Several seconds passed in tension before Candra snorted harshly and stepped back. "We'll see about that!" he said, turning around and leaving in a fit of emotion.Once Candra was gone, the atmosphere in the cafeteria returned to normal.Ferdinan let out a long sigh. "Bro, you really like to stir up trouble, huh?"Hansen smiled faintly and sat back down. "I don't look for trouble. Trouble just finds its way to me."The cafeteria owner approached with a worried look. "Kid, can you not cause chaos in my place? My chair's already a casualty, you know?"Hansen pulled out several bills and placed them on the table. "For the chair and a little compensation for the tension earlier."The owner immediately smiled with relief. "Ah, a responsible young man! Thank you, thank you!"Ferdinan chuckled. "At least you won in one thing, bro. You managed to make Candra look like a clown. But it seems like you're also loaded now.""Do you believe I’m actually a rich kid in disguise?" Hansen teased.Ferdin

Swoosh!Bam!Kai was thrown hard to the ground as a punch landed squarely on his face."Aarrgh!" He spat blood, feeling one of his teeth come loose. His eyes widened in disbelief at what had just happened.Several Black Mamba members nearby rushed to his side. "What happened?!"Kai lifted his bruised face and stared at the figure standing before him. Under the dim streetlight, Hansen stood with his fist still clenched, his expression calm yet dangerous."Y-You..." Kai stammered, still trying to comprehend the situation."You talk too much in public," Hansen said coldly.The remaining Black Mamba members immediately went on alert, drawing knives and chains. "Bastard! How dare you attack Kai!"Hansen shrugged nonchalantly. "If you want to join him, feel free."Without further hesitation, three men charged at Hansen simultaneously!One swung a knife at Hansen’s chest, while another attempted to strike from the side with a metal chain.However, to Hansen, their movements felt slow.He lea

Hansen stood tall in the center of the circle formed by the remaining Black Mamba members. Fear was written all over their faces, while their leader, Stanley, now knelt with his head bowed before Hansen.“From this moment on, Black Mamba is under my control,” Hansen declared firmly. His voice echoed through the narrow alley, asserting who now held power.Stanley slowly raised his head, his face drenched in cold sweat. “Understood, Sir... I will ensure that all members follow your orders.”Hansen gave a slight smile. “Good. But before that, I want to know one thing.” His gaze turned sharp. “Who’s the outsider that ordered my assassination?”Stanley swallowed hard. “I... I don’t know his name. He came a few weeks ago, bringing a lot of money and detailed information about you. He wasn’t an ordinary man, Sir. The way he moved—it was like a trained killer or... someone from a major organization.”Hansen narrowed his eyes. “Tell me more.”Stanley quickly nodded. “All I know is he had a bla

Chelsea walked briskly to her apartment, her heart still pounding. The night air, which should have felt cold, was strangely warm against her skin. Hansen… that man was so mysterious, so tempting, yet he carried something that wasn’t easy to uncover.Once inside, Chelsea leaned against the door and exhaled deeply. She pressed her hand to her chest, trying to calm the racing beat of her heart.“What just happened?” she murmured.She shook her head, then walked to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Her hand trembled slightly as she sipped it. Their conversation had been so intense. Hansen seemed to be inviting her into a world she had never set foot in before. A world of shadows, full of secrets, yet—strangely—magnetic.Chelsea stared at her reflection in the window. “I need to focus. I have a presentation tomorrow. I can’t let myself get caught up in someone like him.”But no matter how hard she tried to push him from her mind,

"There will be another opportunity," Hansen said calmly, gazing at Alyssa who still looked weary yet filled with curiosity. Alyssa stared into his eyes, as if trying to find answers beyond his words. But all she saw was steadfastness and a deep sense of responsibility. “You should rest and eat more,” Hansen continued, averting his gaze. “Your body is still weak after the ritual.” Laotaro approached, his eyes softening as he looked at his daughter. “Return to your room, Alyssa. We’ll take care of the rest.” Alyssa opened her mouth, ready to protest, but in the end, she simply nodded. She knew when to obey. After Alyssa was escorted away by her assistant, Hansen and Laotaro made their way to Laotaro’s private study located in the west wing of the mansion. The room was quiet, its walls lined with old bookshelves and maps of the underground territories. Laotaro poured two glasses of liquor and hand