Lance PoV
We made it up to the third floor and encountered ten enemies.I didn't even need to lift a finger—my men handled them effortlessly.
According to our strategist, Akira was being held on the middle floor, the most heavily guarded section of the building.
By the time we were close, Squad One was down to fifteen members.Half of them were busy tying up the captured guards.Squad Two stayed right behind us.Squads Three and Four were finishing their assignments and would regroup later.Squad Five guarded the outside, ready to intercept any reinforcements.The remaining squads spread out, clearing every corner of the building.
The middle floor alone had thirty guards stationed there.
"I'll go first," I said. The hallway was narrow—numbers wouldn't help here.
I moved in fast.Every man in a black suit that stepped into my reach went down immediately.
They had guns—of course they did.But I didn't give them a single second to raise them.
When the hallway finally fell silent, I stood before a set of double doors.I knocked once.
No response.
"Open up," I growled, venom lacing every word, "or I'll break it down."
After a tense pause, the door finally opened.
And the first thing I saw—
Akira.
He was sitting on a chair.Blindfolded.A gag stuffed in his mouth.His uniform shirt partially undone.
Something snapped inside me.Heat rushed through my chest, sharp and uncontrollable.
The sight made me furious.
Kira's PoV
I was kidnapped right in front of the school. They blindfolded me and dragged me somewhere, my hands bound tightly behind my back, a gag cutting off my screams.
Who the fuck ordered this?!
What will Father do if he finds out? I've been sitting here for what feels like forever, nobody daring to speak, though I can sense them moving around me.
I tried to fight, but they were massive like bouncers or sumo wrestlers. All my training felt useless against their sheer size and strength.
My hands and jaw were going numb, my legs aching from being pinned in the chair. I grunted, twisted, tried to break free—but the chair held me like a vice.
"I'm curious if he's a girl or a boy," one man sneered. "Mind if I just take a peek?"
Others laughed at the joke, but then I felt hands on my uniform, fumbling with the buttons. I struggled to stop them.
'What the fuck is he trying to do?!' I muffled, biting my tongue against the gag.
Then a ruckus erupted outside the room, the unmistakable sounds of punches, shouts, and chaos.
"What's going on?" one of the men guarding me asked, nervous.
"I don't know," another answered, voice tight with unease.
The fighting raged outside for what felt like an eternity, but inside the room, no one dared move. We waited, tense, every nerve on edge. When it finally quieted, a loud knock shook the door, making my heart leap.
"Open up or I'll break it!" A furious, ice-cold voice barked.
"What should we do?" one of the men guarding me whispered.
"Boss said not to open it if it's not him, but… they took care of everyone outside," another argued.
I stiffened, adrenaline surging. Then I heard it, the door creaked under pressure, and knuckles cracked sharply against the wood.
"Well, well, who's the boss here?" The voice was razor-sharp, commanding, unyielding. "My men have already handled everyone guarding this building. I brought 250 people with me."
"The… the boss isn't here yet… he'll be here in thirty minutes. Who are you?" the kidnappers stammered.
"I'm a person hired by Lord Kromer to protect his children. I was doing a perfect job until today. And what pisses me off the most? I looked away for two seconds, and young master got kidnapped. On. My. Watch." He spat the words, venom dripping from every syllable.
"Now you have two choices. First, surrender quietly. Second, fight me or my men, and if you lose… I'll personally castrate you." His voice was low, deadly, and unflinching.
Wait. Nobody would dare call Father 'Lord' Kromer. Father would kill them. Who the hell…? My mind raced, suspicion cutting through the fear. This wasn't just a rescuer. This was someone insane—and skilled.
"First choice, sir," the kidnappers stammered.
"Tie yourselves up," the voice ordered. "And don't think you get to leave. If you pass by me, you'll face my men instead." I could hear the footsteps fading into silence.
"Boss, all cleared. We swept the building, 100 guards and 50 reinforcements. Every squad handled their part," one subordinate reported.
"Well done. Wrap it up and leave. Tell them I owe them this one," the cold voice was gone.
"It's fine, boss. You'd do anything for us too. Recently, you did the impossible. See you later!" The footsteps faded, replaced by a chorus of victory shouts that made my chest tighten with relief.
"Aki, you okay? You were in deep shit, I tell you."
A firm, strong hand landed on my shoulder, and my blindfold was yanked off. My eyes blinked against the sudden light, momentarily disoriented. Then a familiar face came into focus.
"Nnngg??" The gag muffled my attempt to speak. I wanted to say Lance.
He freed my hands and feet, but they were numb, heavy, and useless. I couldn't even lift an arm to remove the gag myself.
"Lemme do it. You've been like this for two hours; must be cramped, huh?" He leaned close, carefully working on the gag. "What the—?? Is the one who kidnapped you a psycho? Using this thing?"
Finally, he pulled it off. I saw it was a circular gag with a leather patch.
"Hanks…" I croaked, my jaw aching violently as I massaged it.
"We should go now." Without waiting for me to respond, he scooped me up bridal-style, carrying me out of the building like a storm incarnate, fearless and unrelenting.