Lily flinched at Ryan's outburst but quickly clarified, "I didn't mean that kind of hard! I mean his entire body—it's like steel! His skin is tough as iron!"
Sam's eyes narrowed slightly. Skin like steel? Is that the ability of an extraordinary in general, or is it unique to Ethan Reed?
He didn't dwell on the question for long. He would have his answer soon enough.
Sam leaned forward slightly, outlining the next steps of his plan to Lily.
As he spoke, her face grew increasingly troubled. "Are you… planning to kill him?"
Sam chuckled softly. "No. I just want to ask him a few questions."
"But…" Lily hesitated, the worry in her voice unmistakable. "If it's just to ask questions, is all of this really necessary?"
"You're talking too much," Sam said sharply, cutting her off.
Lily's heart skipped a beat, a chill running through her. She looked up and met his gaze—the faint outline of his eyes barely visible behind the tinted glasses. They gleamed with an unnatural detachment, devoid of any emotion a human might possess.
At that moment, she felt as though she were standing before something far more terrifying than any man.
The owner of those eyes continued to smile, but it was a smile that sent chills straight to the heart.
Lily dared not say another word. She bowed her head respectfully and excused herself.
Nightfall.
Inside a rundown house, Ethan Reed sat silently, his gaze fixed on the figure moving about in the cramped kitchen.
She was a young woman wearing an apron, flitting around the tiny space like a graceful butterfly.
For someone who had grown accustomed to living under the constant shadow of death, it was a rare moment of peace.
"Dinner's ready!" The cheerful voice of Lily broke his thoughts. She brought out two plates of food, her pale arms catching the light as they passed in front of Ethan. The aroma of the dishes mingled with her subtle fragrance, filling the small room.
"Hey, what are you staring at? Hurry up and try my cooking! To repay you, I've pulled out all my best tricks," Lily teased, waving her hand playfully in front of Ethan's face.
Snapping out of his daze, Ethan grabbed his chopsticks and began to eat.
It was his first time having dinner with a girl—especially one as beautiful as Lily. He felt uncharacteristically nervous, fumbling for words to break the awkward silence.
Fortunately, Lily was like a lively little songbird, chatting away incessantly and filling the room with warmth.
That evening, Ethan ate more than he had in weeks, and for the first time in a long while, he felt truly content.
"Are you full?"
"Yeah, I'm full."
Lily beamed, her big eyes curving into crescents like little moons.
"I'll be off to work then," she said casually.
Ethan's expression changed slightly. He knew Lily was going to the bar to sing, but for a girl, that kind of job was far too dangerous.
"Can't you not go?" he blurted, his voice filled with concern.
Lily's smile remained unchanged. "And if I don't work, are you going to take care of me?"
A rush of heat surged to Ethan's chest, and the words almost escaped his lips: "I—"
"Alright, alright, I was joking," Lily interrupted with a playful wave of her hand. "How could you take care of me? People like us, being able to scrape by on our own is already something to be grateful for."
She stood, brushing off her apron. "Anyway, I'm off. See you later, Ethan."
Bang.
The rickety door creaked shut behind her, and her petite figure vanished into the night. The cheerful atmosphere she had brought into the room disappeared with her, leaving only a suffocating silence in its place.
Ethan clenched his fists tightly, his voice firm as he declared to the empty room: "Lily, I will take care of you!"
The Ethan from before could never have uttered such words. After all, he had barely been able to support himself. But now, as an extraordinary, wealth? Wealth was nothing more than something to be seized.
Without hesitation, Ethan stepped out into the night. He had a clear plan for making money—robbing the rich to feed… himself.
In District 13, the rich and corrupt were everywhere—a perfect hunting ground for someone like Ethan Reed.
After some time, Ethan returned, his pockets heavy and a satisfied smile on his face. He headed straight for the Moonlit Bar, the place where Lily worked.
"This time, I made over fifty grand," he muttered to himself, pleased. "That's more than enough for a stretch of good living."
He thought about Lily's tattered, cheap dress. After those thugs had torn it, she hadn't thrown it away but had patched it up and continued wearing it.
"I can finally buy her a new dress."
However, as Ethan approached the Moonlit Bar, his steps faltered, and his entire body stiffened. The bar's entrance had been smashed to pieces.
Whoosh!
In an instant, he bolted inside. The scene that greeted him was utter chaos. Broken glass littered the floor, and spilled alcohol pooled across the ground. The staff all bore signs of injury, bruises visible on their faces and arms. Behind the counter, a man who appeared to be the bar owner was sighing heavily, muttering under his breath.
