"Were you folks just mugged by street bandits?" the old man asked, his expression turning deeply concerned. "The perimeter around this sector is notorious for highway robberies."Gopar and Samson locked eyes briefly; they had no operational alternative but to play along with the lie. Disclosing that they were actively being hunted by an execution crew would only incite panic and breed unnecessary suspicion."Yes, Sir. We were cornered by bandits," Gopar answered smoothly. "Our relative here is severely injured and requires immediate medical attention at a clinic."The elderly stall owner gasped, his initial suspicion instantaneously melting into a mixture of panic and profound pity."Good heavens, where did the ambush happen? Thank God you all made it out alive!" he exclaimed, frantically placing the glass he was wiping onto the counter. His gaze drifted to Itari’s limp, unresponsive frame secured against Samson’s back, before shifting to the blood-smeared features of Samson and Gopar

The roaring engines of several high-end vehicles abruptly shattered the dawn silence outside the clinic once more. The sharp screech of tires grinding against interlocking concrete paving blocks echoed close by, indicating the convoy had dropped anchor directly in front of the main lobby.Staged outside, Bejo went rigid, a flicker of surprise and confusion crossing his features. Yet, he stood his ground, systematically drawing his pistol from the inner lining of his leather jacket."I'm not backing down a single inch," he muttered under his breath, preparing for an imminent breach.Inside the ER, the operational tension instantly doubled. Samson instinctively shifted his weight, placing his broad frame as a human shield in front of Rose and Itari’s gurney, his right hand already gripping the firearm hidden beneath his tactical jacket. Across the room, Gopar surged to his feet, unholstering his weapon and drawing a gasp of shock from the nearby nurse. Gopar braced for the absolute wors

"Daddy!" Bianca ran toward Samson, throwing her arms around his waist. "Daddy, why are your clothes so wet? Did you get caught in the rain? But it’s not raining out, is it?" she asked, pulling back to look up at him with a bewildered expression."Um, yeah, Daddy got caught in a sudden downpour, Bianca," Samson replied, entirely unwilling to expose her to the harsh truth."Wait, what's wrong with the ladies? And Big Brother Gopar's head is bleeding!" she gasped in sudden alarm."Ah, this? I just bumped into something," Gopar chuckled weakly."Hmph, you probably tripped and fell because you're carrying too much weight," Bianca chimed in, her characteristically blunt, outspoken nature completely unfazed by the situation.Samson smiled faintly, kneeling down. "How was your day with Ucok?""All good! Everything is completely under control," Bianca giggled."She took her medication and ate her meals right on schedule, Boss," Ucok reported, stepping forward. Then, taking note of everyone's b

The moment he stepped out into the silent corridor, the faint smile on Samson’s face instantly vanished, replaced by hardened features. He crossed his arms and leaned against the cold wall directly beside Bianca’s door, which he had deliberately left slightly ajar.Perhaps this development was a blessing in disguise; Samson no longer had to maintain a fabrication. The girl now knew he wasn't her biological father, yet she chose to remain by his side because he represented absolute security. He would continue to shield her from her actual father, Andrew, until her amnesia fully resolved.Samson glanced down at his tactical wristwatch. It was 3:15 AM. The compounding fatigue and the sharp sting from the deep bruises sustained during the previous clashes began to assert themselves, yet his mind flatly refused to rest. Various tactical permutations and worst-case scenarios systematically organized themselves in his head.Samson walked toward the living room, approaching Ucok, who was deep

Meanwhile, at a secluded minor harbor, a small crew was frantically loading assets into a weathered fishing vessel."Damn it, why is this taking so long? Get everything onboard now!" Baskoro barked, his fingers tightly clamped around a heavy black briefcase."I need to clear this country immediately!" he muttered, struggling to suppress his escalating rage. "That piece of trash Richard... he actually aligned himself with Rose!""Maintain your composure, sir. This is a black-market extraction route; if we panic, we risk alerting the local residents," countered a man in a grime-streaked t-shirt who was serving as his escape broker. He gestured toward a motorized fishing boat swaying unstable against the edge of a desolate wooden pier.Baskoro let out a harsh grunt. He yanked the brim of his cap lower, attempting to mask his features from a few local fishermen passing by with baskets of fish.Deep within his chest, a volatile mixture of fury and terror collided. He had just received a cr