“You will pay for this, MERCER!!!” Shouted the man on the ground. He was the head of the criminal party, the Sinner Council. There was a fist-sized hole in his body. “Your whole family will pay for this!” He smirked as he dreamed how the Cross Family would crumble and turn into dust. He wouldn’t be able to see it, but it would come.

“Losers have no right to smile.” Mercer calmly said as he stepped on the man’s head. Like watermelon, it exploded gruesomely.

Scenes like this have been happening for the last week. After the family went their own way to gather intel, they came back and reported what they had found. The Azari Family gave away the man who ordered the assassination of Evelyn and the man who caused Roger’s death. Later Miles learned that more than six families were involved. Although evidence wasn't strong enough to accuse them, did they really need it?

What the Cross family cared about was the truth, not the hard evidence enough to charge those families. They had their own justice system, so after gathering the smallest evidence, they were guilty of the charge, and sentenced to death, as simple as that.

A week ago, the first day of the massacre. Never Cross a Cross, Day 1

In his study, Sirvan Azari was looking at the report floating in front of him gleefully. He made a deal with the unknown person who had requested him to kill Evelyn Cross. At first, he wasn’t willing to risk everything he built like that, but the mysterious person gave him a guarantee that the situation was under their control, and Mercer and Malcolm Cross wouldn’t be there.

Of course, these were not enough for him to do that. He told the mysterious person that he would only act after making sure two devils were not there. And he would only kill Evelyn Cross and leave. To his surprise, the mysterious person accepted his terms. So, he acted. He appeared on the battlefield like a ghost and took the life of Roger the Surgeon. He had no time to attack again with Kenway was on him, so he ditched the latter and retreated from the battlefield.

Boy, was that a wise decision. Mercer, freaking, Cross appeared from the sky and killed everyone on the battlefield. If he chose to stay a little longer, he would be dead by now. At first, he was just happy to escape with his life, but later, he realized he failed to finish his task, thus he wouldn’t get what he was promised by the mysterious person. But to his surprise, that person had sent him the documents he was searching for all this time. He struck gold.

“Hehe, no one knows it was me. At worst, I will sacrifice one of my men and be done with—”

Before he could finish his sentence, a blade cut through his neck. He dropped dead on the table.

Never Cross a Cross, Day 2

Six families had their key members assassinated and their safes had been plundered. With the assassination of the Sirvan Azari, all eyes turned to Azari Family. But the day before, all the higher-ups of the Azari Family closed themselves into a meeting room and discussed important things. The meeting was recorded by a camera with an authentication code, and the rest of the members weren’t strong enough to assassinate Sirvan Azari or others in six families.

Because of the recent incidents, eyes turned to Cross Family, but no one could blame them. By pointing them to the assassinations, these seven families would also point themselves. After all, they claimed to be innocent.

Never Cross a Cross, Day 3

The Cross-Faction of the army gathered under Merlin Cross and destroyed the Bach Family Mansion. General Tian and General Strankov learned the news earlier thus went to stop the army. But Mercer appeared with enough evidence to prove the Bach family's sins.

Bach's family, by clubbing together with criminal parties, organized an attack on a General’s properties. After killing and plundering soldiers of Unity, they even tried to assassinate the head scientist of the nation. He called the Assembly and held the court in front of the Bach Compound. After presenting the evidence gathered super illegally, Two generals and Mother AI found the family guilty. With it, Bach Family was sentenced to be disbanded and those directly involved would be sent to jail with all their properties confiscated after embursing Cross Family’s loss, and those directly involved would be executed on the spot.

Never Cross a Cross, Day 4

Many criminal organizations somehow involved in this matter unearthed and their bases destroyed. It wasn’t like the army didn’t know where these rats were hiding. But going underground and fighting them there was a risk the army couldn't take. There were traps everywhere, and the foundation of the capital lay there. If the damage was too big, it could hurt innocent people.

So how could Cross Family attack this time? Because they used all the cards they were holding against some parties hiding underground. With their help, they were able to navigate underground and strike them unexpectedly. After all, the Army didn’t want to corner the beast. If they were to try to purge all evil, they would just hide in Portal World and kill their heirs.

The best course of action was keeping them under control and killing a few of them from time to time so they could remind them who the boss was. But this was different. With its authority challenged, Mercer stepped out himself and killed hundreds of criminals. His goal was to remind them what the name Cruel Heart meant.

Never Cross a Cross, Day 5

“What do we know about the mastermind of this operation?” Mercer looked at everyone in the room. But no one had any information on that. “Miles?” He looked at his youngest grandson he once despised more than anything. Last week, Miles brought out much valuable information with evidence. The fall of the Bach family, single-handedly organized by him. Without him, many criminals would escape too. Also, the Azari family helped them out thanks to Miles as well. The recent developments and then news of him using energy while being only Grace-Rank, High-Tier, allowed Mercer to see his grandson in a new light.

“Sorry, I am as lost as you are. If there isn’t an organization we have never ever heard of before, then it must be a family with a stronger intelligence network than ours.” Miles shook his head. He had a few ideas about who they might be, but it wasn’t time for it yet.

“Okay, let’s finish this tomorrow.”

Never Cross a Cross, Day 6

The last involved parties were purged by the Cross army and executed on the spot. The news was too shocking, no one knew what to say. The news, TV stations, online video sites, and forums were all discussing this event fervently.

“God purged the Earth in 6 days, and rested on the 7th!”

Titles similar to this were everywhere on Uninet. Some were condemning Cross Family while some were supporting. Just when one side was at advantage, video footage of Cross-Faction killing walking dead and closing portals was appearing, and when they were at advantage, the footage of Cross Soldiers killing members of the Bach family was appearing. The uninet was divided in two, but Cross Family couldn’t care less.

They avenged people who died for them and saved the kidnapped scientist. Killed the people who wanted to harm them, and reminded everyone what their last name meant. Never, ever cross a Cross.