Ray CityA young man strolled casually through the bustling heart of Ray City, his steps unhurried, his presence quiet but striking. It was Adam. The once rugged warlord now looked completely transformed—his beard was shaved clean, his hair cropped short and neat. Dressed in a simple hoodie, jeans, and a dark backpack slung over one shoulder, he looked like just another face in the crowd. He just left Storm City last night and arrived this morning.He took a long breath, letting the city air fill his lungs.“Ray City... long time no see,” he muttered to himself with a nostalgic half-smile.The president had planned a public celebration—complete with banners, parades, and a national holiday. But Adam had declined all of it. No press. No noise. Not this time. He wasn’t here to bask in applause. He was here to hunt.The Cross Blood Organization—an underground menace he thought he had annihilated—had resurfaced. Stronger. Smarter. More dangerous. And this time, they had dared to kidnap th

Adam sat in silence, the dim light of the suite casting shadows across the room. He was shirtless, a towel draped around his shoulders, beads of water still glistening on his skin from the shower. The TV was on, but muted. His eyes, however, were focused on the city skyline outside the massive glass window.He hadn't slept. His instincts wouldn't let him.Not with what he saw earlier.He kept the room dark intentionally—low profile, quiet, easy to move in. His black shirt and jeans were folded neatly beside his boots. He was ready if anything happened.---Next Door – Ava’s SuiteAva sat curled up on the bed, barefoot, a silk robe draped over her. The phone pressed against her ear trembled slightly from how tightly she held it.“Yes, Grandma… I’m still trying,” she said softly, her voice brittle.The voice on the other end was sharp. Cold.“You’re trying? Is that your excuse now?” her grandmother snapped. “You had one task. Seal the deal with the Dragon Group. It’s been three days!”

The Langston estate stood like something out of a billionaire’s dream. Endless acres of green lawns, a stone driveway polished like glass, and towering marble columns flanking the entrance. Ornate black gates stretched high, guarded by two suited men with military builds and sharp eyes. Adam stood outside the gates, hands in his pockets, wearing a plain but well-fitted shirt. His expression was calm, but beneath the surface, his patience thinned. One of the guards raised a brow. “Can we help you?” “I’m here for the job. Waiter position,” Adam said. The other guard frowned, glanced at a tablet. “That post was already filled this morning.” Adam blinked. “What?” “Yeah. Spot’s taken. You're late.” A flicker of confusion passed across Adam’s face. Did Voss mess up? Everything was confirmed. The timing, the slot—he’d even reviewed the staff schedule. This didn’t make sense. He sighed, about to pull out his phone, when— VROOOM. A sleek white coupe pulled up behind him. The car doo

The next morning in the Langston Mansion. Two people were seen seated in the seating room while everyone else seems to have gone out for their morning routines.Hope Langston, ever polished in silk and pearls, leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. Seated across from her was a bloated man with a belly that stretched against the buttons of his pinstripe suit. His bald head gleamed under the chandelier, and his lips curled in a practiced smile.“Well?” Hope asked, eager, her fingers lightly tapping the porcelain teacup before her.Albert Dane chuckled. “I spoke with the board director of Dragon Group just last night. One word from me, and your daughter will have the contract in hand.”Hope gasped, barely suppressing her delight. “Albert, that’s incredible news. You have no idea how much this means to us.”Albert’s smile deepened, but there was no warmth in it. Only calculation.“It’s not for free, you know.”Hope’s expression didn’t flinch. Instead, she leaned in, smiling like a cat catchin

The room had gone ice-cold.Albert’s pained groan still lingered in the air, his face twisted in disbelief as he cradled his swollen hand. The sound of bones crunching when Adam squeezed down had been loud—too loud. A warning shot that couldn't be ignored.Hope shot to her feet, heels clacking sharply against the polished floor as her face twisted with rage. “How dare you!” she screamed, eyes wide with disbelief. “Are you insane?! You broke his hand!”She pointed a trembling finger at Adam, her voice trembling with fury. “Who do you think you are, laying a hand on Mr. Albert?! Have you lost your mind?!”Ava stood frozen, her eyes wide in shock. She had seen it all—Albert reaching out to stroke her cheek with that smug, greasy grin, and then, in a blink, Adam’s hand locking around his wrist and squeezing until it snapped. She hadn't even had time to react.But now... now she could barely breathe.Her jaw clenched so tight it hurt. Her hands trembled, not with fear, but with confusion—c