Sebastian Sterling and Phantom faced each other in the now-silent club, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The terrified club-goers pressed themselves against the walls, creating a wide circle around the confrontation.Sebastian casually swirled his whiskey and looked up at Phantom with mild interest. "You know, I'm curious about something. What does that tattoo on your neck mean?"Phantom's face turned red with rage. "Are you fucking kidding me? We're talking about ten million dollars you stole, and you're asking about my tattoo? Are you completely insane?""Just making conversation," Sebastian shrugged. "It's not every day I see such... artistic body work.""You think this is a joke?" Phantom snarled. "You robbed The Ronin and now you want to discuss tattoos? You're either the stupidest man alive or completely out of your mind!"Sebastian took another sip of his whiskey. "Maybe both. So are you going to tell me what it means, or are we just going to stand here glaring at

The Head Hunter sat behind his mahogany desk, his scarred scalp gleaming under the harsh office lights as he processed the disturbing news about Sebastian Sterling. To beat up some random street thugs was one thing, but to easily beat and humiliate a trained member of The Ronin? That was something else entirely.He pressed the intercom button with more force than necessary. "Send in Antonio Ricci and Sal Benedetti. Now."Within minutes, the two operatives entered the penthouse office, their faces still bearing bruises from their encounter with Karvel Cross earlier."I want you to dig up everything you can find on Sebastian Sterling," the Head Hunter commanded. "And I mean everything. Where he came from, who he worked for, what he's capable of. Leave no stone unturned.""Yes, boss," Antonio nodded. "How deep do you want us to go?""Deep enough to find out how one man can take down eleven trained fighters without breaking a sweat. This isn't some lucky amateur we're dealing with."Sal s

Sebastian Sterling stood calmly in the center of the empty club as eight armed operatives surrounded him, their weapons glinting under the strobing lights.The Head Hunter watched from a safe distance, his scarred face twisted with anticipation."You know what your problem is, chrome-dome?" Sebastian said, adjusting his expensive suit jacket. "You think you're running some kind of legitimate operation, but you're just a bunch of thugs trying to extort money from innocent people.""Innocent?" the Head Hunter laughed harshly. "That Romano bitch owes us twelve billion dollars!""Mariya Romano owes me, not you," Sebastian replied coolly. "I don't know what kind of deal you think you have with her, but that woman has been playing games with Leo Romano's money for too long. She owes me... big time, and I'm going to keep collecting until she has nothing else left to give.""Is that so?""That's exactly right. You want to know how I knew when to hit your money transports? I'm the one who mess

Sebastian Sterling did not lie low at all after his dramatic escape from the police. No, it was quite the opposite - all the while he was throwing money around in the city's most exclusive venues, he was also gathering intelligence and paying handsomely for information.That was how he was able to get a lead on where Elena Castellano and Antonio Castellano were being held.The warehouse on the industrial side of town looked abandoned from the outside, but Sebastian could see the subtle signs of activity - fresh tire tracks, cigarette butts near the loading dock, and the faint glow of lights through blackened windows.He approached through the shadows as Giuseppe Romano and Marco Torretti stood guard outside, smoking and laughing about something crude."I'm telling you, Giuseppe," Marco was saying, "that old woman never shuts up. Keeps begging us to let her call her precious daughter.""At least she's not as pathetic as her son," Giuseppe replied with a harsh laugh. "That Antonio kid p

The Head Hunter was super pissed when he heard about Sebastian Sterling's audacious counter-kidnapping. The temerity of this street criminal was beyond comprehension. Forget about recruiting him - he wanted Sebastian dead, and he was going to do it with his bare hands."Find that arrogant bastard," the Head Hunter snarled to his remaining operatives. "I don't care if you have to tear this city apart brick by brick."Sal Benedetti, still nursing his injuries from the warehouse beating, nodded grimly. "We tracked him to the Grand Hotel downtown, boss. He's holed up in the penthouse suite.""Perfect. Let's go pay him a visit."The Head Hunter stormed into the Grand Hotel with Vincent Castellano, Marco Torretti, Giuseppe Romano, Antonio Ricci, and Salvatore Benedetti flanking him. The hotel staff immediately scattered as they recognized the sword tattoos marking them as Ronin operatives.They kicked down the penthouse door, expecting to find Sebastian cowering or preparing for a fight. In