Fuming, Ryder Steele reached into his pocket and pulled out a dagger.
But before he could make a move, Kayden swiftly grabbed a chopstick and stabbed it straight through Ryder Steele’s wrist with lightning speed.
“Ahhh!” A piercing scream, like that of a slaughtered pig, echoed through the room. Ryder Steele’s eyes were wide with pain and disbelief. The chopstick had gone clean through his wrist, entering one side and coming out the other.
It was brutal. It was ruthless.
Blood dripped from the wound, but before Ryder Steele’s men could react, Kayden picked up another chopstick and drove it violently into Ryder Steele’s thigh, not giving him even a moment to breathe.
Ryder Steele collapsed to his knees with a thud.
“Ahhh!” Another scream erupted, even more pitiful than the first.
His crew looked ready to rush forward, but Kayden silenced them with a single glare. “If any of you dare move, I won’t hesitate to kill him right here and now.”
The entire time, Kayden remained seated, as though he didn’t even need to stand to utterly dominate Ryder Steele.
The group froze, their faces filled with frustration and helplessness, their gazes complicated as they looked at Ryder Steele.
Kayden glanced down at the man kneeling before him and said softly, “This is what happens when you cross me. One million dollars is the price for this lesson. Don’t make the same mistake again.”
Then, with a casual flick of his foot, Kayden kicked Ryder Steele as if he were nothing more than a piece of trash, sending him sprawling.
“Get lost!” Kayden barked.
Furious and humiliated, Ryder Steele scrambled to his feet. “Let’s go! Let’s go!” he shouted at his crew, his voice trembling with anger, though his heart burned with humiliation.
“This isn’t over! You’ll regret this!” Ryder Steele bellowed at Kayden as he retreated.
Wood Faulkner, who had been observing the whole scene, turned to Kayden and asked, puzzled, “Commander, why didn’t you just kill him?”
Kayden chuckled coldly. “There’s no need to kill over every little thing. Besides, I’m not the Commander anymore.”
Wood Faulkner’s expression shifted slightly, his voice filled with resentment. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re the Commander or not. I won’t allow anyone to insult you like that. He humiliated you-he deserves to die.”
“That’s enough, Wood Faulkner. Don’t act recklessly. Your body has just recovered, and I don’t want to attract unnecessary trouble.”
Wood Faulkner’s heart skipped a beat at those words, his thoughts racing. Is the Commander doing this for my sake?
“No!” Wood Faulkner quickly protested. “Commander, you can’t do this for me. I’m not worth it! I’m just your subordinate-I’ll do whatever you ask of me, nothing more!”
“Enough. Eat,” Kayden said, interrupting him as he placed a piece of meat into Wood Faulkner’s bowl.
The simple gesture left Wood Faulkner silent. She lowered her head and ate quietly.
By the time they finished their meal and stepped outside, the night had fully descended. But as soon as they exited the restaurant, they were forced to stop in their tracks.
Standing at the entrance was a large group of men, their intentions unmistakably hostile. Leading them was none other than Ryder Steele, who had just left moments earlier.
There was no way Ryder Steele could stomach such humiliation. Not only had he been beaten and lost a million dollars, but Kayden had also treated it as a mere lesson. How could anyone tolerate that?
As the young master of the Western Frontier, Ryder Steele had his pride. There was no way he would let an outsider humiliate him on his own turf.
His fury burned hotter than ever.
Immediately after leaving, Ryder Steele had called for backup. Now, ten towering men stood behind him, each over two meters tall, their muscles rippling. These were the underground wrestling champions of the Western Frontier, men whose strength could crush bones with ease.
Though there were only ten of them, their presence alone was overwhelming.
Even with bandages wrapped around his wrist and thigh, Ryder Steele stood before Kayden, exuding arrogance and authority.
“Oh?” Kayden glanced at the group, his expression calm. “Still not willing to give up, are you? Didn’t I tell you, one million dollars was the price for your lesson? What now? Did you bring a billion this time?”
“Bring your mother!” Ryder Steele spat, his face twisted in rage. Pointing a finger at Kayden, he snarled, “I’ll give you two choices. First, return my million dollars, kneel down, and kowtow a hundred times. Then hand over your woman to serve me as a slave. Second, I’ll have them beat you to death, and your woman will still end up as my slave. Which will it be?”
Kayden’s gaze remained steady as he replied coolly, “I choose the third option.”
Hearing this, Ryder Steele’s face twitched before he burst into mocking laughter. “A third option? There is no third option!”
“There is now,” Kayden said, his voice calm yet resolute. “The third option is that I’ll take all of you down, and you’ll kneel and kowtow a hundred times.”
“Hahaha!” Ryder Steele laughed wildly. “Arrogant! Truly arrogant! Do you even know who these men are? They’re Western Frontier’s finest wrestlers, each capable of crushing you with a single slap!”
“Kid, there’s a path to heaven, but you refuse to take it. Instead, you barge into hell. You brought this on yourself.”
With a wave of his hand, Ryder Steele roared, “Men, attack! Beat him to death!”
“Wait!” Kayden’s voice rang out before the men could move.
Ryder Steele sneered, misinterpreting Kayden’s intentions. “What’s the matter? Scared now? It’s too late to kneel. Unless, of course, you’re willing to give me ten million dollars and kowtow a hundred times.”
He grinned wickedly and added, “Oh, and don’t forget-I’ll still be taking your woman. Not even God can stop me!”
Kayden shook his head lightly. “You can have the woman-if you can handle her.”
As he spoke, Kayden shot a glance at Wood Faulkner.
Without hesitation, Wood Faulkner drew two daggers, her posture fierce and commanding.
Her grace and deadly aura as she held the blades were nothing short of mesmerizing.
Ryder Steele scoffed. “What? You think you can beat me with a woman?”
But before he could say more, a cold voice interrupted.
“Beat you? Ryder Steele, how dare you!”
A wave of black-clad men, dozens strong, approached with an air of menace.
Leading them was a young man in his early twenties, his smirk exuding arrogance. He was unmistakably a spoiled rich heir.
The moment Ryder Steele saw him, his expression changed dramatically. “Young Master Rocco!”
Indeed, the newcomer was Grant Rocco-the son of the elegant woman Kayden had encountered on the train.
“Young Master Rocco, what brings you here?” Ryder Steele’s demeanor shifted instantly, his face now plastered with a sycophantic smile.
Smack!
Without a word, Grant Rocco slapped Ryder Steele across the face.