《No Saints in the City》 Chapter 1 – "The Quiet Man" Harrison Citys air was always gray. Even when the sun shone, the city remained veiled in a dull haze. The streets were filled with muffled noise, and people moved through life avoiding one another. This was a city where you had to learn how to survive. Vincent Kang was well accustomed to such an environment. He ran a small repair shop in the outskirts of the industrial district, living a quiet life. To others, he was just a silent Asian mechanic. Office workers passed him by, and only the nearby construction workers occasionally used his shop. He wanted this. A quiet life. But the world had no intention of leaving him alone. 9:00 AM. Vincent opened the repair shop as he always did. A worn-out radio on the counter played a faint jazz tune. He slipped into his work overalls, grabbed an oil-stained wrench, and lost himself in an engine. This was his ordinary life. "Don''t you ever get bored living like this?" A voice from the neighboring caf. Rachel, the owner, stood at the door, holding two cups of coffee. Vincent glanced up briefly before returning to his work. "...It''s not bad." "Really? You sound like someone who drinks the same coffee every day." She smirked, placing one of the cups on his desk before casually walking away. Vincent picked up the cup. It was warm. He planned to spend another quiet day. But that afternoon, he was forced to make a choice. "Hey, you bastard! Are you deaf?" A small convenience store across the street. A group of men were harassing the store clerk. Threeno, four of them. Their exhausted expressions made it clear they werent new to this. One of them had already leaned over the counter, grabbing at the register. Vincent ignored them. "It''s not my problem." He turned back to his engine. But his hands hesitated for a moment. Was this really not his problem? "Please... Dont do this. There''s a CCTV here..." The clerks voice trembled. Then one of the men laughed and grabbed something from the shelf. A glass bottle. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. And without hesitation, he swung it toward the clerk. CRASH! The sound of shattering glass echoed through the store. Vincents eyes flickered. He let out a slow breath. "I could ignore it. But they crossed the line." Vincent put down his tools. Slowly, he stood up. As he stepped outside, one of the men smoking near the entrance scoffed. "What the hell do you want, Asian boy?" Vincent didnt answer. He simply stared. One of them chuckled and stepped forward. "Oh? You wanna get your ass kicked too?" Vincent remained silent. He was calm. Quiet. But In the next instant, that silence exploded. THUD! His fist slammed into the mans stomach. It wasnt just a punch. It was precise. Calculated. Perfectly executed. The man doubled over and collapsed. The others recoiled in shock. "What the fuck?! Who is this guy?!" Vincent didn''t answer. In a split second, he assessed the situation. How many were left, where they stood, if they were armed. He had already decided the outcome. One of them swung the broken bottle. Vincent tilted his head just enough to dodge, grabbed the mans arm, and twisted it. CRACK! A scream of agony erupted. The third guy lunged. Vincent swept his leg, knocking him off balance, then slammed him headfirst into the counter. THUMP! The man crumpled unconscious. In mere seconds, three were down. The last one took a step back, eyes wide with fear. "Y-You You''re a fucking psycho!" Vincent just looked at him. The man hesitated, then turned and ran. Silence filled the store. The clerk had collapsed to the floor, trembling. Vincent stood still for a moment before slowly turning away. It should have been over. But then "T-Thank you... But who who are you?" Vincent stopped. "...Just a passerby." Without another word, he walked back to his shop. But he already knew. This wasnt the end. They would come back. Men like them never let things slide. And Harrison City It would never let him live in peace. "I wanted a quiet life. But the world wouldn''t let me have it." **** Chapter 2 C "Dreams" Fire. Gunfire. Screams. Vincent Kang stood in the heart of hell. He wore tactical gear, rifle in hand. His squad moved like shadows, each step precise and deliberate. Their mission: extract the hostages and eliminate the targets. "Target building, 50 meters ahead. Enemy armed and stationed." A voice crackled through his earpiece. Vincent inhaled sharply. "We move." He took the lead, entering the building with surgical precision. Corpses of fallen enemies littered the floor. "We are justice." Thats what he once believed. But At that moment "Is this justice?" A voice whispered in his head. He turned. Blood pooled across the floor. A body lay motionless. In its hand A toy gun. "...!" Vincents hands trembled. "Target neutralized. Area secure." His teammates voice came through the comms. But he could feel it. His throat was dry. His breath, uneven. "What have we done?" The world around him began to shatter. Gasping. Sweat dripping down his forehead. Vincent bolted upright in bed. Darkness. Through the window, Harrison Citys neon-lit night pulsed faintly. He exhaled deeply, staring at his trembling hands. The sensations were still there. "...It was just a dream." But he knew. It wasnt just a dream. It was a memory. He dragged himself to the bathroom. In the mirror, he saw himself. The shadows beneath his eyes. The exhaustion carved into his face. He pulled off his shirt. His body bore the marks of the past. Bullet wounds. Knife scars. Burns from explosions. His fingers traced each one. And with each touch, the memories came rushing back. Fallen comrades. Missions completed. Betrayals suffered. And the undeniable fact that he survived. But survival wasnt always a blessing. His voice echoed in the empty room. "What we did was it ever justice?"
The shower ran. Scalding water cascaded over him. He pressed his palms to his face. The dreams never left. He whispered, almost to himself "It should have ended." But he knew. The past. The wounds. The memories. They would never let him go. "The war is over. So why does it still rage inside me?" 2.“The Underworld” Episode 3 C "The Underworld" A dark alley swallowed by shadows in a forgotten corner of the city.A run-down bar flickering with cheap neon lights. In a back room, men in black sat around a table.Stacks of cash and weapons lay sprawled out, and the thick smoke of cigarettes hung like a fog. "Boss"One of the thugs, face still bruised from last night, muttered as he held his jaw."We got hit." At that, a man in the corner, calmly puffing on a cigar, raised his head with mild interest.He spoke quietly. "By who?" The thug clenched his teeth."Don''t know his name. He was alone. But he was not normal." "Not normal?" The thug took a deep breath.His body trembled slightly at the memory. "There were five of us. We thought it''d be quickjust rough him up a bit.But that guy he was a real fighter. Took us down one by one." "And?" "He let us live. That''s what made it worse." "He let you live?" Now a few in the room raised their eyebrows.In this city, where power came from fear, sparing your enemy was unheard of. Just then, another man walked in.He leaned in and whispered something to the man with the cigar. His expression shifted."What now?" "One of the guys who got beat down turns out he''s the son of a higher-up." CRACK.A glass shattered. The air in the room turned cold. "What did you say?" "That kid just tagged along to watch. Wrong place, wrong time." The boss stood up slowly. "So someone laid hands on my friend''s son?" A wicked grin curled on his lips. "This is getting interesting." The next day. The underworld''s intel unit was assembled.Using the city''s surveillance network, they began combing through the incident. "Here." The spot where the fight went down.CCTV footage began playing. Five thugs surrounding one man.He stood still. Calm. "At first he wasn''t even going to fight back." They watched closely. ThenHe moved. One thug went flying.Another raised a pipehis wrist snapped with surgical precision. His movements were clean. Efficient.And most of all "he doesn''t hesitate." He didn''t fight like a street punk.He fought like a soldier. After dispatching all five, he vanished into the night. Silence filled the room. The men glanced at one another. Then one muttered,"This guy''s not your average fighter." They hesitated.Sure, revenge was easy.But after seeing this "Boss, this one''s different." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The man''s skills weren''t something you picked up on the street.He was trained. Experienced. "Whoever he is, he''s above anything we''ve raised in this organization." The boss finally spoke. "In that case" A slow, cunning smile spread across his face. "Let''s test himand bring him in." The room stilled.Then slowly, everyone nodded. This city always had a place for the strong.And the strong always found their way to the shadows. Their plan was set. Test him.Break him just enough.Then bring him into the fold. That night. The organization moved. They began mapping out the stranger''s life.Where he slept. Where he worked. The quiet city began to darkenAnd that darkness was closing in on Vincent Kang. If they could bring him in,Then maybeThey''d found their next perfect predator. Episode 4 C "Shaken Peace" Mornings in Harrison City never changed.A gray sky. Honking cars. Crowded streets. And for Vincent Kang, one more constantA quiet, routine day. But not today. At the auto shop, Vincent began work like usual.He thought it''d be another unremarkable day. But people on the street gave him strange looks.When he turned, they looked away.Some lingered just a little too long in front of his garage. Vincent (to himself):"That''s odd." Then came a familiar voice. Rachel:"Hey you hear the news?" She walked in, carrying two cups of coffee, her eyes glinting with amusement. Vincent didn''t look upstill deep in the engine. Vincent:"What news?" Rachel:"The rumors. About you." Vincent:"Rumors?" She set the coffee on the counter and smiled playfully. Rachel:"They say you''re a murderer. Hiding out here." His hands paused.Then, without reaction, he grabbed the coffee and took a sip. Vincent:"A murderer?" Rachel:"Yup. Word is, you''re on the run." Rachel (grinning):"Or maybe you''re ex-military? Or a failed MMA fighter who went off the grid?" Vincent let out a dry laugh. Vincent:"So which one is it?" Rachel:"If I knew that, would I be here asking?" She laughed it off, but watched his reaction closely.In this town, rumors spread like wildfire.Beating up a few thugs had turned into urban legend overnight. That afternoon. A few thuggish-looking guys started hanging around outside the shop.Not part of the main crewbut clearly sent for a reason. They smoked.They watched. And they made sure everyone heard them. Thug A:"Yo, look at this guy. Totally looks like a killer." Thug B:"Seriously? He''s the one who took out those punks?" Thug C:"He''s like John Wick or something. We should be careful." Passersby started to take notice.Whispers followed Vincent wherever he went. He kept working, ignoring it all.But the tension in the air grew thicker. Vincent (to himself):"They''re moving. This is the start." That evening.He stopped by a caf for coffee.The same caf where people used to greet him warmly. But today, they sat a little farther away.Spoke a little softer. Resident A (whispering):"Think he''s really ex-mob?" Resident B:"No way he''s just a mechanic." Resident C:"Hope he doesn''t bring trouble here" Vincent (to himself):"They''re preparing to isolate me. The organization''s next move is coming." That night, somewhere in the city. A commotion broke out.Organized. Deliberate. The group began stirring up troubleTargeting the neighborhood.Not attacking Vincent.But sending a message. Thug A:"When did this town start having problems, huh?" Thug B:"Wasn''t it right after that incident at the convenience store?" They didn''t say his nameBut everyone knew who they meant. Resident D:"That guy he''s like John Wick or something, right?" Resident E:"No way he''s just a regular guy. No one fights like that." Suspicion grew.Whispers spread. And soon, Vincent Kang became the problem. That night, Vincent closed the shop.Lit a cigarette. Through the dusty window, he saw shadows movingWatching. Vincent (to himself):"They''ve already started the fight. But not with fists. With isolation." He put out the cigarette.Stood up. And when he opened his eyesThey were different. Vincent:"Time to make my move 3.