“Sir…” the first guard’s voice broke. “We sincerely apologize. We didn’t know.”The second guard knelt as well, his forehead nearly touching the parking lot floor. “Please don’t fire us, Sir. This job is the only thing that feeds my wife and child at home. If I lose it, my family will have nothing…”“Yes, Sir!” the first guard continued, crying. “Me too. My child is still little. Please, give us a chance.”Without caring about their dignity, both of them crawled closer to Thom.They even kissed the tips of Thom’s shoes repeatedly!Several employees entering and leaving the building stopped in their tracks. The sight of two uniformed security guards kneeling and crying in the parking lot naturally drew attention. Whispers began to spread.“Who is he?”“Why did Director Jian come down personally?”“Why are the guards acting like that?”Jasmine stood stiffly beside Thom. She had not expected the situation to escalate this far. Her heart felt conflicted. She pitied the two guards, yet she

Thom’s old car was still moving even though its rear was destroyed and the hood was billowing thick smoke. Thom pressed the gas pedal deep, forcing the engine to work beyond its normal limits. In the rearview mirror, the black Bentley continued tailing him. “Well,” Thom muttered softly, his breathing steady despite the chaos, “how far is your determination to chase me?” He made a sharp turn to the left, leaving the asphalt road and entering a dirt path toward the suburban forest area. The Impala’s wheels slammed against gravel and potholes. The old suspension creaked loudly, every hole felt down to the bone. The road ahead was uneven, full of holes and protruding tree roots. But Thom kept driving. The smoke from his hood grew thicker, blown by the wind and forming a gray curtain behind him. For a few seconds, the Bentley was briefly covered by the smoke. But the luxury car still emerged from behind it. Not slowing down. Not hesitating. The Bentley leaped over a large hole, it

The black Bentley drove back along the same dirt path, but this time in the opposite direction—returning to the starting point where Thom’s old car lay overturned in the middle of the forest road. Thom was not in a hurry. He drove steadily, as if he had just finished a casual trip, not a deadly duel among the trees. Thin dust drifted behind the car as he slowed down and finally stopped the Bentley a few meters from his overturned and wrecked vehicle. He turned off the engine. The forest fell silent again. The birds that had been startled began to chirp once more, softly, hesitantly. Thom sat for a few seconds without moving. His hand reached toward the dashboard. He opened it calmly, finding a pack of expensive cigarettes inside—Tiger’s. Thom took one out, slipped it between his lips, then stepped out of the car. His shoes touched the damp ground. He brushed off his shoulder and arm, cleaning the fine dust that clung to his clothes from getting out of the overturned car earlier

After making sure the three men were truly dead, Thom lowered both of his pistols. The forest fell silent again, leaving only the faint scent of gunpowder lingering in the air. He walked toward Coffee’s body, crouched down, then reached into the man’s pocket. His hand found the Dodge Charger car key they had used earlier. He stood up, slid both pistols into his waistband, neatly concealed beneath his jacket. Without rushing, he walked toward the black Charger, opened the door, and got into the driver’s seat. The engine started. A low roar sounded steady. Thom turned the wheel and left the forest without looking back.Twenty minutes later, Thom entered downtown. Tall buildings stood in neat rows with reflective glass windows mirroring the late afternoon light. The address given by Red Dragon was located in an elite business district—a place that would never be suspected as the center of illegal operations. The building looked like an ordinary official office. The company logo was e

Fear had completely overtaken Sayed. His fingers trembled as he stared at the two pistols Thom was holding—one pressed lightly against his temple, the other aimed squarely at his chest. His usual arrogance, the kind that ruled an underground empire of killers and dark web contracts, was gone. All that remained was panic. "Okay, sir. I… I will obey your demands," Sayed stammered, his voice cracking. He spun toward his computer and booted it up as fast as his shaking hands would allow, fingers flying across the keyboard in a frenzy. Thom’s gaze never left him, steady and unblinking, keeping him on the razor’s edge of fear. “Delete my name,” Thom said firmly, his tone calm but uncompromising. “Replace it with Anas Rolland. Tell the world of assassination that I will pay three billion USD to anyone who can behead him.” Sayed froze. His eyes widened, mouth opening slightly. “Three… billion?” he whispered, voice quivering. He tried to gather himself, but Thom’s cold stare reminded him t