When the other Rangers heard those words, lying bruised and battered on the ground, they couldn’t help but smile faintly through the pain. Stephen, Joe, Na, and even Wolf felt something stir inside them , a flicker of confidence they’d nearly forgotten.
Because at the end of the day, this wasn’t just any young man standing against Jett. This was a Stern. And if there was one thing the Stern family was known for, it was their ability to solve problems , no matter how impossible , with sheer will and unimaginable resources.
"What are you talking about, young man?" Jett asked, his voice sharp with suspicion. "Don’t think you can fool or trick me. We’re not talking about mere pennies here."
He straightened, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his black shirt. "The money I expected to get from the Billion Bloodline group is far more than you think."
"I know," Max replied simply, his tone calm but resolute. "And I’ll give it to you. All of this can end peacefully , no one else needs to get hurt. You’ll get paid exactly what you wanted from them."
Jett narrowed his eyes, uncertain if this kid was serious or suicidal.
"I’ll pay you," Max continued, his gaze unwavering. "I’ll give you ten million per person that’s here. In total, that’s sixty million."
The words echoed across the dock. Even the groans of those still conscious seemed to fade into silence.
"If you don’t believe me," Max added, "I’ll send you ten million right now , to any account you want. After that, I’ll send the remaining fifty once we can all leave safely."
For a moment, Jett’s mind went blank.
He was used to money , big money , but this was different. As an enforcer for one of the most powerful gangs in the city, he already lived a life few could imagine. Yet, wealth in his world was fluid , here one day, gone the next. Even with all his connections, a few million was what he usually handled at a time.
Sixty million was something else entirely.
He was part of a wealthy group, yes, but the thought of having such a massive sum all to himself , not shared with the Black Hounds, not reported to anyone , made something dangerous spark inside his mind. It was intoxicating.
Still, he wasn’t foolish. His instincts kept him grounded. There were problems with this deal , too many to ignore.
"Max!" Anton suddenly shouted, scrambling up from the floor. His voice was high, desperate, almost cracking. "Don’t lie! Are you planning to use your family’s money? They’ll never give it to you!"
His words came out sharp and panicked. The man was terrified , not just of Jett, but of what might happen if Max’s bluff was exposed.
"Everyone knows your family’s abandoned you!" Anton continued, his tone trembling. "You don’t have a single ounce of their money!"
He wasn’t defending Max. He was trying to save himself. Because if Max’s promise fell through, if the Enforcer realized the boy had no way to pay, Anton would be the one blamed. The one strangled for answers.
He turned to Jett, his voice rising in fear. "If you want your money, keep them all here! Keep them as hostages! Grab Sheri and force the Billion Bloodline group to pay up!"
For a few long seconds, the only sound was the wind cutting through the dock. Then Jett tilted his head slightly and nodded.
"He’s right," Jett said at last. His eyes flicked between Max and Anton. "There are two problems. One , even if you pay now, how do I know I’ll get the rest? And two , how can you even promise me that kind of money in the first place?"
Max didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t even look at Jett. Instead, he turned toward Anton and began to walk toward him , slow, deliberate steps echoing on the concrete.
Anton’s body went rigid. He tried to scurry backward, dragging himself across the ground, his palms scraping against the rough surface.
"Stay away from me!" he shouted.
Max stopped just in front of him, looking down at the man who had started all of this. His voice, when he spoke, was quiet , but it carried a cutting weight.
"You said none of this was your fault, right?" Max asked. "That if only people had listened to you... if only they’d given you a chance, things would’ve been different. That everything went wrong when you met me?"
Anton’s throat tightened. His eyes darted toward Jett, searching for someone , anyone , to save him from this moment.
"All of this," Max said, "is your own doing, you idiot. When you here my words, I want you to think back to when we first met, what you did the actions you took, and everything you did from then on, and if you were in my shoes would you ever give yourself a second chance. After today, you will be finished and not just you, I will make sure all fo the stable family can never do something like this ever again."
Anton flinched as if struck.
Max stopped talking to him then. He turned away, eyes locking on Jett again. The air between them thickened, sharp as broken glass.
"If you don’t accept this offer," Max said slowly, "and you try to keep us hostage... or hurt anyone here..."
His voice deepened. There was no hesitation, no fear. "Then I guarantee you’ll never see a penny of that money."
Jett raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
"Because," Max continued, taking one step forward, "I am the Chairman and Head of the Billion Bloodline Group."
The words slammed into the air like thunder.
For a moment, no one moved. Even Jett, who had faced death and power countless times before, felt the weight behind them.
The Billion Bloodline , the mysterious, rapidly growing organization that had shaken both the corporate world and the criminal underworld , had a face now.
And it was standing right in front of him.