2026-07-30 10:03:05The private elevator came to a smooth stop with a soft chime.
Warm lighting reflected off polished marble floors, while handcrafted walnut panels lined the walls. A crystal chandelier hung above the entrance, casting a gentle glow over the spacious living area beyond. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the entire suite, offering a breathtaking view of the city's glittering skyline. A grand piano occupied one corner of the room, and beyond it lay a private office, a formal dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, and several elegantly furnished bedrooms.
It was less a hotel suite than a luxurious penthouse.
Hayes stepped aside with a respectful smile.
"Welcome to the Presidential Suite, Mr. Bolt. If there's anything you require, simply let us know."
Raiden's eyes barely lingered on the room. Instead, he turned around immediately.
"Mr. Hayes."
Hayes sensed the urgency in his voice.
"Yes, sir?"
"I need your help finding someone."
Hayes nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
Raiden unlocked his phone and opened a photograph before handing it over. The picture showed a middle-aged man with a calm expression, dressed in a simple black suit.
"His name is Gerard Hood. He has worked for my family for many years."
Hayes studied the photograph carefully.
"What happened to him?"
"He was with me when we were attacked."
Raiden's voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable heaviness beneath it.
"He was seriously injured. When I regained consciousness, he was gone."
Hayes looked back at the photograph.
"Have you been able to reach him?"
"I've called him more times than I can count."
Raiden held up his phone.
"His phone has been unreachable every single time."
Hayes returned the phone.
"Then we shouldn't waste any more time. I'll have our security department circulate his photograph immediately. We maintain direct contacts with hospitals, emergency responders, and several private security firms throughout the city. We'll also ask whether any unidentified patients matching his description have been admitted."
Raiden nodded.
"Thank you."
Hayes was already reaching for his own phone when Raiden spoke again.
"One more thing. If your security team can obtain access to nearby traffic cameras, check those as well. I don't care where the trail leads. I just want Gerard found."
"You have my word, Mr. Bolt. We'll begin immediately."
As Hayes stepped outside to make arrangements, Raiden scrolled through his contacts until he found another familiar number.
The line connected after several rings.
"Mr. Bolt?"
The investigator sounded surprised to hear from him. Before Raiden could speak, the man continued apologetically.
"I've already explained my position. I'm sorry, but I can't continue investigating your parents' deaths. The people involved are far beyond what I can handle."
Raiden closed his eyes briefly.
"I'm not calling about my parents. I'm calling about Gerard Hood."
The investigator fell silent.
"He disappeared after Johny Randal's men attacked us. He was badly injured. I need someone to find him. I know you have contacts that ordinary people don't."
The investigator exhaled slowly.
"So this isn't related to the Bolt case?"
"No. I just want Gerard back. And I'll pay whatever your usual f*e is."
Another moment of silence followed. Finally, the investigator spoke.
"All right. I'll take this job. If Gerard Hood is still in the city, we'll find him."
A weight Raiden hadn't realized he was carrying eased ever so slightly.
"Thank you."
"I'll update you the moment I learn anything," the investigator said.
The call ended. Raiden lowered the phone and remained standing in the middle of the suite.
His thoughts drifted back to the warehouse. He remembered Gerard shielding him despite being outnumbered.
He remembered the old man forcing himself back to his feet after every blow, only to be knocked down again. And the last thing Raiden had seen before losing consciousness, Gerard crawling toward him through a pool of blood.
For years, while illness had confined him to a wheelchair, almost everyone had abandoned him. Only Gerard had remained his friend. It was genuine, Raiden can tell.
Now that Raiden finally regain a bit of wealth and influence, he refused to let the one person who had never abandoned him simply vanish.
A knock sounded on the door. Hayes stepped back inside.
"Our teams have already begun searching, Mr. Bolt. I've also instructed the concierge to notify me immediately if we receive any information."
Raiden inclined his head.
"I appreciate it."
Hayes noticed the dried blood covering Raiden's clothes and the cuts that still marked his face.
"If you'll allow me, sir... I'll have fresh clothes prepared while you take a shower."
Raiden glanced down at himself. Only then did he realize he was still wearing the same torn clothes from the warehouse. The dried blood had hardened against the fabric.
He let out a quiet breath.
"Please do. Get me some clothes for maybe a week. As well as shoes, jackets, everything…"
Hayes bowed respectfully.
"I'll return shortly."
After the door closed once again, Raiden slowly walked toward the bathroom. The search for Gerard was no longer in his hands alone.
For now, all he could do was wait.
