The silent palace was resounding with the screams of the man whom they had found difficult to deal with. Vidu’s mind was battling, or rather, suffering from enemies that he never saw, and before him, not too far away, stood the man who made that happen, John Prada.

Vidu made a terrible mistake by threatening his nephew in front of John, a mistake none dared to commit.

John is not a forgiving person when it comes to family. His ruthlessness can reach the sky.

Hawk’s anger was no less. His tightly clenched diamond fist was about to slam into Vidu when he felt John’s blessing. His advancing fist halted in mid-air.

Thane was angry as well, but now he was surprised. The haughty Vidu Morris was screaming as if he had been set on fire.

And the one who put him in that condition was the least dangerous-looking guy.

Thane looked at John. His twisted face of anger couldn’t be seen as he wore a mask. But somehow, that mask made him look even more horrifying, a plain expressionless white mask.

Amidst the chaos, a silhouette appeared quickly, slipping through the masses of spectators and pulling Max away. The slender teen was dragged towards him.

Thane, who was closest to him, was the first to react. He dashed towards the man but was met with a kick. It hit Thane’s chin, and his vision blurred.

The giant fell onto the floor, growling.

By now, Hawk and John caught that as well, but it was far too late. A knife was already resting at Max’s neck.

"Leave him or this guy dies," he said and yanked off Max’s mask, revealing his face. "A kid?" he uttered in disbelief.

John looked at the man, his eyes emitting the pyre of wrath.

"Leave my employer, will ya? I can kill this girly guy, don’t test me," said the man.

He was lanky, tall but thin. He wore a full-sleeved shirt, nothing extraordinary. His dark circles indicated that he lacked sleep.

The only thing dangerous about him was the knife within his hand.

John had no other choice. He could only use his skill once on one person, and once cancelled, it would take some time before it could be used again. Threatening skills always carried backlashes.

John cancelled the skill and finally, "Gwahh.. haahh... huh?!" Vidu gasped in confusion, eagerly touching all around his body.

He found every part of his body intact. He then turned around. Everybody who was supposed to be there was present.

He turned his sight towards Hawk. ’No, it wasn’t him,’ he thought to himself.

His eyesight then moved forward. He found the man in the white mask looking at the lanky man.

"Who are you?" asked Vidu.

John didn’t look at him. He simply glared at the man holding Max. "Release him before you die. There won’t be another warning."

The man looked at his boss, Vidu, who despite the suffering smirked and shook his head. "No, Topda." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Topda clicked his tongue. "Sorry, lad." The knife was pressed a bit harder, and beads of blood leaked.

John panicked. He quickly removed his mask and looked at Vidu. "You stupid bastard, stop," he roared.

Hawk made his move, but how could he when his nemesis was there as well? A kick came from behind. Hawk didn’t care, but he should have.

The kick carried more power than he had imagined. He was tossed like a ball, bounced, and crashed into some spectators. They fell down like bowling pins. Vidu was not an easy man.

Vidu looked at John, who was now standing without a mask. "I know you," he smirked. "You are a government official from the tax department, House of Prada, am I right?"

"You will face consequences," John said.

Vidu spat on the floor. "I don’t care now. You started first, now I’m obligated to end it."

While the chatter was ongoing, a man slowly made a move, Thane, who had already started orienting himself again.

His hand lashed out like a striking viper, clamping around the ankle of the lanky man with the knife.

Topda startled. He threw a kick, as fast as the one that had knocked Thane out, if not faster, targeting the chin, but Thane was prepared this time. His face was now dug into his thick arms, and the kick hit the crown of his head instead.

Still, it wasn’t enough to make him flinch.

Now that the hit missed, he gave up his guard and went for the very same leg, but this time he clamped onto the shin.

Locked as if they were unshakable for the lanky man, but he suddenly started grunting in pain.

Thane attempted something he had learned from the older kids and his siblings.

With both hands clamped down onto the ankle and shin, he violently counter-rotated with every ounce of power he had.

It took one second, and Topda felt the skin on his leg tearing apart. Those were the hands of a generational blacksmith, bigger and rock-like.

He let out a pained shout, letting go of Max and aiming the knife at Thane instead, allowing Max enough space to escape.

Max didn’t just run. He also slammed his back into Topda. With one leg locked and ripped, he lost balance and fell.

However, Topda had yet to give up on stabbing Thane. He dug the knife into Thane’s shoulder as he fell. The giant teen stood firm and hurled him into the air. Though the knife had still found its way into his shoulder.

The man was in utter confusion and pain. He was astounded by Thane’s raw power. The skin on his leg was ruptured, it was bleeding, and so was Thane’s shoulder when he yanked out the knife.

Things were out of control. Even Ildiem was worried.

"You started the party without me? Ildiem, you son of a bitch."

It was more of a shout. The entire palace vibrated.