The Hidden Dragon Son-in-Law

Marked by Shadows

Chapter 8: “Marked by Shadows”

Location: Ninth Pavilion Emergency HQ — 48 Hours Later

Jaxon sat alone in a cold war room, screens flickering with alerts, betrayals, and redacted feeds. Maps of burned warehouses, cut-off accounts, and disappearing assets blinked in every corner.

Zhao entered quietly. “Sir… it’s spreading faster than we expected.”

Jaxon didn’t move.

“The Crimson League accepted the forged data. They believe you betrayed them a decade ago — that you handed over the identities of five field agents to Interpol for immunity.”

Jaxon’s hands clenched on the armrest of the steel chair. “I was in the Vault during that betrayal. I was still… their prisoner.”

“They don’t care. They want blood.”

Another officer rushed in. “Sir—target bounty confirmed. You’ve been marked for Red Execution. Every major syndicate is now authorized to take you dead… not alive.”

Jaxon stood up slowly, voice low. “Then let them come.”

—

Elsewhere – Ivy Lin’s Hidden Location

Ivy watched the news feed with trembling fingers.

A criminal bulletin—leaked by the Crimson League—now labeled her husband: “Target 01: The Ghost Monarch. Class Red: Betrayer.”

There were already videos circulating. Men in alleyways talking about his head being worth $5 million. Others planning to track Ivy down to get to him.

She turned off the tablet.

This was bigger than anything she’d imagined. Her husband wasn’t just in danger.

He was becoming a hunted myth.

Ivy took a deep breath and unlocked the encrypted case under her bed. Inside were the documents Jaxon had shown her — proof of the original betrayal, and names of the real traitors.

And one hidden contact: Scarlet.

She tapped the number.

It rang twice.

Then: “Who is this?”

“This is Ivy Lin,” she said evenly. “And I’m calling to save the man you want dead.”

—

Location: Downtown Underground Syndicate Club – One Hour Later

Jaxon moved through the fog-covered club in a black hoodie, face hidden beneath a ballcap. He was being hunted now — but he wasn’t running. He was listening.

He leaned over the bar. “I heard the Ghost Monarch’s up for auction.”

The bartender chuckled without looking. “You looking to collect?”

Jaxon’s lips twisted. “Something like that.”

Before the man could turn, Jaxon slammed his head into the bar, dragged him into a private booth, and hissed: “Where’s the auction happening?”

“I—I don’t know!”

Jaxon pulled out a blade. “Try again.”

“The... Midnight Cross! 3rd district… under the old subway tunnels!”

Jaxon dropped the man with a blow to the throat and walked out, faster now. Every moment they moved against him, more allies would die.

He had to go before it was too late.

—

Location: Scarlet’s Private Tower – Crimson League Control Room

Scarlet stood with arms crossed as Ivy’s face appeared on a red hologram.

“I thought you were just a housewife,” Scarlet said, amused.

“I was,” Ivy replied. “Then I learned I married a legend.”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. “Why should I believe a single word from his woman?”

“Because I’m not defending his past,” Ivy said. “I’m exposing yours.”

She uploaded the folder.

Scarlet’s screen blinked: “FILE: Operation Broken Lotus — Authored by Commander Vale… not Jaxon Lin.”

Scarlet’s lips parted. She’d buried that name over a decade ago.

“How did he get this?”

“He didn’t,” Ivy said. “I did. He didn’t even know I was calling you.”

Scarlet stared at the footage, her jaw tight. “You may have just saved his life… for now.”

—

Location: Midnight Cross Auction Tunnel — 3:21 AM

Flickering lights. Bidders. Criminals. Hunters.

On the screen: A pixelated image of Jaxon Lin. “Opening bid: $2 million. Red-class target. Verified traitor.”

Suddenly—

Bang!

A flash grenade exploded in the center.

Gunfire. Screams.

Jaxon descended through the chaos like a black wind, taking down men left and right.

He reached the auction stage, seized the mic, and growled into it:

“Since everyone’s after my head… let me give you something better.”

He lifted a drive.

“This holds the names of every mole, every double agent, every syndicate boss who sold out their own men for profit. You want it? Come and take it.”

The crowd stared.

Some ran.

Some reached for their weapons.

And Jaxon smiled.

Let the hunt begin.

—

Back at Crimson HQ, Scarlet stared at the screen.

“Forget the bounty,” she said. “Issue a new order.”

Her aide blinked. “New order?”

Scarlet smiled coldly. “Don’t kill the Ghost Monarch. Bring him to me alive. I want to hear him scream when he learns what I did to his family.”

—