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Latest Chapter
No One Will Save You
The memorial had turned into a media storm before Angeline could even understand what had happened.The moment the recording of Johny attacking his hacker appeared on the screen, the atmosphere inside the hall changed completely. Guests who had spent the morning mourning a respected businessman were now whispering among themselves, while several reporters pushed through the crowd with their cameras already raised.Angeline barely had time to step away from the screen before the questions started coming at her from every direction.“Miss Angeline, did you know about the incident shown in the video?”“Was that really Johny Randal?”“Did you know his employee died inside his office?”“Were you involved in Randal Group's activities?”“Is it true that you were going to marry Mr. Randal?”Angeline tried to answer, but there were too many questions coming at once. She raised her hands and asked everyone to calm down, insisting that she had nothing to do with Randal Group's operations and tha
The Truth Behind the Memorial
The memorial descended into chaos the moment the recording ended.People who had been sitting quietly only minutes earlier were now standing and talking over one another, while several guests demanded to know who had placed the footage in the presentation. The large screen had returned to black, but the image of Johny striking his own hacker remained fresh in everyone's mind, making it impossible for the room to return to the solemn atmosphere it had held before.The arrival of several reporters made matters worse. They had been waiting outside for an opportunity to cover Johny's funeral, but the commotion inside quickly drew their attention. Cameras were raised as soon as they entered, and within seconds, Angeline found herself surrounded.“Ms. Wood, is that footage authentic?”“Did you know your fiancé attacked his employee?”“Who provided the recording?”“Was Mr. Randal involved in other illegal activities?”Angeline could barely process the questions. She looked toward the screen
The Funeral
Angeline had spent the entire morning surrounded by people, yet she had never felt more alone. The funeral had drawn almost everyone who had known Johny Randal during his years at the head of Randal Group, from relatives and old friends to business associates who had worked with him for years. Their presence should have given her some comfort, but every expression of sympathy only reminded her that Johny was never coming back.She stood beside his coffin in a black dress, accepting condolences while trying to keep herself composed. One relative held her hand and told her that Johny had always been a generous man who never hesitated to help people around him, while another spoke about how proud everyone had been when he turned Randal Group into one of the most successful companies in the city.Angeline listened without correcting anyone.To these people, Johny was a devoted husband, a respected businessman, and a man who had worked hard to build his family's future. They knew nothing a
The Price of Failure
Johny knew something had changed the moment the door opened again.The same man who had questioned him earlier entered the room, but this time he carried no folder and did not bother taking the empty chair across from him. Johny had spent the last several hours trying to understand what had happened after the warehouse operation, yet nobody had given him any information. He had no idea where he was, whether his people were still searching for him, or whether anyone from Randal Group even knew that he had disappeared.He stood as the man approached.“I can explain what happened,” Johny said. “Raiden prepared everything. He knew about the warehouse, and he manipulated the evidence to make it look as though I tried to access your system. I can find him if you give me another chance.”The man stopped a few steps away and looked at him without expression.“You had your chance.”Johny's face tightened. “I can still be useful.”“You have already become a liability.”Johny's breathing became
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Johny stared at the screen long after the hacker finished explaining what had happened, unable to ignore the implications of the information displayed in front of him. The footage from the warehouse had already been detected, the false access attempt had been connected to his credentials, and the system on the other side had apparently recorded everything before his people even realized there was a problem.“Delete it,” Johny ordered, his voice tense as he pointed toward the screen. “Everything connected to that transmission. Every trace, every copy, every access record.”The hacker immediately began working, opening several security consoles while trying to isolate the systems involved. He had barely started when his expression changed.“It is already too late.”Johny turned toward him. “What did you say?”“The information has already been registered by their system. I can remove whatever remains on our side, but I cannot erase something that has already reached them.”“Then cut the
The Trap
By the time Raiden returned to Aurora, the night had already passed into early morning, but he had no intention of sleeping yet. The events at the warehouse had changed something between him and Johny. Before that night, Raiden had known that someone was using Johny to pursue him, but Johny had always remained behind layers of other people and hired men. Now that he had appeared personally, there was no longer any doubt that he was directly involved.Raiden sat in his room with his tablet in hand and reviewed the information he had gathered over the past few weeks. He was not looking for another way to track the organization behind Johny. The security around the facility he had escaped from had already been strengthened, and attempting to force his way into their network again would only expose him unnecessarily. What interested him now was Johny's position.A search through public corporate records revealed something Raiden had not known before. Several assets and financial facilitie
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