Madam Yosie snorted softly, clearly unimpressed by Thom’s earlier statement. She waved her hand as if brushing away something unimportant.“Ah, I do not believe you,” she said coldly. “Even if you really can buy a house, I am sure it will only be a cheap house, or another small house. It would be pointless anyway.”Her words pressed down on the atmosphere again. No one responded right away, until Mr. Edmund finally let out a sigh and spoke. “Yosie, he will never be able to buy your dream house. He is only a soldier who retired early. So do not set your expectations too high. Whether he buys a big house or a small one, we will see later.”Mr. Edmund’s tone sounded like he was trying to mediate, but to Jasmine, those words felt even more bitter. It was as if whatever Thom did from the beginning had already been placed in a position where it would never be enough.Thom only smiled briefly. A thin smile that quickly faded, with no attempt to defend himself. He said nothing more. Instead,

Thom moved like a veteran hunter who had spent half his life reading tracks and human mistakes. He did not run blindly. Every step was measured, every second in his mind turning into cold and precise calculations.He bent down briefly at the edge of the road, his eyes scanning the asphalt. The tire marks of the black Jeep were still clear, slightly pulling to the left when the vehicle accelerated too fast. The tire pressure was uneven. The driver was nervous.Thom calculated the time since the kidnapping, the average speed of the vehicle, then drew the route in his head.They would not choose the main road. They would choose a quiet road. A road that gave the illusion of control, a place where they felt they could manage everything without witnesses. And that was exactly where their first mistake lay.Thom increased his pace, his body gliding past sidewalks, narrow alleys, and dirt paths without hesitation. He did not need to ask for directions. His instinct guided him to the most log

Thom carried Shenina back to the park bench where Jasmine was waiting. His steps were calm, his face flat just like before he left, as if nothing had happened in the last ten minutes.Jasmine stood up in panic. “What happened to Shenina?” she asked quickly, her eyes scanning the small face. “Did she faint? What happened to her?”Thom stopped right in front of the bench. He adjusted Shenina in his arms, making sure the child’s head rested comfortably against his chest.“Do not panic,” he said calmly. “She is just asleep. She is exhausted from a long journey.”Jasmine blinked. “A long journey?”Without thinking, she raised her hand and touched her own forehead, which still felt cold from anxious sweat. Inside her mind, her thoughts spun in confusion. Thom had been gone for less than ten minutes. She clearly remembered the moment he disappeared from her sight, then returned with Shenina in his arms. What long journey was he talking about?Something did not make sense. Too many pieces wer

Frank was truly shocked. His body felt stiff, as if the floor of the house had suddenly turned into ice that trapped his feet. Inside his head, his thoughts spun wildly, crashing into each other without giving any reasonable answer. Did his uncle fail to kill Thom? Or had he not killed him at all? That was impossible. Romi himself had said with confidence that within one hour, Thom would be dead. Frank had even calculated it carefully. Since his uncle contacted him, more than two full hours had passed. Two hours that should have been more than enough to end a life. And now, Thom was sitting calmly in front of him, alive, unharmed, even chewing on a snack with a relaxed expression.Frank’s daze broke when Thom’s voice sounded again, light yet piercing. “You look very surprised to see me,” Thom said while leaning back against the chair. “As if we have not seen each other for a long time. Or as if this is the first time you are seeing me.” That faint smile did not leave his face.“Didn’t

However, the arrival of Thom and Red Dragon filled the whole room with whispers. Many eyes narrowed, trying to understand one simple thing that felt impossible. How did they get in? The two guards outside were known as Romi’s guard dogs, brutal and never letting anyone pass without permission.The big man who had stepped forward crossed his arms over his chest. His muscles were tight under his leather vest. “My name is Harmos,” he said in a heavy voice. “I am Romi’s right hand.”Some people behind him smiled thinly, a few raised their glasses as if greeting the announcement. Harmos looked at Thom and Red Dragon the same way someone would look at two rats that had wandered into a lion’s cage.“Are you two cops?” Harmos asked, then gave a rough laugh before they could answer. “You know we can buy the police in this city, right?” He spat lightly on the floor, then smiled in mockery. “Do you need money? If you do, lick my shoe first.”Laughter burst around them. The big men laughed loudly