“Shadows Cast” Episode 5 C "Shadows Cast" Nights in Harrison City were always uneasy.Dim streetlights cast a dull glow, and the darkness of the city at night felt heavier than in daylight. Vincent Kang was closing up his garage.Just as he reached for the door, a familiar commotion echoed outside. Across the street, in front of a small bar, a confrontation was brewing.A few thugs, pretending to be drunk, were cornering the bartender. "Hey, you''re with him, aren''t you? Just being around him means you know something." The bar owner raised his hands, trying to explain, but one of the men grabbed his collar and shoved him against the wall. "Don''t lie to us. We know everything." Vincent stood at the doorway, quietly watching.Other residents were already aware but kept their distance. Some peeked through their windows. Others simply looked away. The thugs shoved the bar owner to the ground.Then, only after confirming Vincent had seen it all, they slowly disappeared. As if it was all a show, just for him. Vincent understood then. They wouldn''t come at him head-on.Instead, they''d start picking apart the people around him. The next morning, tension hung in the market street. People whispered.Thugs were scattered throughout the crowd, subtle but noticeable. They harassed elderly vendors under the guise of collecting fees,spread unease, and stirred up gossip. And Vincent''s name kept surfacing. "I heard he used to be in the mob." "He''s pretending to live quietly, but no normal guy fights like that." "What if he''s like John Wick or something?" What began as jokes were becoming accepted truths. Vincent sat in a caf, sipping his coffee, watching it all unfold. From a distance, he heard a woman mutter "Things started going wrong around here when he showed up." "Yeah. Why do we have to get caught in his mess?" Some avoided his gaze.Others stared too long. Vincent''s face didn''t change,but he knew exactly what was happening. The organization was isolating him. Using fear. Using the people. That afternoon, a group of punks showed up at his garage. "Nice little shop here. Mind taking a look at our car?" One of them kicked a car door and smirked. Vincent slowly set down his wrench and turned to face them. They raised their voices. "I heard the boss here fixes cars and breaks people." "What was it again? Ex-hitman? You help us out, we''ll pay real nice." Provocationwithout directly laying hands on him. Vincent just stared at them. One of them reached for a tool. "How much is this worth?" Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. The moment his hand touched it Vincent moved. He grabbed the thug''s wrist, twisted. CRACK.The tool hit the floor. The thug screamed. The others flinched, unsure. Vincent said nothing.Just let out a short breath and released his grip. The punk stumbled back, clutching his wrist. "Shit freakin'' psycho." They didn''t push further.They disappeared quickly. But even after they leftthe street was unnaturally quiet. That evening, when Vincent walked into the caf, people physically moved away. Rachel scowled as she approached. "You noticed, right? People are nervous. Because of you." "I haven''t done anything." "That''s the problem." She handed him a coffee. "People don''t care what you do. They just don''t want to be next to it. You''re on your own now." Vincent took the cup. Looked out the window. A manone of themwas watching from the end of the alley. He took a sip. They were never going to leave him alone. That night, Vincent stood inside his garage, watching through the window. The thugs were on the move again. Not just the bar nowthey were hitting other shops, threatening the residents. "As long as he stays in this town, you''ll bleed too." The voice wasn''t loud.But Vincent heard it. People turned their eyes away.No one said a word. Vincent lit a cigarette.Watched the night. He knew nowthey wanted him to make the first move. He stood up.Closed the window. And began gathering his gear. There was no reason to hold back anymore. "It''s my turn now." Episode 6 C "The Hunt Begins" The air in Harrison City was still heavy.But tonight, something changed. The organization made its move.And Vincent Kang wasn''t going to wait. He would not be the hunted.He would become the hunter. Late at night, Vincent stepped out of his garage.His pace calm, light. But he knewhe was being watched. At the corner, two spotters sent a message. Vincent didn''t react.He kept walkingstraight into their trap. They had brought numbers.A full operation to capture him. They locked down an entire alley.Anywhere he ran, they''d close in. But Vincent knew. He chose a narrow alleyone where their numbers meant nothing. The shadows thick.The space tight. They wanted him alive. That was their mistake. As Vincent stepped deeper into the alley,the back closed off. Ahead, five approached. One sneered. "Nowhere to run, Vincent Kang." Vincent lit a cigarette.Exhaled slowly. "I wasn''t planning on running." Thenhe struck. Before the first man could raise his weapon, Vincent''s fist smashed his jaw. A sickening crack.The body hit the ground. Another drew a knife.Vincent stepped aside, seized his armsnap. "AGH!" The knife now in Vincent''s handhe drove it into a third man''s thigh. Three others attacked at once. But the alley was too narrow.They got in each other''s way. Vincent used the wall to launch himself, twisted one arm behind its owner''s back SLAM.Another body down. Two left. He swept one''s legs.Heard the crunch as the man hit the ground. From behind, another came swinging. Vincent jumpedpushed off the wall CRACK!His boot met the attacker''s face. Unconscious. All fivedown in seconds. Noise brought reinforcements. Ten more surged in. Vincent dropped his cigarette.Took a deep breath. And drew his gun. The first raised his weaponVincent shot first. Two shots. Chest. Head. Down. He charged.Kicked off the wall.Fired midairtwo more bullets, two more hits. Landing low, he reloaded and dropped a third. Another came in.Out of bullets. Vincent flung the gunsmashed his face. In one motion, he drew a blade from his belt.Slashed a gut.Drove it into an arm. Screams. Gunshots rangbut Vincent moved like a phantom. There, then gone. Only three remained. They trembled. One shouted,"This guy''s not human!" Vincent stayed calm. "No. So why''d you come after me?" He stepped forward. They pointed their gunsshaking. Vincent advanced. And in a flashthey were down. Silence. Only bodies remained. Vincent dragged one surviving thug to the wall.Propped him up. The man''s eyes were wide with terror. Vincent spoke, cold and flat. "You thought you were hunting me?" The thug gasped. Nodded. Vincent pressed the barrel to his forehead. "Now I hunt you." He pulled the trigger. BANG. The thug didn''t die. Just unconscious. Vincent walked away from the alley,leaving the bodies behind. Darkness fell over their broken forms. 4."From Prey to Predator" **Episode 7 C "From Prey to Predator"** The organization was seething with rage after the alley incident. The man they dismissed as just a mechanic had shattered all their expectations. Now, they chose a new method: Not brute force, but targeting Vincent''s weak points The people around him. --- Harrison City looked no different on the surface. But Vincent could feel the shift. The enforcers no longer touched him directly. Instead, they went after those close to him. The bartender glared at him with a bruised face. His bar window was shattered, graffiti scrawled on the wall: "Get out of this town." Outside Rachel''s cafe, unfamiliar men loitered. She looked at Vincent, her face tight with worry. And near the convenience store, more trouble. When Vincent approached, two men were threatening the clerk. "Looks like today you''re giving us the cash for free, huh?" The clerk had gone pale. Vincent walked up slowly. They didn''t flinch. Instead, one smiled. "Oh, look who decided to show up. We''re not here to fight *you* today." "Just setting the tone, y''know?" Their words were light, but their message was crystal clear: **"Stay still, and we''ll keep hurting those around you."** --- The townspeople were on edge. "Are we suffering because of *him*?" "Can''t we just ask him to leave?" Some still trusted Vincent, but the tide was shifting. Fear was spreading, and Vincent could feel it. He sighed. He knew it now: **They were watching him. Waiting.** --- That night, they finally made their move. A quiet alley. Vincent walked in. Figures emerged on the opposite side. These weren''t street thugs anymore. These were trained, armed enforcers. One stepped forward. "You made a good choice coming out here, Vincent. About time." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He lit a cigarette, eyes steady. "From the moment you started interfering with us, this outcome was inevitable." With a flick of his hand, they charged. --- In the narrow alley, Vincent reached into his toolbox and grabbed a crowbar. The first one lunged. Vincent didn''t dodge. He swung hard. Crack. An arm broken. A scream. The rest rushed in. Vincent had already read their rhythm. He shifted his weight, using the walls to spin and control the space. Crowbar downa head. Then a thigh. A knife flashed. Vincent ducked low, smashed the wrist with the crowbar''s handle. Disarmed. He stepped in and shoved the man back with full force. In the cramped chaos, the attackers got in each other''s way. Vincent exploited it perfectly. One by one, he dropped them. Blood pooled on the floor. --- Realizing the alley was too tight, the enforcers pulled back And led Vincent into an open courtyard. Exactly what he wanted. More men surrounded him. Weapons drawn. Gunfire erupted. The battle changed. Vincent had to take down the shooters first. He darted for cover, using the terrain. As one aimed, Vincent closed the distance, broke the man''s wrist kicked the gun away. Another came from behind Vincent spun, elbowed him in the jaw. Strike. Counter. Unshaken. --- Then "Vincent!" A voice behind him. A local had jumped into the fray to help. He managed to strike one attacker. But another was sneaking up behind him. Vincent made a split-second decision. He rushed overand knocked the man out cold with a blow to the neck. Silently, he dragged him to safety and turned back. --- **Final Scene: The Reckoning** The remaining men had seen enough. Fear etched into their faces. "H-he''s not human..." Vincent faced the last one. "Now you know what you need to do." He stepped forward. No one attacked. They ran. --- Episode 8 C "A Night Stained with Blood" For a moment, Harrison City felt calm. The enforcers were crushed. The shadows recededif only briefly. But it was never going to last. --- **Morning.** Outside the garage. Vincent opened up shop. The convenience store clerk gave him a thumbs up. "You did good. It''s quiet for once. Thanks, Vincent." But others looked uneasy. "Is it really safe while he''s around?" "What if they come back for revenge?" People who once ignored him were now wary of him. Vincent drank his coffee, observing. He knew. **He couldn''t stay here anymore.** As long as he remained, trouble would follow. --- **On the city''s outskirts.** A quiet clearing. But not today. Black SUVs rolled in from the distance. The organization wasn''t done. They were sending in everything they had left. Vincent pulled on his leather jacket. Took a deep breath. "So it finally comes to this." He opened a drawer and pulled out a custom knife. Light, balanced, forged to his hand A relic from his military days. "Didn''t think I''d use this again." Gun. Knife. He stepped outside. --- The SUV doors opened. Armed men emerged like beasts released from the dark. Boots thudded heavy against the ground. Guns. Blades. Brawlers. One stepped forward. "There''s nowhere left for you to run." Vincent smirked. "Who said I was running?" His hand reached for his waist. **Bang.** One fell, clutching his chest. Chaos exploded. They fired wildly, but Vincent was already moving. Ducking behind obstacles, circling wide He fired back. A bullet to the skull. One more down. --- Close combat. **Click.** Out of ammo. Vincent didn''t hesitate. He pivoted, dodged, struck. One attackerdisarmed. Gun taken. Knee shattered. Then **Two bullets.** Precise. Lethal. He hurled his empty gun into another''s face, Drew his knife. Clean. Sharp. Every strike purposeful. A blur of motion. A massacre. Bodies lay silent. --- Vincent holstered his weapon. He knew now. There was no reason to stay. No matter what, someone would keep coming. He opened his car door. Prepared to leave. But then His phone rang. He answered. The voice froze him. "It''s been a while, Vincent." It was his former commanding officer. --- **Elsewhere. In the shadows.** Inside an intelligence agency''s office, a screen displayed the recent chaos in Harrison City. An entire force wiped out in minutes. Vincent''s ghostlike presence on CCTV. A man watched the footage. He clasped his fingers together. And muttered: "Now it''s our turn." 5. “Shadows of the Past”(Flashback Episode) The desert wind blew hot and dry.Dust rose into the sky, and the sun blazed down like it meant to burn everything away. In the middle of it all, the Guardian Unit rolled through the sands. Their convoy pulled into the base.Dust-covered soldiers climbed down, unloading gear and letting out exhausted sighs. Among themVincent Kang.His face was tired, but the team''s mood was light. "Hey Vincent, heard you handled the whole mission on your own again,"Alex teased with a grin. "Not my fault the enemy was dumb,"Vincent replied with a shrug. "Careful, you''ll end up eating our lunch too,"Taylor laughed. Laughter echoed through the camp.But Brad, more serious than the others, looked at Vincent with a furrowed brow. "You always go in too hard, too fast. Leave something for the rest of us." "It''s less dangerous when I finish it quick. Means we get more time to relax, right?" "Still you''ve got people watching your back. Sometimes, let us do our part." Vincent didn''t answer.He lit a cigarette, eyes distant.He had never let anyone guard his backnot once. A few days later, a new mission arrived. Operation: Red Eagles Target: Eliminate high-value asset Naharama Secondary: Rescue hostages Location: Enemy stronghold, outskirts of the desert The briefing was short.Afterward, the team gathered around the map. Vincent studied the layout carefully. Something felt wrong. "They really stationed someone that important here?" "Lucky us,"Alex said casually. But Vincent wasn''t convinced.It was too quiet. Too perfect. "Brad, doesn''t this feel like bait?" "Having one of your feelings again?" "It just feels... too easy." "You''re overthinking. Just do it your way." Vincent hesitatedThen nodded. "...Yeah." He didn''t know this mission would tear his life apart. They deployed near the objective in tactical trucks.Guards were taken out silently.Cameras disabled.Quick, surgical precision. Silencers. Ropes. Shock weapons.It was textbook. