"I know who he is," Zed finally said, his voice low and even."I know exactly who he is. And I know he's a Warlord."Nick blinked, stunned by how calm Zed remained."Look," Nick growled, lowering his voice slightly but not his intensity, "I don't know why you did what you did, and frankly, I don't care.All I know is that we—Mia and I—never asked for your help.Mia didn't ask you to help her, and neither did I.You did this all on your own.So if Salazar comes for blood—and he will—you’re on your own.We won't get dragged down with you.""I know that," Zed replied coldly."I’ll take responsibility for my own actions. I won’t drag anyone else into this."Nick stared at him, disbelief and anger battling for dominance on his face.What’s wrong with this guy? he thought. Why is he so damn calm? Does he even understand the kind of monster he just poked?"It’s clear you don’t know what kind of mess you’re in," Nick hissed bitterly."You have no idea what a Warlord can do—that’s the only rea

Zed exited the lounge and made his way out of the building. As he stepped outside, he noticed that the hotel, which was once lively and bustling with people, was now almost empty. Most of the guests had already left after completing their interviews, while the ones who remained were either yet to be interviewed or had already been rejected and were now lingering around, hoping to plead for a second chance — or perhaps to bribe someone after the official proceedings had ended.Zed chose not to pay attention to any of them. Without sparing a second glance, he simply walked across the wide lobby, pushed through the heavy glass doors, and made his way towards his car parked a few meters away. He pressed the unlock button on his key fob, heard the soft beep, and pulled the car door open. Just as he was about to step inside, a voice called out from behind him."I thought you had already left," the voice said.Zed turned around slowly, his expression calm and unreadable. Standing a short dis

The deafening gunshot echoed in the sterile room. Salazar pulled the trigger without hesitation, sending a bullet tearing through the man’s left eye. Blood and brain matter splattered grotesquely across the walls and floor as the man collapsed instantly, dead before his body even hit the ground.The nurses screamed, several of them turning away and shielding their eyes, unable to bear the gruesome scene. One nurse dropped the tray she was carrying, the metallic clang lost under the chaos.Doctor Anderson, however, remained still. His face was an impassive mask, although the beads of sweat glistening on his forehead betrayed his fear. He struggled to maintain his composure, knowing any sudden movement could make him the next target.The two remaining guards panicked, their faces draining of color. Cold sweat poured down their temples, their breaths coming in shallow gasps.Without mercy, Salazar shifted his aim toward the second man. His finger tightened on the trigger again."Please..

Jack scoffed. “That’s a lie. I know Mike’s got money, but he doesn’t have what mine does.”Kevin’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the name of this so-called ‘mysterious gifter’ anyway? I noticed you’ve been hiding his face and name ever since that night. Only a handful of your moderators seem to know who he is, and the moment they mentioned his name during the stream, you muted them. Why are you so desperate to keep him hidden, Jack?”“That’s none of your business. Let’s just get this over with,” Jack replied curtly, clicking a button on his keyboard. Instantly, the description of the game appeared on screen.---Game Information:Whenever either streamer receives gifts from viewers, a counter above their avatar increases. There are cheap gifts and expensive ones. A cheap gift will only cause a minor increase in the score, while an expensive one gives a significant boost. When the timer runs out, the streamer with the highest score wins the match.---“All right, boys—game on,” Jack declared.

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!Lucas's fingers danced across his keyboard as he typed swiftly, his gaze locked on the computer screen. His entire shirt was now drenched in sweat, and cold droplets trickled down his face, falling to the floor. His expression was etched with both worry and fear, and his fingers trembled as they moved."No... no... no..." he muttered under his breath.The guards standing behind him watched silently, their eyes narrowed as they observed his nervous movements. Though none of them spoke, it was clear they sensed something had gone wrong.The entrance door slid open, and heavy footsteps echoed once again as Santiago strode into the room. He moved with purpose toward Lucas and halted directly behind him."How's it going? Update me," Santiago demanded, his voice deep and firm.Lucas paused his frantic typing and raised his right hand, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. He let out a heavy sigh before slowly shifting his gaze to Santiago."The