Albeit unwilling, the audience listened to the man's orders to avoid getting sent to an early grave as they sat back in their seats while hoping that they would survive whatever was about to happen. Sara put a hand over her mouth as she tried, with no success, to calm her rapidly beating heart.Something was wrong, and whatever it was, it didn't seem like something small. Meanwhile, Alistair had just finished using the bathroom when he got a call from Colonel Taylor.“Colonel, is there a problem?” Alistair asked. “Unfortunately, yes. I just received credible Intel that a terrorist group has been active in Haven and is currently recruiting local criminals in the city to cause chaos.”“A terrorist group? How did that even happen?” Alistair asked.“We have reason to believe it might be the people responsible for the human trafficking ring here in the southern region. They might be trying to use this to draw attention away from them and stop the investigation currently taking place.”A

Colonel Taylor walked directly toward Sara, his face grim. "Miss Connor, we have isolated the getaway van's signal. Sir Reid intentionally drew their leader's focus to prevent a mass execution inside the hall."Sara’s hands trembled against her emerald dress, but her gaze remained firm. "He did it to protect everyone. Please... bring him back."“Of course, ma'am. We'll do our best.” Taylor said, even though he had a feeling he wouldn't need to rescue Alistair.If anyone needed rescuing, it would be those that dared to kidnap him. Two miles away, in an abandoned industrial warehouse on the outskirts of Haven, the transport van skidded to a halt.Garret shoved Alistair out of the rear doors. "Get up, trash. Welcome to your final stop."The five gang members formed a perimeter around Alistair, their weapons raised.Garret stepped forward, holding the remote detonator in his hand with a sadistic, triumphant grin."Any last words before I put a bullet in your head?" Garret taunted, restin

“I wasn't going to leave without knowing you were safe,” Sara said softly, looking back up into his golden eyes. “Even if we are just friends now… I care about you, Alistair. I won't turn my back on you again.”Alistair looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable beneath the soft glow of the Opera House chandeliers.“It is past midnight, Sara,” Alistair remarked calmly, glancing toward the glass exit where his car was parked outside. “Come. I will drive you back to the Connor manor.”The ride back to the Connor manor was quiet, save for the soft purr of the engine and the distant city lights flickering through the windows.Sara clutched Alistair’s jacket tightly around her shoulders, taking comfort in his steady presence.As they turned onto the winding, secluded road leading toward the Connor estate, three black SUVs suddenly swerved out from an intersecting alleyway, blocking the road entirely.Before Alistair could slam the brakes, two more vehicles boxed them in fro

Alistair didn't even bother responding as he kept his eyes on the mercenary leader.“Seems like you are itching for a bullet.” The mercenary leader coldly remarked. “You'd best get out of here before I decide to scratch that itch.”“And if I don't?”The mercenary leader sneered, raising his sidearm toward the doorway. "Then I'll send you on your merry way!"Before the sentence could finish leaving his throat, Alistair crossed the threshold.He didn't draw a weapon.He didn't even drop his hands into a guard stance.He simply walked into the grand foyer, his golden eyes sweeping over the six armed men with an absolute, lethal coldness that made the room’s temperature plummet."Kill him!" the leader ordered.Two mercenaries raised their submachine guns, but Alistair moved faster than human vision could track.Closing the distance in a fraction of a second, he caught the barrel of the first rifle, tearing it cleanly from the thug's grip and slamming the stock upward into his jaw.The man

Without a second thought, Long Chen downed the broth in several desperate gulps.Zhao Chen watched in silent, cold triumph as the empty bowl clattered onto the nightstand."Get out," Long Chen grunted, leaning back against the pillows as a sudden, intense heat began to spread through his stomach. "I need to rest.""Of course, Brother Long," Zhao Chen said with a polite bow, backing out of the room and closing the door softly behind him. "Rest well. Your sacrifice will prove very useful to us."Outside the room, Zhao Chen checked his pocket watch.The poison was already at work.By noon, the righteous sects would have their perfect martyr—and Alistair Reid would have the full, unbridled wrath of the Heavenly King Martial Sect descending upon his head.Meanwhile, over at Alistair's hillside villa, Alistair had just finished his morning meditation.Taking out his cellphone, he dialled Adam's number.It rang only twice before Adam picked up. “Master Reid.”“The incident at the Haven Oper