Knock—knock—knock— A few raps on the door, and a cold, icy male voice sounded from inside: "Who’s out there?"
Leo Chen called from outside, "Mr. Gerhard, it’s me, Leo Chen! I’ve brought a few people with me! They’ll help you teach those clueless fools a lesson!"
"Oh! Come in!" The man’s voice inside remained chilling and sinister.
Clang— Leo Chen pushed open the heavy metal door, and a thick stench of blood mixed with the smell of burnt flesh and hair rushed out, stinging their noses.
"You two, stand guard outside!" Leo Chen ordered the two bodyguards to wait outside, then stepped into the room with Max and Shawn Young. As soon as they entered, the trio were greeted by a gruesome scene—a Western man, about thirty years old and dressed in all black, lounged sideways in a chair. He had a lean face, slicked-back silver hair, and looked pale and tired, yet he sat with one leg crossed over the other, wearing shiny black leather boots and swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, eyes half-closed in lazy enjoyment. The room was actually a large cell, where four Chinese soldiers were tightly bound to custom metal torture racks. Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in wounds—bleeding, battered, and marked with charred scars from the torture devices, flesh mangled and horrifying to behold!
In the center of the room sat a gas cylinder and a custom torture flamethrower. On the floor lay a bloodstained whip and a bucket of fiery red chili water. Next to the Western man was a table holding a pricey bottle of 2-year-old Lafite wine, as well as what looked like medical equipment: scalpels, scissors, small saws, syringes—tools for surgery or torture. There were even several vials of reddish-brown injection fluid.
At the very back of the cell, there was a smaller, separate cell surrounded by metal bars as thick as two fingers. On the floor inside lay a young woman in jungle camouflage, her hair messy and her face pale, unconscious. Shawn Young glanced over and instantly recognized her—it was Fiona Tang!
Shawn Young’s eyes widened at the sight, nearly crying out and wanting to rush over to open the cell. But he forced himself to hold back, sensing the surge of dark energy from the Western man nearby. Only someone with powerful qi could possess such formidable strength, and Shawn knew he wasn’t confident enough to face him head-on. The situation was dangerous, so he had to wait for the right moment.
"Heh heh—Mr. Gerhard, you really know how to enjoy life! Even in a place like this, you can leisurely sip your wine. I’m impressed, truly impressed!" Leo Chen stepped forward, showering the Western man with flattery.
That Western man was none other than Gerhard, JSOC’s top-tier American superhuman operative. He ignored Leo Chen’s flattery, instead lifting his blue eyes and casting a shadowy glance at Max, then letting his gaze settle on Shawn Young. Suddenly, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. He pointed at Shawn Young and asked Leo Chen, "Who’s this kid?"
"Oh, Mr. Gerhard, this is—he’s my brother! Heh—" Max hurried to answer.
"I wasn’t asking you. Shut up! Leo Chen, what’s this kid’s story?" Gerhard glared at Max and continued questioning Leo Chen.
"Uh—" Max was left red-faced and frustrated by Gerhard’s rebuke, itching to punch him. Ever since this arrogant Gerhard arrived, he’d acted like he owned the place, ignoring everyone else. Max disliked him, but Gerhard’s terrifying skills made him think twice. In fact, Max secretly hoped Shawn Young would give Gerhard a real thrashing—maybe they’d both get hurt, and that’d be perfect!
"Oh! Here’s the deal. This young guy has PTSD and really enjoys roughing up enemies. I know you’re a gentleman, Mr. Gerhard, and this kind of dirty work isn’t fit for someone of your stature, so I brought him to lend you a hand!" Leo Chen smiled calmly, his patience far surpassing Max’s.
"Oh? PTSD! Heh, people with that condition are always a bit twisted! Leo Chen, you sure know how to pick ’em!" Gerhard sneered coldly.
"Heh—serving you, Mr. Gerhard, is my honor!" Leo Chen replied with a sycophantic grin. He knew that if Gerhard supported him, taking over Nick Carter’s empire would be a breeze.
"Alright, kid, since you’re so eager, go give each of these tough China special forces boys a lash with the whip! Make sure to dip it in chili water first—that’s how you get the real kick!" Gerhard squinted at Shawn Young.
"Got it!" Shawn Young was mentally prepared. He stepped forward, bent down to grab the blood-soaked whip, dipped it in the bucket of chili water, and walked up to the four bound China special forces soldiers, raising the whip high!
Gerhard and Leo Chen squinted, eager to watch Shawn Young whip away. Only Max, with his own schemes, kept his head down, nervously glancing around for a chance to escape. He knew this place was seriously dangerous!
Sure enough, Shawn Young suddenly twisted his body, darting back several steps in an instant, and closed in on Gerhard. He swung the whip—whoosh!—with a fierce crack, aiming straight at Gerhard!
"Ah! What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!" Leo Chen shrieked in shock!
But Gerhard seemed ready. Just as Shawn Young’s whip was about to hit him, Gerhard leaned back, tapped his toes on the ground, and floated away from the chair like a ghost, landing by the cell wall.
The whip cracked down on the wicker chair—crash!—the force shattered it to pieces, and the flying chili water splashed onto Leo Chen’s face and into his eyes before he could dodge.