UNDER HIS RULES

A man sat comfortably in his oversized chair, enjoying his cigar in his hand. The room was filled with smoke as he relaxed, but there was no sense of relaxation until his goal was achieved. Just a little longer. Yes, in less than two hours, all his desires would come true.

“Sam’s convoy is divided into three, Boss,” one of his trusted subordinates informed him. He held a tablet displaying the traffic and the movement of the cars under his surveillance. He also had some information to share with his leader. “The police have started to attack the Twin Dragons because of the incident at the hospital. They all agree to blame the Twin Dragons for the attack there.”

The man nodded slightly, his cunning smile widening. He took another puff from his cigar. With his free hand, he gently swirled the glass of his favorite wine. “Keep me updated on the developments,” he instructed, signaling for all his subordinates to leave.

The room was soon empty as no one wanted to disturb the tranquility preferred by their boss.

“Soon Quassano will be finished,” he chuckled with satisfaction. “The Twin Dragons will be destroyed, and the nameless Eagle Wing as well.” He finished his wine without a care, relishing the sensation that wet his throat. “Jimmy Lee? Oh, that foolish boy!” He burst into laughter, closing his eyes deliberately. His mind played back how he had planned everything so meticulously.

No one would ever suspect him as the true traitor. When his eyes opened, he glanced at a frame that was never removed from his desk. Although it contained worthless pieces of paper, everything became valuable because of their recent movements.

“Cousin,” he said, caressing the frame where two figures and their baby smiled happily. There was also a middle-aged man who shared in the joy. Back then, when that memory was captured by a cameraman and celebrated with a grand and lively party.

As a castaway, he was used to being behind the scenes. It didn’t matter as long as his puppet moved according to his wishes. Unfortunately, the puppet wanted more. Damn it. So, when the opportunity arose and everything began to crumble one by one, including the conversation between the old man and his loyal assistant, he took action.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

He wouldn’t let the Quassano lineage from his unfortunate cousin-perhaps angrily growling and wanting to kill him from heaven-live any longer. That poor girl shouldn’t have entered the dark life surrounding the rulers of Quassano. He would never target her life, right?

The primary target was clearly the Quassano descendants, whom he deliberately eliminated first. Complete with a scenario of the most dramatic accident amidst the happiness that enveloped Quassano more than a decade ago.

Unfortunately, it seemed that God was still kind. There was still one descendant left who could pose a threat. Luckily, the unfortunate child didn’t remember what had happened, right? After all, no one had suddenly questioned the existence of the baby who was supposed to have died along with both parents.

“Alfred should have cared about me too, Cousin,” he said with a bitter laugh. “Unfortunately, he was greedy. He only wanted his own child to be the heir. But Quassano isn’t just Alfred, right?” He refilled his empty glass. To him, wine was like water that his body needed. So he drank as if he were in a barren desert. Without leaving a drop.

“Ah… I can’t wait to experience the luxury of Quassano,” he chuckled with satisfaction. As he moved, three heads fell at his feet. The knock on his office door interrupted his joyful laughter. He grumbled in annoyance.

“Yes?”

“Sorry, Boss.” The man with the tablet entered again. He had little courage left as he immediately received a sharp gaze from his boss.

But what could he do? The news he had was equally important, and surely the boss would be pleased and not give him such a terrifying look. Working under the boss’s power required great strength. Strong mental fortitude and unwavering courage to face all the enemies. Although he appeared to be not moving much, he believed that the boss knew best when to take advantage of the situation.

“What is it?”

“The girl has been incapacitated, Boss.”

His smile twitched. In his head, the clamor echoed. His hand lifted slightly as if following the rhythm. Soon, he could deceive Alfred. “Prepare the car. We’re visiting Grandfather’s house. Bring the girl immediately.”

***

“Did you bring everything, An?” Hugo asked to confirm. In his hand was a suitcase containing active explosives ready to be used. His other hand carried a bag full of weapons and ammunition. Hugo also had a large backpack strapped to his shoulder, the contents of which Anne knew all too well.

“Everything’s here,” Anne glanced briefly at Hugo’s belongings. One careless move from him could cause a powerful explosion that could bring down the building where their leader’s source of money resided. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“No need,” Hugo laughed. “Did you send the code to Jack?”

“Yes. I’ve disconnected all the equipment in Flown from Sam and the others. I’ve secured everything using the same code as the safe. If anyone tries to hack in, I’ve left them a special gift that I can track.”