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Here''s the door.""Told you it''d go fine, paranoid bastard,"Brad laughed. Vincent led the team in.Target secured. Then BOOM. The floor gave way. Explosion. Dust. Chaos. Vincent and Brad fell hard, crashing into a lower level.Their ears rang. Breaths shallow. They were ambushed. The underground chamber was damp, flickering lights hanging overhead. They were in a trap. "Damn you were right,"Brad muttered, dragging himself up. "Hate being right sometimes,"Vincent growled. TAP. TAP. TAP.Boots echoed from above. "Welcome, Guardian Unit,"a voice rang through a speaker."This little hellhole was built just for you." Vincent yanked Brad into cover.Gunfire rained down.Walls cracked. "Seven armed. Three melee.""Can''t charge through," Brad said. Vincent scanned their surroundings.Rusty chains. A metal pipe. A sickle on the wall.Dim lighting. He kicked a bulb.Darkness spread across part of the room. "Now we fight on my terms." "Lights are out! What the hell?""Flashlights! Move!" Vincent slipped into the shadows. Target One:As he fumbled with his flashlightCLANG.Pipe to the head. Instant down. Target Two:Vincent swept low, slashed a wrist.Gun fell. Arm twisted. Slammed into the wall. Target Three: "There he is!" Gun raised Vincent leapt, kicked off the wallSpinning through the air, kicking the weapon aside, crashing into his chest. Brad joined in. "Now!" Silenced shots fired. Vincent grabbed a dropped weapon and opened fire. "2 o''clock! Watch your flank!"He signaled Brad. Crossfire. Perfect sync. Headshots. Knee shots.Clean. Fast. Deadly. Panic spread among the enemy. Vincent rolled to flank againKnife to the spine. One more down. Only three remained. They regrouped. Vincent stepped out. "This isn''t the outcome you expected, is it?" Gun in one hand. Knife in the other. The first rushed in. Vincent faked a shot.The enemy flinched. Too late.SLASH.Blade deep in his throat. Second tried to shootVincent threw a corpse.Bullets hit dead flesh. Vincent leapt again.Gun to the skull. BANG. Last man dropped his weapon, hands up. "P-please" Vincent stared at him.Lowered his weapon. And knocked him out cold. Silence. But blood was spreading. Brad. Slumped against the wall, holding his stomach.Blood pouring out. Vincent rushed over.Bandaged the wound. "Hang in there." Brad shook his head. "Not this time" He grabbed Vincent''s hand. "You were always ahead.Too fast. Too deep.We just chased after you." Vincent held on tight.But the grip was fading. "You''ll survive.You always do.Just find a reason to live." And thenHe smiled. And died. The silence was unbearable.Only the wind moved. "I survived.""But was it the right outcome?" Vincent closed his friend''s eyes.Stood. Bloody hands. And nowAlone. He gasped awake. Sweat. Shaking hands.The smell of blood, the weight of war. "I survived. But did I change for the better?" He stood, lit a cigarette. "Are they still watching me?" And outside the windowA shadow was. Episode 10 C What to Do with Him Confidential Intelligence Bureau C Operations Analysis Room A dark war room.Screens filled with data and surveillance from Harrison City. Vincent''s destruction played out in clips.Some gasped. Others weren''t surprised. "That movementclassic Guardian Unit. No doubt.""We have operatives like that? Which unit was he even in?" The Director silenced them. "Vincent Kang singlehandedly dismantled an entire syndicate. That''s no mechanic." Agent A (Let-him-be): "He''s one of ours. Guardian-trained. We shouldn''t interfere. He''s dangerous if provoked." Agent B (Contain-him): "That''s exactly why we need to act. He''s gone rogue. No orders. No oversight." Agent A: "He was retaliating. This isn''t our problem." Agent B: "He doesn''t know when to stop. What if we''re next?" (Silence.) "" The debate dragged on.No conclusion. But one man sat silent. Robert Kane. Hands clasped, eyes cold. "You survived, Vincent.""I knew you''d resurface. The question ishow much do you remember?" "The agency won''t act fast So I will." Meanwhile, in Harrison City Vincent sat in a quiet motel, hidden from sight.He scanned the streets. Then stepped into the night.It was time to move. He froze. "Someone''s watching me." He turned. No one there. "So. It begins." Elsewhere Robert Kane made a call. "You want him eliminated?" "Yes. Vincent Kang has lived long enough.And he remembers too much." 6.Invisible Hands Vincent left the familiar neighborhood, if only for a while.But the feeling of being watched never truly left him. "Of course. I''m being tracked." Yet something didn''t sit right. "They''re professionals Why are they leaving so many traces?" Beep... Beep-beep... Beep. A call came throughno caller ID. Vincent answered. A light, almost playful voice came from the other end. "Hey, Vincent Kang. This is getting boring. I thought you''d be smarter than this." Vincent immediately scanned his surroundings, but the voice had already anticipated his moves. "You do know the government''s got a red dot on your head, right? You could be caught in, say... thirty-seven seconds.""But that''s no fun. So I''m giving you a chance." The voice on the line guided him like a puppeteerOne block to the right, two more down, past the cafVincent followed, uneased, until he stood in front of a nondescript building. Click. He entered silently. The room was clutteredwindows shut, bookshelves packed, multiple monitors glowing.It felt more like a messy lab than a safe house. At its center, a man lounged in a chair. Loose hoodie, coffee in hand, feet on the desk.He looked relaxed, but his eyes were deadly serious. "Oh, you''re faster than I thought." His voice was playfulhis gaze was not. Vincent scanned the room. "Whoever you are how did you track me?" The man smirked, gesturing toward a monitor. "Smartphones, surveillance cams, traffic lights, ATMsEverything in this city tracks you.You thought you were hidden, but I was just watching." With a few clicks, the man pulled up a trace log. Vincent''s route from the motel, to the subway, to this exact buildingdown to the minute, every surveillance camera time-stamped. Vincent stared at the screen, unfazed.But deep down, he was alarmed. "He''s far more dangerous than I expected." The man leaned in. "But here''s the real questionhow will you take this?" Another click.New footage appeared:Black-suited men on rooftops.Government operatives tracking Vincent. "You already know, don''t you?They''re planning to quietly eliminate you." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Vincent narrowed his eyes. "So what are you? Just another spectator?" The man chuckled, sipping his coffee. "Exactly. I love watching.""But you? You''re actually interesting." He set down his cup, leaned forward. "You''re a survivor." "I''ve analyzed your data. Let''s just sayThere are plenty of reasons why you should be dead." Another series of files appeared: Vincent Kang C Survivor of Operation Red Eagles Vincent Kang C Suspected in Harrison City Crime Syndicate Wipeout Vincent Kang C Flagged as High-Risk Individual by National Security "You''ve been marked by the system, Vincent.And those marked don''t live long." Vincent slipped a hand into his pocket. "So what do you want?" The man''s smile faded.His voice, suddenly serious. "I want more people like you.People who shake the system." He stood and walked toward Vincent. "Truthfully, I''d enjoy watching the government fail to kill you.But I think you should live a little longer." Vincent read him silently. "He''s not helping me. He''s using me." The man grinned again. "Simple deal. I can help you or I can sell you out.""Depends on how you play it." He held out his hand. Vincent stared for a beat, then shook it. "Fine. Let''s deal." They both knewthis alliance wouldn''t last. Episode 12 C The Hunt Begins 3:00 A.M.The city slept, but the shadows of Harrison City were wide awake. Vincent stood on the rooftop of an old apartment building, a cigarette in hand.Behind him, a laptop flickered.Beside it, a voice crackled through the speakers. "Honestly, you should''ve been caught by now. You''re better than expected." On screen, data streamed in:Location of the government''s local black ops unit.Personnel numbers, armaments, surveillance layouts. But it wasn''t just raw intel.The analyst had gone deepertracking movement patterns, camera blind spots, even psychological profiles. "These aren''t your average thugs." Vincent closed the laptop and stood. "Of course not. This time, they''re real soldiers.""They''re like you." Vincent stubbed out his cigarette. "Then I can''t go in head-on." He checked his gear:A knife, a silenced pistol, a tactical blade, and a few small explosives. The analyst spoke again. "So what''s your move, hunter?""Your turn to start the hunt." Vincent thought for a moment.Then calmly replied "In a way they''ll never expect." The government''s outpost looked like an abandoned factory.From the outside, just a dusty warehouse.Insideheavily armed agents moved with purpose. From a distance, Vincent watched.Every surveillance camera burned into his mind. They thought they were hunters.Tonight, they''d be prey. Phase One: Disruption. Vincent triggered a minor blackout by interfering with a power line across the block. The lights inside the compound flickered.Guards reached for radios. "Power anomaly. Could be an intrusion.""No issues on our end yet. Stay alert." They prepared to defend. Their mistake? They were watching the wrong direction. Vincent slipped through the back entrance.Silent. Knife ready. Thenwhoosh. His instincts screamed. He rolled. A blade sliced past his face. Someone had been waiting. The first assassin had already anticipated him. "So they were expecting me" Unlike the mob thugs before, this attacker was trained.Precise. Tactical. Calculated. "You think you came to hunt us?We were waiting for you." Vincent took a breath.This wouldn''t be a quick fight. He drew his blade but didn''t strike. Instead, he baited. First feint: a heavy left step.The assassin lunged.Vincent pivotedcountered from the right. Second feint: a retreat. He launched off the wallsnapped the attacker''s arm.Disarmed him. But the assassin retaliatedGrabbed Vincent''s wrist and slammed an elbow into his chest. "Fast bastard." Vincent rolled with the hit.But the assassin was already movingKneeling, drawing a gun. Split-second decision "A fair fight? Don''t make me laugh." Vincent fired. Not at the man. At a metal shard on the floor. The bullet ricochetedblinding flash of sparks. In that instant, Vincent lungedBlade across the neck. Blood hit the floor. Vincent exhaled.Looked down. "These guys aren''t playing around." Back at HQ, the surveillance team froze. "Waithe took out one of ours?""That wasn''t a mistake. Someone leaked intel." Panic stirred. They realized something terrifying. Vincent wasn''t just strong. Someone was helping him.Someone was feeding him information. And somewhere, far from the chaos The analyst leaned back in his chair, watching the footage. A smirk forming. "Now this is getting fun." 7. Government Is Government Episode 13 C Government Is Government Confidential Intelligence Agency C Operations Room Agents sat around a wide table, their faces tense as they watched the screen.It displayed Vincent Kang''s recent movementsalongside a list of suspected internal leakers. "Vincent Kang isn''t acting alone." The Director''s voice was calm but firm. "Someone on the inside is leaking intel. Identify them." The room fell silent. One agent pulled up data logs. "There''s evidence of recent system interference.Surveillance footage in key zones was either deleted or altered." "Only a handful of people could pull that off." "Exactly. We''ve narrowed down the suspects." The list appeared on screen: Jeffrey Wayne (Former NSA Operative) Ivan Sernov (Russian Hacker) Feynman (??? C Unknown Background) Lucas Mendoza (Former Cybersecurity Head) All eyes locked on one name. Feynman. "Who is this?" "Unknown. But traces of high-level system breaches point back to him more than anyone else." "Any confirmed ties to Vincent Kang?" "Not yet. But the probability is high." The Director tapped his fingers on the table. "Add him to the watchlist.We''re clearly missing something." A quiet night. Vincent stood at a public phone.As he lifted the receiver, a familiar voice crackled through. "Miss me already?" Vincent got straight to the point. "You''re on their list." Silence. Thenlaughter. "Oh? Guess I''m getting famous. I like that." Vincent didn''t smile. "I need to get inside the agency." Feynman''s voice shifted, curious. "Why?" "To collect intel. And to eliminate whoever''s hunting me." Rooftop hideout. Feynman tapped away at his laptop, shaking his head. "This guy''s completely insane" He sipped his coffee. "The agency? Seriously? What are you planning to do once you''re inside?" Vincent''s tone was cold. "That''s where the trail leads.My records. Their plans. The names of those tracking meit''s all in there." Feynman swiped across his screen, smirking. "I knew you were nuts, but this is next level." Vincent didn''t flinch. "You can do it." Feynman chuckled. "Damn right I can.And honestly the world''s more entertaining with lunatics like you." After a brief pause, he snapped his fingers. "Fine. I''ll forge you an ID card." "Where do I get it?" "You''ll come to me, obviously.But before that" He leaned in. "You ready to die?" Episode 14 C Hunter and Prey Vincent moved through the crowd, scanning his surroundings. Rooftops. Street corners. Subway entrances.To others, the agents were invisible.To Vincentthey were obvious. