Lone Wolf didn’t like being ignored.
"If you don’t strike, then I will. My client wants your shares. And it’s easier to get them once you’re dead." He burst out laughing.
With narrowed, bloodshot eyes, Lone Wolf fired golden strands from his sleeve.
This was his secret weapon—Gold Threads.
They looked harmless but were deadlier than a paper cut.
Rumors say that Lone Wolf never missed his targets when using them.
The weapon was his trump card.
Lone Wolf once wiped out a whole village in a foreign country using it. That’s how he earned his name as a top assassin.
After that, he built a world-famous group of killers.
Dozens of golden threads shot through the air toward Daniel. They are sharp and full of rage.
Daniel shifted his weight to one foot and jumped high to dodge the attack.
The golden threads moved like they had a mind of their own, chasing after Daniel.
He kicked them aside, but another wave came right at him.
Even after being hit, the threads snapped back and kept going after him.
Just then, the golden fibers surrounded Daniel.
They twisted together like a snake, ready to strike.
"Hahaha! What do you think? Am I the best international killer or what? Daniel, I bet you never thought you’d fall into my hands. Hahaha!"
Lone Wolf burst into wild laughter with Daniel trapped.
"Oh, really? Are you sure I’m in your hands?"
Daniel stood calmly in the middle of the circle. He took slow steps toward Lone Wolf.
The golden threads followed him but stayed a short distance away.
Lone Wolf felt something wasn’t right. He tried to control one end of the threads to strike Daniel.
But they didn’t move.
With a snap of Daniel’s fingers, the golden threads turned and swarmed toward Lone Wolf.
Lone Wolf’s eyes widened in shock.
He saw the threads coming down on him like rain.
He tried to dodge, but the boulder under him had cracked. He lost his balance and slipped off the cliff.
As he fell, the golden threads dropped to the ground, lifeless.
Daniel stood on the boulder and silently watched him fall.
His dark eyes showed no hint of sympathy.
As he turned to leave, a whip wrapped around his ankle and pulled him down.
Just when he thought he’d fall with Lone Wolf, a familiar voice called out to him.
A pale hand reached out and caught his.
Daniel looked up and saw Chantelle’s beautiful face filled with worry.
She held his hand tightly, refusing to let go of his hand. Panic filled her eyes.
Daniel felt a quiet warmth knowing she still cared.
But she couldn’t hold both his weight and Lone Wolf’s.
If she didn’t let go soon, she might fall into the ravine with them.
He couldn’t let her take that risk.
"I’m not letting go. Get up here!" she shouted.
Daniel’s calm look only made Chantelle more upset.
Why was he smiling right now?
Did he even realize how deep down there? He might not survive this!
"Lone Wolf is holding onto my foot. If you don’t let go, you’ll be pulled down with us. Be a good girl and let go. I don’t want to owe you another life."
"Do you think falling will get you out of your debt? Hate to break it to you, but it won’t be that easy. You’ll be paying me back for the rest of your life!"
Chantelle’s chest felt tight. She couldn’t tell if she was angry or scared.
Just thinking that this might be Daniel’s end made it hard to breathe.
"Chantelle..." Daniel said softly as he tried to pull away from her.
She noticed what he was doing and panicked.
Chantelle screamed as loud as she could.
She and Thirteen had split up to search the area, so he couldn’t be too far.
If she could just hold on a little longer, Thirteen would come.
He’d be able to help her save Daniel.
Chantelle clenched her teeth and kept going.
But then, someone below grabbed Daniel and pulled him down.
The sudden pull made Chantelle lose her balance. She was dragged down with him.
"Ah!" Chantelle let out a cry and grabbed a nearby small tree to stop herself from falling.
"Pretty lady, since you’re already here, why not come all the way down? What are you waiting for?" Lone Wolf’s voice echoed through the valley. It gave her chills.
Ignoring him, Chantelle slowly pulled herself up toward the cliff, using the small tree for support.
She was stuck in a tough spot. If Lone Wolf gave even a slight pull, she’d lose her balance and fall.
"Shouldn’t you hate me, Chantelle? Why are you trying to save me?" Daniel asked as he saw her struggling to climb.
The cuts and bruises on her arms made his chest ache.
"Yes, I hate you. But the kids are still young. You can die after they grow up."
"You really believe that?"
"Of course. You’re good at making money. You better stay alive and keep earning. Kane’s already dreaming about your fortune."
Chantelle used her son as an excuse to cover up her feelings.
Daniel didn’t know what to say. He was starting to regret asking her such a question.
Daniel didn’t mind working hard to grow the family fortune, but hearing her say it like that still stung.
He was about to die. Couldn’t she be a little kinder?
"That reminds me. Kane and Rai are safe. Don’t worry. But they’re still waiting on the hill for you to save them. I can’t do it alone, so you can’t die! Just hang on. Thirteen will be here soon..."
Chantelle looked at him as she talked in a gentle tone.
It felt like she was comforting a child.
Still, it worked on Daniel.
"Okay. I’ll hold on." Daniel stepped on a tree branch stuck in the hillside to secure himself. Then he grabbed Chantelle’s hand tightly.
Right below him, Lone Wolf was hanging on for his life, the whip wrapped around Daniel’s ankles.
He didn’t like being ignored.
"Why aren’t you looking at me, pretty lady? If you keep ignoring me, I’ll come up there and find you."
"Sure, if you can even make it up here," Chantelle said, teasing him on purpose.
"Fine, I’m coming. You think I can’t?"
Lone Wolf said as he stepped on a rock sticking out.
He let go of the whip around Daniel’s ankle and hooked it to a branch instead. Then he launched himself up the hill.