“Sir, are you interested in buying this?” The skinny man turned to Jeff, his voice filled with hope.
Jeff straightened his back, brimming with confidence. “Interested? Of course! I’ll give you two million for it, no questions asked.”
Before anyone could react, Jeff swiftly pulled out a check for two million, handing it over to the skinny man.
The skinny man burst into laughter, exclaiming, “Look!! The God is finally smiling on me, dropping all these treasures into my lap like a gift from above.”
The fat man looked up in confusion and asked, “Gift from above? Where? I didn’t see anything fall.”
The skinny man shot him a glance, ignored the comment, and eagerly kissed the check after taking it from Jeff. “Well, it looks like I can finally get myself a wife now!” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
As the skinny guy spun around, he accidentally bumped into Kayden. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you watch where you’re going?”
When Greedy Wolf heard it, he wanted to argue, but Kayden stopped him. Kayden looked at the skinny man and slowly said, “You’re living on borrowed time.”
The skinny guy looked him over, unimpressed. “You’ve got to be kidding. Are you crazy? Stop talking nonsense. Lucky for you, I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let you off easy.”
Still muttering under his breath, he started walking away, clearly not taking Kayden seriously.
But Kayden wasn’t finished. He grabbed the guy’s arm firmly, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “I’m not joking. You’re in real danger, and even Mr. Bennett is trying to help you. If you only take a million, you might make it out of this alive. But if you go for two million… you won’t last ten days.”
Hearing this, Greedy Wolf, who had been standing nearby, froze. He trusted what Defender said, so for now, he stayed quiet, though his eyes showed he was thinking hard.
The skinny guy’s face twisted in anger. “You’re still running your mouth, huh? How about I shut it for you?” He clenched his fist and took a step toward Kayden, ready to throw a punch.
Before he could even swing, though, Greedy Wolf had grabbed his fist, his grip like a vice. Eyes blazing, he growled, “I’ve got no problem sending you to your grave right now if you keep pushing it.”
The two men stood face to face, tension crackling between them. The skinny guy quickly realized he was in over his head-this was not someone he could take on.
“Enough!” Kayden cut in, his voice sharp and commanding. “I’ve told you everything you need to know. The choice is yours.”
But the skinny man wasn’t convinced. With a dismissive wave, he sneered, “You think I don’t see what’s going on here? You’re all in on this together. Try another trick if you want to fool me.”
And with that, he strutted off, swaggering as if he had just won the argument.
Greedy Wolf’s eyes glinted dangerously as he watched the man leave. “Defender, this guy’s a real bastard. Why don’t I just kill him and get it over with?” His voice was laced with menace.
Kayden didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at Greedy Wolf with a firm gaze. As soon as Greedy Wolf met Kayden’s eyes, he lost his nerve. He quickly looked down, all defiance gone. “I’m sorry, Defender,” he muttered apologetically.
Kayden placed a firm hand on Greedy Wolf’s shoulder, his voice calm but authoritative. “This isn’t a battlefield. Follow my instructions exactly and do nothing else unless I say so. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” Greedy Wolf nodded vigorously, eager to show his loyalty.
“What can I do for you, friend?” Israel greeted, though his eyes never quite settled on Kayden.
Kayden’s voice remained composed as he asked, “You’re Israel, Mr. Bennett, aren’t you?”
“Indeed, I am,” Israel replied without a moment’s hesitation. His voice was casual, but there was an unmistakable arrogance in the way he carried himself.
As he spoke, he poured two cups of coffee, his movements smooth and practiced, but his attitude was dismissive.
His demeanor made it clear that he didn’t consider Kayden worth his time.
“Mr. Bennett,” Kayden said, stepping up to the counter. “I’m here to ask for your advice on a certain matter.”
Israel didn’t bother to look up, instead asking in an even tone, “Before we get to that, tell me one thing-how did you know that man’s days are numbered?”
Kayden nodded, accepting the cup of coffee with a polite gesture before sitting down across from Israel. Without missing a beat, he replied, “He’s in bad shape-his strength is almost completely gone. A heavy air surrounds him, a clear sign that the end is near. If I’m not mistaken, he’s got maybe a week or so left. And if I’m right, what he just sold you was something he either stole or stumbled upon.”
Israel’s interest was piqued. “What makes you so certain?” he asked, suddenly far more engaged in the conversation.
Kayden didn’t mind going into more detail. “This man has sold quite a few things to you before, hasn’t he? These items weren’t his to begin with-they just ‘fell into his lap,’ so to speak. Someone’s using these objects to buy his life. Every item he brings you is part of a deal-a trade-off for his remaining days.”
It sounded far-fetched, almost supernatural, but such things weren’t impossible in Kayden’s world. There were people out there who could extend their lives by exchanging certain objects-objects that carried weight in more ways than one. Usually, the arrangement requires the person’s consent. Only if they agreed would the exchange take place.
While this kind of transaction went against the natural order, Kayden wasn’t one to judge. He had seen worse on the battlefield, where survival often cost more than morality.
Israel burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and admiration. “You’re no ordinary man, that’s for sure. I knew from the moment you walked in that we’d get along. So, tell me-what brings you here today?”
“There is something I’d like to ask for your advice on,” Kayden replied, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small object-the Grievance.
“Kayden!” A startled voice called out from the back of the room, causing all three men to turn toward the sound.
Lacey stood in the doorway, her eyes fixed on Kayden in disbelief. She couldn’t believe her eyes-Kayden was standing right there in her own home.
“Hello, Lacey.” Kayden greeted her casually, his tone calm as if they had just run into each other by chance.
Lacey’s cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly turned around and disappeared back into the other room, clearly flustered. Lacey wasn’t the kind of girl who blushed easily-unless her heart was racing and she couldn’t control it.
She had never been in love or even understood what it felt like to like someone until she met Kayden. For the first time, she felt her heart skip a beat. Although she was in her twenties, she felt shy and unsure, like it was her first crush.
“Is he here to see me?” she muttered to herself as she disappeared behind the door.
Kayden, however, barely noticed her reaction. His focus remained on Israel as he continued his line of inquiry, “This object belongs to one of my men. How did it end up in your possession?”
Israel squinted, sizing up Kayden before replying, “A young man pawned it to me. I think he’s the person you’re talking about-you both have a similar vibe. This was two years ago when I was doing business in the East. I don’t know where he is now, but when he pawned this, he seemed to be in serious trouble and had to sell it.”
Talking with someone as sharp as Israel saved time. As an experienced antiques dealer, Israel quickly understood the situation and gave Kayden all the answers he needed, eliminating any need for more questions.
“Got it. Thanks for the information,” Kayden said, standing up to leave.
But before he could take another step, Israel called out, “Hold on a moment, my friend. May I ask you something?”
Kayden turned back to face him. “What is it, Mr. Bennett?”