Kerry adjusted his sleek suit and flicked some imaginary dust off his sleeve with exaggerated poise. "Naturally, this has nothing to do with me," he said with an air of indifference, "but if you've bullied my sister, don't you think I ought to intervene?"
Xiao Feng frowned, realization dawning in his eyes. This refined man before him—whose demeanor spoke of elegance and quiet danger—was undoubtedly connected to Kelly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been lounging in her car so comfortably earlier.
"Who are you? When did I ever bully your sister?" Xiao Feng asked coolly, just as Glass handed over a neatly packed bundle of ammunition. Xiao Feng tucked it into his backpack without breaking eye contact.
Glass, cradling a hefty hunting rifle, loaded it casually and warned with a half-smile, "Don't start anything here. I run a business, not a battleground. If you must fight, take it outside."
Understanding the merchant's concern, Xiao Feng cast Kerry a fleeting glance and turned to leave without a word.
The burly Brada glared at Kerry before following Xiao Feng toward the edge of the black market.
Kerry remained where he stood, hands buried nonchalantly in the pockets of his trousers. Despite the biting cold of winter, he wore only a thin suit—an oddity that hinted at something more than human.
Xiao Feng and Brada ignored him, heading back toward the hospital where their jeep still waited. But as they passed through a narrow alley, a familiar gang of bandits emerged from the shadows, brandishing weapons and blocking their path.
The leader, wielding a fearsome double-barreled shotgun, sneered viciously. "No more running today. It's time we settle yesterday's score. You humiliated us—we can't let that slide. So tell me, do you want to die… or beg to live?"
Before Xiao Feng could respond, Brada stepped forward with a snort. "You idiots must have a death wish. You dare lay hands on someone from the X Mercenary Corps? We'll wipe you all out by nightfall."
The bandit chief's aggression faltered the moment he heard the name. His men shifted uneasily. "Ah… you're with the X Corps? We've got no quarrel with you," he said, forcing a laugh. "It's just a personal grudge with this kid."
Brada, full of disdain, waved a dismissive hand. "Xiao Feng's one of us now. What, are you blind? Get lost before I lose patience."
The bandit chief's face darkened, lowering his weapon reluctantly. But one of his lieutenants, nicknamed Dirt Dog, leaned in and hissed, "Boss, there's only two of them. If we back down now, what kind of example are we setting? Let's take them out."
After a pause, the chief raised his gun once more, his eyes burning. "Don't think that name scares me. Yesterday's insult needs repaying—no matter who you are."
Before Brada could respond, Kerry stepped calmly beside Xiao Feng, his tone mockingly light. "Tsk. Xiao Feng, for someone so young, you sure make a lot of enemies. But I can't let you die by their hands. No, if anyone's going to kill you—it's going to be me."
Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes. "How charming. Everyone wants to settle a score with me today. Who should I deal with first?"
A sultry female voice cut through the tension. "Naturally, with me."
Kelly emerged from the shadows, clad in a skintight black leather outfit that accentuated every curve. The bandits' leering eyes drank in her figure, especially the gleaming swell of her chest, radiant like a polished gem.
She stepped up to Xiao Feng, her gaze frosty. "You little b*st*rd. Let's see where you run this time."
Xiao Feng, unfazed, offered a dry smile. He'd been expecting her ever since he'd spotted her SUV earlier. "Special Envoy Kelly, what a surprise. Pity the timing's terrible—I've got these thugs to deal with first. I'll have to put our grudge on hold."
The bandit chief ogled Kelly's hips shamelessly and laughed. "So you've got beef with him too, sweetheart? Perfect! Let's take him out together. Afterward, come to my place—we'll share a drink to celebrate."
"Yeah, and once we've drunk our fill, we'll make sure you really enjoy yourself!" Dirt Dog added, his eyes gleaming with filth. "We'll show you a night you won't forget."
The bandits burst into crude laughter, their depravity unrestrained.
Kelly turned, eyes cold and sharp, and extended a delicate hand. A crackling surge of electricity burst from her palm, striking the bandit chief square in the chest. The current arced from one thug to the next, dropping them all to the ground in spasms, bodies twitching, mouths frothing—especially the chief and Dirt Dog, who convulsed violently.
Kelly spat on the smoking bodies. "Vermin who overstep their bounds."
Xiao Feng frowned subtly, while Brada was visibly shaken. His bulky frame trembled as he muttered, "An ability user…"
Kelly sauntered over, gently stroking Brada's pudgy cheek. "Afraid, fatty? Don't be. This is just the beginning. You'll regret ever meeting Xiao Feng."
Realizing her true intentions, Xiao Feng moved instantly. He yanked Brada back and lashed out with a kick toward Kelly's midsection.
His speed was dazzling—so fast Kelly had no time to react.
But just then, Kerry moved like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside Kelly and seized Xiao Feng's ankle mid-air with a single hand, his other still buried in his pocket.
Xiao Feng's eyes widened. So fast…
Kerry's voice was calm, almost bored. "You dared to lay a hand on my sister?"