"It's not Charon!" Wolf said in a low voice.Austin and Ezra's expressions tightened immediately. They didn't linger and promptly left the bedroom.Austin's room faced the cliff, making it the best position for an assassin standing on the rock outcrop.Once they settled in the living room, Wolf turned and left, taking the bodyguard team to the back mountain cliff.Austin and Ezra exchanged looks."Mr. Lockwood, would the average assassin think of that rock outcrop?" Austin asked, frowning."In one week, we've had 18 assassination attempts, and not one happened from that rock outcrop," Ezra said, shaking his head, a peculiar glint of pride in his eyes.Even if a regular assassin thought of it, they wouldn't have the guts to slide down from the mountain to that rock."Austin was silent.Indeed, the rock outcrop directly faced his bedroom, making it the optimal spot for an assassination. But the outcrop was over 30 feet from the ground below and also over 30 feet from the top.I
"She's here!"Austin spoke in a low voice, releasing Ezra, "Mr. Lockwood, go to your room, shut the door, and don't come out. She's here for me, she won't harm you without reason."That night's urgent message had given him some insight into Charon's character.This woman was incredibly arrogant!As long as Ezra stayed in his room, Charon wouldn't lay a finger on him."Sir, I..." Ezra's face tightened, about to protest."I'm your master. Go back to your room!" Austin's stern command forced Ezra to swallow his words.He shot a glance at Ezra retreating to his room before gathering his thoughts, narrowing his eyes, and focusing on the courtyard outside the main hall.The arrow had come through the front door, so the shooter should be in that direction.Was this a diversion?The courtyard was dimly lit, making it hard to see beyond it.Even the security devices that Wolf and the bodyguard team had set up in the courtyard hadn't given any warning.Outside, the gunfire was relent
A sharp glint flashed in Austin's eyes as he stared in shock at the large door to his right.The door to the Bamboo Parlor was an old-fashioned, double-panel wooden door. Yet somehow, a line had been carved into it at some point.This was the highest-level residence in the Tetra Club, meticulously maintained, and it was impossible for any carvings to appear on the door.The content was: Death List No. 18, Gerard Lindsey.On closer inspection, Austin felt that the handwriting seemed familiar.Suddenly, his mind exploded with realization. Charon!Was this the handwriting Charon had just carved outside the door?"Sir, we need to move now!" Seeing Austin in a daze, the bodyguard beside him tugged at him.Austin snapped back to reality and quickly followed the bodyguard out of the courtyard, running toward the other side of the bamboo grove. But his mind was already a raging sea of thoughts and emotions.Death List No. 18, Gerard Lindsey. No wonder Wolf and the others couldn't stop
The remaining three bodyguards stepped back, tightly surrounding Austin in the center."Come back!" Austin shouted.He had already glimpsed the prowess of top assassins from the Death List through Aldus and Charon and knew how dangerous they were.Moreover, the figure before them was ranked 18th on the Death List.Walter's bodyguard team, though elite and highly skilled, was still no match for a top-tier assassin from the Death List.But…Bang!The four bodyguards opened fire simultaneously. Bullets streaked through the air, hitting the dark figure in the bamboo grove with precision."We hit him!" The four bodyguards rejoiced, excitement evident on their faces."It's not possible, it can't be that easy! Get back here!" Austin's scalp tingled, and every hair on his body stood on end as he roared with all his strength.But at that moment, the leading bodyguard suddenly halted, his face changing drastically as he cried out."It's not a person, it's a paper figure!"Almost simu
"I'm sorry, Mr. Campbell. Your mother has late-stage liver cancer, and …"When Austin Campbell saw the doctor in front of him shaking his head, he felt dizzy, and his eyes reddened at once.Ever since he was a child, all he and his mother had were each other. To raise him and fund his education, she'd worked so hard that her health suffered. Before she even got to enjoy a better life, she had fallen severely ill."Doctor, please save my mother. I'm begging you, please. Is there really no way to save her?" Austin pleaded hoarsely. He was choking up.The doctor hesitated briefly before replying, "There's one last option—a liver transplant. We do have a suitable match here at the hospital …"Pausing, he studied Austin. Having treated Austin's mother for some time now, he was aware of Austin's financial situation.In the end, the doctor decided to continue saying, "But … the surgery won't be cheap. At the very least, it'll cost 200 thousand."200 thousand?Austin's eyes lit up. He
Urma was not done with her tirade yet."Look at you now. Nancy gave us the money because she loves us, but you're shameless enough to ask for it back! Why are you such a leech? Well, Harvey's about to get married. We're giving him the 200 thousand as a down payment on a house for him and his future wife. You won't be getting a single penny from me!"The call was cut off.Austin froze in shock. Did Urma not understand a word he said?"Austin! Have you gone mad?" Nancy grabbed Austin by the collar frenziedly. "How could you do that? Is it so wrong of me to give money to my parents?"Feeling defeated, Austin stared at Nancy with reddened eyes and asked, "Is my mother's life worth less than a down payment for your brother's new house to all of you?""You're full of bullshit!"Nancy released Austin and began to throw everything in the living room she could get her hands on.In mere seconds, the living room was a mess.Sitting on the couch, Nancy whimpered, "Austin, you heartless ma
As the car cruised down the streets, Austin remained in shock. It all seemed like a dream.He and the old man, Ezra Lockwood, went up to the ICU ward at Legacy Hospital.It was not until Austin saw his mother, Dahlia Emerson, that he fully registered what was happening. Dahlia had just come out of the operating theater.Joy, gratitude, and other overwhelming emotions washed over Austin."I'm happy to report that the liver transplant surgery was a success, Mr. Lockwood," a doctor came over and said respectfully.Austin was stunned. The doctor, Isaac Navarro, was Dahlia's attending physician. He was one of Legacy Hospital's most well-known doctors and also an expert in the medical field.Isaac was the one who suggested performing the liver transplant surgery to save Dahlia.It went without saying that such an esteemed doctor would have no qualms treating even the most powerful beings as his equals. Despite that, he was showing such courtesy toward Ezra."Thank you, Dr. Navarro,"
"He has been doing this to protect you and your mother," Ezra said."And now, he finally holds the power in his family. He has always cared about you and your mother. He feels guilty, so that's why he sent me over to visit you and try to make up for everything he owes you over the last 20-odd years.""Make up for everything? How's he going to do that?" Austin snarled through gritted teeth.Tears pooled in his reddened eyes as he declared, "It's been over 20 years. Does he know the life my mom and I have led? Ever since I was a kid, people called me a bastard child. "To raise me, my mom had to work all day and all night. She got sick because of how hard she had to work all these years!"Ezra passed a black debit card with a purple orchid design on it to Austin. "This is a token of your father's sincerity."Austin stared at the debit card he was holding.It was his first time seeing one like that.In an instant, his rage bubbled over.Could over 20 years of neglect be forgiven