chapter984

Ghost didn't hesitate. He marched over and kicked the guy so hard he landed flat on his face. "Idiot! The Commander is here to help us. What are you freaking out for?"

The guy bit back a yelp, scrambled up, and stammered, Ghost, it's..... it's Commander Ansel!"

Ghost's eyes went wide. "What?"

Commander Ansel.

Three years ago, the man had joined forces with outsiders to wipe out his own people and took down the biggest syndicate in Southeast Asia, the Terra Syndicate. The fallout was massive. Since then, Ansel had kept a low profile, barely showing his face, probably out of fear of revenge.

And now, tonight, he showed up here?

He might have kept quiet lately, but Ansel was still the most powerful Commander in this country. Ghost was still trying to wrap his head around it when the guy blurted out, voice shaking, "The Commander's not alone. He brought someone else. I think it's "

"Who? Say it!" Ghost barked.

"It's... it's Connor Jefferson!"

Ghost froze.

Connor Jefferson.

Just his name made every gang in Southeast Asia grind their teeth. If they could, they'd tear him apart and drink his blood. Nobody hated anyone more than they hated Connor.

"Connor? He's got the nerve to show up here?" Ghost's voice cracked with fury.

He turned that anger straight on Lydia, fixing her with a hard stare. "You working for Connor?"

Lydia just raised an eyebrow. "What, are you scared?"

"Scared? You wish. I "

He never finished. A line of military SUVS pulled up, headlights glaring. The cars rolled to a stop, and squads of soldiers in tactical gear Jumped out, moving like a well oiled machine. In seconds, Ghost's crew was surrounded.

Two men climbed out of one of the vehicles. Commander Ansel and Connor, exactly the two faces Ghost dreaded seeing most.

Commander Ansel was young,

sharp, and already a legend in Country T. He was only a few years older than Connor. Tonight, he was here to help Lydia find uke and take the chance to crack down onthe mess these gangs had become.

Ghost, tell your people to drop their weapons," Ansel said, his voice so cold and steady it made the air feel heavy.

Ghost felt like he shrank two sizes. He tried to force a smile. "Commander Ansel, what brings you here?"

"What brings me here? You and your people never stop making trouble. That's what."

For the last three years, Ansel had been under constant pressure. The gangs hated him, the organizations grumbled. But as the Commander, he had no choice. If he let this go, the country would rot from the inside out.

Ghost tried to play the victim. "Commander, you've got it wrong. It wasn't me. It was them! They showed up and bombed my place for no reason. You have to stand up for me. They're disrespecting our country!"

He darted in front of Ansel, desperate to win him over first.

Connor just shot him a look colder than ice. "You're the real disgrace to our country." Ghost bristled. "You-"

Ansel cut in. Mr. Jefferson's brother is with you. Hand him over. And send everyone else home. Now."

Ghost's face twisted. No way was he giving in that easy. "Commander

Ansel, you can't just throw

accusations around because you're charge. These people came willingly. Every one of them signed a contract, fingerprinted and all. Until those contracts are up, they're not going anywhere."

He spat out Connor's name like it burned. As for Mr. Jefferson's brother... Please. Who'd dare touch him? Not me. Not anyone in Southeast Asia. Nobody's that stupid."