22The Sea King Room had never felt so suffocating. The once-loud, arrogant voices of Nie Mitchell, Kevin Steel, and Heather Reed were now mute, replaced by the sharp tension that choked the air.Jack Sullivan sat coldly on the sofa, legs crossed, his eyes sharp as knives.Big Tom, once brimming with cocky arrogance, was now shivering like a dog caught in a storm. His men stood frozen, awaiting orders, but even they sensed that the tides had turned.And in the far corner of the room, Nie, Kevin, and Heather were pressed against the wall, their backs stiff, faces drained of color.The man they had mocked.The man they had ridiculed.The moment the door slammed shut behind them, Big Tom let out a heavy breath.Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his eyes snapped back to Emma Brooks.For the first time since he entered the room, he hesitated.Jack noticed.He turned to Emma and said, “Go wait outside.”Emma frowned, crossing her arms. “I’m not leaving you here.”Jack sighed. “You

24Nie Mitchell, Kevin Steel, and Heather Reed?They were silent in the corner, their arrogance long buried under terror and humiliation.But then—Logan Lewis spoke.His voice was hesitant, but filled with curiosity.“Mr. Sullivan,” he began slowly, choosing his words carefully, “do you… know someone called The Ghost?”The moment those words left his mouth, Big Cobra flinched hard.One of his men audibly gasped, while another’s face paled like he had just seen a demon.Nie Mitchell stiffened, glancing between them, confused. “Who the hell is The Ghost?”Big Cobra, his forehead now dripping with sweat, swallowed hard before speaking.“The Ghost…” he muttered, his voice lower than before, “…is not someone you joke about.”Heather Reed felt her stomach twist.She had never heard of The Ghost before, but if Big Cobra—a man who had no problem smashing bottles over people’s heads—was scared, then it had to be something serious.Logan continued, his voice steady.“He’s a dangerous martial art

The pre-dawn mist clung to Crystal Lake like a silken shroud, broken only by Jack's measured footsteps as he approached the water's edge. At 3 AM, the world held a different kind of silence—expectant, ancient, perfect for cultivation.Time to see if my meridians have truly healed, Jack thought, settling into a cross-legged position by the shore. The smooth pebbles beneath him were still cool from the night air.He had just begun to regulate his breathing when the sound of footsteps interrupted his concentration. Two figures emerged from the mist—a young woman in expensive training clothes and an elderly man who moved with carefully controlled movements.Charlotte Shaw, Jack recognized his mountaintop neighbor. And that must be Richard Shaw, the legendary martial arts master."Excuse me," Charlotte's sharp voice cut through the morning stillness. "This area is occupied. You'll need to leave."Jack remained motionless, his eyes closed in meditation. The lake's surface rippled gently in t

The hospital corridor echoed with the sounds of violence as Jack approached the emergency wing. Through the doorway, he could see Mike Johnson sprawled on the floor, blood trickling from his nose while Henry Johnson cowered in the corner.The ten elite soldiers Jack had assigned stood at attention around Lisa's bed, their faces impassive as they followed their orders to the letter—protect Lisa, and only Lisa.Black Viper, a lean man with snake-like movements, circled Mike like a predator toying with wounded prey. His leather jacket creaked as he crouched down."Look at you," Black Viper sneered, prodding Mike with his boot. "Squirming around like a worm in the dirt. Where's that big mouth now, huh?"Some lessons need to be learned the hard way, Jack thought, observing from the doorway.Henry stumbled forward, hands raised pleadingly. "Please, we just need more time!""Time?" Black Viper laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. "You had plenty of time, old rat. Your son borrowed twenty gran

Black Viper's face contorted with rage as he pointed at Jack. "Kill this arrogant bastard!"His men charged forward, their boots squeaking on the hospital floor. Jack raised a hand, signaling his hidden soldiers to stay back. Let's show them the difference between thugs and warriors.The first attacker swung a wild punch. Jack stepped aside with casual grace, redirecting the man's momentum into a wall. The second and third rushed him together—one wielding brass knuckles, the other a switchblade.Three seconds later, they joined their friend on the floor.The remaining gangsters hesitated, looking between their groaning companions and Jack's relaxed stance."Well?" Jack asked pleasantly. "Anyone else want to try?"They rushed him all at once. The next ten seconds were a symphony of precise violence—bodies flying, joints cracking, pained screams echoing off sterile walls. When the dust settled, Black Viper stood alone, surrounded by his moaning men.Jack calmly walked to the water dispe