Chapter 3

Zachary definitely didn't know I was the documentary type.

When it came to throwing tantrums, he couldn't really win against me.

As if forced into a corner, he slowly started letting me get involved in his operations.

Saturday night, they were going to raid that nightclub in the south district.

This was my first assignment—

Take a few guys, kick down the nightclub's door, and smash everything in sight.

Before I left, Zachary squeezed my wrist.

"Such thin arms and legs."

"Can you even fight?"

...

I really wanted to tell him my police academy scores were good enough to take down a dozen of him.

But in the end, I just grinned at him.

"Zachary."

"Just watch."

After nightfall, the city surged with an uneasy scent of blood.

I led the group and kicked down the opposing headquarters' door first.

This gradually evolved into an all-out gang war.

It was my first time seeing people hacking at each other with machetes—completely different from the minor scuffles at the police academy.

I nearly got hit several times.

Dodging frantically on instinct in the crowd.

Suddenly I heard someone shout my name.

I looked instinctively.

Someone shoved me hard, and I tumbled out onto the street.

"And you wanted me to 'just watch.'"

"Watch you get yourself killed?"

Just now, if Zachary hadn't pushed me aside, that machete would've come down the next second and severed my carotid artery.

The person who'd prevented me from becoming a human blood fountain.

Now groaned with some discomfort.

...

Fresh red blood darkened his already dark clothes.

He shouldn't have been here, but he'd forcibly taken that blow for me.

I stood there thinking.

Don't you dare die.

I want to send you to prison, not to hell.

"Why are you standing there? Run!"

"Fuck, Liam, I really fell for your bullshit."

"You should've just stayed home where it's safe."

"..."

The man pushed me away irritably.

Just like when we were little—when others bullied me, he'd yell at me the same way.

"You're useless. Get out of the way, I'll beat those guys up."

Unfortunately.

Adult gang fights aren't children's games.

When the police sirens sounded, that's what I thought.

This location was quite remote.

The police arrived unusually fast.

Clearly someone had tipped them off.

Both gangs' members instantly became rats fleeing in panic.

Even so, quite a few were caught.

Zachary and I both got away, but his people suffered heavy casualties—not just his own injury, but his manpower and influence.

Obviously, this police operation was very successful.

In the car, I bandaged the wound on his abdomen.

He reached out his fingers, restlessly tousling my short hair.

"Liam, without me you'd be dead today."

I lowered my eyes. He really was tough—he didn't even grunt when the iodine seeped into his wound.

"I can fight pretty well."

"Next time I won't panic like that."

I tied him an ugly bow and answered.

He tilted his head, his deep eyes fixed on me, then suddenly smiled.

"Liam."

"There's something I never told you."

"I only told you about our retreat route."

"But..."

"The police blocked us right on our escape route, perfectly positioned."

The man reached up and lifted my chin.

His rough fingertip sent an odd sensation through me.

"What do you think..."

"Will I let there be a next time?"

"Little traitor?"