The old man had an imposing presence. His face exuded an aura of authority, making anyone who glanced at him feel insignificant. As he stood at the entrance of the restaurant, his entire being seemed to dominate the space, commanding attention effortlessly.
Whether it was the restaurant staff or Georgia and her group, everyone was stunned by the sheer intensity of his presence.
Flanking him were two men in black suits, standing rigidly on either side of him like flagpoles. There was no doubt-they were his bodyguards.
A man who walks with bodyguards is either immensely wealthy or extraordinarily powerful.
The old man’s sharp, hawk-like gaze locked onto Georgia’s table. Without hesitation, he began striding purposefully toward her.
“Old man, what did you just say?” Edd, defiant and full of bravado, challenged the sixty-year-old man. Edd, a self-proclaimed street boss, couldn’t tolerate being intimidated. If he backed down now, how could he face his followers or boast about his exploits later?
Edd refused to submit. He couldn’t.
The old man didn’t respond. He maintained a stern expression, his steps steady and deliberate, exuding an air of unshakable confidence.
Edd, emboldened, took two steps forward and taunted him, “Hey, old man, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf or something?”
In Edd’s mind, he was the one in control here. The old man might have two bodyguards, but Edd had over ten men with him. Why should he be afraid?
Perhaps, if Edd hadn’t been drinking, he might have been more cautious. But tonight, fueled by alcohol and emboldened by the presence of a beautiful woman he had his eye on, he couldn’t afford to show weakness.
It was all about pride-and the alcohol only made it worse.
The old man continued his silent advance, his every step radiating an eerie and intimidating aura.
Growing more agitated, Edd raised his hand and warned, “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll make a move!”
But who would care about Edd’s threats?
To the old man, Edd was nothing-a mere piece of trash unworthy even of his attention.
Finally, the old man reached Edd’s position. Without hesitation, Edd raised his hand, reaching for the old man’s collar. But before he could touch him, one of the bodyguards swiftly grabbed Edd’s wrist.
The grip was like iron, locking Edd’s hand in place with unrelenting force.
Instantly, Edd sobered up, realizing this was no idle threat. They had acted!
“Slap him,” the old man commanded coldly.
Edd’s face turned pale as he shouted in panic, “Do you know who I am? I run this district! If you dare touch me, none of you will walk out of this restaurant alive! With one call, I can lock down this entire area!”
The bodyguard ignored his bluster. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap to Edd’s face. The sharp crack echoed through the room as Edd’s teeth flew from his mouth, blood following in a gruesome arc.
Edd’s crew, who had been watching from a distance, froze in terror. Not one of them dared step forward to help him.
They had never imagined someone would actually dare to lay hands on Edd-and with such brutal force.
The bravado that had fueled their earlier antics evaporated instantly. These were the types of men who bullied the weak but crumbled before true power.
The old man stopped and fixed his cold, unrelenting gaze on Edd. “You’re nothing but trash,” he said. “Killing you would be as simple as uttering a word. But you’re not even worthy of dying by my hand.”
Edd’s mind raced in panic. His pride was shattered, and his humiliation burned even hotter as he glanced at the woman he’d been trying to impress. Desperate, he shouted, “You’re messing with the wrong person! My brother-in-law is with Crimson Hand!”
Crimson Hand. The name alone carried weight. It was the largest underground organization in the entire Seclela region, with a global network and fearsome influence. For anyone trying to climb the ranks of the underworld, Crimson Hand was the ultimate goal.
Edd smirked, convinced that invoking Crimson Hand’s name would make the old man back off.
“Scared now? Let me tell you, old man, this woman is mine. No one can-”
“Keep going,” the old man interrupted with a chilling tone.
At the cue, the bodyguard raised his hand again and delivered another brutal slap. The sound was just as sharp as before, and this time, more teeth flew from Edd’s mouth. Blood streamed from his lips, painting a grotesque picture.
Edd tried to speak again, but the old man simply said, “Continue.”
The bodyguard responded with a barrage of blows. Fists landed heavily on Edd’s face, each strike sinking into his flesh. Within moments, Edd was beaten unconscious, his once-arrogant face swollen beyond recognition. A man who could easily take on several opponents at once was reduced to a helpless wreck in the face of the bodyguard’s overwhelming strength.
The old man turned his attention to the rest of Edd’s crew. His piercing gaze froze them in place. “Do any of you want to try me next?” he asked.
Terrified, they shook their heads and instinctively stepped back.
“Then get out of my sight,” the old man growled. “I don’t feel like killing anyone tonight.”
“Yes, sir! Yes, sir!” they stammered, scrambling to leave. In their panic, they dragged Edd’s unconscious body with them as they fled the restaurant.
Once they were gone, Luther, who had been badly beaten earlier, was helped to his feet by Cyan Mella. Still groaning in pain, he forced himself to face Georgia. “I’m sorry,” he said weakly. “This is all my fault. But don’t worry-I’ll make them pay for this. I swear I’ll get revenge.”
Despite his battered state, Luther’s indignation burned brightly. After all, he had paid those thugs, only to be humiliated and beaten.
Georgia looked at him with concern. “Are you okay?” she asked hesitantly.
Luther shook his head, forcing a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Thank you,” Georgia said softly.
Then, she turned to the old man who had saved them. “Sir, thank you for stepping in. May I ask your name?”
The old man studied her for a moment before responding with a respectful bow. “Mrs. Scott, you may call me Billy.”
His tone was sincere, a stark contrast to the way he had treated the others earlier.
Billy was merely a butler for the Scott family. If a butler like him could exude such dominance, one could only imagine the power of Jason Scott himself.