The little boy's face scrunched up. "But Mom, if you do that, Whitney's going to be sad!" Lisa felt her anger bubble up so fast that her nose almost twisted. What, is Whitney some kind of princess?I'm about to storm a fortified mountain stronghold, and I'm supposed to care about whether the pampered Ms. Jensen is happy? But with so many people watching, she couldn't explode. She clenched her teeth and muttered under her breath, "Joe Barnett, don't push it too far! You're making me really upset!" Hearing his full name, Joe finally softened. "I understand, Mom." Lisa let out a sharp hum and dropped a little food onto his plate. "Eat properly! Stop poking at your plate. With all these eyes on us, you can't act like some clueless little kid, got it?" Joe straightened up and nodded obediently. "Got it." Lisa patted his shoulder, then returned to her meal. Once most of the food was gone, she set her utensils down, cleared her throat, and turned her attention to the crowd below. Following her notes, she laid out the situation at the hillside villa complex in detail, then lifted everyone's spirits with a rousing call. "We've come all the way from Sunhaven City, fought our way here, and I know you're all tired. But this time, the fat sheep waiting for us are richer than ever. One big hit, and we can rest for a whole year. So keep your heads up and stay sharp!" Everyone straightened in their seats, and Lisa nodded in satisfaction. Then she continued. "For the battle plan, I think Villa 1 is the best entry point. What do you all think?" Philbert Guerrero, a trusted man in the front row, stood right away. "Ms. Eland, we will follow your lead completely!" Lisa waved him off. "Grayhound Sect isn't run by just one voice. Speak freely—the more brains we use, the better our plan will be." A man at Philbert's table got up. "Ms. Eland, you've never steered us wrong, and this time's no different. Villa 1 is the crown jewel of the Hillside Villa District—the biggest, fattest target. Only two people live there. Definitely the best place to strike first!" Other tables joined in. "Exactly! We take Villa 1 first, turn it into our base, and then take the rest one by one." "Villa 2 has more people and guns. Villa 5 is full of traps. Villa 1's the easiest. If we take it first, going after 2 and 5 later will be much safer." The left-side crowd buzzed with excitement, while the right side remained quiet as ever. After a while, when the chatter settled, Lisa made the final call. "Good. Then I'll personally lead the—" She was cut off by a booming laugh from outside the doors. "Hahahaha! Lisa, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!" In strode a hulking man with a thick build, a wild beard, and a pack of underlings behind him. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The left side dropped their utensils, eyes sharp with caution. The normally lifeless right side suddenly perked up, standing to greet the newcomer respectfully. "Mr. Olson!" "Mr. Olson!" The bearded man ignored them and locked his gaze on Lisa. Lisa met his stare for a moment, then finally answered his over-the-top greeting."If it isn't my deputy. Mr. Olson, it's only been two days. Surely you haven't missed me that badly?" His smile froze for a beat, then returned in full force. "Lisa, don't be so formal! I've told you before—call me like you used to. Call me Godfrey!" His real name was Godfrey Olson, deputy leader of Grayhound Sect. But being the deputy leader didn't make him Lisa's right-hand man. He was her rival, always pushing his own agenda with his loyal followers. The gang was split—her people and his, never fully united. Everyone else in the sect could refer to him as the deputy leader, and he'd respond without complaint. But when Lisa said it, it felt like a jab—a reminder that she was the leader, and he was "the deputy". Godfrey hated taking orders, especially from a woman. But Lisa had founded the gang, and her skills outshone his. So he had to stay under her. Even his seat was below hers among the crowd, while the skinny Joe sat above him. Grinding his teeth, Godfrey dropped into his chair, resentment plain on his face. He was about to speak when Lisa cut in smoothly from above. "Calling you Mr. Olson sounds more respectful, don't you think, Goffy?" Goffy? What the heck? Godfrey's temper flared immediately. His ambition to overthrow her was well known, and being called that in front of everyone only stoked his anger. He glared up, ready to snap, but Lisa cut him off again, cool and unbothered.