What came next froze every last drop of blood in the Duvan men’s veins.From above, the steady whir of rotor blades thickened into a thunderous roar. Two armored helicopters cut through the night sky, searchlights blazing down like the judgment of heaven itself. Their mounted high-speed machine guns swiveled into place, locking onto Kent’s remaining men. The message was clear—if anyone so much as twitched toward a vehicle, they wouldn’t get ten meters before being turned into shredded meat.The ground rumbled again as one of the tank hatches creaked open. A colonel in full combat fatigues emerged, his face expressionless, every inch the hardened soldier. Pressing a hand to the wireless earpiece on his helmet, his voice boomed like iron.“Secure the area! Not even a bird is allowed to leave this place!”His order was like a war drum.Within seconds, over two thousand fully armed soldiers tightened their encirclement. Boots slammed into the dirt with machine-like precision, the sound re

Elias slammed his fist against the armrest, frustration boiling over. “Rift and Sable… they escaped again! Unscathed, like always!”His outburst hung in the air, sharp and bitter.Lazarus Ortega, however, didn’t so much as twitch. Reclining lazily in his chair, he swirled the wine in his glass and spoke with unnerving calm.“Don’t trouble yourself. They’ve been a thorn for more than just you. They killed Black Monarch—one of my men. And worse, they dared to forbid anyone from running gray businesses in Ironvale City.” His eyes narrowed, the cold gleam within them betraying his fury. “That alone cost me millions. They’ve cut off my earnings, Elias. That is why I came here. My sole purpose this time… is to deal with them personally.”He took a slow sip of his wine, savoring it like a predator savoring blood.“My original plan,” Lazarus went on, his tone dripping with disdain, “was for Duvan to remove Rift and Sable for me. But he proved useless. A dog who barked too loudly and died too

Good Times Natatorium was one of the more well-known swimming centers in Ironvale City.The place was bustling even on a Sunday, families and young couples drifting in and out of the wide glass entrance. Inside, the air was cool and carried the faint scent of chlorine. The facility was massive, with everything from indoor Olympic-sized pools to outdoor leisure pools, children’s shallow pools, and even a few VIP suites that catered to those who preferred privacy.When Jaden arrived with Selena and Mia, the first stop was the swimwear shop inside the complex. Rows of brightly colored swimsuits lined the walls, mannequins on display showing off everything from sleek one-pieces to daring bikinis.Jaden quickly picked out something simple for himself, while Mia darted excitedly between the racks, her little hands pointing at every swimsuit with cartoon characters on them. “Papa, look! I want this one! No, this one!”After a few minutes of indecision, Mia finally settled on a bright pink sw

Jaden, Selena, and Mia left the natatorium in a rush, the easy warmth of their family outing already replaced by an uneasy heaviness.The drive wasn’t long, but as soon as they reached the market, it was clear something was wrong. A large crowd had gathered at the entrance, blocking part of the street. Dozens of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder, craning their necks to see what had happened, some whispering, others openly gossiping.Jaden pulled the car to the side. Selena got out first, clutching Mia tightly in her arms. Jaden followed close behind, his sharp eyes scanning the scene.Two vehicles sat wrecked near the curb. One was a silver Mercedes-Benz E-Class—Jaden recognized it immediately. It was the very car he had bought for Vane. The other was a black Toyota Alphard minivan, its front bumper dented, headlights smashed, the kind of luxury people bragged about owning. Repairs alone would cost a fortune.People loitered around the damaged cars, shaking their heads, pointing finge

Harris Monty smugly waved the slip of paper from the cops in his hand, strutting like he’d just won the world. His voice carried a sharp edge of mockery as he sneered at Jaden and the others.“Well, well. The police have spoken.” He tapped the paper against his palm and smirked. “All the blame falls squarely on you. Now tell me—what else do you have to say?”He leaned forward in his chair, gold chain glinting, eyes narrowing into cold slits. “Cough up my three hundred million right away. Otherwise, you’ll find out exactly why they call me the T-Rex of Ironvale.”Selena’s face drained of all color. Nora whimpered, clutching Vane’s arm tightly. Vane looked like he might collapse on the spot, his knees buckling under the impossible weight of the demand.Jaden, however, didn’t flinch. His gaze hardened, and he frowned at T-Rex’s arrogant tone. His words were calm but laced with steel.“You keep saying the antique is worth two hundred million,” Jaden said evenly. “If that’s true, you won’t