Bang!!!
Just as the group of soldiers was about to pull the trigger, Evan Cole suddenly slammed the table in front of him. The skewers scattered across the table shot up and flew towards the soldiers at breakneck speed.
Splat! Splat! Splat!!!
In the blink of an eye, the bamboo skewers pierced through the soldiers' hands, making them drop their guns as blood splattered everywhere. With pained grunts, they staggered back, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Swoosh!
This incredible scene caused the man in uniform to narrow his eyes. He lunged at Cole, but Cole swiftly grabbed him by the throat.
"Release the Captain!"
The commander of the city defense forces rushed over, shouting at Cole as the soldiers behind him aimed their weapons at Cole.
Bang!!!
Cole casually tossed the uniformed man onto the ground and coldly said, "If you don’t want them all dead, have them drop their guns now!"
"Drop your weapons!"
The uniformed man immediately ordered. The commander hurriedly instructed his men to lower their guns and quickly helped the man up. "Captain, are you alright?" he asked with concern.
The man, bearing the rank of Seven-Star Captain, stared at Cole with a hint of fear in his eyes. Despite his Yellow Stage rank seven status, he had been defeated in a single move, proving just how terrifyingly powerful Cole was. If such a formidable warrior made a move, these soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance.
"I didn’t expect you to be this strong!" the Captain said, still reeling from the shock. "But you should know that no matter how powerful you are, as long as you're within Dragon Kingdom, even a mighty martial artist like you doesn’t have the right to kill at will—especially not a Captain of the Southern War Zone! I suggest you cooperate and come with me. Considering your young age and exceptional skills, the Commander might spare your life. Otherwise, your fate will be grim!"
"I only kill those who deserve it. If you’re not satisfied, have your Commander come see me personally!" Cole coldly replied. "As for you all, get lost immediately!"
After saying this, Cole returned to his seat and resumed eating.
"Captain, should I...?" The commander looked at the Captain, who hesitated before finally saying, "Withdraw!" The soldiers, along with the city defense forces, then retreated.
At that moment, Sophie Thomas and Yao Yao stared at Cole, unable to take their eyes off him.
"Why are you both staring at me? Is something on my face?" Cole asked, touching his face in confusion.
"Wow, you even dared to kill someone from the War Zone? Are you not afraid of death?" Yao Yao exclaimed in amazement.
"Am I not alive and well?" Cole replied nonchalantly.
"Brother Cole, you..." Sophie looked at him with concern. He smiled and reassured her, "Sophie, don’t worry. No one can harm your Brother Cole!"
After finishing their meal, they left the place.
"This night is too precious to waste. I won’t be your third wheel, so see you!" Yao Yao gave them a mischievous smile before slipping away.
Sophie blushed and said to Cole, "Brother Cole, please don’t mind her. That’s just how Yao Yao is!"
"It’s fine!" Cole shook his head. "She’s quite adorable!"
"Yao Yao is the only person besides my family who never judged me for my appearance. Instead, she always stood up for me at school whenever someone mocked or bullied me. If it weren’t for Yao Yao’s constant support and encouragement over the years, I might not have made it this far!" Sophie said with a complicated expression.
"Sophie, I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not appearing sooner, causing you to suffer so much!" Cole hugged her tightly, gently stroking her hair.
"Brother Cole, I’m not suffering at all!" Sophie replied sweetly.
"Rest assured, Sophie. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone bully you again—no one!" Cole said firmly, a cold and determined look in his eyes.
"Mm!" Sophie happily nestled into Cole's embrace, unaware that his promise would soon ignite a storm of bloodshed.
An hour later, Cole held Sophie’s hand as he walked her back to the Thomas Household.
Cole originally wanted Sophie to stay at the exclusive villa, but she refused. Her mother still harbored a deep dislike for Cole. If they stayed together now, her mother would never agree, and Sophie, being kind-hearted, didn’t want to further strain their relationship. Understanding Sophie’s concerns, Cole didn’t push the matter.
"Brother Cole, don’t worry. I’ll make sure my mother accepts you!" Sophie said before planting a soft kiss on his lips and then walking into the house.
Cole touched his lips and left the area.
However, instead of returning to the villa, he wandered the streets of Jianghai, reminiscing about the changes in the city.
The nightlife in Jianghai was even more vibrant than seven years ago, with young men and women enjoying the lively night scene everywhere. At that moment, Cole felt a sense of loneliness.
Suddenly, he had an urge to find a place to have a few drinks. Spotting a bar nearby, he walked towards it.
Just as Cole reached the bar's entrance, he saw a group of disheveled men supporting a young woman who was visibly intoxicated, with a flushed face and a strong smell of alcohol. She was tall, beautiful, and clearly in distress as she kept shouting, "Who are you? Let go of me!"
"Hey, beautiful, you're drunk. Let us take you home to rest!" The men’s eyes roved over her with lewd intent as they tried to drag her away. The woman suddenly broke free from their grasp and ran forward, colliding right into Cole.
Cole looked at her, startled. "Miss, are you okay?"
"There are bad people!" Despite her intoxicated state, the woman...