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Black suits. Earpieces. Shoulder holsters.Unmarked SUVs. Whispered comms. Eyes too alert. "They''re not here for me this time.Feynman''s the target." They had reduced their gearMoving swiftly among civilians.Light electronics, tablets, GPS, minimal weapons. They were silently closing in on the city. But Vincent had to move faster. Feynman was already aware.He''d rerouted his path and sent a signal: "If you beat me there, pick a book."Feynman, from a quiet bookstore in the city. Vincent accelerated.He mapped the agents'' net in real-time. Vehicles relaying surveillance data Agents blocking key intersections Walkers blending into the crowd But none of them had accounted for Vincent. He ducked into a side alley. Two agents moved to intercept WHAM. He disarmed one, applied a stun gun from behindclean, silent takedowns. "I''m not here to cause noise.I''m here to spread confusion." "From now on I hunt you." Vincent stepped into the bookstore.A peaceful space. The scent of paper.Customers browsed quietly. He picked up a book. From behind a shelf "God, you''re boring.Don''t you get tired of all this fighting?" Feynman emerged with a smirk.But his eyes were sharpon edge. "You made it." "Give me the card." "No ''hello''? You''re so cold." Vincent extended a hand. "We''re out of time. They''re already closing in." Feynman shrugged and opened his laptop. "I know. I sent them here. On purpose." Vincent frowned. "Are you insane?" "Nah. Just perfectly calculated." Feynman typed rapidly. "The moment they find me, I''ll already be gone." "So let''s vanish." He handed Vincent a forged government ID. "Exactly what you asked for." Vincent took it. "Then let''s move." But Creak. The front door opened. Black-suited agents entered. Their eyes swept the room.Weapons stayed holsteredfor now.But their presence was clear. "Feynman." One agent called out. "We know you''re here. Stop running." Feynman leaned in. "Guess it''s your turn to save me, huh?" Vincent inhaled. He pulled a bookthen shoved the entire shelf over. CRASH! Books cascaded.Vision blocked. He grabbed Feynman and bolted through the rear exit. Alleyway.Agents gave chase. Vincent calculated instantly: Route A: Street C 90% chance of vehicle pursuit Route B: Subway C 80% chance of camera exposure Route C: Abandoned building C 100% chance of combat "C it is." He veered left. "What, no taxi?" Feynman yelled. "Too late." Gunfire erupted behind them. The real fight had begun. 8.City of Hunters Episode 15 C City of Hunters A dark alley in the city. Vincent and Feynman ran through the rain-slick streets.Their footsteps echoed on wet asphalt, chased by the crackle of radios and the rhythm of pursuit. "Team Beta, seal the west exit. Team Delta, cover the rear. Target is to be captured alive!" Feynman gasped between breaths. "This is bad, isn''t it?! We''re seriously screwed!" Vincent scanned the surroundings. Three exits: Straight ahead C waiting vehicles. 90% chance of getting shot. To the right C subway entrance, but crawling with CCTV. To the left C abandoned building. 100% chance of combat. "Left." No hesitation. Feynman cursed as he followed. "That means we have to fight!" "That''s the point,"Vincent said, flatly."I''m buying you time." They burst into the abandoned building. Darkness swallowed them.Broken walls. Rusted steel beams.No light, only breath and tension. Vincent quickly assessed the layout, eyes on the entrance. "They''ll be here in 30 seconds." Feynman opened his laptop, fingers dancing across keys. "Then I''ve got 30 seconds to kill the power." Vincent raised an eyebrow. "You can hack this place?" Feynman smirked. "I can hack anything." Just then Agents stormed the building. "Two suspects inside. Keep lights on. Visual confirmation necessary!" The hunt had begun. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Vincent moved fast. His strategy was simple:Strike before they adapt. He melted into the shadows. As the first agent crept past a wall Thud. An elbow to the throat. Before the man could gasp, Vincent snatched his pistol and attached a silencer. "One." More agents spotted him.Guns raised. RAT-TAT-TAT! Bullets punched through walls. Vincent dropped lowfired twice. First shottore through a leg.Secondstraight through a chest behind cover. "Two." Feynman called out. "Lights out in 5 4 3" Darkness. All lights died.The building was swallowed whole. "Get lights back! Use flashlights!" Agents fumbled. That''s exactly what Vincent wanted. He became the dark. Left a neck snapped.Right a blade across the throat. One by one, they fell. From behind, Feynman muttered: "This guy He''s a damn monster." The last agent, terrified, shouted: "Fight fair, you bastard!" Vincent chuckled. "Fair?" He kicked a dropped pistolCRACK.Right into the agent''s head. "That''s for amateurs." Outside, SUVs pulled in. More agents swarmed. Vincent turned to Feynman. "Time to go." Feynman nodded, closing his laptop. "Sure. But where?" Vincent pulled out the forged ID. "To our next destination." He looked toward a government facility in the distance. "Now it''s my turn to break in." Episode 16 C Infiltration Harrison City Government Complex.A fortress amidst a city of crime and corruption. But tonight, one man intended to breach it. Vincent walked calmly toward the front gate.Metal detectors. Biometric scanners.Security was tight. A guard eyed him. "Something feels off" Just as he moved to alert someone Beep.A monitor showed Vincent exiting from the elevatoron the opposite side of the building. "What the? Isn''t that him over there?!" Confusion spread. That was the plan. Feynman''s voice echoed in Vincent''s earpiece: "Metal detectors? Please.Also, right now you''re in three places at once." Vincent smiled. "Nice work. Let''s get started." He moved through the halls without resistance.Cameras couldn''t track him.Security was scrambling. But Vincent knewIf it was this easy to get in, it meant they wanted him inside. "No telling what''s waiting for me in here." SuddenlyA security agent raised his weapon. BANG! Vincent ducked behind cover, bullet narrowly missing. "They knew. They were ready for me." Lockdown. "Security breach detected. All exits sealed." Feynman cursed through the comms. "Damn it! These guys aren''t playing. I thought you''d just waltz in!" Vincent exhaled. "Wouldn''t be fun otherwise." Agents began tactical sweepstight formation, coordinated movement. Then BOOM. Power cut. "Thanks, Feynman." Sprinklers activated. SSSSHHHHHH Water poured.Floors slicked. Vision blurred. Feynman grinned: "Poor visibility helps who again?" Vincent smiled. "Me." He moved like a ghost.Scanned enemy loadouts. One agent tried to use a flashlight THUD.Vincent''s fist to the jaw. Gun snatched. Silencer attached. Pop.Another agentkneecap shot. "Two." Comms crackled. "Damn it! He''s picking us off one by one!" Feynman went further. He hacked their radio feed: "All units, regroup on floor 3. Target sighted." Agents rushed away.Vincent headed to floor 5. "Redirecting their paths nice." Feynman chuckled. "I don''t just fight with data." Vincent reached the target corridor. But thenA man blocked the hallway. Not an ordinary agent. His eyes were sharp.His stance, military.A custom pistol in hand. "We lured you in, but I didn''t expect you to come this far." Vincent raised his weapon. "Likewise." The man smirked. "Robert Kane.Nice to finally meet the infamous Vincent Kang." 9.What the Government Hides Footsteps echoed behind Kane. "Someone''s coming." It wasn''t an ordinary presence.The pressure in the air felt... wrong. Slow, even steps.Not a guard.A hunter. At the end of the corridor, flickering lights revealed a silhouette. Then the man spoke. "Stealing from a government facility?I expected more class from you, Vincent Kang." He walked forward, towering nearly two meters.A massive build.Razor-sharp eyes.No insignia. No badge. But his posture said everythingThis was no ordinary agent.This was something else. "Orders from Robert Kane. I''m here to bring you in." Vincent narrowed his eyes.This man wasn''t natural. Not a special agentbut something specialized.Something the government had hidden. Feynman''s voice came through the earpiece. "Uh, Vincent? This guy''s not your level. Like, seriously." "The government''s been raising people like this?" Feynman furiously typed on his laptop. "No real data Wait. One codename popped up." SPECTER. Specter gave a thin smile. "So you''re Vincent Kang.This should be fun." He didn''t wait. CRACK! The ground shattered beneath his leap. "Shithe''s fast!" Vincent twisted awayWHAM!A wall exploded from the missed punch. Vincent backed off, drawing his pistol. BANG! BANG! BANG! Bullets flew. Specter? He slapped them out of the air. Clack. Clack. Clack. Vincent''s eyes narrowed. "This isn''t just enhanced strength...There''s something deeper." Specter shook his hands and chuckled. "Textbook fighting. Clean, precise.Too bad it won''t work on me." Vincent knew. You don''t beat monsters with brute strength.You outthink them. He scanned his surroundings. ThenFeynman again. "Waitgot something! Old experimental file!" "Enhanced strength, sensory amplification and a weakness." "What is it?" "Sensory overload." Vincent smiled. "Perfect." He reached into his pocket. A flashbang. "Let''s see if this works on you." CLICK. BANG! Blinding light filled the hallway. Specter flinched, covering one eye. "Damn you!" But Vincent was already gone. He sprinted down the hall, activated the sprinkler systemwater rained down, distorting vision. Then Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. BOOM. Total blackout. Feynman had killed the power remotely. Specter looked up, eyes scanning. Vincent had vanishedagain. "Interesting" He clenched his fist. "Next time, I won''t leave you space to run." Vincent slid down a drainage pipe along the building''s side. He whispered into the comms: "Feynman, I''m out. Be ready." "Copy that.But hey, next timecan we maybe not start a war?" "We''ll see." Vincent already knew. This wasn''t a chase anymore.It was war. And the real weapons of the government had just entered the field. ***** Episode 18 C Strategic Retreat Feynman looked at his tablet and smiled. "Data acquired." Vincent scanned their surroundings. "What did you get?" Feynman tapped the screen. "Classified ops.And a document with your name on it." Vincent stiffened. "My name?" Feynman handed over the tablet. [PROJECT SPECTER: Subject of Interest C Vincent Kang] "This wasn''t just surveillance." Vincent flipped through the document.And everything became clear. Every pursuit, every hit, every shadowit was all part of a larger plan. They weren''t just watching him.They were preparing to erase him. But that wasn''t what mattered. What mattered was the why. Vincent said quietly, "We can''t run. Not now." Feynman frowned. "You serious? Agents are closing in. Specter''s out there. You want a full-blown war?" "Not war," Vincent replied."Tactics." He scanned their terrain. "We''re not retreating.We''re repositioning for advantage." Feynman blinked. "So not running, not fighting.What exactly are we doing?" Vincent''s voice was low, certain. "We make them the hunted." Scene Three: Kane''s Move Confidential Ops Center C Intelligence HQ Kane sat at the table, watching the map update in real time.Vincent and Feynman''s path tracked across the city. An agent reported: "They''ve veered off predicted paths.They''re headed into the mountains." Kane laced his fingers together, murmuring: "The mountains?" A subtle smile crept across his face. "This isn''t escape.This is a trap." He looked around and gave the order. "No more games.Activate Specter.Deploy three tactical units. Full containment." "This time we end it." Back in the field Feynman wheezed as they climbed a rocky slope. "Why are we heading into the damn mountains?Wouldn''t disappearing into the city be smarter?" Vincent replied calmly. "This isn''t about disappearing.It''s about preparation." He scanned the terrain. "Limited roads.Vehicles are restricted.Hard for them to deploy full units here." Feynman scoffed. "So, it''s your ideal battleground, huh?" Vincent nodded. "We bait them inand