The Unbroken Warlord

Chapter 2

"What?" Callen turned sharply. "Who dared to touch my daughter?"

Seeing the fury on Callen's face, the officer answered nervously, "I-It was Jade Collins from one of the wealthy families in Avenfall. He kidnapped her to get revenge on Madam Ivy after she rejected him."

Callen clenched his jaw. "Mobilize the troops and prepare the car. We're heading to the location now."

"Yes, General! Understood!" The officer immediately saluted and turned around. With a single hand gesture, he signaled the line of soldiers to follow him.

On the other side, Chad was still lying on the ground, curled up in pain.

Lieutenant General Leo glanced in his direction and asked, "General, this traitor… what should we do with him?"

Callen gave Chad a cold look. "Lock him in the underground prison. I'm not done with him yet. Wait for my next order."

Leo nodded. "Should we torture him while we wait?"

"Why do you even need to ask?" Callen replied flatly. "Torture him until he begs for death."

Not long after, a military jeep arrived. Callen got in immediately. The remaining soldiers saluted as the vehicle drove away. As it left, two soldiers dragged Chad away.

The jeep sped through the cleared road, followed by a military convoy. The route to Avenfall had been emptied under Callen's orders, so the cars moved without obstacles.

In Avenfall, at an abandoned building.

The structure stood among overgrown bushes. Its paint was peeling, stained, and covered in moss.

A muscular man kicked the door open roughly. Tattoos were carved from his neck to his wrists.

On his shoulder, a small girl, tied up, struggled to break free. He was Troy Bennet, a well-known gangster in the underground world. His nickname was "The Hunting Dog."

People often hired him for kidnappings or assassinations. He had never failed at either.

Tears filled the girl's eyes as she tried to scream. But her mouth was gagged. She was Lily Carter. Her body trembled in fear. She just wanted to go home.

Troy threw her onto a moldy sofa without a hint of mercy.

A man in expensive clothes sat waiting on a chair nearby, a sly expression on his face. He was Jade Collins, the mastermind behind the kidnapping.

Jade clapped his hands. "As expected, your hunting dog title isn't just a rumor. You brought her to me in under an hour," he said with a shake of his head, impressed.

"Hmph. It's just a kid. What's so hard about it?" Troy replied casually.

"Even so, you deserve some praise."

Troy scoffed. "Enough with the flattery. I didn't kidnap her to hear compliments. Pay up."

A short laugh came from Jade. "Be patient. I need to confirm that the child is really Lily Carter."

"You doubt my ability?"

Jade raised both hands. "Whoa, calm down! It's just a formality. You'll get your payment."

Troy clicked his tongue quietly. He was annoyed, but there was nothing he could do. As long as money talked, he would do anything.

Jade stepped in front of Lily, crouched, and grabbed her chin, tilting her face toward the light. "Yes, this is Lily Carter."

"Told you," Troy muttered.

With a signal from Jade, one of his men approached Troy and handed over a briefcase. When Troy opened it, it was full of money.

"Here's the rest of your payment. Count it if you want. I even added a little tip," Jade said, winking.

Troy said nothing. He just grabbed the case and turned to leave. But Jade's voice stopped him.

"Wait. Don't leave yet."

"I'm done here. If you want to hire me again, pay."

"Tch. So stingy. I just want you to slap her a little," Jade said, pointing to Lily with his chin. "I want to take a picture to send to her mother."

Troy glanced briefly at Lily. "You don't have hands? Do it yourself."

Jade's face twisted in disgust. He acted like he was about to vomit. "I don't want to dirty my hands."

Troy stepped in front of Lily, casting a shadow over her. He stared at her blankly. "Don't blame me, little girl. I'm just doing my job."

Fear froze Lily's body. She shut her eyes tight as Troy's hand slapped her. She couldn't stop her tears.

Jade smiled in satisfaction. He crouched in front of Lily and took a picture, then sent it to Ivy.

Afterward, he removed the gag from Lily's mouth. She coughed weakly.

He began to speak. "You know… your mother is a bad woman. You're in this mess because of her. Don't you agree?"

Although his tone sounded casual, there was bitterness in his voice. Ivy Carter had dared to reject him in public last night and even slapped him. He would never forget it. Let Ivy see what happens when she humiliates him.

Lily's eyes filled with tears. Her lips trembled. Though afraid, she tried to speak in a small voice. "M-my mom is not bad," she whispered.

Jade grabbed her shoulders. "No, Lily. Your mother is evil. You need to understand that. She should be thankful that I liked a woman like her."

"Let me go! I want to go home," Lily cried. "Mom, Dad, help me!"

Jade laughed. "How is your dead father going to help? Is his corpse going to rise from the grave?"

When rumors about Ivy spread, people dug into her background for gossip. Word that her husband was just an ordinary soldier spread fast.

Lily's expression turned angry. She couldn't accept people insulting her father. In the stories her mother told, her dad was still alive and would return one day.

So she shouted with all the courage she had, "My dad is not dead! My mom said he's the greatest soldier! One day, he'll come back and beat up bad guys like you!"

"So noisy," Jade scoffed. He grabbed Lily's chin. "You really are that woman's child. You have the same disgusting look in your eyes."

"Arggh!"

Lily bit Jade's hand.

"You little brat!" Jade screamed. Blood dripped from his hand.

Lily shrieked as Jade grabbed her hair and lifted her off the ground.

"Don't think I won't hit a child. Whether they're five or fifty, anyone who crosses me pays the price!"

Just as Jade raised his hand to strike, his subordinate's voice interrupted.

"Young master, bad news! There's a military force outside. They—"

The words never finished. The man was flung back suddenly.

Out of the darkness, a dagger flew and stabbed straight into Jade's hand, the one gripping Lily.

"Arkhhh, you little piece of shit!"

Jade howled in pain, releasing her. Lily dropped to the floor and crawled away in fear, trembling as Jade's blood smeared the ground.

Troy quickly stepped back, his hand reaching for the weapon at his waist.

From the shadows, a man in a military uniform slowly emerged. A threatening look burned in his eyes.

"Who are you? How dare you hurt me?" Jade shouted in rage. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes," Callen answered coldly. "You're a bastard who deserves to die."