C9 The Clues Were Cut off

The Wu boxing champion... defeated?

Expressions of shock and awe painted the crowd's faces, with the Ortega family members gripped by fear. Who could have predicted Wood's formidable strength? The Wu boxing champion, a legend who had reigned supreme across the Jiang Province for twenty years, was effortlessly brought down.

With a single punch, Wood had felled the Wu boxing champion, and his presence commanded peak intimidation. His expression icy, he made his way toward the visibly rattled Randall.

Randall's complexion turned ghostly. "Hold on, my friend," he pleaded, "Let's talk this over, there's got to be a peaceful way to settle this."

Wood, however, paid him no mind and continued his relentless advance.

"Wait," finally spoke Ms. Stark, breaking her silence.

"I'm not sure what the Ortega family did to offend you, but I implore you to consider the Stark family's honor and spare them this once. We will forever be in your debt."

The onlookers' eyes sparkled with hope. Could the influence of the Stark family temper this enigmatic force?

Perched in the VIP section, Larkin simply shook his head. Dropping the Stark family name was futile.

"A Stark, are you? No harm meant, but your family doesn't have the sway to ask favors of me," Wood replied, his tone slightly less harsh.

What? The Stark family's influence didn't carry weight with him?

Ms. Stark stood dumbfounded. Since when did her family's standing carry so little weight in Vriayledo?

Ignoring the collective shock of the crowd, Wood's focus remained locked on Randall, each step deliberate and measured.

The Ortega patriarch interjected anxiously, "Please, my friend. There's clearly been some misunderstanding here."

"Wait, just hold on a moment," Randall implored, panic setting in.

But Wood had no time for their pleas. In a swift motion, he seized Randall and...

Thud!

His punch landed squarely in Randall's stomach, forcing out a gush of blood.

"Dad!" Janette and Craig's anger flared.

"Release my father, or the Ortega family will wage an endless vendetta against you," Craig roared as he lunged forward.

In an instant, Wood sent him flying with a mere flick of his gaze.

A chilling coldness in his eyes, Wood's attention never wavered from Randall.

"Master Ortega, tell me everything about what happened in Northgard five years ago."

Randall's eyes were a whirlpool of confusion and fear. "Northgard? I have no idea what you're talking about—I really don't know what you mean."

Northgard?

The onlookers were equally perplexed, struggling to grasp the subject of their conversation.

Only Larkin, from his VIP seat, had an epiphany.

"No wonder the God of Soldier showed up here, so enraged. The Ortega family is tied to that incident from years ago. They've truly brought this on themselves," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

Craig, once poised, now scrambled to his feet, his composure shattered. He frantically searched the room for support, but everyone he locked eyes with quickly looked away, fearing they might be dragged into the Ortega family's impending disaster.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense, heavy with dread. No one dared provoke Wood, a force to be reckoned with.

Craig's gaze finally settled on Larkin, who cut him off sharply, "Don't even look at me. The Ortega family's days are numbered; there's no help for you now."

He closed his eyes, turning away from the chaos.

Randall trembled on the floor, the cold intensity of Wood's stare sending shivers down his spine.

Crack!

The crisp sound of Wood snapping Randall's finger resonated through the room.

"Ah!"

Randall's scream was piercing, filled with sheer desperation.

"Talk now."

"I swear, I know nothing!" Randall cried out, his voice laced with hopelessness.

Wood sneered and snapped another finger.

The saying 'each finger is connected to the heart' rang true; the pain was excruciating.

Randall's anguished cries reverberated through the hall, leaving many with ashen faces.

"This is your last chance, Tiancheng. Talk, or I'll obliterate the entire Ortega family," Wood's voice was chilling, like that of a demon from the depths of hell.

The Ortega family was in turmoil.

"Master, what did you do back then? Tell us, do you want us all dead?"

"Don't let us suffer for your past; we're innocent!"

"Boss, you have to come clean!"

"Our family has thrived for a hundred years; we can't end like this. Tell the truth!"

The Ortega family was in a state of panic, their fear palpable as Wood's sinister methods left them shaking in their boots.

Randall's face was etched with despair. "Alright, I'll talk. My life is one thing, but please, spare my family."

Wood's reply was icy. "Agreed, as long as they had no part in this from the start."

With a heavy heart, Randall closed his eyes. "It was Old Mr. Griffiths who approached me, offering a substantial sum to covertly supply food to a group in Northgard. I was just the middleman."

"You had no idea what was really going on?" Wood pressed.

A collective gasp filled the room as the bombshell dropped from Randall's lips.

Wood's face darkened. "Old Mr. Griffiths?"

Through gritted teeth, Randall confirmed, "Yes, he was the mastermind. I was merely the courier, content with the payday."

Wood fell into a contemplative silence. Old Mr. Griffiths had passed away years ago, and just when Wood thought he was onto something, he found himself at a dead end.

"Your words had better be true, Randall. If not, the Ortega family will pay dearly," Wood warned, his tone frosty.

Leaving that chilling thought behind, Wood rose and disappeared from the room as swiftly as a shadow.

Silence enveloped the hall, so profound that the drop of a needle would have echoed.

The Ortega family elder rose, his smile tinged with sorrow, surveying the disarray. He bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude. "I apologize for today's spectacle and the stain on our family's honor. I hope you can keep this matter confidential. We would be deeply grateful."

"Think nothing of it, sir. We'll keep it close to the chest," someone assured him.

"Of course," another chimed in. "Not a word of today's events will leave this room."

Everyone gave their word, but was their word worth its weight? Only time would tell.

Half an hour later, as the banquet at the Ortega residence wound down, the alliance between the Ortega and Stark families had quietly crumbled.

Soon enough, the story of the Ortega family's near annihilation by a mysterious man was the talk of Vriayledo, sending shockwaves through the city.

At first, people were skeptical of the rumors, but as the chatter grew, even the doubters began to believe.

Strangely, amidst all the talk, not a soul knew the name of the mysterious man, turning the incident into one of Vriayledo's greatest enigmas.

After leaving the Ortega home, Wood returned to his own place, hoping to leave the night's drama behind.

But as he entered, he found he wasn't alone. There, with Hassie, was a man he didn't recognize.

What in the world was happening?

Wood didn't let on that he was onto them; instead, he listened intently, his ears pricked.

However, the words that reached his ears ignited his anger like a volcano.

"You dare!!!" he exploded.