strike where they''re weak." Feynman unpacked a drone and smirked. "While you fight like a gorilla,I''ll run overwatch from above." He launched the drone. "Let the hunt begin." **** Episode 19 C The Stage for the Hunt Mountain terrain.Thick fog.Violent wind.The hunt had begun. Vincent stood atop a rocky ridge, gazing down calmly. "This isn''t a fight.It''s a hunt." Feynman''s voice came through, piloting the drone above. "Scan complete. Three teams, twelve agents total.Specter is among them." Vincent checked his gear:One pistol. One rifle. Limited ammo. He muttered to himself, "This won''t be enough." Feynman chuckled. "Then what are you gonna fight with?" "What they brought," Vincent replied flatly. Vincent began laying traps.He didn''t need to eliminate the agents outright.He just needed to slow them, exhaust them, and control their path. Tactical Control: He collapsed boulders to block one of the major access paths. Planted crude but effective traps using thick branches across key trails. Disruption: Used drones to draw fire into empty space. Positioned reflective plates to scatter their vision at night. Psychological Warfare: Left subtle traces to bait them toward a specific route. Planned to ambush from the opposite side. Feynman muttered as he watched the plan unfold. "Man You''re a damn genius at pissing people off." Vincent gave a slight smile. "War isn''t just about firepower." "Target is nearby. Move in." The agents advanced cautiously, weapons drawn. "Stay alert. The terrain''s not on our side." Click. A foot missed its markA pit trap. "Aagh!" The agent got stuck between jagged rocks.Others rushed in to assist. "Watch it! He''s laid traps!" Then BANG! BANG! Gunfire from a hidden position. First bullet pierced a knee.Second disarmed another agent. "Sniper fire! Take cover!" But Vincent was already gone. From a distance, Specter watched. He smirked. "So. He''s not running." He removed his helmet and muttered. "He''s ahead of us. Again." "Advance.Even if we move into his trapbe ready to turn it back on him." Thenradio silence. "Bravo team, respond. Bravo, come in!" "Shit. This is Alpha.Bravo''s gone." Vincent heard it all from afar. He reloaded, whispering: "Now it begins." ****** Episode 20 C Calculated Retreat Dark forest trails. Specter pressed forward, tracking Vincent''s movements.Behind him, armed agents moved with precision. "Target is retreating rapidly. We''re close." Specter shook his head. "Too clean.He''s leading us." He stopped, scanning the forest. "Expect traps." But the agents were too deep into the chase. "Doesn''t matter.He''s cornered now." Then BANG! BANG! Shots rang out. A lead agent screamed, falling from a bullet to the thigh. "Engage! Fire back!" But Vincent had already moved. High in the branches, Vincent observed.He scavenged gear from a downed agent. Rifle. Magazines. A grenade. "Finally. Something decent." "Target is now armed. Caution!" Specter looked up. "He''s using our own weapons." Still, he didn''t move.He knew. "This isn''t a retreat.It''s bait." The others didn''t listen. "Go! Before he slips away!" "Deploy drone. Locate him!" A drone buzzed overhead. Agents aimed at it. "Shoot it down!" But the drone shifted altitude quicklyToo fast, too sharp. "Dammit! He''s got a tech guy!" Feynman chimed in over comms. "Come on. You guys really wanna play tech games with me?" Retreat or strategy? Vincent continued to pull back.But each step deeper into the forest was calculated. "Too easy." He smirked. "Target is retreating. Closing in!" But Specter didn''t buy it. "This isn''t a real retreat.No hunter gives up this easily." He gave a new order. "Change formation.Flank from the sides, not the front." Meanwhile, Vincent had reached a small forest outpost. He looked around and whispered, "This far inIt''s enough." He pressed the detonator in his hand. BOOM!!! A violent explosion lit the mountain sky. Flames erupted.The blast shockwave rippled across the forest. "What the hell?!" Agents dropped and took cover.Specter stared into the inferno. "...Just as I thought." "Search the wreckage. Find the body." The team advanced, weapons raised. "Nothing could''ve survived that" "Still. Look for remains." But by thenVincent and Feynman were already gone. 10.The Ghost That Vanished Episode 21 C The Ghost That Vanished Confidential Intelligence Bureau C Briefing Room The air was heavy.A thick silence fell over the room as the report was placed on the table. An agent spoke flatly: "No body was found." The tension intensified.Some wanted to believe Vincent Kang was dead.Others instinctively knew it wasn''t that simple. "So he escaped," Kane concluded. A few agents exchanged uneasy glances. "With an explosion of that scale, it''s natural no remains were found." Kane scoffed quietly. "So you believe that''s proof he''s dead?I wouldn''t bet on it." He pointed to the screen. Archived operation data flashed.He''d seen this tactic before used it, even.And so had Vincent. "He''s not fleeing.He''s already planning his next move." The agents felt a chill crawl up their spines. "Then where is he going?" Kane''s eyes were cold. "Somewhere we won''t expect." Elsewhere C A hidden safehouse Feynman clutched his head. "This is insane. Seriously what the f*ck, man." He stared at Vincent. "You should be running! The government''s out for your blood!" But Vincent calmly unrolled a map. "We go through the front door." Feynman blinked. "What?Did you hit your head in the explosion?" Vincent didn''t flinch. "We''re going back in." He pointed at a government facility. Feynman rubbed his temples. "You''re seriously suggesting we walk back into enemy HQ?" "They won''t expect it." Feynman exhaled sharply. "If I die helping you, I''m haunting your ass." But deep down, he knewthis crazy plan might actually be the best one. ***** Episode 22 C What No One Expected Midnight C Feynman''s hideout Feynman furiously tapped at his keyboard. "You''re actually asking me to find Kane''s location? Are you suicidal?!" Vincent nodded. "Yes." Feynman groaned. "You''re just... unreal." He scanned through surveillance logs, satellite trails, and data leaks.Finally, he pinpointed a location. "There. Exactly where I didn''t want to find him deep inside government headquarters." Vincent studied the map. "Perfect." Feynman stared in disbelief. "Perfect?! You''re walking into hell and calling it perfect?!" Vincent''s voice didn''t waver. "They''ll never expect it." Feynman laughed bitterly. "Congratulations. Even the government agrees you''re insane." Inside the government facility "Security check complete. Patrols report all clear." The guards were relaxed.To them, Vincent Kang was either dead or long gone. But they forgot one thing: "The real threat doesn''t run." At that moment, the rooftop ventilation grate slid open.A shadow slipped inside. Vincent moved like a ghost.Every camera angle calculated, every blind spot memorized.No footsteps. No noise. The guards noticed nothing.Their minds were set on one belief: "Vincent Kang wouldn''t dare come here." But he was already inside.Deep. Meanwhile, back in Feynman''s workspace... "Time to crack this sucker open" He opened the file.Or tried to. "Huh?" The file refused to open. He tried another method no luck. "Don''t tell me this is corrupted" But no this wasn''t damage.It was layered encryption. Feynman''s fingers flew across the keys.His brow furrowed. "This isn''t just any data" The structure, the embedded firewalls they weren''t for a standard file. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Then it hit him. "This has something to do with Vincent.Directly." He leaned back from the screen. "This might be too big to mess with just for fun." *** Episode 23 C Taking Down Robert Kane "All systems operational. No anomalies reported." The surveillance systems in the government facility reported nothing out of the ordinary. But No one saw it. A shadow moving in silence. Vincent Kang. He had already reached his target. "At Kane''s office." Vincent slowly opened the door.The room was sealed with high-grade securityNo signals in. No signals out. A black box. Inside, one man sat alone. Colonel Robert Kane. He looked up with calm recognition. "Long time no see, Vincent." Like greeting an old comrade. Vincent stared back, voice devoid of emotion. "Colonel Robert Kane." Kane smiled. "You survived." Vincent''s gaze darkened. "I wanted a quiet life." Kane gave a faint laugh. "And yet, you made quite the noise." Vincent didn''t respond. He stepped forward. "Our unit. Everyone''s dead except me." "Were you involved?" Kane sighed, unbothered. "Who knows." Vincent reached forward. Grabbed Kane by the collar WHAM! A hard punch to the face. Blood sprayed from Kane''s lips. But he smiled through the pain. "Did you think answers came that easy?" Vincent struck againa brutal blow to the gut. "Ghh!" Kane doubled over, coughing violently. Still, he looked up with a smirk. "You still don''t see the whole picture." Episode 24 C Breaking the Hound''s Chain No answers. Only silence. Vincent glared at Kane''s bloodied, smirking face. "Tell me. How deep were you in that operation?" Kane licked his split lip and chuckled. "Does it really matter now?" Another punch.Blood trickled from Kane''s mouth. But he kept grinning. "Still chasing meaning in all this?" "Some truths aren''t worth the cost." "Everything was already decided." Vincent inhaled deeply. "Then I guess you''ve made your peace with fate." "That means you''re no longer needed." He slammed Kane against the wall with one hand. Kane strikes back. While Vincent had him pinned, Kane''s hand subtly moved.Quiet. Precise. Unfastening the restraints on his wrist. ThenCRASH! A desk lamp exploded in a burst of light and glass. Vincent flinched instinctively, and Kane seized the chance.He lunged, throwing Vincent off balance. The two men crashed to the floor, grappling.Elbow strikes, wrist locks, counters They moved like mirrors of each other. Of course they did. They were trained in the same unit. But Kane lacked the edge of real field time. Vincent quickly gained the upper hand. The escape. Vincent pinned Kane, hand at his throat. "It''s over." Kane grinned. "If that''s what you think." Suddenly, Kane pulled Vincent forwardusing the momentum to launch himself SMASH! The window behind him shattered into shards. And just like that Robert Kane dove out of the building. A chance at survival. Vincent rushed to the broken window. What he saw Just before Kane hit the ground,a black SUV peeled away, carrying him to safety. Vincent clenched the window frame, jaw tight. "He got away." His fists curled tight. "Then I''ll just have to go deeper." 11.“A Manufactured War” Episode 25 C "A Manufactured War" Feynman''s workshop. The monitor flickered, displaying a message: Decryption complete. "It''s done." He opened the file immediately. At first, it was just strings of meaningless numbers and code.But once sorted, meaningful documents began to emerge. Diplomatic reports.Military operation files.And then A top-secret mission log. Feynman slowly began to read. "What the hell This isn''t just a battle report." As he scrolled down, the contents grew more disturbing. These weren''t just tactical recordsthey were covert government communications. One stood out: [CLASSIFIED: LEVEL 1 SECURITY C Operation Red Eagles] "Deploy our forces to incite conflict among local rebel factions.""Escalate the conflict to full-scale war to consolidate control over regional resources.""Disrupt internal power balance to realign it to our advantage.""If necessary, sacrifice allied units as strategic collateral." Feynman''s expression hardened. "They''re insane." With shaking hands, he opened another document: [Internal Communication Log] "Guardian Unit has infiltrated target zone as planned.""Should the operation be exposed, all traces must be eliminated.""Minimizing survivors, including Vincent Kang, is preferable." Feynman felt a chill crawl down his spine. This wasn''t just warit was a staged sacrifice. Vincent''s unit hadn''t been mission executorsthey were pawns in a greater game. Their deaths had been preordained. He took a deep breath and dialed Vincent. ?? "Hey. It''s worse than we thought." Vincent''s voice came calm. "Talk." Feynman stared at the screen. "Your unit... was never meant to come back." Silence. Vincent''s voice came again, emotionless. "Evidence?" "It''s all here." