Kneeling.
Eagle knelt.
The king of Inassea’s underworld, a man who once stood untouchable, was now groveling spinelessly in front of Kayden.
“Sir, sir, it’s all my fault! It’s all my fault!” Eagle stammered, his voice trembling as he raised a hand and slapped himself across the face, like a child caught in wrongdoing.
Eagle’s cousin stood frozen, his jaw slack in disbelief. The cousin had always seen Eagle as fearless, indomitable. But now, this man, his idol, knelt in such humiliation. And the cause of this? It could only be him-the man Eagle had spoken of, someone even more legendary than legends themselves.
Yes, it had to be him. There was no doubt.
Kayden glanced at the trembling Eagle, shook his head, and sighed. “I thought people like this wouldn’t exist under your watch anymore. How can someone like him still be around at this stage?”
Eagle flinched at the words, his voice faltering as he explained, “He… he’s my cousin. Just came in from the countryside to join me. He doesn’t understand how things work yet. Please, sir, give him another chance!”
“Sir, sir! Please give me a chance! It was my mistake! I was blind!” The previously arrogant manager was now groveling, his forehead pressed to the ground, blood seeping from where he had slammed it repeatedly in desperation.
“A chance?” Kayden smirked at the pair, shaking his head. “No. I can’t give you that chance. If it wasn’t me eating here today, but someone weaker, someone without your power-would they have deserved to be bullied by you?”
Eagle’s face turned pale. He knew there was no room for negotiation. His cousin, oblivious, continued mumbling excuses.
“I know the rules in your line of work,” Kayden said, his tone calm but sharp. “I don’t meddle in your business. But I can’t stand watching those with power abuse it. You let your men act recklessly, and that’s wrong. People like you-those with power and status-you should be helping others, not oppressing them. Seeing you act this way is… disappointing.”
Kayden didn’t need to raise his voice to command authority. He could decide Eagle’s fate with a mere gesture.
Even though Kayden no longer held his past position as Seclela’s War God, dealing with someone like Eagle was still effortless.
Eagle bowed his head repeatedly. “I-I was wrong! I know it’s my fault! Sir, I promise this will never happen again. It’s my failure for not controlling my men. I’ll fix this, I swear!”
His fear of Kayden was genuine, deeply rooted in his soul.
Kayden nodded slightly. “Alright. Then we’ll settle this my way.”
Standing, Kayden walked to Eagle and ordered, “Hold out your hand.”
Eagle hesitated for a moment, his lips trembling, before finally stretching out his hand.
Kayden grabbed one of Eagle’s fingers, his grip firm and unyielding. With a swift, clean motion, he brought his hand down like a blade.
A finger was severed.
The entire process was quick, almost clinical. Eagle didn’t flinch, save for a slight furrow of his brow. Not a sound escaped his lips.
He stared at Kayden, his eyes wide, but there was no trace of resentment. He didn’t dare harbor any.
The loss of a finger was insignificant compared to the sheer terror Kayden inspired.
The weight of Kayden’s presence-the overwhelming dominance he exuded-was enough to crush Eagle completely.
If losing a finger could resolve the situation, Eagle wouldn’t hesitate.
Seeing Eagle’s resolute acceptance, Kayden nodded again. “I hope you’ll remember what I said today. Power isn’t for abuse-it’s for doing good.”
“As for your cousin,” Kayden continued, his voice cold, “I’ll give him one chance. But he must lose a hand.”
Eagle’s lips quivered, but he bowed deeply. “Thank you, sir! Thank you!”
He turned to his cousin and barked, “Hurry up and thank him!”
The cousin’s face was pale as he stammered, “Th-thank you, sir. Thank you!”
A hand was a small price to pay for a life spared.
The two exited quickly. Moments later, a scream of agony echoed from outside the door.
Eagle returned shortly after, bowing deeply again. “Sir, please enjoy your meal. I’ll take my leave now.”
Kayden didn’t respond. He simply resumed eating with Leah and Wood Faulkner, unbothered by the earlier commotion.
Leah, however, was stunned, her mouth agape as she stared at her brother-in-law.
She had heard of Eagle before-his name often mentioned by classmates during her school days. To many, he was a legend.
His rise from a lowly subordinate to a leader was the stuff of stories.
But now, that same legend had been reduced to nothing before Kayden.
“Kayden, you’re amazing! Are you the boss of the underworld?” Leah asked, her voice filled with awe.
Kayden shook his head. “No. I’m not interested in that. But if someone does something wrong, they must face consequences.”
Though his answer was simple, Leah could sense there was more to him. Excitedly, she pressed on. “So, does this mean I can walk around Inassea without fear from now on?”
Kayden paused, then chuckled. “Even if you wanted to sleepwalk through the streets, you couldn’t. You’d block traffic.”
Leah burst into laughter.
When the meal ended, Wood Faulkner didn’t return with them. She had received a call from Lewis Henderson and went to the Henderson family’s estate instead.
Kayden and Leah walked back together, taking their time under the streetlights.
Leah bombarded him with questions, curious about the world and eager to learn. She was like a child, wide-eyed and endlessly inquisitive.
“Kayden, are you sure you’re not some kind of mafia boss? You were so imposing earlier-like a movie character. Just a glance, a single word, and they were trembling.”
She looked up at him with admiration, her eyes sparkling.
“It’s so great to have a brother-in-law like you. Even though you and my sister are divorced… can I still see you in the future?”
Kayden smiled and nodded. “Of course, you can.”
Leah stopped walking and looked up at him, her expression serious. “Then… will you remarry my sister?”
Her large eyes locked on his, full of hope and determination, as if she had been waiting to ask this question for a long time.
Kayden’s heart skipped a beat. He stopped walking too.
Would they get back together? Was there any chance for him and Georgia?
Though he didn’t blame Georgia for her decision to leave, the possibility seemed slim.
She had been so resolute, so determined to cut ties. Even if he wanted reconciliation, would she ever agree?
Looking up at the distant horizon, Kayden spoke softly, almost to himself.
“Perhaps… not.”