Eclad and Red Dragon stepped out of the black car with unwavering determination. Each of them carried four firearms. Two long rifles were slung over their shoulders, while two pistols were concealed behind their waists.A light rain continued to fall as they moved away from the vehicle.Although there were only two of them, they advanced like elite warriors who had survived hundreds of battles. Their movements were silent and precise, blending seamlessly with the shadows.Without exchanging a word, they split up. Years of training had enabled them to coordinate without speaking.Red Dragon moved to the left flank while Eclad took the right.More than one hundred Golden Circle mercenaries surrounded Thom Haye's mansion. The soldiers stood ready with heavy weapons and tactical shields.Yet these two veterans slipped through the perimeter like ghosts.Eclad raised one of his sniper rifles. He took careful aim and fired a single round into the air near the enemy line.BAANG!The sharp cra

The heavy rain continued to pour down, soaking the mansion grounds even more.Thom Haye stood in the middle of the darkness, his black suit dripping with rainwater mixed with mud.His voice thundered through the night as he shouted with commanding authority.“I’m here!”Captain Jang, the commander of the Golden Circle forces, immediately turned around. His eyes widened with anger and confusion. Out of the one hundred elite soldiers he had brought tonight, only about sixty remained. The rest lay sprawled in the mud, screaming in pain after being hit by precise gunfire from an unexpected direction.Yet only two people had caused this chaos, and Captain Jang did not even know who they were.“There he is!” Captain Jang shouted with a voice full of hatred. He stared at Thom like a starving beast, his scar-covered face looking even more terrifying under the flashlight beams. “Throw the grenades! Charge him! Kill that bastard right now!”Several mercenaries immediately threw grenades toward

Inside the narrow, damp hole in the ground, Thom and Eclad sat shoulder to shoulder. The heavy rain continued to pour relentlessly above them, making the air feel even more suffocating. Every now and then, the sound of enemy footsteps echoed nearby, keeping both men on high alert.Thom turned toward Eclad in the darkness. Even though he could barely see him, he could still feel the presence of his old friend.“You’re too sweet, you know that?” Thom whispered with a half-joking tone. “You’re reminding me of our struggles on the battlefield years ago. Back then, we used to hide like this all the time, waiting for the enemy to pass by.”Eclad nodded slightly. "It was easier back then. We were still young and stupid.”A faint smile appeared on Thom’s face. He looked carefully at the rifle in Eclad’s hands. He recognized the weapon immediately. It was the special sniper rifle he had given Eclad as a gift when his friend decided to retire early from the military.“Thank you, Eclad,” Thom sa

Four hours later, in Valemoor Village.The black car driven by Red Dragon slowly entered the village. Small lights from the villagers’ homes welcomed them into the cold midnight air.Red Dragon was already very familiar with the people of this village. Ever since he and Thom had provided large amounts of aid—food, medicine, farming equipment, and other necessities—the village had no longer suffered from hunger.As soon as the vehicle stopped in the village square, dozens of villagers emerged from their homes. Their faces were filled with warmth and gratitude. Small children ran forward while the elders greeted them with broad smiles.Red Dragon stepped out first. Facing the villagers respectfully, he spoke in a clear voice.“Everyone... this is the family of Mr. Thom Haye. He is currently facing a serious crisis. He was betrayed by his own country while trying to eliminate a corrupt organization.”“As Mr. Thom’s representative, I am asking you to allow them to stay in this village tem

Inside Elias’s rickety little hut, the dim glow of an oil lamp illuminated the cramped room. There was only one main bedroom with a rough wooden floor and two thin straw mattresses. The cold mountain night air seeped through the gaps in the wooden walls, bringing a piercing chill. Jasmine sat on the floor with Benny, while Aunty Uly and Shenina had been entrusted to stay at another villager’s house that was more comfortable and spacious. Jasmine chose to stay here because she wanted to be closer to Elias—Thom’s younger brother, whom she had only known through stories until now.Red Dragon did not join them to rest. According to the last agreement he had made with Thom before their earpiece connection was cut off in the middle of the battle, he waited at the border gate of Valemoor. Sitting atop a large rock, his eyes never left the dark road leading to the village. The night wind blew against his black jacket, but he remained alert, ready to welcome Thom and Eclad whenever they ar