"Ha ha," Fish Mooney said, pointing at the documents in front of her.
"These were originally Boss Axel's properties, so of course he should review them himself. I never claimed these were gifts. What I truly offer Boss Axel is my loyalty."
She bowed respectfully to Axel, then straightened and sneered at Oswald. "Compared to the loyalty I offer, what have you given him? Just childish antics and relying on your lady's small help?"
"Yes, it's childish!" Oswald admitted with exaggerated gravity. "But besides my childishness, I offer Boss Axel my weakness."
He slapped his wound, grimacing in pain, yet still smiled brightly at Fish. "In our line of work, softness and foolishness can be far more practical than your so-called loyalty. Loyalty? What a joke. When Falcone left, where did your loyalty run off to? Evanston High School, maybe, haha!"
Laughing loudly, Oswald popped open a bottle of wine. "Boss Axel, may I propose a toast? To the future of the Falcone Family—or rather, what it's called now! You've been more direct than Falcone, and neither Fish nor I were ever truly family. So, what shall we be called? The Dead Souls Gang, as you and Bartel mentioned? I like it—it's full of effort!"
Axel raised his bottle. "Everyone, to the Dead Souls Gang!"
Everyone drank deeply, Selina chugging most of her bottle in one go. After the toast, Axel grabbed a stack of documents and tossed them toward Fish. Watching the papers scatter, Fish's heart thumped violently.
"Tsk tsk," Axel murmured, "these few sheets represent wealth most people can never dream of. Fish, do you know how much this is worth?"
"Six… maybe seven billion?" Fish replied nervously, frozen in place.
Axel nodded, then sneered. "Six or seven billion. Big number, but you're a gang, aren't you? Has the gang completely sold out to money too?"
Suddenly, Axel stood and circled the desk, placing a hand on Fish's shoulder. He patted her firmly. "You've disappointed me, Fish Mooney. I expected someone like you in Gotham to be decisive. Money, money, money—why put it first? Do you love money most, or do you think I do? If you expect me to love money, you underestimate me. And if you don't want to be underestimated, the first thing you need to do is tell me about your hatred!"
He pulled Fish toward the large Gotham map on the wall, pointing at the East District. "I may not know Gotham perfectly, but one thing I do know—every gang family here has fixed territories. Falcone's thirty years of effort meant something. He made chaos obey rules. But your territory borders the Moksen Family. Why did they run to the East District to flirt with Maroni, while the Akahara and Oswald families, bordering Maroni there, ran to your place to mess with you? Falcone's been gone two hours, and the gangs are unruly again. Who started this, Fish?"
Axel patted her back heavily. "Even an idiot can see Maroni's role tonight. Assets won't impress me, Fish. I want results. I want Maroni's head! He may not have betrayed me, but he's harmed my people. You're mine now, so consider this personal."
He kicked the wall fiercely. Boom! The explosion-proof metal wall shifted several feet, the room shaking violently. Victor stepped behind him, eyes wide.
"These walls are reinforced, and the house is almost a single unit. Axel, that kick was spectacular—you nearly knocked us over!"
"Haha!" Axel laughed, then patted Victor's shoulder. "Victor, take this idiot to the East District. Tonight's already messy enough. By tomorrow morning, I want Maroni's head placed before me. Oswald, Yakuza, Moksen Family—bring me their leaders' heads too. Too tedious? Hire professional killers. Akahara and Yakuza are thriving, don't let them escape. One night, clean them all up. Oswald, want the East District?"
"I prefer to be by your side, Axel!"
"Then forget the East District. Just bring back Maroni's head!"
"I'll obey all your commands, never disappoint you!" Oswald laughed, saluting comically.
Axel laughed, pushing Victor slightly and kicking Fish's butt playfully. "Let's see what you've got, Fish Mooney!"
"No problem. I want revenge!" Fish said firmly. Victor bared his teeth, nodding enthusiastically.
"I still have private assets, enough to hire killers. But Boss, aren't you going yourself? Blood, slaughter, making the proud kneel—it's your thing, isn't it?" Victor asked eagerly.
Axel smirked. "Then get excited. I need to take the woman I just slept with to see her new home. So far, Selina's the only one I haven't killed. Can't ruin that streak, haha!"
He patted Victor's shoulder and waved at Selina. "Come with me."
"Why should I? Just because you used me as a toy once?" Selina said, tilting her head, clearly annoyed.
Axel sneered and turned to leave. Once he disappeared into the Minus Forty-Four Degrees club, Selina gulped down her wine, then chased after him.
"Axel! Wait for me to change! Damn it, we're still in bathrobes, bathrobes!" she shouted, keeping her fear in check with bravado.