Ethan's gaze swept the room, frantic.
No Lily.
Panic rose in his chest like a tidal wave.
"Where's Lily!? Where is she!?" Ethan bellowed, his voice shaking the walls as veins bulged on his forehead.
Everyone in the room froze, terrified into silence.
Furious, Ethan grabbed the nearest server by the collar, lifting them clean off the ground.
"Lily! Where is she!?" he roared, his voice echoing like thunder.
"Th-they... they took her!" the server stammered, trembling in Ethan's grasp.
Ethan's fury erupted like a volcano. "Who!? Who took her!?"
"It was… two customers, both wrapped in bandages! They brought a gang with them. Smashed everything, shouting something about, 'Last time, someone saved you—let's see who saves you now!'"
Ethan's mind raced. It all clicked into place—those two bastards who had tried to assault Lily last time!
Regret clawed at him. He should have killed them when he had the chance.
"Where did they take her!?" he roared, his voice trembling with rage.
"I… I don't know!" the server cried, tears brimming in their eyes.
Just then, the bar owner spoke up from behind the counter, his voice grave. "The Viper Gang. I saw the black snake tattoos on them—they're with the Viper Gang."
Bang!
Ethan released the server, who collapsed onto the floor in a heap. Without a word, he stormed out of the bar, his steps quick and purposeful.
The Viper Gang—its notorious reputation was known to everyone in District 13. Their headquarters lay at the northwest edge of the district, near the derelict ruins of the old industrial zone, a place steeped in lawlessness and chaos.
Ethan's chest burned with urgency, his thoughts consumed by dread. He couldn't bear to imagine what horrors Lily might face in the clutches of those vile snakes—so fragile, so beautiful, now at their mercy.
After Ethan stormed out, the chaos and groaning in the bar abruptly ceased. An eerie silence enveloped the room as everyone stopped what they were doing and fixed their gazes on his retreating figure.
The previously distraught bar owner's expression turned cold and blank. Pulling out his phone, he placed it to his ear and spoke in a tone of utmost deference, "Chief, the prey has taken the bait."
"Mm, I see." A low, magnetic voice replied from the other end of the line.
In a dimly lit surveillance room, Sam sat at a wide mahogany table, dressed in a sharp black suit. He held a glass of red wine delicately in one hand as he asked, "How is it? Does it taste good?"
Across from him sat Lily, her posture careful and reserved. She took a tentative sip from the crystal wine glass, her soft lips leaving a faint imprint on its edge.
"It's good. I've never had such expensive wine before," she said cautiously.
Sam smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth curving upwards in a way that was both gentle and unnerving. "I don't like lies."
Lily froze, her body stiffening slightly. "Actually… it's not that good. A bit bitter."
"There we go. I feel the same," Sam said with a light chuckle. "Try the steak—it's top-grade M9."
Lily nodded, quickly cutting off a small piece and placing it into her mouth. The rich flavor melted on her tongue, far removed from anything she'd tasted before.
"It's delicious," she admitted softly, her tone carrying a trace of surprise.
Lily nodded and cut off a small piece of the steak, placing it in her mouth.
The moment it touched her tongue, she finally understood what "tender and juicy" truly meant. This one bite surpassed anything she had ever tasted before… except maybe snacks.
But after that first bite, she hesitated to take another. Sam hadn't started eating yet, and she didn't dare be the first to finish.
"Go ahead, eat," Sam said casually. "We still have time before Ethan shows up to play the hero."
The mention of Ethan brought a shadow of unease to Lily's face. She silently continued eating the premium steak, but her heart felt heavy, an inexplicable discomfort gnawing at her.
"You're not really going to kill him, are you?" she asked softly.
Behind the tinted glasses, Sam's eyes narrowed slightly. "So quick to develop feelings?"
Lily shook her head. "No. He's a good person—I don't deserve someone like him. It's just… I'd feel guilty. If he really dies because of me…"
"Don't worry," Sam interrupted, his tone almost soothing. "I'm not a bad person either."
Lily fell silent, her expression incredulous. She glanced at the two burly men standing behind Sam. The bulges at their waists were unmistakably concealed firearms. Her gaze shifted to the surveillance monitors, showing every corner of the area bristling with black-clad enforcers armed to the teeth.
It was almost laughable to associate Sam with the term "good person."