“I don’t understand your work, An.” Hugo moved faster than before. “We’re running out of time. You drive, An. I’ll prepare the defense in the car.”

“Okay.” Anne didn’t want to slow down either. She knew they were pressed for time. “Where are we heading, Boss?”

“The headquarters.” As they arrived at the front lobby of Flown, he quickly loaded all the firearms they brought and made sure the rest of his subordinates were doing the same.

Anne wanted to ask many questions, but seeing Hugo’s serious expression, she abandoned all her intentions. She could only keep up with Hugo’s swift movements.

“Is everything ready?” Hugo asked to confirm. Everyone responded with a nod, and Hugo ordered them to move first. “Everyone to the back gate. No suspicious movements unless it’s an order from me or Jack.”

“Roger that, Boss!”

Shortly after, one by one, the cars lined up in the Flown lobby drove away, and Anne was already prepared behind the wheel. She waited for Hugo to get in, and they sped off, following the rest of the convoy.

“Is Jack going to the headquarters? Is it safer there?”

“Nothing is safe now, An. Everything is urgent.”

Anne’s hands slipped from the steering wheel for a moment, but she quickly regained her focus as the traffic ahead was quite congested. She had to get out of the traffic as soon as possible. Her braking and shifting had to be in sync to keep up with the cars that could reach their maximum speed to chase time.

“I just hope Jack isn’t late.”

“I don’t understand, Boss.” Anne finally spoke up.

“A true traitor is as close as a pulse, An.” Hugo stared at the road ahead. Anne’s skill in driving deserved praise. Her teacher was Tony, someone close to Hugo. Eland taught Tony some weapons, while Hugo taught him about vehicles and other homemade devices. Sam needed to be supported by capable people around him. The boss couldn’t rely on his other subordinates.

That’s what they thought.

“You won’t believe who dared to commit such a heinous act against Sam.”

“Boss,” Anne said in frustration. “Seriously, I can’t understand what you’re talking about. Can you clarify?”

***[]***

Beatrice stared straight at Ute, who had a completely different expression now. Gone was the gentle and caring Ute. Also, her voice that had been protective and reassuring to keep Beatrice safe. She didn’t flinch even though a gun was now pointed directly at her head.

If Ute pulled the trigger, Beatrice could fall and leave the world. She had no skills to dodge or fight back. Instead, Ute had been the one teaching her how to hold the gun, which Beatrice hadn’t paid much attention to. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but the short-haired woman’s explanations had truly confused her.

“Why?” Beatrice asked with a puzzled look. The overwhelming feeling that currently dominated Beatrice was disappointment. She vividly remembered the details of how Uti ended up here, as well as the trust Sam had given her.

“I don’t need to talk to you, Leora Quassano.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened in disbelief. He blinked to make sure he didn’t mishear what Uti said.

“I know who you are, Leora,” Ute said with a sardonic chuckle. “Unfortunately, you have to face death again.” The gun in Ute’s hand was now aimed directly at Beatrice, who remained frozen, staring at her. “Sorry, your kind and innocent, but you have to die at my hands. You shouldn’t have met Sam, Leora.”

“You’re talking nonsense, Ute” Beatrice’s hand clenched tighter. She tightly held the object she had taken from Sam’s room. She had complete confidence in the object that Sam had left for her. Sam wouldn’t have asked Beatrice to use it in such a desperate situation, like now, if it wasn’t reliable.

She pressed the small button on the object several times, hoping with all her heart that her God would be kind enough to save her from this threat. And one thing was certain, her help arrived. And Sam, wherever he was, could resolve everything that was happening right now.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Ute laughed louder. She took a step closer to the black-haired girl who remained motionless. Her eyes carefully scanned Beatrice’s body language. Was she half terrified and hoping for someone to rescue her?

Ah! It wouldn’t happen. Everything had been arranged so that she could truly be with Beatrice. No one would suspect anything until Ute presented Beatrice, alive or dead, to the boss. The one who controlled her from a distance. The one who had put her by Sam’s side for a long time. The one from whom all the information about the Twin Dragons’ leader leaked without hesitation.

Originally, Sam wasn’t the main target, but Beatrice’s surprising background had changed everything.

“I’ve never been afraid to face Sam’s enemies, whether they’re hidden,” Beatrice swallowed nervously. “Or open.”

Ute’s laughter faded away. It was replaced by a determined gaze and a thin smile without remorse as she pulled the trigger. Simultaneously, a deafening gunshot echoed, accompanied by the sound of the collapsing target.

Drenched in blood.