Chapter 1: Betrayed (1 / 2)

This place is called the Eastern Magic City. The man stands in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, taking in the entire cityscape.

He’s wearing pajamas, his hair a bit damp, clearly just having finished a shower.

It’s his habit—after every intimate moment, he always washes off the scent that doesn’t belong to him.

On the coffee table, there’s a prime Angus beef steak, and beside it, a glass of 1982 Lafite.

The man ties his napkin, picks up his knife and fork, and starts eating elegantly.

He’s a person with very high standards when it comes to the quality of life.

Eating slowly, with grace, his long and nimble hands radiate a sense of nobility. Many would think he’s a nobleman, someone who’s never touched anything ordinary.

But no one knows how many people’s blood stains those hands.

Suddenly, the phone next to him vibrates, and his brow furrows immediately.

This phone is rarely known by anyone, only Luo Jie knows about it.

He’s the only friend he’s ever had, his trustworthy partner, the one who knows everything about him.

After quitting his previous life, they hadn’t been in contact for years.

If he could, he would never take another call from him.

He picks up the phone, and sure enough, it’s Luo Jie.

He answers, and Luo Jie’s voice comes through: “Jiuhao, get out of there, the Charker family has found out that the death of their little princess is related to you.”

The man is stunned for a moment. The Charker family, Europe’s first family with a history of hundreds of years.

It was his last mission as a hitman, and because of an accident, the Charker family’s little princess died.

Since then, he had retired, but that was years ago. How could this be exposed now?

“Few people know about that, who sold me out?”

“I don’t know.” After a pause, Luo Jie lowers his voice slightly: “Maybe someone above wants to move against you, Jiuhao, you should leave as soon as possible. Your information has probably been exposed.”

“Has the Charker family already moved?”

“They’ve moved.”

“Where are they now?”

“They should be in the East by now.”

“Luo Jie, your information was delayed for a long time, I’m surprised.”

There’s silence on the other end for a while, then Luo Jie’s deep voice comes through: “Jiuhao, it might still be possible to leave now… good luck.”

“I’ll come find you.”

The man hangs up, his fingers tightening around the phone, which he crushes effortlessly.

He doesn’t hesitate, walking into the bedroom and changing into a black casual outfit.

He looks at the woman sleeping in the bed, then leaves a stack of cash on the nightstand.

Perhaps because of his movement, the woman opens her eyes, gazing at him with tenderness. “Yang Hao.”

Yang Hao is the name he’s taken after retiring, and it represents his new identity as a businessman.

Seeing the money on the nightstand, the woman is taken aback, a hint of resentment appearing in her expression. “Yang Hao, what do you think I am?”

“This is your payment,” the man says flatly.

“Payment?” The woman’s anger flares up, grinding her teeth. “You think I’m that kind of woman? Let me tell you, I’m not.”

“This is just a transaction, don’t think too much about it,” the man responds indifferently, almost heartlessly.

To him, women are nothing but a means to satisfy physical needs. He doesn’t give love, so he pays for it. The woman doesn’t need to give him any emotional attachment. It’s just a business transaction.

“Don’t leave this room before dawn,” he says, then walks out.

He takes the knife from the table, opens the door, and steps into the quiet hallway.

The quiet is eerie, unnerving.

He walks slowly, passing room after room, and with his innate sense, he realizes that these rooms are already empty.

“Looks like they’ve already found this place.”

The man suddenly realizes something. Many people know he’s in the East, but only Luo Jie knows his phone number.

The fact that they’ve pinpointed his location so quickly means they must have tracked him through his phone.

“Luo Jie…” The man chuckles.

At this moment, two waiters come toward him, pushing a small cart.

With the man’s experience, he can easily tell that these two have a light, practiced step—definitely skilled.

He acts as if he hasn’t noticed them and walks on.

The two waiters see him approaching, and their hands subtly move toward their sides…

In that instant, the man explodes into action, charging toward them at an unbelievable speed.