Chapter 2 Preparing for Action

St. Mark's Church, bridal dressing room.

Sophia sat in front of the vanity, her wrists bound in shackles. The metal had cut into her skin until it was raw and bloody. A maid was applying foundation to her face.

Her once beautiful face was now covered in bruises. Even the white powder couldn't hide them, and dried blood still stained the corners of her eyes.

She'd been brought here early this morning to get ready, while her children, Anna and Ivan, remained locked in that pitch-black dungeon.

The thought of marrying Louis tomorrow filled Sophia with complete despair.

She closed her eyes and silently prayed, 'Victor, wait for me. I'll be in hell with you soon.'

The door was kicked open.

Louis walked in.

He was in his early forties, overweight, wearing a well-tailored black suit with a pin representing The Iron Gauntlet on his collar.

"My dear fiancée." He wore a disgusting smile as he sat down in front of Sophia. "Ready to be my bride?"

Sophia's eyes filled with disgust. She turned her head and spat in his face.

Louis's smile froze for a second. He pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wiped the spit off his face.

He threw the handkerchief on the floor and grabbed her face. "You're still so stubborn, but that's okay. Tomorrow you'll put on the wedding dress I specially prepared for you and stand at the altar saying 'I do.'"

"In your dreams!" Sophia's voice was hoarse but firm.

Louis didn't get angry. His smile grew wider as his hot breath hit Sophia's face. "You know why I like you? Sure, you're beautiful, but the real reason is because of your dead husband, the legendary 'Scythe General.'"

"Victor."

His tone became manic. "If he knew his own woman was being fucked by me, would he be angry enough to crawl out of his freshly dug grave?"

Sophia became like an enraged mother beast, her eyes bloodshot. She jerked the chains violently, the shackles cutting her wrists until blood flowed freely.

"You're not worthy to say his name."

"I'm not worthy?" Louis laughed, his fat shaking. "A guy who just got executed, whose men I killed off—what right does he have to compare with me?"

He laughed even more wildly. "I've invited half of L City's elite to tomorrow's wedding. I want everyone to see the Scythe General's woman become my woman. Won't that be a beautiful sight?"

Sophia closed her eyes, her lips moving slightly.

Louis leaned in to listen.

She was saying, "Victor, wait for me..."

Louis's face darkened. He raised his hand and slapped her.

The sharp sound echoed through the damp basement.

Blood trickled from the corner of Sophia's mouth, but she didn't stop. Instead, she said it louder, "Victor!"

"Enough!" Louis backhanded her again.

"Victor!"

Louis flew into a rage, grabbed a nearby vase, and aimed it at Sophia.

The maids screamed in terror, but Sophia just closed her eyes, as if hoping Louis would just kill her.

"Boss!" A subordinate rushed in. "There's a problem at the wedding venue..."

Louis dropped the vase and straightened his tie, recovering his fake smile.

"Can't damage my bride."

"Stay put in the hotel tonight," he patted Sophia's face with a warning tone. "Tomorrow, put on that wedding dress nicely, or I'll put one of your son's fingers in a gift box and send it to you."

He turned and left.

The door locked again. Sophia collapsed in the chair, tears silently sliding down her swollen cheeks.

Victor... are you really dead?

The next day, outside the church, a red carpet was laid on the steps with flowers lining both sides.

Dozens of luxury cars pulled up one after another. Well-dressed gentlemen and bejeweled ladies walked up the red carpet into the church.

Reporters were kept behind barriers, camera flashes going off constantly.

They rarely saw such a big event and gathered to chat:

"What a show. Mr. Black really spent big money." A middle-aged man in a work vest clicked his tongue. "I heard the flowers alone cost two hundred thousand dollars."

"The Iron Gauntlet has money to burn." A fat guy next to him lowered his voice. "The reason for making it so big is to step on that guy to show his power."

"Last week, they swallowed three small gangs in the East District. Now with this wedding, they're telling the other gangs in the East District that he's got the Gregory family backing him."

"The Gregory family? That family even the L City mayor has to kiss up to?"

"Yeah. I heard the Gregory family's son came this time. See that silver Rolls-Royce? He's representing his father, who supposedly brought a big gift."

The middle-aged man clicked his tongue twice, lowering his voice even more. "But if the Scythe General hadn't been executed, and if the Gregory family wasn't pushing things behind the scenes, Louis wouldn't dare force the Scythe General's wife to marry him even with ten times the guts."

The bald fat guy nodded in agreement, his tone regretful. "You're right. For a hero like that to just die like that..."

He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then said seriously, "My brother-in-law, who works at military intelligence, said that guy's 'Scythe Unit' disbanded too. Some retired, some joined mercenary groups, and a few tough ones still won't accept it, saying they want to avenge the Scythe General..."

The middle-aged man gasped, but before he could ask more, the church doors opened wide. The wedding was about to start.

Both men immediately fell silent and picked up their cameras again.

In all this commotion, no one noticed a black shadow standing in the dark alley across the street.

Victor wore a black trench coat, the raised collar covering half his face, his gray-blue eyes scanning the dungeon entrance on the north side of the church.

"Zack, take your men and guard the church's main entrance. Wait for my order," he said quietly into his earpiece.

The guards hadn't realized death had arrived, chatting about where to drink after the wedding.

The next second, a red line suddenly appeared across their throats. Without making a sound, they silently fell to the ground.

Victor took the keys from a guard's waist, opened the iron door, and slipped inside.

The underground corridor was dark and damp, the air filled with the smell of mold and urine.

At the end was an iron door with two locks, dim yellow light seeping through the crack.

Victor used the keys to open the locks and saw two children huddled in the corner on a dirty blanket.

Anna was sleeping against Ivan's shoulder, her eyes swollen and red, tears still at the corners.

Ivan was gently patting her back. Hearing the noise, he jerked his head up and instinctively moved Anna behind him.

"Who is it?" Ivan's voice was wary, like a cautious young wolf.

Victor crouched down and took off his sunglasses.

"Ivan, it's me."

Ivan's eyes widened in disbelief at the face he hadn't seen in years. His lips trembled. "...Dad?"

Anna had woken up by now. Seeing Victor, she froze for a second, then burst into tears and threw herself at him, hugging his neck. "Dad! I knew you'd come! I was so scared..."

Victor held his daughter, his other hand pressing Ivan's head, forehead to forehead.

"I'm sorry. I came late."

Ivan bit his lip, tears finally falling, gripping Victor's coat sleeve tightly.

Victor didn't have time for more words. He quickly checked both children.

Fortunately, aside from some scrapes and bruises, there were no serious injuries.

Victor wrapped Anna in the blanket, picked her up, held Ivan's hand with his other hand, and quickly left the dungeon.

He led the children through the side corridor and met up with the team Zack had sent.

"General Jennings." A soldier wearing a skull mask saluted. "The car's in the back alley. We can leave anytime."

Victor handed Anna to him and crouched down to meet Ivan's eyes. "You and Anna go with my men first. I'm going to get your mother."

Anna clutched his collar tightly, refusing to let go. "No! I want to go save Mom with you!"

Victor kissed her forehead. "Anna, be good. I promise I'll bring your mother to you very soon."

Ivan took Anna's hand and looked seriously at Victor. "Dad, be careful."

Victor patted Ivan's shoulder, stood up, and turned toward the church's main entrance.

He quickly dialed a number, his voice cold. "Lilith, get ready to move. I'm going to send Louis a big gift!"