black-market dealers, and rogue mercenaries had turned the massive stone amphitheater into a chaotic fortress. Makeshift buildings of corrugated steel, stolen concrete, and glowing neon signs were stacked on top of each other like a giant, rusty favela. The air reeked of cheap alcohol, raw sewage, and monster blood.

Rudy stepped out of the limousine, followed by Maria, Ruby, and Lilim. They stood on the high precipice overlooking the sprawling, chaotic mess of the arena floor.

”This is the heart of the disease,” Ruby said, crossing her arms in disgust. ”Every major illegal guild has a base down here. If you want to establish rules, you have to route them out. But there are thousands of them. It would take an army weeks to clear this place out in urban combat.”

”I donʼt have weeks,” Rudy said.

He stepped up to the edge of the precipice. He simply projected his voice, amplifying it so loudly that the sound waves rattled the stone walls of the cavern.

”ATTENTION.”

The bustling noise of the underground favela ground to an immediate halt. Thousands of heads snapped up to look at the lone figure standing on the VIP overlook.

”My name is Rudy,” his voice echoed like thunder. ”As of this moment, this Colosseum belongs to the Ross Syndicate. You have exactly five minutes to grab your belongings and clear out. Anyone still standing in this arena when the clock runs out will be dealt with.”

For a long moment, there was absolute silence.

Then, the cavern erupted into laughter.

”Fuck off, pretty boy!” a heavily scarred Awakened warlord shouted from the ground floor, raising a massive battleaxe.

”Ross Syndicate is dead!” another yelled. ”Come down here and make us leave!”

Gunfire erupted. A dozen rogue snipers took shots at the overlook. The bullets pinged harmlessly off the invisible kinetic barrier Rudy erected inches from his face.

Rudy checked the expensive watch he had stolen from the Vanguard Guild Leader.

He stood there in absolute silence for exactly five minutes. Ruby tapped her foot, and Maria watched with a predatory smile. While Lilimʼs tail swished back and forth in anticipation.

Beep.

”Timeʼs up,” Rudy announced softly.

He raised his right hand and clenched his fist.

The entire cavern groaned. A massive, crushing wave of telekinetic force and gravity descended upon the Colosseum.