Ethan was surprised when the door opened. He had not seen Mikey leaving, so he was still waiting for him in the room. But the room was completely empty. Large surveillance cameras covered the room entirely. He looked at one of them as if he knew someone was looking at him through it.
"Old bastard, you could run away, but you could never save yourself," he muttered in a cold and cruel voice that could scare anyone.
With that, he punched the surveillance camera. It shattered into pieces and fell to the ground.
"He is not there. Is he?" The voice had a hint of desperation, and Ethan sighed.
"I have underestimated him. I thought I had paid attention to every exit." But there must be too many exits inside this room too. His eyes surveyed the paintings and the bookshelf on the other wall. Each of them opened to a new route. It was hard to determine which one he had taken.
"You have already done more than one could fathom. If you would have killed him so easily, perhaps, I would have never accepted the defeat my father had faced." She sighed and closed her eyes. Tears dripped from her eyes, and he felt helpless in that moment.
"You do not need to be worried about it. Even if he has run away, he has lost all his powers in this town. His life would be no better than a beggar hiding in the sewer." He promised her as he checked the room again.
Mary sighed when she heard the sound of shuffling and rustling. It did not look like he was leaving at once.
"What are you doing? Could it be that you have found another way to follow Mikey?" The thought made her shiver.
"I am packing every valuable item in the room so that I can sell it later," he announced with a nonchalant smile on his face, as if she was a fool for not knowing it.
Mary's eyes widened at once. "Are you stealing from the underworld?" she gasped, earning a sneer from Ethan.
"It did not belong to them in the first place. These things should have belonged to poor commoners. I am only making sure that it would end with one of them, at least. And that is me." He grinned like a ruffian, and she closed her eyes. She didn't even know how to react to that. Sometimes, he was such a kind gentleman. At other times, he was just a ruffian that needed beating.
"Wait! Did you get all your money like that only?" Now that she thought about it, he always had a good amount to spend when he should be dirt poor due to his meat-selling stall.
Ethan paused for a second as he remembered the notes he had found in his room and the account number. He still did not know what its use was.
Ignoring her question, Ethan started gathering the valuables from the room. He opened drawers, searched behind paintings, and even checked under the floorboards. Gold jewelry, stacks of cash, and property papers piled up quickly. He stuffed everything into large suitcases, working methodically and efficiently. The room, once filled with opulence, now looked stripped and barren.
Mary watched in silence, her emotions a mix of awe and disapproval. Ethan's actions, though morally ambiguous, were undeniably effective. He zipped up the last suitcase and stood up, dusting his hands off.
"Ready to go?" he asked, his tone casual as if they were merely heading out for a stroll.
Mary nodded reluctantly, following him as he made his way to the main door. Ethan pushed it open and stepped out, dragging the heavy suitcases behind him. The sunlight outside was blinding after the dimly lit room, and the air felt fresh against their faces.
As they walked down the steps, a car parked in the distance caught Ethan's eye. It had tinted windows, making it impossible to see who was inside, but he felt the gaze of whoever was watching.
Ethan turned to Mary, his expression serious. "Stay close. We might have company."
Mary nodded, clutching her handbag tightly. Ethan approached the car cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of an ambush. The car remained still, its engine idling quietly. He reached the driver's side window and knocked on it.
After a moment, the window rolled down slightly, revealing a pair of sharp eyes. Ethan recognized the driver instantly—it was one of Mikey's trusted men.
"What do you want?" Ethan demanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
The driver smirked. "Just watching the show. Boss knew you'd come here, so he left a little surprise for you."
Ethan's grip on the suitcase tightened. "What surprise?"
The driver chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. Good luck, Ethan."
With that, the window rolled up, and the car sped off, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. Ethan watched it disappear around the corner, his mind racing. He had expected resistance, but the driver's cryptic message left him uneasy.
Mary tugged at his sleeve. "What did he mean by that?"
Ethan shook his head. "I'm not sure. But we need to get out of here, now."
They hurried to their own car, loading the suitcases into the trunk. As Ethan slid into the driver's seat, he glanced at Mary. "Whatever happens, stick with me. We'll get through this."
Mary nodded, her trust in Ethan unwavering despite the danger they faced. Ethan started the car and drove off, determined to outmaneuver whatever trap Mikey had set for them.
As they sped down the road, Ethan's mind was already formulating a plan. He knew that Mikey's reach extended far, but he also knew that his own resourcefulness was his greatest asset. No matter what lay ahead, Ethan was ready to face it head-on.