Kayden answered the call, and just like last time, there was only silence on the other end. Not even a breath could be heard, as if there were no living beings around.
No matter the circumstances, Kayden always remained composed. Now that the other party remained silent, he chose to respond with stillness. Sit tight if the enemy doesn’t move because the first to act tends to reveal their vulnerability. That’s the essence of strategy. As a master of combat, Kayden possessed not only courage but an agile mind. He preferred not to be the first to break silence so as to earn himself a chance to study the psyche of his opponents.
A dry laugh came from the other end, just like the last time he received this call. That voice lacked emotion and fluctuation, just as dry as ever!
Kayden continued to stay silent. This time, he’s determined to wait for the other party to speak first.
“I bet you’ve received the gift I sent you. Do you like it?” The voice on the other end was darkly probing.
“What gift? Are you talking about you injuring Fletcher?” asked Kayden in an indifferent tone.
Suddenly, there was silence again, returning to that earlier tranquility. Then, the man’s breathing noticeably grew heavier, betraying his inner turmoil.
After a few seconds, the man let out a snort. “Injured? Fletcher Atkinson isn’t dead?”
“Bullshit! Do you really think you’re strong enough to kill my Zodiac General?”
It suddenly occurred to Kayden something, and he added, “Oh, by the way, remember your apprentice, Damian? You know what, he begged me to end his life. He relished every moment of it!”
“No way!” The voice on the other end erupted in a furious roar. “There’s no way he could survive! No way! I know it’s you-you’re trying to deceive me, aren’t you? My fists couldn’t fail to kill him!”
Kayden let out a mocking sneer before abruptly hanging up.
“Defender, is he the man who hurt Fletcher?” Curiosity and doubts filled with Greedy Wolf’s heart as he listened to their conversation. He quickly stepped forward to ask.
Kayden gave a nod. “Send Firefist to the county hospital and inform Enoch to send security to protect him there. And spread the word that Firefist isn’t dead.”
“Defender, are you planning to lure him in and trap him?” Greedy Wolf ventured cautiously.
Kayden didn’t answer directly but added, “Also, spread the word that it was Fletcher who won the fight that day. Make sure to craft the details so convincingly that even skeptics will believe it. Must have the news echo through every corner of the Southwest!”
Kayden had already had a firm grasp on this man’s psychology through their dialogue over the phone!
Hearing Kayden’s plan, Greedy Wolf felt a rush of exhilaration. He nodded vigorously as he answered, “Yes, Defender!”
“Then go and get it done! Just follow my orders! Within three days, I will have him die!”
A chilling glint flickered across Kayden’s eyes as he spoke.
—
Nadia hadn’t stepped outside for days. Ever since that last encounter with that guy, she had been plagued by unease. Strangely, she longed to go out and have some fun, but when she really hung out, she found nothing could ignite her interest.
Things turned worse in the evenings when she found herself always silently grieving for him.
His death weighed heavily on her conscience because it was largely her fault. If it weren’t for her, he would never have gone to Outer Ring Road. If he hadn’t gone there, he wouldn’t have crossed paths with Kyler. Had he not met Kyler and wasted time, he wouldn’t have come face to face with Nathan and lost his life.
So ultimately, it was she who caused his death. She repeatedly told herself that even if she hadn’t sent him to Outer Ring Road, he would have still died for offending Nathan. But it didn’t work, and her heart remained heavy with guilt.
Thinking of all this felt like being caught in a rainstorm-anything but pleasant. Nadia felt herself lost passion for everything around her now.
Sometimes, she wondered if she had developed some feelings for that guy. Those few hours they spent together had felt strangely delightful. But soon, she shook her head and dismissed the thought.
That guy always looked so self-assured. Yes, he’s a good driver, a skilled fighter, but that’s all. She couldn’t see any other qualities that would make him likable.
There was no way she could fall for someone she barely knew. Besides, Kyler was far more reliable and had a better status; after all, he came from one of the three prominent families in Inassea. As for that guy, he was not a patch on Kyler. Most importantly, he was already dead, so she shouldn’t keep dwelling on him.
Just then, it suddenly came to Nadia that she hadn’t contacted Kyler in days.
Quickly, she fished out Kyler’s number, ready to call him for a chat. Her father had asked her to attend some medical symposium today, where a renowned professor would be lecturing. Her father claimed it would be a lifelong benefit for her if she attended the symposium. Nadia’s father, Dario Garcia, was a respected doctor in Inassea.
Just as she was about to hit the dial, she froze.
It’s him!
Nadia suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure and felt a rush of disbelief. Could it really be him? Blinking in astonishment, she watched as he walked right past her. Gosh, it was him! It was truly him! He’s still alive!
“Hey!” Nadia called out to Kayden, who, however, didn’t react and kept striding forward.
“Wait! You, hold on!” The urgency was evident in her voice, and she sprinted to catch up with him.
In an instant, she rushed to Kayden, arms outstretched to block his way. Her wide eyes blinked rapidly, surveying him from top to toe.
Kayden also took a moment to assess the girl before him. Within seconds, he recognized her as the girl he had driven around before. She looked quite different today, wearing a flowing white long-sleeve dress paired with dainty white shoes, a Bohemian style. Last time, her fashion choices were much sexier and bolder, making her look like a total bombshell. The transformation was so striking that Kayden could hardly recognize her.
“What’s up? Do you need something?” Kayden asked, his tone cool and detached. He recognized Nadia, but she was more like a stranger to him. They had barely exchanged words. And besides, that was just his nature-blunt and to the point!
He left the Atkinson family to do a very important thing. He needed to go find Professor Flores and delve into more details about Hellblazer. He had a feeling that Professor Flores was holding back some vital information. Hellblazer had already attacked his subordinates twice, and he couldn’t afford to stand idly by!
Nadia didn’t answer his questions. Instead, she lifted her hand toward his face. But before her fingers could touch his face, he swiftly seized her wrist. His sudden move startled Nadia into exclaiming, “Shit!”