Jaden stopped in front of Dusk.The once-arrogant elder no longer looked human in his fear. His knees slammed into the floor as he kowtowed repeatedly, forehead striking the marble until blood smeared the surface.“Please—please, Master!” Dusk cried, his voice breaking. “Forgive me! I swear on my life I will sever all ties with the Thornfells! I will disappear! I will never work for them again!”Jaden looked down at him as one might look at filth beneath their boots.“You’ve worked with them for years,” Jaden said slowly. “You’ve enforced their will. Killed for them. Buried bodies. Silenced families.”His eyes hardened.“And now you want repentance?”Dusk’s shoulders shook. “I know I’ve sinned! I know I deserve death! But please—just this once—spare me! I’ll do anything!”Jaden crouched, bringing himself eye-level with the trembling man.“Anything?” he asked calmly.“Yes! Anything!” Dusk nodded frantically, sweat pouring down his face.Jaden straightened.“Then give me a reason to let

“Let go of him!” Julie cried out as she grabbed Bob’s arm, trying to pull him away from her father.Bob turned slowly, annoyance flickering across his face.“…Tsk.”With a careless shove, he flung her aside.Julie hit the ground hard, her backpack sliding off her shoulder as she cried out in pain.“Julie!” Marvin screamed.Before she could scramble back up, two of the men lunged forward and grabbed her arms, yanking her to her feet.“Hey—let me go!” Julie struggled wildly, fear flooding her eyes.Marvin’s heart shattered.“Please!” he begged, his voice cracking as he fell back to his knees. “Leave her out of this! She has nothing to do with it—she’s just a child! I’ll do anything, please!”The men didn’t answer immediately.They only stared.Slow, disgusting grins spread across their faces. One of them licked his lips openly, his eyes roaming over Julie like she was prey.“Heh… look at her,” one muttered. “Didn’t know you had something this ripe at home, old man.”Another chuckled. “Y

Bob staggered backward, his face pale, sweat dripping down his temple. His broken wrists throbbed violently as he stared at the young man before him like he was staring at a ghost.“W-who…” Bob swallowed hard. “What the hell are you?”Jaden finally turned his full attention to him.“Come here,” he said.Just two words. As though Bob was merely a child.Bob froze for a second—then burst into ugly laughter.“Hahaha… you think you’re something special?” he sneered, spitting blood to the side. “You beat a few street dogs and now you’re acting like a god?”He shook his head, eyes filled with venom.“Let me tell you something, kid. No matter how strong you think you are, there’s always someone stronger. Even if you can fight, there’s someone that can easily break your bones!”Jaden’s gaze didn’t waver.“This is your last chance,” he said calmly. “Come here.”Bob’s lips curled into a cruel grin.“Heh… you really don’t know who you’re messing with.”He lifted his chin arrogantly despite his i

“Oh poor Marvin…”“I heard once you cross Crusher Kane, there’s no coming back.”“How did he end up on Kane’s bad side?”“That man scares even the police…”“Once Kane shows up, it’s over.”Whispers rippled through the crowd like a funeral chant. Faces were pale, voices hushed. Some shook their heads in pity, others already mourning Marvin as if he were dead.Marvin remained on his knees, forehead pressed to the ground, his body trembling.Crusher Kane took a slow drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing bright before he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. His single visible eye slid past Marvin and locked onto Jaden.“So you’re the loud one,” Kane said lazily. “I’ll give you a chance.”He flicked ash to the ground.“Kowtow. Pay the two million dollars. I might let you crawl away alive.”The street went silent.Julie clutched Marvin’s sleeve, shaking.“Please…” she whispered.Then—Jaden spoke.“I’ll spare your life,” he said calmly, “if you kneel down, apologize to me, and compensate me

Bob staggered backward, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. One of his teeth clattered onto the pavement.“K–King?” he coughed, staring at Kane in disbelief. “What do you mean, brother Kane? He’s just a regular guy who can fight!”Kane’s face twisted in fury and terror.“Stop spitting more trash!” he roared.Before Bob could react, Kane stepped forward and smashed his fist into Bob’s face again—once, twice—each blow heavier than the last. Bob collapsed with a cry, covering his head as Kane continued to rain punches on him like a madman.The crowd erupted.“What’s wrong with Kane?!”“Why is he beating his own man?”“Did he lose his mind?”Julie clutched Marvin’s arm, her voice shaking.“Dad… why is he doing this?”Marvin stared, stunned, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.“This… this doesn’t make sense…”Kane finally stopped, panting heavily. He turned around abruptly and shouted at the top of his lungs.“DROP YOUR WEAPONS!”His men froze.“NOW!” Kane screamed, veins bul