Chapter 71
Seeing the former God of War in his current state, Stellar couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh. “Time truly waits for no one. I still have a picture of Mr. Lee from when he was younger, back at the dorm…”
In the past, the highest-ranking soldiers in the Northern Territory had been majors. But as the war zones had consolidated in recent years, the ranks of majors had diminished, replaced by the titles of colonel and general.
The warden’s eyes misted over as he looked at his former mentor, his heart heavy with sorrow. But just as his emotions stirred, a sudden, nearly indiscernible shift in the air caught Nash’s attention.
A surge of murderous intent sliced through the atmosphere. Goosebumps prickled on Nash’s arms, his eyes widening in realization. In the blink of an eye, a sonic boom echoed, reverberating through the ground.
Without hesitation, Nash grabbed the warden and yanked him backward, pulling him out of harm’s way in half a second.
Splat.
A dagger appeared in Nash’s hand, its blade sinking deep into Mr. Lee’s throat. Three streams of blood spurted out in an arc.
Mr. Lee gasped, clutching at his throat in desperation. His wheelchair tipped over, and the elderly man crumpled to the ground in a pool of his own blood.
Nash lowered his gaze to his own abdomen. His black shirt was already soaked through with blood, staining it a dark crimson.
Everything had happened so fast—too fast for anyone to react.
The scene fell into a deathly silence.
The Lee family stood frozen, their eyes wide in shock, as if they couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.
Mr. Lee… had been murdered?
It was his 88th birthday celebration. A day meant for joy had instantly turned into a nightmare.
Mr. Lee had been a retired major, a war hero who had led his men to protect the country, earning countless medals and accolades in the process. And now, he lay lifeless, the victim of a brutal assassination.
Who was this masked figure who had just ended the life of such a revered man?
Olivia’s face drained of color, and Joseph’s legs trembled, his fists clenched in rage. Stellar stood frozen, his expression one of utter disbelief.
“You… you killed my grandfather…” Olivia’s voice broke as she screamed, her eyes reddening with fury.
Joseph’s hands curled into fists as he glared at Nash.
Stellar moved quickly to help the warden back onto his feet. “Warden, this…” His hands trembled as he supported the warden, both for his safety and his own shock.
The warden, his eyes cold, shot a glance at Stellar. “You hired him, but now you question him?”
Stellar swallowed hard and lowered his gaze. He had trusted Nash—until now.
Nash, seemingly unfazed, sat cross-legged on the ground as if nothing had happened. But it didn’t take long for Stellar to notice the pool of blood beginning to spread beneath Nash’s body.
“Warden, look…” Stellar pointed at the blood, his voice filled with growing realization.
The warden followed Stellar’s gaze, his eyes narrowing as he observed the situation. “Nash… is injured?”
Nash’s hand rested on his abdomen, a grimace on his face. The warden continued, his voice laced with a new understanding. “Mr. Lee didn’t just attack him—this is no ordinary assassin. It wasn’t Mr. Lee who struck. This man was a top-tier killer, likely a master in the assassination field. The blood on Nash’s clothes isn’t just from the wound. It’s poison.”
Stellar’s expression turned serious as he processed the information. Before he could say anything else, Henderson and a group of armed inspection officers stormed in, fully geared with ballistic shields and submachine guns.
Joseph, his face a mask of grief and rage, fell to his knees before the warden. “Warden… please… you must help me avenge my father! This man… this monster killed him right before our eyes. You brought him here—he’s your responsibility now!”
Joseph’s words were raw, filled with a mix of anger and desperation. He had lost everything in an instant, and now, he was demanding justice.
Nash, meanwhile, was struggling to maintain control of his own body. The blood gushing from his abdomen showed no signs of stopping. The blade that had cut him was coated with a chemical that inhibited his blood from clotting. If his platelets couldn’t coagulate, he would bleed out within minutes.
As the scene unfolded, Stellar took one final look at Mr. Lee’s lifeless body, his heart sinking further into the abyss.
He slowly walked over, kneeling beside the fallen man. “Take a good look, Joseph. This isn’t Mr. Lee…”
Joseph’s eyes widened in confusion and disbelief. He couldn’t fathom what Stellar was implying.
Stellar slowly turned Mr. Lee’s body over, revealing something none of them had expected.