Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

Matthew's hand clenched tightly around Shaun's throat, causing Shaun's face to flush red as he struggled futilely against the iron grip.

Meanwhile, below the arena, silence reigned.

The match they had all anticipated the grand finale-had turned into a farce. Shaun, hailed as the undefeated champion, had failed to last even a single exchange against Matteo.

"This... This Shaun must be a fake!"

"Yeah, Larden crushed him completely!"

"No... it's really him. I've seen Shaun fight before. There's no mistake."

Among the Viper Crew members standing nearby, several raised their weapons, aiming them directly at Matthew.

"Let go of our boss, or we'll kill you!"

Without loosening his grip, Matthew turned his head slightly to glance at them. His voice was calm but carried unmistakable authority. "You dare raise weapons against me? According to the crew's code, aiming your blades at your leader is an act of insubordination. Are you all planning to betray the Viper Crew?"

Confusion flickered in the eyes of the assembled men.

From within their ranks, Malrik stepped forward. "That rule does exist... but are you even one of us?"

Straining to speak through Matthew's grip, Shaun gasped, "Don't listen to him... he's lying!"

"I am the new leader of the Ore Island Viper Crew. Dominic Romero is dead- killed by my hand. Now, you have two choices: submit or leave."

Matthew's words hung in the air like a death knell.

The Viper Crew operated on a brutal code of survival-survival of the fittest. Internal disputes were rarely interfered with. The winner of any power struggle had the right to claim the defeated leader's territory, followers, and resources.noveldrama

Hearing that, the men exchanged uneasy glances.

Shaun's flushed face contorted as he barked hoarsely, "Impossible! There's no way you could've taken Dominic Romero's place!"

Deep down, however, dread crept through Shaun's mind. If Matteo truly was the new leader from Ore Island, then no matter what happened today-even if Shau died there would be no retribution. According to their laws, he would simply have to accept his fate.

"It seems you've been holed up on this ship for too long... You've stopped paying attention to the world outside."

Reaching into his coat, Matthew withdrew a rectangular token and held it up for all to see.

Etched into its surface were the characters for "Viper"-the symbol of Dominic's authority.

Despair and hatred filled Shaun's

eyes. Yet the hatred was not

directed at Matthew but at

Dominic-the fool who had fallen so easily, allowing this outsider to usurp his position.

Seeing the token, the hesitation vanished from the Viper Crew

members' faces. One by one, they dropped to their knees in silent acknowledgment of their new leader.

Matthew turned his gaze back to Shaun, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. "The

Marine Corps shipment-what's your connection to it?"

Shaun's eyes widened in shock, his pupils contracting as his mind raced.

"Tell me, and you may yet live. Refuse... and you'll join Dominic Romero in death."

His voice was too quiet for anyone else to hear, but its weight pressed heavily on Shaun's mind.

For a moment, Shaun's lips parted as if to speak-but then his eyes glazed over, and a twisted grin spread across his face.

"You... you can't beat them..." He began to laugh, the sound manic and hollow. "Hahaha... Sooner or later... you'll end up just like me."

Matthew's brow furrowed slightly as he studied Shaun's eyes.

He's taken a drug capable of destroying his sanity! But who are 'they'? The Medusa Gang? Or someone within the Viper Crew itself?

Matthew stepped back, releasing Shaun's throat.

There was no need to kill him-Shaun had made too many enemies on this ship. Whether Matthew struck the final blow or not, the man wouldn't survive long.

Turning to the Viper Crew members kneeling before him, Matthew spoke flatly, "Since you've chosen to follow me, come with me now."