“I have one person in mind that I want to be dead.”The man remained silent briefly. “That service is not part of our legal security operations.” He said.“I did not call your legal office.”Another silence followed.Damien heard a door close on the other end of the call. The man had moved somewhere his employees could not overhear him.The number Damien had called was reserved for assignments that never appeared in company records. By refusing to speak with the legal office, Damien had made it clear that he was not requesting protection or surveillance.He wanted killers, and he was prepared to pay for them.The answer changed the man’s tone. “How many people do you require?”“Eight. Former soldiers. Nobody who becomes frightened when the target fights back, people that know how to kill.”“Is the target protected?”“No.”“Is he Police?”“No.”“Military?”Damien looked towards the empty street below.“He is a former fish seller.”The man sounded confused. “You want eight former soldie

Across the road, Ethan Ashbourne sat inside an ordinary vehicle.He had been waiting for almost an hour.His military uniform had been replaced by dark trousers and a plain jacket. Without the uniform and official vehicle, few people would recognise him as General Victor Ashbourne’s son.His military rank remained active.His authority did not.The red warning inside his military application had not changed.OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY SUSPENDED—COMMAND REVIEW PENDING.Ethan had attended the review at Defence Command, but the officers refused to identify the person who issued the original order.They only confirmed that the authority had come from a level far above his unit.The suspension had occurred shortly after Ethan confronted Simon outside the Ashbourne estate.That timing continued troubling him.Simon had not used a force. He had not threatened Ethan or claimed to know anyone inside the Socerean Defence Command.He had simply looked at him with the calmness of a man who already kne

Simon noticed the reaction.“Thank you,” he said. “That answered my question.”The leader’s expression became colder. “Take his phone.”One of the men stepped forward.Simon did not move.The attacker reached towards his coat, but the leader suddenly raised one hand.“Wait.”Headlights had disappeared several hundred metres behind them.The leader kept his hand raised and looked beyond the vehicle blocking the road.He had noticed the distant headlights earlier but assumed they belonged to a traveller who would continue along the route. However, no engine approached, and no vehicle passed through the junction behind them.The lights had been switched off deliberately.Whoever was driving had probably seen the roadblock and stopped before entering the trap.On an empty road, an unexpected witness could expose the vehicles, the weapons and every man involved in the assassination.The leader stepped away from Simon and narrowed his eyes at the darkness. Through the spaces between the tre

“You are surrounded, but you are still giving orders.”“Your problem is with me.”“Our problem is anyone who can identify us.”Ethan looked towards Simon.The former fish seller showed no fear.Eight armed men controlled the road. Three pistols were visible, and one of them remained pointed directly towards Ethan’s head.Yet Simon stood as calmly as though he had already decided how the confrontation would end.Ethan remembered what happened inside Ward Nine.One touch from Simon had taken away his voice.He remembered the sudden suspension of his military authority and the mysterious command seal attached to the order.Now he watched Simon study the attackers with the cold attention of an experienced commander.Simon slowly removed his coat and placed it across the bonnet of his vehicle.One of the men laughed.“What are you doing?”Simon rolled up his sleeves.Old scars appeared across his arms.“I am giving you one final opportunity,” he answered. “Leave while you are still capable

Simon drove the first man into the second, opening a narrow path between them. He crossed it before either attacker recovered and reached the gunman aiming at Ethan. When the man turned the pistol towards him, Simon struck his wrist and forced the barrel upwards.The pistol fired into the air. Simon twisted the gunman’s arm, drove an elbow into his chest and caught the weapon as it fell from his hand. A kick sent the attacker crashing against Ethan’s vehicle, where he collapsed beside the open door.Simon examined the pistol before offering it to Ethan. “Take it and remain behind the vehicle,” he ordered. “Do not fire unless someone raises another gun and you need to defend yourself.”Ethan accepted the weapon with his uninjured hand and took cover behind the door. Only then did he realise how naturally he had obeyed. He was a major in the Socerean military, yet Simon’s command had felt like an order given by a senior officer during battle.He should have resented it. Instead, knowin