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Feynman continued: "Your orders were altered. You thought you were there to eliminate targets. That was just a cover." "The real objective was to escalate regional instabilitytrigger a war the government could control." Vincent didn''t reply. "So everything we fought for meant nothing?" he finally asked. Feynman sighed. "You survivedeither by luck or because you broke from the plan." "They didn''t erase you just to betray you, Vincent. You were never supposed to exist." Scene IV: Changing Priorities "Vincent Kang C location unknown." An urgent report surfaced inside the intelligence agency. "Has the decrypted file reached him?" Robert Cain read the update in silence, then smiled faintly. "Good. Now the real game begins." He rose from his seat. "Vincent Kang... If you''ve broken free of my hand, it doesn''t end the gameit reshapes it." His eyes gleamed. "You''re no longer a fugitive. You''re a threat to the entire system." Episode 26 C "The Shackles of Justice" Abandoned factory, outskirts of Harrison City. Amid the rusted steel beams, Vincent stood with a hacked terminal in hand. It contained the coordinates of Cain''s last known location. But the government was faster than expected. "Vincent Kang. Halt where you are." A figure emerged from the shadows. Nearly two meters tall.A body like a weapon.Eyes like steel. Name: Isaac RedfieldOfficial government "hero"Enhanced combatant from military experimentsAn unshakable believer in order and law His orders were clear: Do not kill Vincent Kang. Apprehend him. Vincent lit a cigarette. "So who the hell are you?" Isaac stepped forward. "I am the hand of justice. Here to stop a terrorist like you." Vincent: "Justice? You''re just a well-dressed puppet." Isaac: "You''ve committed murder. There must be consequences." Vincent: "Consequences? Who wrote the laws you''re so proud of?" Isaac: "Laws exist to preserve order!" Vincent: "Then why did your government throw us into war and discard us afterward?" Isaac: "You chose that path. You must answer for it." Vincent: "I never had a choice. Did you?" Isaac''s expression faltered. Vincent stepped closer. "You think you''re protecting justice. But whose justice is it really?" "You were protected. I never was. That''s the real difference." Isaac: "I" Vincent: "You''re a weapon of the system. Nothing more." "Think, Isaac. Who are you really fighting for?" Isaac clenched his fists. "I I have to arrest you." But he didn''t move. Vincent stepped within arm''s reach. "Then arrest me. But if you do will you still believe you''re the just one?" Silence. Old memories flared in Isaac''s mind. He too had once stood where Vincent stood. But he chose the system.Vincent rejected it. Isaac couldn''t strike.But helping Vincent would mean betrayal. After a long pause, Isaac turned away. "This ends here. For now." He walked off into the dark. "I don''t know what I believe anymore. But we''ll meet again." Vincent smirked. "Think hard about whose laws you''re upholding." Department of Defense C Internal Review Isaac was officially reprimanded.Cain ordered full termination operations. "Vincent Kang is now a threat to the system itself." "No more mistakes." Episode 27 C "The Hunt for Cain" Feynman''s rooftop setup. His screen showed thousands of data points, all scrolling rapidly. "The government tries to hide, but every lie leaves a pattern." He whispered to Vincent via comms. "I''ve buried plenty of people before. This is nothing." Government interference, disinformation, fake trailsFeynman traced them all back. Cain''s location was narrowing. Scene II: CIA and NSA Mobilize Washington D.C. C Black site conference room Protecting Cain wasn''t just the intelligence agency''s job anymore. CIA. NSA. Even the military. "He''s dug too deep.""CIA''s in.""NSA''s trackingbut oddly""He''s moving faster than we can trace." Vincent was now under every agency''s watch. The game became a race against time. Secret Interrogation Room Isaac sat across from an internal affairs agent. "You didn''t arrest him." "Why?" "Are you still loyal?" Isaac answered coldly. "I followed orders. But justice is another matter." The investigator leaned forward. "Next time you see himeliminate him." "Or we''ll eliminate you." Isaac didn''t answer. But his fists said enough. Mobile Command Vehicle Cain reviewed files inside a reinforced SUV. Specter sat beside him. "He''s after me." Cain nodded. "He already knows where I am. The question is when." Specter replied, "We end this. He can''t stay alive." Cain smiled. "Let him come." City perimeter C designated zone Feynman''s voice came through the comms. "Found him." "Mobile unit, armored convoy, Specter in tow." Vincent''s eyes sharpened. "Then it''s time I go hunting." 12.“Blood-Soaked Vincent” Episode 28 C "Blood-Soaked Vincent" Outskirts of Harrison City.Two vehicles raced down a dark, deserted road. CRASH! A black SUV slammed into Kane''s vehicle from the side.Though armored, the car skidded from the impact. "Stopped." Vincent exhaled deeply and kicked the door open.In front of him stood Kane''s security team, guns aimed. BANG! BANG! BANG! But Vincent''s movements were faster than the gunfire.He rolled sideways, scooping up a fallen guard''s pistoltwo shots, two clean takedowns. "You guys were just in it for the paycheck.""But you picked the wrong employer." A massive figure stepped out of the vehicleClose to two meters tall, clad in a reinforced combat suit.His eyes glinted with savage thrill. Specter C "Finally. Face to face, Vincent Kang."Vincent C "You''re Specter, huh."Specter C "Yeah. And you? You''re dead meat." THUD!Specter launched himself, the ground cracking beneath his feet. Vincent dodged, butJust a second late.A glancing blow from Specter''s fist split open his side. Vincent stumbled back, blood oozing. Vincent C "Shit." He lowered his stance, spun around,slashing at Specter''s legs CLANG!The blade bounced off the armor. Specter C "Really? That toy''s supposed to hurt me?" A brutal hook slammed into Vincent''s gut. "Guh!"The impact rattled his insidesHe spat blood, staggered back. But Vincent didn''t back down.He analyzed. "He relies on brute force. Fast, but repetitive.""After each strike, he drops his guardtakes a beat to regain balance." Vincent moved again.Dodged.Targeted the jointsthe weak spots. Below the neck. Just beneath the armor. THUNK!The knife sank in. Blood sprayed.Specter grimaced for the first time. Specter C "You bastard!"Vincent C "So even monsters feel pain." Out of the shadows, a silhouette emerged. An unmistakable presence. Isaac Redfield.One hand gripped a pistol.The other held footageBroken interrogation room. The truth laid bare. Specter C "You?! What the hell are you doing here?"Kane C "Isaac You dare?" Isaac had escaped.He had seen the filesthe truth buried by the government. Isaac C "What is justice?"Isaac C "I''ve found the answer." He raised his gun.Isaac C "The one who must vanish isn''t Vincent Kang." Stolen novel; please report. Kane stood slowly, laughing. Kane C "Hah. Justice? That''s cute."Kane C "You really think it''s that simple?" His hand moved subtlyBefore either could react BOOM!An explosive rigged to the SUV detonated. Kane C "It''s not over yet, Vincent." As smoke and chaos swallowed the road, Kane vanished. Vincent dropped to his knees, bleeding, eyes blazing. Vincent C "Damn you Kane." Episode 29 C "Kane''s End" When the smoke cleared,Vincent and Isaac stood amidst the wreckage. Vincentbloodied, battered.Wheezing, barely standing."Damn it My body''s giving out." Isaac, still steady, glanced at him. Isaac C "Vincent. You go after Kane."Vincent C "What?"Isaac C "I''ll handle Specter." Specter rose, wiping blood from his chin. Specter C "I''ll rip you apart." The two titans clashed.Vincent watched for a secondThen gritted his teeth and ran. Kane had already abandoned the SUV,rushing toward a waiting evac chopper. Vincent staggered after him, step by step.The only thought in his mind: Finish it. Kane C "How the hell is he still coming?!" Panicked, Kane reached for his last trick. Vincent lungedOnly to be kicked away. Kane C "You think you can fight me in that state?" He smirked, pulling a gun. Kane C "This ends here, Vincent." Vincent lay still, bleeding.Staring down the barrel. Whirrrr A sudden sound.A drone. Kane flinched.Kane C "What the?" BANG! BANG! BANG! Three shots.Knee. Shoulder. Gut. Kane dropped, groaning. A familiar voice buzzed through the drone: "Hey, Kane. Bit underwhelming, don''t you think?" Feynman. Vincent C "That was you?"Feynman C "Of course. Who else would clean up your mess?" BANG. One final shotStraight to Kane''s heart. Kane collapsed.Eyes to the sky. Kane C "This is how it ends?" His eyes closed. KANE C DECEASED. Vincent wiped blood from his mouth,Staring down at Kane''s corpse. Vincent C "Is it over?" But he knewKane wasn''t the king.He was just a piece. Feynman C "Get ready, pal."Vincent C "What?"Feynman C "Taking Kane out? That stirred up the real big fish." He turned his laptop screen. New Target: ''????'' Vincent C "So now the real war begins." Epilogue – “The Quiet Deal” Scene One C The Arrest 3 a.m. A hidden safehouse. Vincent and Feynman''s hideout was quietly surrounded. "Don''t move. CIA.""NSA''s with us. Resist, and we shoot." Vincent already had his hand on a gunBut Feynman raised a palm and muttered: Feynman C "Hey. Let''s play nice this time." Vincent gritted his teeth.Something about the way they movedThis wasn''t a takedown.It was an escort. CIA Black Site C Interrogation Room Vincent wasn''t restrained.But across the table, multiple agents studied him like a specimen. Meanwhile, Feynman sat like he owned the place. Feynman C "No coffee? Come on. Bit rude, don''t you think?" NSA Director C "Vincent Kang. And Feynman."CIA Agent C "You two are at the heart of this operation." Vincent said nothing.Before he could ask, they continued. NSA Director C "Kane has been neutralized. But not the way we intended."CIA Agent C "Do you even know what you''ve done?"Feynman C "What? Little hero cosplay?" The director stared coldly. NSA Director C "No. The issue isn''t that. We were planning to deal with ''him'' ourselves. But you blew the whole thing wide open." CIA Agent C "We could just eliminate you."NSA Director C "But we won''t." Vincent narrowed his eyes.Vincent C "Why?" The CIA agent tossed a file onto the table.Insidenew identities. For both of them. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. CIA Agent C "We''d rather bury this quietly."NSA Director C "As long as you''re alive, this thing keeps getting bigger. And we''re done escalating." "We''ll give you new names.""But you stay silent." CIA Agent C "That''s the deal."Feynman C "Hmm new name? Cool. But what about my bank account?"NSA Director C "You start at zero."Feynman C "Shit." Vincent paused. Vincent C "What if I refuse?"NSA Director C "Then we make you disappear." Vincent closed his eyes.Opened them again. Vincent C "Fine." Deal. Made. Scene Four C A New Beginning A new city. A new identity. Vincent sat alone in a quiet caf,Staring out the window, coffee in hand. Then, his phone buzzed. "Hello?" Feynman C "Hey, Vincent. Getting used to the new name?"Vincent C "It''s a shitty name."Feynman C "Hah. But heykeeps you alive." Vincent stayed silent.He knew. This isn''t over.Kane was gone.But something bigger was coming. Vincent C "Feynman. You planning to disappear?"Feynman C "Eh. But you? You''re not the disappearing type." Vincent took another sip,Eyes still on the window. The city was still gray.But somewhere in that grayness, he would move again. "No Saints in the City." ?? Part 1 C Complete! ?? 《No Saints in the City》 Part 2 A Strange Name, A Strange City A new city.The name, the air, the people flowing pastall unfamiliar. Vincent was no longer "Vincent Kang."He''d been given a new identity, a new life he had to live. But he knew one thing: "A quiet life" was a lie. He rented a small apartment.Cleaner, quieter than Harrison Citybut to him, just another gray, colorless place. Shops, cafs, unfamiliar faces on the streets. He tried to stay quiet.But his instincts wouldn''t let him. "Someone''s watching me." At first, he thought he was being paranoid.But days passedand he was sure. A man who locked eyes with him one too many times at a diner. Eyes lingering too long as he walked. A stranger tailing him down the same grocery aisles over and over. Surveillance. The radio played in the background one quiet night. "Global economic crisisgovernment intervention inevitable.""New power rises after Harrison City crime collapse.""Anonymous whistleblower hints at secret government operations" Vincent flipped through channels. He''d seen too much already. He didn''t want to know more. And then, he did something he hadn''t done since the end. He tried contacting Feynman. [Connecting][No signal] "" Feynman was gone. And Vincent knewThat wasn''t a coincidence. "You too, huh?" He smirked bitterly and lit a cigarette. Nothing was over. He began tracking the trackers. For days, he visited the same caf. Took the same walking routes.Deliberately offering predictable patterns. And then "Gotcha." An alley.A quiet detour. One of them followed. Vincent lit a cigarette like it was nothing. "How long have you been tailing me?" The stranger flinched. "I don''t know what you''re talking about." "Don''t bullshit me. I want to knoware you alone, or is this a coordinated op?" He stared the man down.And then he moved. [Combat Engaged] Vincent twisted the man''s arm, slamming him into the wall. The man tried to fight backbut Vincent''s hand was already around his throat. As the man opened his mouth to scream, Vincent covered it, choking the breath out. "Who sent you?" "" "Don''t talk? Fine. We''ll do it my way." [Snap C bone cracks] "AARGH! Shityou really are Vincent Kang!" "My name doesn''t matter. Who sent you?" Scene Four C The Shadow Approaches Eventually, the man cracked. "You''ve got a lot of people looking for you. Organizations. Government. And" "And?" "Someone else who knows you." "Name." The man gritted his teeth. "Dominic Scott." Vincent''s eyes narrowed. He knew that name. "A hidden hand in the political world.""A man who manipulates governments, corporations, and media from the shadows." Vincent closed his eyes slowly. "So this is where the real war begins." ***** A Dangerous Game Vincent quickly sized up the situation.This womanshe wasn''t just another VIP guest. She chatted with Dominic Scott casually but kept a careful distance. Her posture was elegant, but her movements were sharp. Most of allshe didn''t flinch when she noticed Vincent. