"How did the Six tigers trusted you with them for thirteen years exactly?", Xi Yuan questioned, his fingers still running over the 'once-lethal' wound lightly, "Last time I checked, they were ready to rip my throat out just because you'd fainted in an accident caused by my assistant."

"Oh! They'd unleashed hellfire upon the Rong family every time I would be hurt or harmed or ill-treated.", Rong Xinghe giggled, "You can say, I admired their rage just as much as I appreciated their love for me. One could say that the Ripper was, but a product of the six men's temper. My anger comes from them, you know."

"I spoiled the vibe, didn't I?", the man smiled, tucking the girl's freely-falling jet black hair strands behind her ear, "Sorry."

"You'll have plenty of opportunities to make it up to me.", the girl looked into the man's eyes assuringly, "Hold onto that."

"Oh, I will."

Planting a sweet yet quick kiss upon her darling's lips, the girl jumped down the bed and picked up her top. "Anyway, I suggest you put up more defenses around the Xi family. War is inevitable, this time, Yuan. I am not sure if I'll be able to protect everyone.

"But I am hoping that, at least, our families would walk out of this unscathed. They don't deserve to bear the consequences of what happens next. To me, they are as much od Civilians as the other Country X citizens. They're innocent public."

"Don't worry.", the man placed both his hands over the girl's bare waist, resting his forehead against hers, "I've already taken care of it. I assure you, our families will be my responsibility, all this while. Just focus on your potential, your formidable enemies. And come back home after all of this is dealt with. Okay?"

"Okay.", the girl laughed.

___________________

Military Chief Office, 8:00 p.m. ;

"I said let me go!", Rong Yufan protested, struggling into the cold wooden chair he was tied to, as he glared daggers at Shawn Florence.

"Xinghe told me a lot of things about you, and yet, she never mentioned about how irritating your crow-like sniveling voice can be.", David Florence walked into the dimly-lit interrogation room, a glass of whiskey in his one hand, and a bottle of beer into the other, "Why are we keeping him alive again, little brother?", he questioned Shawn, passing him the bottle.

"Scout's honor.", the man shrugged, "Xinghe wants to see him all miserable, but breathing."

David rolled his eyes so hard he felt they would fall off, "Right. But when all of this is over, can we please, please kill him the same way he tried to eliminate our Alpha? By throwing him down a running train. Just like some trash. Please?"

"Nah.", Elijah Williams shook his head, brushing a speck of dust off his neatly ironed suit, "Xinghe got out of it alive, didn't she? Now, our Alpha was worth living. This psychopath, on the contrary, isn't.

"I suggest we bury him while his heart is still pumping blood.", the man said, looking meaningfully into Rong Yufan's eyes with a smirk plastered across his lips, "You see, his death should be ruthless. While he gasps and cries and yells for rescue, no one would hear him. Slowly yet swiftly, he would feel a shortage of oxygen. Now that, brothers, would be one hell of death, wouldn't it?"

"Even better. Let's just burn him alive.", Shawn Florence smiled, clearly enjoying the direction towards which, this conversation was heading, "It is, after all, the worse death, humans can go through."

"But that's the problem. He isn't human.", David added, "He is a self-involved son of a bitch. Again, not human. I think we should just throw him down the ocean, tied to some heavy rock. Such hard water, such darkness at the bottom, it can give creeps to literally anyone."

"Ahem...", Rong Yufan cleared his throat, "I am still in the room."

"So?", Elijah smiled, "Does it look like we care?"

"..."

________________________

Afghanistan, 10:00 p.m. ;

Sharia Enterprises ;

"So how do you intend on benefitting me?", the man questioned, taking off his Beige Solid Slim Fit Suit, as he glanced at Abram Orlov from the corner of his eyes.

"Yeah, well, I know quite some hotshots in Country X. Does the name Sun Cheng, ring a bell to you?", the man smiled, his gaze fixed upon the green bulletin board, Country X's detailed map pinned against it, "From what I hear, you plan on meddling into Country X's business. I figured you would need my help."

"Hmm. But isn't Sun Cheng Xi Corporation's CEO's close friend?", Aftaab inquired, his tone cautious and reserved, "Do you really think I would trust the nation's very Military Chief's fiance? Naive!"

"Correction. Acquaintance. Not a friend.", Abram replied, barely swayed by the mention of Xi Yuan's connection to his pawn, "I have that guy wrapped around my little finger. Don't worry. Lost his wife to some slut's schemes. Now, left with no one but a sweet little but vulnerable daughter. The guy knows better than to betray me. After all, which father can risk putting his only descendant into the path of death. Who would want to see his only child being ripped apart into millions of bloody pieces because of his mistakes, huh?

"Besides, what other option do you have? Mr. Ali, I am the only opportunity right now. I do my homework. And I know how desperate you are for getting into Country X. Keep that in mind."

"Cocky.", Aftaab Ali crossed his arms, defensively, his eyes glued to the man's back, "What are you expecting out of this, Mr. Fedorov?"

"It's business. It's 'give and take', of course.", Abram Orlov shrugged, glancing down at his watch, as he turned around to face the man, "60% of the profit we make. That's what I am expecting here. But I would be an idiot to jump into a fire with just one condition, wouldn't I?

"There are two others. But I wouldn't unveil them just yet. Not until we seal the deal. I wouldn't dare to. Do visit me at my lavish suite 1935 at Kabul Serena Hotel, in case you wish to discuss business further. I shall leave you to think until tomorrow morning then. Thank you for your time."

As he looked at the man walking out of his office cabin with his calm and overbearing aura, Aftaab Ali couldn't help but feel irked and intrigued, at the same time. This man had the guts to walk into his place and talk back to him and still stay calm. Aftaab Ali wasn't used to this kind of fearlessness. Clearly, his people hadn't dug deep enough into him. But there was one thing he said that was, but unfortunately, true. What other option did he have?