After Tracy fell asleep, her breathing soft and steady in the quiet car, John sent a message with their location to the Australian man.
The reply came swiftly. The man arrived within minutes, practically skipping with excitement. The moment he laid eyes on John, he grinned and said, "Wow, that was fast. Efficient work."
"Of course," John replied with a pleasant smile. He lifted a bottle of mineral water toward the man. "Sir, please have some water."
The Australian man blinked. "I'm not thirsty."
He shot a glance toward the vehicle, his mind clearly elsewhere. A beautiful woman lay sleeping inside. The last thing on his mind was hydration. In fact, if he could have stripped down that instant, he would have—just to save time. The thought of drinking water right now seemed absurd.
"Please," John repeated, more firmly this time. "Have some water."
The Australian man started toward the car, only to find his path blocked—John was standing in front of the door, unmoving.
"I said I'm not thirsty," the man snapped. "What the hell's your problem? Move aside and don't get in my way!"
He reached out to shove John aside. But in a blink, John stepped to the side, grabbed the man by the hair with his free hand, and slammed his head straight into the edge of the car door.
Bang!
"You little bastard," John hissed, holding the stunned man in place. "When I ask you to drink, you drink. Do you understand?"
Still gripping the man's head, John uncapped the bottle with one hand and shoved the opening against his lips. The Australian man struggled, but the force was overwhelming.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
In mere seconds, the entire bottle of water—laced with a powerful sedative—was forced down his throat.
When John finally released him, the man collapsed to his knees, gagging. His body shook as he bent over, digging his fingers into his throat in a desperate attempt to vomit out what he'd just consumed.
John stood above him, gaze cold and devoid of mercy.
"Do you even know who that girl is?" he asked, voice low and sharp. "That's my second elder sister. And you dared to lay your filthy eyes on her? You're courting death."
The man hacked up some white-foamed liquid, clearly recognizing the drugs working through his system. Panic clouded his face.
"You... You broke through my illusion..." he stammered.
"Your illusion?" John scoffed, a sneer playing on his lips. "That pathetic trick of yours? Please. I was never under it. Not for a second."
The man's eyes widened in disbelief. "But... if you weren't caught in the illusion, why did you take the poison pill? You should be dead in three days without my antidote!"
He smirked, confident now. "You can't kill me. Not unless you want to die with me."
But then John slowly held up his hand.
Nestled in his palm was the same red poison pill—the one the man had ordered him to take.
The Australian man's jaw dropped.
"No... that's impossible! I saw you swallow it!"
John chuckled darkly. "You really think someone like you could trick someone like me? You underestimate my abilities. I took nothing. But you? You're about to taste the perfect cocktail—overpowering drug and poison, mixed just for you."
John advanced with deadly intent.
The Australian man scrambled back, terror overtaking his body. "Stop! What... what are you going to do?"
With a swift motion, John seized the man's jaw, forced it open, and shoved the red pill down his throat.
Both the knockout drug and poison—his own concoctions—were now inside him.
The man groaned, his body slumping. The sedative was already kicking in. He had used every last ounce of strength talking just now; the poison made it worse. He was sinking fast.
"Get... my teacher," he murmured weakly. "Get the antidote... you can't kill me..."
"Oh?" John raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
"Because... my father... is the deputy leader of the Australian Ninja League..."
Those were his last words before he collapsed completely, unconscious.
John stared down at him with no pity.
"A Ninja's son, huh?" he muttered. "What a pity."
Without hesitation, John incinerated the man's body right there—reducing him to ash.
The Australian Ninja League?
I'm supposed to be afraid of them?
Hurt my sister, and I'll erase you all. One. By. One.
When it was over, he returned to the car and gently adjusted the seatbelt around Tracy. She remained asleep, blissfully unaware.
He started the car and drove off into the night.
He had made sure she fell asleep for one reason—so she wouldn't have to witness the brutality.
New York
Inside a high-end five-star hotel, a private suite hummed with tension.
Jeff sat at the head of a long table, surrounded by his disciples. They'd been holed up in the hotel for days, awaiting their return to Canada. But now, something was wrong.
One of them was missing.
Jeff frowned, staring at the empty seat across from him. "Where the hell did Mandel Regan go? Didn't I make it very clear we leave for Canada today?"
"Teacher," one of the disciples spoke up, a hint of concern in his voice. "Now that I think about it... I haven't seen Mandel for a few days."
"Did he answer his phone?" Jeff asked sharply.
"No," another disciple chimed in. "His phone's been off since yesterday. Maybe longer."
Jeff's frown deepened. "That's strange. Mandel might be reckless sometimes, but he's never gone AWOL before a critical departure. What the hell is going on?"
One of the disciples suddenly perked up, as if recalling something. "Wait—when Mandel left the hotel, I remember him saying something about going to find that American woman."
Jeff narrowed his eyes. "Which woman?"
"The one who fought against you, Teacher."
The room went still.
Jeff's expression darkened.
"Follow me," he commanded, standing abruptly.
"We're going to Feazer Medical Clinic. Now."