Before the confrontation, Miles had already warned Ryan and Isaac to stay alert. Without hesitation, the two sought cover.
"Damn it, I knew this guy wasn't up to any good!"
Miles fired seven or eight rounds in rapid succession, but his aim was less than stellar. Out of the four attackers, only two went down.
The remaining two immediately returned fire and ducked behind cover.
"So, you figured it out."
Alexande finally dropped his façade, sneering coldly. "Don't kill him. I want him alive!"
Miles carried too many secrets—his death now would mean Alexande would never get his hands on that treasure trove of supplies.
"Yes, sir!"
Two towering bodyguards emerged from the shadows, charging toward Miles.
Ryan and Isaac sprang into action, shielding Miles as they grappled with the intruders.
"You think you can fool me, playing tricks like this? We're both old foxes here, and you're trying to spin ghost stories?"
Miles sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I knew from the start you weren't up to anything good!"
"Miles!"
Alexande's voice turned icy. "I'll give you one last chance—hand over the supplies, and I might consider sparing your life!"
"Hand over your mother!"
Miles snapped and fired another shot, though Alexande dodged it with ease.
Damn it!
His lousy aim was proving to be a liability. In hindsight, he regretted not spending more time practicing his marksmanship—too many distractions, especially of the female variety.
Cursing under his breath, Miles ducked behind cover to reload.
Meanwhile, Ryan and Isaac were locked in a fierce struggle with the bodyguards.
These weren't just any hired muscles—they were elite fighters, more than capable of handling most threats.
Ryan, despite his experience as a security team leader, was quickly outmatched, taking several heavy blows. He was on the verge of defeat.
Isaac, however, was holding his ground, his movements precise and controlled, though it was clear he hadn't unleashed his full strength.
"Isaac, stop holding back!" Miles yelled. "If you don't kill them, we're all going to die here!"
Isaac hesitated for a moment, then his movements quickened.
In an instant, his opponent began to falter, taking a flurry of blows—each one landing with pinpoint accuracy.
If these bodyguards hadn't been exceptionally tough, they would've been downed long ago.
Alexande, watching from behind cover, was stunned. Desperate, he raised his gun and fired twice at Isaac.
But what happened next left him utterly speechless.
As the shots rang out, Isaac lowered his body in a split second and rolled forward, evading the bullets entirely.
"What the—!"
Not only Alexande but even Miles was dumbstruck. He stared at the old man he and Ryan had teased just that morning.
Is this guy even human?
Even if Alexande wasn't the best shot, at such close range, a handgun should have been unbeatable.
Miles had always known Isaac was a martial arts master, but the man's usually mild and unassuming demeanor had made it hard to take him seriously.
Now it was clear—I've been the fool all along.
Isaac's opponent realized he was outmatched and began retreating, reaching for his gun.
But Isaac gave him no chance. With a lightning-fast roundhouse kick, he sent the weapon flying.
The fight was over in seconds. A barrage of relentless punches followed, leaving the bodyguard incapacitated on the ground.
"Isaac… you're the successor of the Cloud Fist technique, aren't you?"
For the first time, Alexande's arrogance wavered. Recognition dawned on his face as he identified Isaac.
"I… we've met before! I'm Alexande, from Rocket Corp!"
Ignoring him, Isaac dashed toward Ryan's side.
The second bodyguard didn't stand a chance. Within minutes, he too was down for the count, collapsing with a heavy thud.
Miles finally let out a breath of relief. Emerging from cover, he aimed his gun squarely at Alexande.
"So, Mr. Big Shot, are you coming out on your own, or should I drag you out?"
Alexande was now thoroughly panicked.
If he had known Miles had someone like Isaac by his side, he would never have come out, let alone orchestrated this farce.
"Isaac! We're old acquaintances!"
Alexande clung to his last shred of hope, shouting from behind his cover. "Help me kill Miles, and I'll give you fifty billion. No—five hundred billion!"
Miles laughed, his tone dripping with disdain.
Rich people really were the most shameless creatures.
In the current world, five hundred billion wasn't even worth the paper it was printed on. Just meaningless numbers.
Without saying a word, Miles glanced at Isaac, raising his gun subtly while putting distance between them.
He wanted to see how Isaac would react—to test if his loyalty was genuine.
Isaac noticed the movement and gave a bitter smile.
"Miles, are you stepping back because you don't trust me?"
Miles grinned. "Isaac, you're just too much of a monster. How could I not be cautious?"
Sometimes, a single honest remark carries more weight than a thousand reassurances.
Isaac chuckled. "Relax. Betrayal isn't in my vocabulary. The moment I chose to follow you, my life became yours."
Isaac wasn't just loyal—he was astute.
Like Ryan, he knew that everything he now had was thanks to Miles, including the safety of Lena and her child. Without Miles, they wouldn't last long in this unforgiving world.
Hearing this, Alexande felt a cold chill run through him.
But he wasn't ready to give up.
"Isaac, you know as well as I do—Miles is sitting on a treasure trove worth billions. If we control him, we could live like kings for the rest of our lives!"
The shrewd businessman had honed in on what he thought was the key to turning Isaac.
But Isaac merely shook his head.
"I appreciate the offer," he said, his voice calm. "But Miles is my ally, and I don't harm my allies."