Is this destiny?

Aiden realized that he needs to improvise and his brain scrambled to come up with something that might work. They planned for many possibilities, but none of them included an Elder just falling on his knees and begging to be let off. Not in front of all this audience because they care about their reputation... reputation... REPUTATION! Aiden got an idea!

Aiden looked at Elder Sergey with disgust. "Is this how an Elder of the Voronin family behaves? You speak big, but when there is a need to act, you surrender?" Aiden lifted his gaze toward the Elders who were observing the scene from above. "Grand Master Feodor was the one who imparted his knowledge to me, and I remember stories about a big family who has the potential to rule the world. That is what brought me here today, but I must say that I am disappointed. Is this how you lead the organization? By begging for mercy? What a joke! Should I take all of you down? How about all of you get on your knees and beg for mercy while giving your positions to me? Or maybe not me, after all, I am just one man…" Aiden turned to look behind him, and his eyes swept over the people from the audience who belong to the Voronin family. "I'm sure there are many capable fighters in here who have the guts to take over instead of the people who are sitting at the top for so long that they forgot what it means to be a member of a powerful organization." Aiden paused and he was pleased to see the greed that flashed in some faces.

Aiden turned back toward Elders and met Simeon's furious gaze. "Grand Master Simeon, you said that no one will obey me because of who my wife is, but I believe that a brave warrior is a better leader than a bunch of cowards regardless of who warms his bed at night!"

Simeon gritted his teeth. Every Aiden's word stabbed Simeon's ego. Did he say, Grand Master Feodor? From where did this punk come from? And he called them cowards!

Elder Sergey's behavior put a shade on all of them and anger swelled inside Simeon as he saw red.

"Get up!", Simeon shouted at Elder Sergey. "Get up and fight or I will kill you myself."

Under Simeon's glare, Elder Sergey wanted to get up, but his legs refused to listen, and he stumbled.

"Aya!", Aiden exclaimed dramatically. "I didn't expect to challenge you only to see you die of old age. If I knew that you are minutes away from your natural ending, I would call out for someone younger. In order to win this fight, I need to stand on the side and watch you lay down and die. Or are you faking it? You are a pathetic excuse for a human and not qualified to be an Elder!"

Elder Sergey's eyes flashed in anger and he lunged at Aiden. Elder Sergey's eyes popped open in shock when he was greeted by Aiden's signature kick which hit the middle of Elder Sergey's chest. Elder Sergey's ribs broke, and the force propelled him backward until his back slammed against the wall of the cage and he slid down in slow motion. Blood dripped from Elder Sergey's mouth and the man was unmoving. And the fight was over after only one kick.

No one said a word and the clicking of the microphone got everyone's attention while the announcer fumbled with it.

"Elder Sergey Voronin lost! His position now belongs to Elder Aiden White!", the announcer shouted.

Simeon stood up unwillingly, but he had to do this because everyone was watching. "Elder Aiden, welcome to the Voronin family. I invite you to my office where we will discuss your role."

Simeon looked at the people gathered and shouted: "Welcome Elder Aiden!"

The crowd needed a second to realize what happened before they started chanting: "Welcome! Welcome, Elder Aiden! Welcome!"

Simeon lifted his hand to get people to stop shouting and announced: "This event is over…"

"Oh, there is one more thing…", Sarah interrupted him, surprising everyone by the loud volume of her voice. She is not holding a microphone, yet her voice was loud like announcer's.

Simeon gritted his teeth and looked at Sarah blankly. "Yes, Grand Elder Sarah? I thought that the Lebedev family came here to make sure the challenger gets fair treatment. Isn't your goal accomplished?"

Sarah waved her hand casually. "We don't want to impose for longer than necessary, but I didn't say that Aiden is the only challenger that arrived with us today."

Simeon narrowed his eyes. "What? Are you saying that Grand Master Feodor had more disciples we are not aware of?"

Sarah shrugged. "I don't want to talk about who is the one passing the knowledge that should be only for the family members. Or maybe people with your specific skills decided to look for their family elsewhere."

Simeon was outraged and he didn't understand Sarah's words. "What other family members?"

"That is yours to investigate. I only came to escort challengers. Sarah lifted her hand, and four people stood up."

Simeon glared at Haru, Bo, Souta, and Wing. He was unwilling to accept that all these young men have skills that can propel them to be Elders in HIS Voronin family. Unless…

"Did you teach them?", Simeon asked Aiden angrily.

Aiden smiled and Haru responded: "We have the required skills. Young master Maksim or anyone else can test us. We will not object. There is nothing in the rules that says we need to reveal who taught us. Or are you saying that Elder Aiden gets privileged treatment compared to us?"

Haru, Bo, Souta, and Wing spent many years with Hong isolated in the mountains and Hong taught them everything he knew. Hong didn't tell his disciples that some of the moves are specific to the Voronin family, but he felt that he should not allow his legacy to die because he does not have an heir who is related to him by blood (other than Tashi).

Hong apologized to his four disciples for not telling them everything, and they all thanked Hong for the many years he took care of them and they were happy that Hong is counting on their help with this. In a way, they can repay his kindness of many years.

Back to the present...

Simeon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He can't explode into a rage when everyone is watching. His eyes snapped open when he heard Haru talk again.

"After our fights, regardless of the outcome, you will find out who our master is."

Simeon glanced at Maksim who responded with a small nod before standing up and heading into the fighting cage.

Simeon glared at Sarah. If he could, he would rip her into pieces slowly, to make her feel the pain. Simeon balled his hands into fists and reminded himself that there is no way that Sarah or anyone else who came with Lebedevs will leave this place alive.

Simeon jolted when Aiden took a seat on his left, in the spot where Sergey was sitting until five minutes ago.

One by one, Haru, Souta, Bo, and Wing all got confirmed as qualified to challenge Elders and they each got to pick their opponents from the nine Elders who were left (ten with Aiden included).

Haru went first and in a few swift moves, he turned Elder Yakov into a cripple.

Bo, Souta, and Wing were quick and merciless. By the time they finished, the floor of the fighting cage was colored with the blood of ex-Elders of the Voronin family.

Within one hour how Sarah arrived as the Grand Elder of the Lebedev family, the structure at the top of the Voronin family changed significantly.

The table with ten Elders, Grand Master Simeon, and young master Maksim had five new faces that included Aiden, Haru, Souta, Bo, and Wing.

Sarah looked at the scene in front of her with a satisfied smile on her face. She told Eve to take a photo of Simeon with Maksim and Aiden by his sides. It is a memorable moment they will talk about later.

Sarah was pleased that another step of their plan is completed successfully.

Simeon looked at Haru. "Elder Haru, if you don't mind, can you share now who was your teacher?"

Haru's glance moved to the hooded figure in the second row, behind Sarah. "He will speak for himself."

"He is here?", Simeon asked as his eyes anxiously moved over the people who came with the group from the Lebedev family.

"Before he reveals himself…", Sarah spoke, making Simeon's insides twist into painful knots. "There is one more challenger."

Simeon was confident that Sarah will cause his early death by angering him.

"One more? Are you sure there is only ONE more? It seems to me that you are bad at counting.", Simeon said irritably.

Sarah's smile showed her teeth. "Just one more. I promise. You can help me count them all later."

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