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe. "You don''t belong at this party either, do you?" Vincent spoke first. She smiled. "Do I look like I don''t?" "More than enough." He noticed a subtle tremor in her fingersso subtle, most would miss it. She was wearing a mask.But behind itclear tension. Before he could react, she moved. She took a step back, looking at him like she could see right through him.A faint smirk on her lips. "Hey." She whispered. "If I scream, you''ll be dragged out of here by security in seconds." Vincent raised an eyebrow. Was she bluffing? Threatening? Still, he remained calm. "So?" She tilted her head, amused. "So instead of a fight" Two suited security guards appeared down the hall. In an instant, her attitude shifted. She closed the distance between themfast. Not just closeintimate. She grabbed his tie and pulled him in. Breath to breath. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Sorry, but" She whispered in his ear. "If you want to live, don''t move." And then "Seriously, when the waitstaff looks this good, how are we supposed to focus on the party?" Her voice was playful. Charming.Vincent immediately understood: this was a tactical performance. She wasn''t just escapingshe was controlling the moment. She hooked her arm through his. "Never seen a couple getting cozy before?" One of the guards cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem This isn''t an area for guests. Please move along." She grinned. "Sure thing. We''ll find somewhere quieter." She led Vincent away, effortlessly blending into the scene. In a small conference room, she finally dropped the act. Vincent muttered "Impressive acting." She smirked. "You should thank me for saving your ass." "Doubt it." She brushed her hair back nonchalantly. "Either way, it was fun. But let''s not pretendyou were following me too." Vincent folded his arms, watching her. "Why come to a party like this?" She met his eyes, smiling. "Why did you?" No answer. The air between them tightened with tension. She tilted her head. "How about this: I ask one question, you get to ask one." He raised an eyebrow. "Intriguing." She grinned. "Great. Here''s my first question." "Did you come here to kill Dominic Scott?" **** A Dangerous Deal" "Then why are you looking for Dominic Scott?" Vincent''s voice remained calm, but his gaze was razor sharp. She gave a playful smile and sat on the couch, as if she owned the place. "Oh, that''s simple." She twirled a strand of her hair and shrugged lightly. "To steal his money." Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Money?" "Yeah. But it''s not just petty theft. This isn''t a hit-and-run job. It requires a plan." She pulled out a small laptop and opened a few files to show Vincent. On the screen: Dominic Scott''s overseas secret bank accounts Political lobbying records & illegal fund flows Money laundering operations connected to specific corporations Vincent studied the screen with interest. "This isn''t simple theft." She grinned."Exactly. I''m a righteous thief." Vincent kept his eyes on her. "What are you planning to do with the money?" She crossed her arms and casually crossed her legs. "Give it back to society." "Society?" "Yeah. The money he exploitedI''m putting it back where it belongs. Like sending funds to workers he laid off unfairly, or to victims of corporate abuse." Vincent stared at her for a moment. "You sound like a philanthropist." She smirked."Well, I do take my cut." "How much?" She snapped her fingers."Ten to twenty percent. That''s not greedy, right?" Vincent let out a bitter laugh."So, not exactly noble. Just... a thief with a conscience." She nodded as if owning it."Hey, I never claimed to be a saint." "Is someone backing you?" "No one. I''m doing this because I want to." Vincent narrowed his eyes slightly.Plans like this usually had someone behind them.But she really seemed to own the mission. "What about you?"She turned the question back. "Why are you looking for Dominic Scott?" Vincent paused before answering."I need information." Her eyes narrowed. "Information? So you''re not here to kill him, huh." Vincent didn''t answer. She raised an eyebrow with a smirk."Then let''s do thishelp each other get what we want." "How?" "I get his money, you get the info. Simple." Vincent considered it. Not a bad deal.He could get what he needed without directly confronting Dominic.And this woman seemed... capable. But the real problem "How do I know I can trust you?" She gave him a sly smile. "I don''t know if I can trust you either." She held out her hand. "Name''s Angelina. Just call me Angie." Vincent looked at her hand for a moment before taking it. "Vincent Kang." "Alright, Vincent. Then let''s prep for one hell of a job." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. But Vincent knew This wasn''t a partnership. It was a transaction. And soon, this deal would turn into a very dangerous fight. 1.“An Unannounced Call” "An Unannounced Call" Angie and Vincent quietly slipped away from Dominic Scott''s mansion. She still wore a calm, amused expression, but Vincent kept his guard up.Even if they got out unnoticed, Scott''s surveillance wouldn''t let them go that easily. "Relax a little," Angie whispered. "This is a time to be tense." "We walked out clean. For now." Vincent scanned the area.There were still guests near the entrance, and a few guards patrolled the outer perimeters. But the real danger would always come later. As they headed toward the parking areaBeepBeep Beep... Beep... His phone buzzed in his pocket. No caller ID. Vincent immediately felt it.Someone who knew how to reach him. He answered, slowing his pace. "Vincent" The voice was familiar. "I''m in trouble. I need your help." Vincent narrowed his eyes. "What''s going on, Feynman?" "Took you long enough to pick up. You''ve been keeping me entertained, but now''s not the time for jokes." Vincent looked around cautiously.Angie noticed his reaction and stepped closer to listen. "Who''s after you?" "The government. Who else?" Feynman''s tone was casual, but his breathing was uneven.He was hiding. Running. "Details." "Ever since you and I got involved, my name''s been on every damn list. I''ve always been a wanted man, but this time''s different." "How?" "Someone wants me gone. Not just watchedeliminated." Vincent inhaled slowly. "Where are you?" "Hell if I know. I''m running, remember? But I need your help, fast. Either you find me, or I find youwe''ve gotta move." "If you''re on the run, how''d you even contact me?" "I knew you''d pick up. And don''t tell me you''re not gonna return the favor." Vincent hesitated. This wasn''t just about loyalty. Feynman in danger meant he was in danger, too.Feynman''s data had serious value.Ignoring this could cost him dearly. Feynman''s voice lowered. "Vincent, you owe me. I gave you your new identity. The cash. Maybe it''s time you pay me back." Vincent smirked. "Was that blackmail?" "More like a business proposal." Angie looked at him with curiosity. "Who is it?" Vincent answered briefly."Our next problem." "Alright. Where should we meet?" "You tell me." Vincent pulled up a mental map. "Public is too risky. But hideouts are dangerous too." "Just like you. Lucky for us, I''ve got a place in mind. City outskirtsan old factory with a decommissioned data center. You used it before, remember?" Vincent remembered. A former government facility, now abandoned.Not idealbut low surveillance made it useful. "Time?" "One hour." "Got it. See you there." The call ended. Angie folded her arms and looked at him. "This is getting interesting. I knew you were trouble, but your friends are just as bad." Vincent sighed. "It''s about to get a lot worse." ********** "A Trap Laid at the Meeting" An abandoned industrial district on the outskirts of the city. The decommissioned data center stood shrouded in darkness. Vincent parked his car nearby. Once, this facility had been used by a government agency. But times changed, and it was shut down, left to decay. No cameras. No surveillance. Normally, the perfect hideout. But tonight, it wasn''t. Vincent turned off the headlights and took a deep breath. "Too quiet." He felt it in his gutsomething was off. It was supposed to be quiet, yes. But this was too quiet. He stayed inside the car, eyes scanning the surroundings. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Movement. A shadow near the building. Someone was already here. Vincent pulled his hood low and stepped out, walking slowly toward the building. Feynman was supposed to be waiting inside. But this wouldn''t be a simple reunion. Vincent knew that. He activated a small comms device. "Feynman." Silence. "Feynman, respond." More silence. "Shit." He scanned the area again. This wasn''t a case of a missed call. Something had gone wrong. Then Tick. Something small dropped from above into his field of vision. Infrared sensor. Vincent dropped and rolled back instinctively. Bang! Gunfire erupted. A wall nearby shattered. Gunpowder filled the air. "It was a trap." Vincent dove for cover. In the darkness, shadows moved. He slowed his breathing, counting. Strike team. At least six. Tactical gear. Suppressed automatics. "Not military spec ops like before... but trained." He quietly drew his pistol. This wouldn''t be a straightforward shootout. The enemy knew he was coming. That meant the only way out was reading their tactics. Then, faint static in his earpiece. "Ghhk... Shit... Vincent...?" Feynman. Vincent took a sharp breath. "Where are you?" "Second floor... Damn it, I got caught trying to hack one of them before you arrived..." "I told you. Screw up one more time, I''ll take your hands off myself." "If I die here, you won''t even have the chance to save me." Vincent clenched his jaw. Feynman had screwed up. But thanks to him, Vincent now had a better sense of who was behind this. Not a major agency like CIA or FBI. Something smaller. Operating in the shadows. "Someone inside the government is moving independently to eliminate us." Vincent reloaded. Then said: "Feynman. Stall them. I''ll be there in two minutes." Feynman gave a strained laugh. "Two minutes? They might blow my head off by then." Vincent replied flatly: "Then I''ll kill them before that happens." And he vanished into the shadows. Vincent moved silently. He had already mapped their positions. Inexperienced fighters leave shadows when they move. He followed them. Target 1 C Guard at the east stairwell. Target 2 C Guard on the hallway to Feynman''s room. Target 3 C Squad leader giving orders over comms. They were pros. But Vincent had more experience. He ducked low and stepped lightly. The enemy had firearms. But they had one major weakness: Vincent didn''t fight fair. He picked up a rusty pipe from the ground. And then Whoosh! The pipe sailed through the air. "What was that?" The guard turned his head instinctively Wham! Vincent struck. Arm lock, chokehold. Target 1: Neutralized. Before the body even hit the ground, Vincent grabbed his weapon. Time to move up. He crept up the stairs. Just as expected, another guard stood watch at the 2nd floor entrance. Then "Hey, you good?" someone asked over comms. The guard opened his mouth Vincent knocked him out silently. "All good," he said into the radio, voice low and modulated. "Checking the second floor." He opened the door. Feynman sat on the floor, bruised, wrists tied. "You took your sweet time." "You took quite a few hits." Vincent helped him up. "Let''s go." "Sure... but quick question." "What." Feynman grinned weakly. "Do we actually have a plan to get out of here?" Vincent sighed. "The plan was getting in." "You bastard. I almost died." 2.An Unexpected Escape" Vincent and Feynman made their way out of the 2nd floor. Feynman whispered: "Where exactly are we going?" Vincent scanned the area. Ground floor: Enemies posted. Windows: Possible escape, but snipers likely. Rooftop: Maybe chopper support? "There''s a way." Vincent freed Feynman''s wrists. "You know another exit?" Feynman rubbed his wrists, smirking. "Of course. You just might not like it." Downstairs, the strike team kept moving. "Target confirmed on 2nd floor. Secure all exits." They were confident. But Vincent never played by the book. He looked at Feynman. "Don''t tell me..." Feynman opened a storage room. "We''re going down." Vincent groaned. "You''re insane." Inside was an old sewer passage. The building had once been a secure data facilityand it had an emergency escape route. The tunnel connected to old drainage lines, leading to manhole exits. "Haven''t used this in a while," Feynman muttered. "You planned this?" "Nah, it was always here. Just... no one ever cared." The strike team reached the second floor. "Target is gone." "Check the windows. Did they jump?" "No trace outside." "Then they''re still inside?" The team leader scowled. Then "Storage room on 1F compromised. Possible exit route." "Where to?" "Sewers." "Goddamn it." They