Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

At that moment, over in Blumedale, Kenny was on the verge of exploding. "That little bastard! If I don't skin him alive, I don't deserve my last name!"

Inside the villa on his private lake estate, Kenny was so enraged that he grabbed a crystal tea set from the table and smashed it into a thousand pieces.

The housekeepers nearby trembled in fear, their heads lowered, barely daring to breathe. That tea set was not just any tea set-it was a gift from the Golding family, worth millions of dollars.

Yet, he had shattered it without a second thought. That was how furious he was.

A low, chilling laugh suddenly echoed through the room. "Well, well, Mr. Rhodes. Quite the temper you have there. Why don't you let me take care of this problem for you?"

A tall man in black stepped into the villa. He had a single eye, the other covered by a dark leather eyepatch.

His remaining eye was sharp and predatory, piercing like a hawk's, making it impossible to meet his gaze without feeling a deep sense of unease.

Kenny turned around, his face lighting up with relief.

"Phantom Eye, you're finally here!" he said, his tone eager. "I have one simple request—head to Jayrodale immediately and bring my son Michael back to Blumedale."

Phantom Eye let out a dry chuckle. "That's it? That's all you need?"noveldrama

Kenny's expression twisted into something far more sinister. He snarled, "Of course not! Not only do I want you to bring Michael back, but I want you to tear Andrew apart-limb by limb. I assume that's not too difficult for you?"

Phantom Eye scoffed. "Kenny, do

you realize how insulting that request is? You're asking me to personally step into some backwater dump like Jayrodale? That's already beneath me. Ifit weren't for my ties to the Golding family, I wouldn't even entertain your request. As for cutting down some nobody? It's not a matter of difficulty-it's just... boring."

Kenny forced a smile. "Of course, I'd never question your strength—you are ranked on the Underworld Index, after all. Taking out a punk like Andrew is nothing to you."

Phantom Eye let out a low, disinterested grunt. "You do understand that my services don't come cheap, right? Also, your daughter married into the Golding family. You have them as your allies, yet instead of calling on their power, you came to me. Why?"

Kenny shook his head. "No, no-you misunderstand. The Golding family may be my in-laws, but that's exactly why I don't want to call in a favor from them. They're my trump card, my ace up my sleeve. I can't waste that on something trivial. As long as you handle this, I won't have to trouble them."

Phantom Eye nodded approvingly. "Smart. You actually understand how to preserve your resources. Instead of relying too much on the Golding family, you're keeping them in your back pocket for something bigger.

"You're right—if I go to Jayrodale personally, Michael will be fine. That is if he survives long enough for me to get there. If he's already dead by the time I arrive, well... that's not my problem."

Kenny's face darkened. He clenched his fists, slamming them down onto the table as he growled, "That bastard Andrew had Michael captured and even made sure Tiana called to inform me. He wants something from me-he's stalling. That means my son is still alive."

Phantom Eye tilted his head slightly, his single eye gleaming with amusement. He asked, "So what about Tiana? Want me to take her out too? Honestly, I've had my eye on her for a while. I wouldn't mind having a little fun with her first before finishing her off."

Kenny quickly waved a hand. "Tiana's not an easy target. Forget about her for now just focus on getting Michael back. We'll deal with her later."

Phantom Eye let out a disappointed sigh but nodded. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the villa.

Kenny watched him leave, his jaw tightening. Phantom Eye was one of the most lethal enforcers in Blumedale's underworld, ranked No. 35 on the Underworld Index. He was a martial artist whose skills surpassed even the most seasoned assassins.

With him heading to Jayrodale, this battle was as good as won. All Kenny needed to do was confirm that Michael was still alive and bring him back home to Blumedale.