The week after the midnight meeting felt long, yet it passed quickly. For Tony Black, each day was a careful dance between two very different worlds. In the bright light of Royal Academy, he was the perfect student. His grades stayed high. He answered questions in class with ease. He played football during break time, showing good skill on the green field. He laughed with Emeka and Jide, talking about school work and upcoming exams. He spent hours in the library with Kunle, working on projects. Kunle, always tired but focused, kept his laptop open, searching for information. He was helping Tony in ways no one at school could guess.
But when the school bell rang for the last time each day, Tony's other life began. Mr. Idowu, the family driver, would pick him up. The ride home was quiet, filled with Tony's thoughts. He would nod politely to his parents, tell them about his day, and then retreat to his room. As soon as the house grew silent, the hidden warlord in him would awaken. He would slip out, a shadow moving through the familiar paths he had known since childhood. The cool night air of Warri was his true breath. The sounds of the city, once a simple background, now held secret messages for his sharp ears.
Kene, Tony's cousin and the Don of Oraka Lane, was a man under great stress. Losing Oraka Lane was a heavy blow. It was not just about money; it was about his power and his standing with the Eiye Zone Heads. These higher leaders expected results. Kene's anger was a fire that burned low, always ready to flare up. He relied on Tony's clear thinking more than he liked to admit. They met often during the week, in different hidden spots. Sometimes it was a quiet corner of a busy market, sometimes a dark, abandoned building. Tony would listen to Kene's complaints, his raw frustration.
"Kelvin dey push us hard, Boss," Tony said one night, looking at a rough map drawn on a piece of paper. "His choking strategy is working. Our boys are getting restless. We need to hit him, but not too soon. We need to make sure our hit counts."
Kene slammed his fist on the table. "I know, I know! But the Zone Heads... dem dey ask questions. Dem want to know why Oraka Lane is dry. Dem want to know why our boys are running scared. This Principal's Cup better work, Tony. This plan better be perfect."
Tony nodded. "It will be, Boss. We just need to stay calm, stay hidden. Let Kelvin think he's winning. Let him get comfortable."
During the week, Kelvin, the Red Scorpion leader, felt a growing sense of victory. His "choking" strategy was working perfectly. His men were taking over more Eiye territories. Drug shipments meant for the Eiye were now in Scorpion hands. Money from the "yahoo yahoo boys" who operated in those areas was flowing into Kelvin's pockets. He looked at his own maps, marking new areas with a satisfied smile. He felt his power growing, reaching out to the larger network controlled by Oga for Lagos.
"Eiye is falling apart," Kelvin told Ovie, his second-in-command, one afternoon. "Kene is a hot head. He makes mistakes. Even his young lieutenant, Tony, can't save him. Tony is smart for a boy, but he is still just a boy. He can't change the tide of this war." Kelvin laughed, a dry, cold sound. He believed he had already won. He saw Tony as a bright but minor player, a pawn in Kene's desperate game. He did not see the true depth of Tony's strategic mind.
Queen Amara, in her quiet hair salon, heard the whispers. Her network of women, seemingly harmless, gathered information from every corner of Warri. Hospital visits for strange injuries, new faces in the markets, more Red Scorpions showing up in neutral zones. "Dem dey infiltrate everywhere," her agent texted. "The money don sweet dem. Dem dey grow fast." Amara was keenly aware of the escalating conflict and the growing tension. She knew a major clash was coming, and she worried about her people being caught in the crossfire. She understood that the Eiye's desperation was growing, and the Scorpions were moving fast. She also knew about Tony Black, Kene's young lieutenant. "He's clever, that one," she thought, "but Kene's rashness will be his undoing. He's stuck playing second fiddle." She saw opportunities for her Amazonian Sisters in the chaos, but she was also wary of the rising danger.
Dogo, the quiet leader of the Black Axe Confraternity, watched from the shadows. His agents were everywhere, noting every weakness. He knew about the Eiye's secret meeting and Kene's impulsive nature. He was fully aware of the escalating turf war and the high probability of a major confrontation. He was careful, patient. "Kene's got that sharp young mind, but he doesn't know how to use it right," Dogo told his advisors. "He's a small piece in a big game. He thinks he can turn the tide with a boy, but clever isn't enough to stop what's coming." Dogo believed in waiting, letting his enemies weaken each other. He drew his own maps, marking future territories. He was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Tony, meanwhile, was busy. His school life was a perfect cover. He attended classes, studied for WAEC and JAMB, and even practiced football with the school team. He watched Blaze, the GCW star player, on the field. Blaze was talented, but Tony knew the whispers about his Red Scorpion connections were true. The Principal's Cup was becoming more than just a game; it was a symbol of the larger war.
In his mind, Tony balanced school books with detailed mental maps of Warri streets. He rehearsed attack routes, thought about escape plans. He focused on Jakpa Road, the Red Scorpions' new money point. He knew it was key. He understood the flow of money from the "yahoo yahoo boys" and drug deals. He knew this was where the Scorpions were weakest, because they were too confident.
He worked with Kene and Godwin, going over the plan again and again. They would use the football match as their shield. The police would be focused on the school, not on the quiet alleys of Jakpa Road. The rival cults would think everyone was lying low. This was their window.
The week passed. Each day brought the Principal's Cup closer. The school buzzed with excitement for the match. Students talked about who would win, who would score. Teachers prepared for the big event. Tony felt the pressure, but also a strange excitement. He was ready. His mind, sharp and unpredictable, was focused on the upcoming night. He knew the true battle would not be on the football field, but in the shadows of Warri. He was counting down the hours. The city held its breath, unaware of the storm Tony was about to unleash. He felt a deep connection to the streets, a place where he truly belonged, a place he was ready to fight for. The comfortable world of his family home felt distant, a place he needed to protect from the darkness he now lived in.