rushed down. But it was too late. Vincent and Feynman were already gone. In the dark sewer tunnel, Feynman spoke: "This isn''t just a manhunt." "What do you mean?" "Someone inside wants this buried. Quietly." Vincent nodded. "That''s why they want you dead?" "Exactly. I''m expendable." He continued, panting: "But if we stay alive... we become a liability." Vincent sighed. "So we disappear." They emerged from a manhole in the middle of the city. Morning had broken. Feynman pulled out a USB and plugged it into a nearby payphone. "What are you doing?" "Wiping our traces." "The data you stole?" "Nope. Data about who was chasing us." He snapped his fingers. "Now there''s no official record of us." He smiled. "They wanted us dead. But now... we''re ghosts." Stolen story; please report. Vincent chuckled. "We''re not disappearing. They are." Feynman winked. "Isn''t that more fun?" ******* "A New Reunion" Vincent and Feynman stood on the rooftop, overlooking the city below.It was time to disappear. They both knew it. But thenfootsteps behind the door. "Time to vanish. But... new threats are always on their way." Vincent instinctively reached for his gunAnd stopped. A familiar voice. "Touched, really. Such a warm welcome." Her. Angie. Feynman let out a low whistle the moment she stepped into view. "Damn, Vincent. I knew you were good, but dating this kind of beauty?" Angie chuckled. "Men react the same way wherever I go. Though you seem a little... off that spectrum." Feynman smirked. "What can I say? I go for brains." Angie raised an eyebrow, amused. "Want me to prove how smart I am?" "No thanks. I''m a genius already. Too much intellect in one room gives me migraines." Vincent narrowed his eyes, watching the two. "Alright. Now tell mewhy are you here?" Angie''s playful demeanor faded slightly. Her eyes hardened. "You two stirred quite the mess. Hacking, fleeing, almost hitting the evening news. Government eyes are all over you." "How do you know all that?" She shrugged. "I deal in information. And now... I need you." Angie sat casually, crossing her legs. "Remember the name Dominic Scott?" Vincent nodded. "The political donor. Real talent for laundering money." "And I once tried to help myself to a slice of that pie." Feynman laughed. "Thought you said it was for the greater good?" "Justice needs funding. And someone who knows how to spend it right." Vincent was intrigued. "So you''re planning to go after Dominic directly?" "Exactly." She idly ran a finger across her nails. "But it''s too risky alone. The money he''s moving this time is bigger than anyone anticipated." Vincent''s gaze sharpened. "Are you really just after the money?" She smiled after a beat. "Your instincts never miss. But the answer can wait." "Fine. What''s the plan?" Angie tapped her fingers on the table. "Dominic''s hosting another private party. This time, it''s the big leagues. Major political donations moving hands." "So it''s not just a heist." "Right." She pointed at Vincent. "I go in and extract the data. You move based on what I pull out." Feynman tilted his head. "And me?" Angie smirked. "Real-time hacking. No one else can do it. You know that." Feynman shrugged. "Alright. Sounds fun." Vincent still looked conflicted. Angie met his eyes. "I need you, Vincent. And you know it. This kind of trouble never leaves you alone." He stared at her.He wanted peace. But peace had a habit of slipping away. He exhaled slowly. "When do we start?" She reached out her hand, smiling. "Tomorrow." Vincent looked at it for a momentThen took it. **** "New Faces" Location: Feynman''s Hideout, outskirts of Harrison CityTime: 10:37 PM Soft jazz filled the dimly lit room.A flickering neon sign barely lit the cracked walls. Feynman sipped his coffee, fingers dancing across his keyboard. Monitor 1: Dominic Scott''s paper company network Monitor 2: Tracking illegal political contributions Monitor 3: External surveillance systems His eyes darted from line to line.This wasn''t hacking. This was war. "You two might not get it, but for me? This is art." Hacking Phase 3 in progress: Trace Dominic''s shell companies Decode crypto-laundering flow Identify weak points in the financial network Click. Scroll. Zoom. Analyze.ThenFeynman froze. "Something''s off Dominic''s defense is tighter than expected." Zoomed in.A repeating pattern in the data flow.AI Defense System. "Heh. Fancy boy''s packing high-grade tech. Impressive." Angie (through comms): "Can you break it?" "You kidding? But I need a new angle." New Objective: Direct access from inside the VIP network room Infiltrate Dominic''s closed security net Copy key financial data, then cover tracks "We''re going in." Location: Private Luxury Estate, Harrison CityTime: 11:15 PM The mansion''s gate gleamed under cold floodlights.Security guards checked every guest.This wasn''t just a party. It was a transaction. Angie pulled out a compact mirror, fixing her lips.Tonight, she was someone else entirely. Angie''s Disguise: Identity: Vanessa Griffin (VIP investor) Appearance: Wealthy woman in her 50s (wig, prosthetics) Outfit: Designer suit, diamond accessories Demeanor: Arrogant upper-class elite She looked up at VincentStanding in a sleek black suit, expression cold.Perfect bodyguard. "How do I look?" "Untrustworthy." "That''s the mark of true wealth." She strode forward confidently. Security Guard: "Ms. Griffin, we need to verify your invitation." Angie narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Do I need to speak with Dominic personally?" A moment of tension.A call.Thenconfirmation. "Welcome, ma''am. Right this way." Vincent followed her inside, scanning for threats. Risks: Weapon scan C any arms could blow cover Internal security team C suspicious behavior = immediate removal "We''ve got minutes. No more." "Relax. I only need seconds." Location: VIP Conference Room, Second Floor Angie stopped at the door.An attendant approached. "Sorry, this room is VIP-only." Angie sneered. "I''m above VIP." The man hesitatedThen stepped aside. She entered. Vincent stayed in the hall, watching. Angie inserted a USB into the laptop. "Connected." Feynman (via comms): "Thirty seconds. Go." ThenALERT: Network intrusion detected. "Damn. They caught on quicker than I thought." Guards began to move. "Angie, we''re out of time." She pulled the USB, erasing traces. The door burst open. Security: "What''s going on here?" Angie turned, smiling calmly. "Reviewing investment documents. Problem?" The guards hesitated. "Next time, get clearance first." She walked out, head high. Vincent murmured beside her "You lie like a professional." "It is my profession." Location: Mansion Interior Vincent felt it before he saw it. "They''ve deployed extra guards." Danger Level Increased: Dominic''s personal security now in play Exits may soon be blocked Feynman: "Time to make your exit." Vincent adjusted his weapon.Looked at Angie. "Not bad." "It''s not over yet." They exchanged a lookAnd began walking toward the exit. But a new threat was already waiting in the dark. 3.“The Peak of Tension” Location: Hallway near VIP conference roomSituation: Before the security team can verify Angie''s ID, Vincent intervenes. The moment the head of security sent a verification request through his radio, Vincent quietly advanced from the end of the corridor. He analyzed the situation in just 3 seconds:1st second C Security chief connects with central security.2nd second C A guard reaches for his waist. A weapon?3rd second C Time to move. Now. Combat Initiated! Vincent swiftly grabbed the guard''s wrist and twisted it."Argh...!" The guard couldn''t even scream before Vincent slammed him against the wall.Another guard reached for his gun, but Vincent launched off the wall, twisted the man''s arm, and disarmed him.As the last one reached for the emergency button Bang! A silenced pistol cracked through the air.The guard clutched his knee and collapsed.But it was already too late. Radio Alert:"All units, mobilize! Intruder confirmed!" The atmosphere in the venue shifted dramatically. Location: VIP conference room Event perimeterSituation: Vincent and Angie evade the guards while finding an escape route. "If we walk out now, they''ll know exactly what we were after," Vincent panted. Angie: "We need to leave a trace."Vincent: "What kind of trace?" With a knowing smile, Angie removed the expensive watch from her wrist. But she didn''t just drop it.She subtly placed VIP guest A''s item near guest B''s area,So when security arrived, it would look like a "simple case of internal theft." Vincent: "You want to make this look like a petty theft."Angie: "Exactly. When they arrive, this needs to look like a common heist." They exited quietly.But Dominic wasn''t someone easily fooled. Location: Dominic''s private officeSituation: Dominic is briefed on the incident and immediately sees through the setup. In a luxurious office, Dominic Scott stood by the window. Behind him, the head of security reported in haste. Security Chief:"A theft occurred in the VIP area. Some valuables are missing." Dominic slowly turned around with a sly smile. Dominic:"Valuables but that''s not what really matters, is it?" The security chief looked puzzled. Security Chief:"Sir?" Dominic tapped his desk slowly. Dominic:"Check the data server." The chief nodded and issued a radio command. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Security Chief:"Confirming network logs. Check for unauthorized access during the event." Shortly after Tech Staff:"Suspicious activity found in the server logs. Appears to be an external breach attempt." Dominic chuckled. Dominic:"This wasn''t just a robbery." He stood and faced the chief. Dominic:"Find out what they took." Security Chief:"I''ll investigate immediately." Then a follow-up came through the radio. Tech Staff:"Camera logs show a specific VIP vanishing near the data center." Dominic:"Who?" Tech Staff:"Appears to be a woman in disguise." Dominic''s expression hardened. Dominic:"Restore the face." The tech team launched an AI reconstruction system.The image gradually sharpened. Dominic:"Send it to me." Tech Staff:"Transmission complete." Dominic studied the screen and smiled. Dominic:"Now things are getting interesting."Dominic:"Whoever they are I''m not letting it slide." He tapped the desk lightly.The air turned cold. ***** "Clash of Geniuses" Location: Dominic Scott''s Private Office C Internal Analysis RoomSituation: Dominic''s analyst vs. Feynman C cyber war begins. At Dominic''s mansion in Harrison City,Dominic swirled his whiskey, seated at a table. Across from him stood a woman. Name: Emily Smith (Codename: "Providence")Background: Former government data analyst now Dominic''s personal hackerSpecialty: Security systems, digital profiling, AI-based tracking Dominic:"You''ll have to handle this one personally." He turned the laptop toward her.On-screentraces of Feynman. Emily:"Interesting" She zoomed in, smirking slightly.This one was different from her usual targets. Dominic:"Your job''s simple. Find out what he took, where he''s hiding, and" He took a sip. Dominic:"Break him." Location: Feynman''s HideoutSituation: Feynman analyzes Dominic''s systems while Emily begins her counterattack. Feynman lit a cigarette and stared at the monitor. Feynman:"This Dominic guy his security''s tighter than expected." He typed calmly. Step 1 C Track Dominic''s financial flowStep 2 C Uncover illegal lobbying trailsStep 3 C Attempt infiltration of internal security As he entered the final code [You are being tracked.] Feynman:"Already? Tch" He smirked and started typing faster.This wasn''t an automated traceSomeone was manually pursuing him. Feynman:"This one''s personal." He launched a counterattack. Location: Dominic''s Analysis RoomSituation: Emily tracks Feynman and engages him in a digital battle. Emily typed at lightning speed, locking on to Feynman''s IP. Emily:"Whoever you are it ends here." Step 1 C Penetrate Feynman''s VPNStep 2 C Analyze through mirror serversStep 3 C Real-time location trace [Tracking in progress C 78% complete] Then [Counterattack detected.] Emily:"What?" Strange code filled her screen.Before she could react [You are being traced.] Emily:"This can''t be" Then, a message appeared on her screen: "Too easy, wasn''t it?" Location: Feynman''s HideoutSituation: Feynman takes control and launches full-scale counterattack. Feynman snapped his fingers. Feynman:"Your turn, ''Providence''." Step 1 C Backtrace Emily''s IPStep 2 C Inject virus into Dominic''s networkStep 3 C Delete partial financial records Emily:"Shut down the servers, now!" Security scrambledToo late. [18% financial data lost] Emily:"How the hell" Location: Dominic''s Analysis RoomSituation: Feynman leaves a final message. Emily accepts defeat. Dominic watched silently. Dominic:"Seems like he''s out of your league." Emily exhaled sharply.She had to admitshe was beaten. Then another message appeared: [Message from user ''Feynman'']"Good match. Next time, bring something harder." Dominic chuckled. Dominic:"What a fun little bastard." Location: Dominic''s OfficeSituation: Dominic resolves to escalate the hunt. Emily sighed. Emily:"We''ll need a different strategy to catch him." Dominic tapped his fingers. Dominic:"Alright. No more cyber games. Time to start a real war." His eyes gleamed coldly.