chapter977

Connor could guess exactly what was going through Lydia's mind. Three years ago, they'd put the squeeze on the Terra Syndicate, the biggest underground

organization in Southeast Asia. That move hadn't just pissed off the crime rings, but also the warlords backing them. In this part of the world, every inch of land belonged to a different sovereign nation, and foreign forces couldn't just barge in and start military ops or crackdowns without getting official permission. Otherwise, it would be a direct violation of international law.

The political situation here was a mess. There were too many armed factions carving up territory, governments at each other's throats, and civil wars breaking out all the time. Outsiders trying to intervene usually ended up tangled in the chaos. What made things even tougher was that some of those local militias were in bed with the criminal groups, giving them cover and protection. It didn't just make it harder to take down the gangs, it also let them run wild and do whatever they wanted.

"If we could take them down once, we can do it again." Lydia's voice was icy calm.

She hadn't come all this way just to rescue Luke. If she was here, she was going to shake things up. After traveling so far, how could she not?

Connor looked over, reading the determination in her eyes. "You're thinking..."

Lydia met his gaze without flinching. "I want to go big. Really big."

The makeshift room was cramped and dark, barely enough space for almost thirty people. Luke was one of them. He looked like he'd been through hell, his clothes rumpled and dirty, his face so pale it was almost grey. The others in the room were men and women, some just little kids. Everyone here had been tricked or kidnapped by criminals.

Luke had never imagined the world could be this cruel, that people could be this twisted. All he'd done was give someone directions, and the next thing he knew, he woke up tied up in some van. At first, he thought maybe it was a nightmare, but it didn't take long for reality to hit. This was real.

Suddenly, the rusty iron door scraped open from the outside. Sunlight poured in, bright and golden, washing over the dark, damp room. It brought a little warmth, but inside, everyone felt frozen to the bone. When two men with guns stormed in, everyone shrank back, clutching their shoulders, trying to make themselves invisible.

These men had no mercy. They hit people just because they felt likedt. Even if you did exactly what they said, if you rubbed them the wrong way, they lash our without warning.

"Everyone up! Men on this side, women over there!" one of them barked.

Immediately, everyone started

shaking. A little boy and girl clung to Luke. The boy's name was Grant, the girl was Coco. Luke had looked after them on the way here, so they stuck close to him, scared and desperate for safety.

When they heard they'd have to split up, Coco grabbed Luke's arm, her

voice barely a whisper trem here

IM

with fear No, I don't want to leave Luke."

Luke had no idea what these men planned, but he knew it wouldn't be anything good. He pulled Grant and Coco behind him, at the end of the men's line.

The two men stomped over, voices booming. "Are you stupid or just deaf? Men and women, separate!"

Coco started crying, hugging Luke's arm even tighter. "I don't want to leave Luke, I don't!"

"Shut up! Still crying?" One of the men yanked Coco away from Luke, spitting out, "Stupid bitch! We'll play with you tonight!"

Luke's blood ran cold. He pulled Coco back, shielding her behind him. She's just a kid!"

The man looked shocked that Luke would actually stand up to him. In a flash, he kicked Luke hard in the chest. You looking for trouble, huh?"