Chapter 4: Damn You!

“Boss… Boss, stop doing these weird stuff around here! Come on, something serious has happened—truly serious!” That day, while Rod was exercising outside as usual, he heard urgent shouts coming from outside.
Stopping what he was doing, Rod frowned slightly and looked outside. There, Kambi was standing at the door, peering in with a worried expression.
Half a month had passed since the last incident. During that time, Rod had remained highly motivated, not relaxing at all but instead training even harder. Now, not only had his injuries fully healed, but his physique had also become stronger than before. This was perhaps something that pleased him.
Of course, he hadn’t neglected his cultivation efforts either. This time, he finally felt a faint energy moving within his body! Though very subtle and hard to detect without close attention, it was enough to make him happy for a long time.
So during this period, Rod was completely immersed in cultivation, ignoring everything outside. That faint energy gradually grew stronger as he trained, and he truly enjoyed it. Yet just as he wanted to make the most of this time to train, he was interrupted by Kambi.
“Huff… Huff… Boss, this time it’s really serious!”
After taking a few deep breaths, Kambi said with a pained expression, his anxiety evident.
“Our territory has been taken back. Robby… Robby has been captured by those bastards from Vidok. They say they’re going to teach him a lesson!” Swallowing hard, Kambi continued anxiously, sweat beading on his forehead.
At that moment, Rod’s expression changed instantly. He gripped Kambi’s shoulders tightly and asked anxiously, “What exactly happened? What’s going on?” Spitting angrily, a glint of fury appeared in Rod’s eyes.
“Let… let go! It hurts! Please, let go, and I’ll explain slowly!”
Kambi cried out in pain, his brows furrowed. He didn’t know when Rod’s grip had become so strong, causing pain deep into his bones.

“During this time, you’ve been injured, and Sambik and Jerome are still recovering. It’s just me and Robby left. This morning, Robby said he wanted to go out and buy some things. I waited at home for a long time but he never came back. Just as I was about to go look for him, I heard that he ran into a few of Vidocq’s men while shopping. They still hold grudges from last time and probably came to take revenge!” Kambi said anxiously, his face filled with worry and anger.

“Damn those bastards!” After hearing Kambi’s words, Rod spat angrily and cursed. Last time, they had been reckless, taking advantage of the fact that Vidocq wasn’t stealing from their territory anymore, but they didn’t expect Vidocq to retaliate so quickly.

“Hurry up and go back to get our weapons ready! And Jerome and Sambik—if they can still stand, pull them out! I’m going to show Vidocq’s bunch what it means to overestimate oneself!” Rod said coldly, his gaze suddenly turning icy. To be bullied and still endure it is sheer stupidity!

“Since they’ve come looking for us, we can’t keep hiding anymore. What’s meant to happen will happen. It all starts here!” Rod murmured to himself in his heart.

“Okay, I’ll go back right away. Those brats must be getting impatient. Let’s go back and get ready!”

Rod’s words immediately energized Kambi. In fact, excitement could already be seen in his eyes.

……

After making preparations and gathering Kambi and the others, the group headed toward Richel Street, carrying a small sack prepared by Sambik.

It was a busy street—at least in Flaming City, it was one of the busiest, second only to Saint Road, the most bustling street in the city’s center.

“Boss, those guys from Knight Rod have arrived!”

The moment Rod and his group stepped onto Richel Street, inside a manor at the other end of the street, a burly man with red hair and a beard was enjoying wine and company when he heard his subordinate’s report.

“Hmph… This guy still shows up. I didn’t expect him to be so stubborn!” Hearing his subordinate’s words, Vidocq smirked coldly and said thoughtfully. At that moment, the long scar on his face stood out even more, giving him a distinct appearance.

“That’s right. Last time, that guy had terrible luck and showed up to cause trouble while all of us were out on business. That’s how he took advantage of the situation to seize our territory. This time, he won’t be so lucky!”
Seeing Victor’s smile, the guy who came to report also showed a sinister grin as he spoke coldly. With his sharp features and hooked nose, he truly resembled a scoundrel.
He still harbored resentment from last time. Back then, the boss wasn’t around, and it was Richele who, along with two other brothers, was in charge of guarding the area. He had wanted to enjoy the feeling of being the boss for those few days, but he was defeated by that fearless guy, Knightrod, and humiliated ever since. Now that the chance for revenge had come, how could he not be excited?
“Hmph, since Roger can’t kill you, let us send you to hell instead. I’m sure the great God of Light will be delighted to see me send you there!”
Imagine what was about to happen, the man said with a sinister laugh.
……
Soon, the group arrived in front of a large mansion. Seeing dozens of thugs already standing at the door, Knightrod cursed silently! Last time they came here to take over Richele Street, they only encountered three guys in resistance. Why were there so many here this time? If it had been the same last time, he knew they might already be in hell by now.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Let’s go all out! Follow my lead!”
Creak… A low sound came as the mansion’s door slowly opened. Soon, a group of people stepped out—about a dozen of them. Wasn’t the one at the front Victor? With a smug smile on his lips, it seemed bloodthirsty. Especially that scar on his face made him even more repulsive.
“Boss, it’s Robby!” Seeing the people coming out, Jerome quickly tugged at Rod’s sleeve and whispered.
“Damn those bastards! I’m going to kill them!” Before Jerome could finish speaking, Sambik couldn’t hold back and roared, then stepped forward ready to charge at Victor’s group.
Jerome’s gaze swept over them, and Rod’s pupils contracted involuntarily. At this moment, Robby was covered in wounds, his clothes torn, with a trace of blood at the corners of his mouth and his eyes swollen like panda eyes—a pitiful sight.

He grabbed Sambik, who was about to rush out, by the arm: “Stay right here! If you want to die, go ahead and try. I guarantee that if you so much as touch Vidoc, your fate will be worse than Robby’s!”
“Oh… isn’t that little thug Knightrod? I heard you got beaten up by the young lord some time ago. Wasn’t it said you’d become stupid? Yet here you are, fine as ever. It seems rumors really can’t be trusted!”
Stepping out of the gate unsteadily, Vidoc looked at Rod with a teasing smile and said softly.
“Heh, thanks for your concern. What’s the matter? You brought my brother here today—this seems a bit excessive. Alright, now that I’m here, give Robby back to us first. If you have anything to say, come at me directly. I’ll take it!” Rod slammed his chest and shouted firmly.
“Bos… boss… cough cough… you… you run! Vidoc wants your life…”
Before Vidoc could respond, they heard the voice of the badly injured Robby from behind them.
“You still remember me, right? Last time I let you get away with it, but this time I’m going to get everything back, plus interest!
Release them? I say, Knightrod, are you really that stupid? Expecting us to release them? That would be so embarrassing for me!”
With a cold snort, before Vidoc could speak, Ryan beside him sneered first. Licking his lips, he seemed eager to taste blood.
“Damn you! It seems there’s no room for negotiation. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have wasted words. Remember, dignity isn’t given by others—it’s earned by oneself!” With his composure shattered, Rod also grew cold. As he shouted, he reached into the bag in Sambik’s hand and, before the other could react, rushed at Vidoc first. Catch the leader first—this principle he understood well, especially in a situation where they were outnumbered.