The masked gunman's finger tightened around the trigger.
His rifle was aimed directly at Benny.
At this distance...
There was no time to dodge.
No time to think.
"B-Brother Benny!"
Xavier screamed, wrapping both arms around Benny's waist.
Benny instinctively turned his body.
If a bullet had to hit someone...
It would hit him first.
Nathan's icy eyes narrowed.
"So that's your choice..."
Without hesitation, he pushed off the ground.
His polished shoes pounded against the asphalt as he charged through the battlefield.
Marcus' face changed.
"Boss!"
Nathan ignored him.
Bang!
His pistol barked.
The bullet struck the attacker's shoulder.
The masked man cried out, his rifle firing wildly into the air instead of at Benny.
Before he could recover—
Nathan closed the remaining distance.
He drove his knee into the man's stomach.
The attacker doubled over.
Nathan grabbed the rifle before it could hit the ground and smashed the butt of it across the man's face.
Crack!
The masked man collapsed unconscious.
Nathan tossed the rifle aside as though it were worthless.
Another attacker rushed from the alley, knife in hand.
Nathan didn't even look surprised.
The man lunged.
Nathan sidestepped effortlessly.
His hand shot forward, grabbing the attacker's wrist.
Snap!
A sickening crack echoed through the street.
The knife fell to the ground.
Nathan caught it before it landed.
With one swift movement, he slammed the hilt into the man's temple.
The attacker crumpled to the pavement.
Marcus and the others finally reached him.
Their rifles roared.
Rat-tat-tat!
The remaining gunmen were forced back behind abandoned cars.
"Boss!"
"The eastern team has arrived!"
Nathan glanced toward the far end of the street.
Three more black SUVs drifted around the corner.
His reinforcements.
The attackers noticed them too.
"...Retreat!"
One of the masked men shouted.
Smoke grenades rolled across the road.
Pssshhh!
Within seconds, thick gray smoke swallowed the battlefield.
Visibility dropped to almost nothing.
Marcus cursed.
"They're escaping!"
Nathan lowered his pistol.
"Let them."
Marcus blinked.
"...Boss?"
"They've already failed."
His attention shifted away from the fleeing attackers.
Instead...
He looked at Benny.
The young man still stood protectively in front of Xavier despite his trembling legs.
His clothes were covered in dust.
His breathing was uneven.
Yet the first thing he did...
Was check whether Xavier was hurt.
"Xavier."
Benny knelt immediately.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
The little boy shook his head vigorously before throwing himself into Benny's arms.
"I'm okay..."
"I thought..."
"I thought you were going to die..."
Benny smiled weakly.
"I'm still here."
The little boy burst into tears.
"I don't want you to leave me..."
"You promised..."
Benny gently hugged him.
"I know."
"And I'm keeping my promise."
Nathan watched the scene silently.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
He found himself staring longer than necessary.
Marcus noticed.
"Boss?"
Nathan looked away.
"Call the police anonymously."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"The police?"
Nathan calmly slipped his pistol back beneath his suit jacket.
"They'll arrive eventually."
"But by then..."
"We'll be gone."
"Understood."
Nathan walked toward Benny.
His footsteps stopped only a meter away.
Benny slowly looked up.
"...Mr. Nathan."
Nathan's expression remained unreadable.
"Can you stand?"
Benny tried.
The adrenaline that had kept him moving moments earlier finally faded.
Pain shot through his ankle.
He nearly lost his balance.
Nathan caught his arm before he could fall.
"You twisted it."
Benny looked embarrassed.
"I think so..."
Nathan released him once he regained his footing.
"You should see a doctor."
"I'm fine."
Nathan gave him a cold look.
"That wasn't a question."
Benny fell silent.
Xavier peeked out from behind Benny.
His small eyes cautiously observed Nathan.
The man looked frightening.
His suit was immaculate despite the battle.
His sharp blue eyes seemed capable of freezing anyone in place.
Yet...
He had saved them.
The little boy gathered his courage.
"...T-Thank you..."
Nathan lowered his gaze toward him.
For several seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Then Nathan reached into his coat pocket.
He pulled out a neatly wrapped strawberry candy.
Marcus almost choked.
The other bodyguards exchanged stunned glances.
Nathan...
Carried candy?
Nathan held it out.
Xavier looked at Benny for permission.
Benny nodded gently.
"It's okay."
The little boy accepted it with both hands.
"...Thank you, Mister."
Nathan gave a small nod.
"Be brave."
Xavier clutched the candy tightly.
"I will."
The distant sound of police sirens grew louder.
Nathan turned toward Marcus.
"We're leaving."
Marcus nodded.
"The cars are ready."
Nathan took one last look at Benny.
"Our next meeting..."
"I hope it's under better circumstances."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked toward the waiting black sedan.
The convoy pulled away just as the first police vehicles entered the street.
Benny watched the black cars disappear into the distance.
He still didn't know who Nathan really was.
But one thing had become painfully clear...
The mysterious man wasn't an ordinary businessman.
And somehow...
Their lives had become intertwined once again.