Chapter 27 - Z

Anton jumped down from the rope ladder dangling off the helicopter and onto the balcony.

He smiled and raised a thumbs up at the pilot and Charles, before he turned around and walked towards the doors of the balcony.

Not even hesitating, he pushed it open.

Two men stood, discussing something and upon seeing Anton, they were startled but recovered quickly.

'As expected' Anton thought with a smile.

"Gentlemen, could any of you he so kind as to point me the way to Xander's father?"

"I-i-i-intruder!!!" One of them shouted, pilling out his gun and aiming it at Anton, but he was too slow.

Anton only moved a bit and the man fell, even though he fired his shot, Anton only leant to one side to dodge.

"Tsk, too noisy." Anton commented, then walked over and recovered his knife.

The other person was scared stiff, too scared to move.

"How about you?" Anton asked the man, walking towards him after he had retrieved and cleaned his knife. "Will you take me there?" He asked with his business smile, tilting his head in one direction.

The man only stood there, scared he'd die if he made a move.

"You know, even if you don't answer me or do anything, I'll have to kill you for simply wasting my time." Anton pointed out.

The man began to shake. "I'll-I'll take you there."

'Even he doesn't kill me, the boss will. I should just avoid death now, so if he actually manages to kill the boss, I'll get out of this alive.' he thought.

"I'll take you there." The man told him.

"Great!" Anton replied with a genuine smile then gestured in a 'lead the way' manner.

The man lead him on and on, using staircases rather than stairs to avoid the security cameras. They walked on and on until they reached a corridor, going down the corridor and stopping in front of the door at the end of it.

"Oh? You really did take me to your boss. I suppose you really want me to kill him. Well, it depends on if he meets my demands or not. I probably should have told you that I wouldn't kill you unless you make a move first, I just wanted to know what you'd do in this situation. Well, my curiosity has been sated. If you want to run away, you should do that right now and maybe move to another country, change your name and appearance, and you'll probably have a chance to live if I don't end up kill him. Just a goodwill advice for helping me." Anton informed him with a business smile as he spoke. The man was scared shitless.

"Leave now." He ordered with that same smile and the man turned and left with hesitation.

Anton shrugged and chuckled, turning towards the door and pulling out a gun. He pushed it open, aiming his gun straight at the person on the throne like seat at the head of the room where it was elevated like how thrones were placed on a podium in a room.

The man was seated in the same position Xander had left him, but with his eyes closed. He barely raised his head, but Anton could tell this was definitely Xander's father.

"Where's Xander?" Anton asked, not wavering at all as he walked towards the centre of the room.

There were people all around, pointing guns ar him the moment he entered the room with a gun pointed at Xander's father, but he ignored them.

Xander's father opened his eyes with a smile. "You must be Anton. I've heard so much about you."

"You've not answered my question yet. I'll ask again. Where is Xander?" Anton's gun never wavered, neither did those of the guards.

"I don't think you understand the situation here, kid. Either way, you're not leaving this place alive." Xander's father announced.

"Within my calculations." Anton replied with a genuine smile. "If anything, I don't think you understand the situation yet. Let me educate you."

He returned his throwing dagger into his jean back pocket and raised his shirt, the hand he was holding the gun with remained steady.

Strapped to his pale skin was a bomb, that was imperceptible with his clothes over it.

"I told you it was within calculations to not be able to leave here today. However all I'll be losing is my life. You on the other hand would lose all your men in this building as well as your life as well as everything you've ever worked for, because I can understand your son wouldn't take over after you. The stakes are higher at your end. Don't you think?" Anton asked cheekily. "So I'll ask again. Where is Xander?"

"You have my admiration. Although I don't believe Xander is worth any of this. He's selfish unlike you. I raised him that way." Xander's father told him.

"Not necessarily. He isn't anymore, from what I see. You're just not willing to accept his change." Anton countered.

"What relationship do you suppose you have with him, taking into consideration what he has done all his life?" Xander's father asked curiously.

"He's my lover, of course." Anton replied without hesitation.

Xander's father laughed heartily, "The idiot. He doesn't think you're lovers at all. He doesn't even consider you a friend."

"Yes. He probably assumes he's not worthy. And who's fault could that be. Extra reasons to kill you here and now. Answer me, where's Xander?" Xander was tossing a throwing knife and catching it with his right hand as he left remained firmly holding the gun aimed at Xander's father's head. "I should warn you. There's no timer on this bomb, so the moment I press the trigger it explodes. And there are more bombs in other areas I don't have to tell you. It makes this all the more fun. Manhandling me would only make me press it faster. So, what is it?"

"I must admit, I'm totally surprised he managed to find such a lover who could outsmart me. Even he couldn't do it. I'll tell you where he is since I'm clearly at a disadvantage." Xander's father admitted with a tired sigh.

"He's been sent to kill someone, the files are on this table." He nodded towards a table at his side.

"Throw it over." Anton requesting, putting away his throwing dagger.

Xander's father threw the folder and Anton caught it and opened it. Seeing it was the right one because the person chosen to kill the target was printed clearly at the top as well, he frowned. "Couldn't you have pulled a stunt or something, now I don't have a reason to kill you."

Everyone else, "._."

Xander's father laughed, "You're look like you're doing this for fun. Do you enjoy throwing your life away?"

"Clearly. You're all really boring. I wonder how Xander put up with you lot." Anton lamented, then took a deep breath, and breathed out, going back to his normal demeanor. "Alright, I have what I need. Don't come looking for us, if you do I'll make sure you'll never see him again ever. And if you find us, I'll kill us both. Him and I together."

"Pay attention to your men because if anyone moves, even the slightest movement, I'll blow us all up, so don't even think about knocking me out or shooting me. Even if by some miracle you manage to knock me out, I'm the only one that can diffuse the bomb. And if you get a hold of the remote switch, I can still activate it without it." Anton turned around walking away as he threw those words behind him and returned the gun to his pocket.

After he left, someone turned to Xander's father. "Sir-"

"Let him go. He truly is interesting. Let him leave the building unharmed. There are bombs in other places. Probably in the building. He can kill us at any time." He replied with an amused smile.