Chapter 1

My name is Victor. Five years ago, after leaving the military, I've been living under an assumed identity, leading an ordinary life in the suburbs of Washington.

Tonight, that tranquility was completely shattered.

"Have you lost your mind?" I gripped the hospital's payment notice, staring intently at my wife Jessica, who sat on the sofa.

She was leisurely painting her nails, not even looking up: "I'm not crazy. I'm perfectly clear-headed. I've stopped all of Lily's targeted therapy medications. The entire $150,000 has been donated to Senator Davis's anti-war NGO foundation."

"That money was meant to save our daughter's life!"

"It was money to save her life, yes, but it's also our family's chance to rise." Jessica finally looked up, her eyes gleaming with greed. "Do you know what this means? Charity gala tickets! A peace medal! I'll become a socialite recognized by Washington's political circles!"

"When that happens, Lily will never have to share hospital rooms with others or wait in line for doctors again! I'll just need to make one phone call and an entire medical team will work for her!"

I felt my blood freezing in my veins.

Eight-year-old Lily suffered from a rare blood disorder. Without targeted therapy, she could survive at most three months.

And this woman, for the sake of her vanity and delusions, was willing to sacrifice our daughter's life.

"Jessica, get that money back immediately."

"Impossible." She stood up, arrogantly lifting her chin. "I absolutely refuse to let family burdens ruin my future."

Just then, the living room door burst open, and Jessica's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, walked in. They had obviously been listening to our argument.

"Victor!" Mr. Smith pointed at my nose, roaring. "You bottom-tier soldier who only deserves veteran benefits—what right do you have to stop Jessica's career independence?"

Mrs. Smith shrieked in agreement: "Exactly! Our Jessica could have married a congressman's son, but you ruined it all, you poor military thug! Now that she finally has a chance to break into high society, what gives you the right to sabotage it?"

"For family honor, you should understand sacrifice!" Smith's spit sprayed across my face. "Lily is just a sickly child—so what if she gets better? But if Jessica becomes a political elite, our entire family will benefit!"

I quietly observed these three people. Their faces looked particularly grotesque in the dim lighting.

For five years, I thought I could live an ordinary life. I thought blood relations and marriage meant warmth and affection.

Now I understood completely.

In their eyes, I was just a tool to be exploited at will, and Lily was just a burden to be discarded whenever convenient.

"Say something!" Jessica scolded angrily. "You pathetic waste, besides putting on that victim face, what else can you do?"

I didn't argue, didn't shout, didn't throw punches.

I simply calmly tossed the payment notice into the fireplace and watched it slowly turn to ash in the flames.

"Victor, what are you doing?" Jessica sensed something.

I turned and walked toward the door.

"You coward!" Mrs. Smith screamed behind me. "Running away? Will running solve anything? You're a complete and utter failure!"

"Let him go!" Mr. Smith laughed loudly. "This kind of man should have been thrown out long ago! Jessica, you'll soon meet a real political elite worthy of you!"

Jessica's voice came from behind: "Victor, if you dare walk out that door, we're finished forever!"

I pushed open the apartment door without looking back.

Outside was Washington's deep autumn night, with bone-chilling wind.

I stood under the dim streetlight below the apartment building, slowly pulling out an encrypted satellite phone that had been sealed away for exactly five years from my inner pocket.

This phone had once been my only connection to the underground world. Five years ago, I swore never to use it again.

But tonight, when kinship and blood relations had turned into knives stabbing at my daughter, I had no choice.

I pressed that familiar encrypted channel.

The phone rang three times before a deep male voice answered: "Sir, you're finally back online. Night Asura identity confirmed. Global network standing by."

"Shadow." My voice was cold as ice. "Immediately freeze all financial authorizations under Jessica Smith's name, including credit cards, savings accounts, investment portfolios, and any form of financial instruments."

"Copy that. Global financial interception network activated. Full implementation expected within three minutes."

"Also, initiate A-level protection protocol. The target is my daughter Lily. She's currently at St. Mary's Private Hospital and may face life-threatening danger at any moment."

"Understood. The 'Dark Web Eye' special elite squad will arrive on scene within one hour."

"Good." I looked up at the three figures still arguing in the apartment above. "Anything else to report?"

"Sir, overseas heavy armor units are asking if they should be on standby?"

"Tell them to maintain maximum alert status." I said. "The game has begun."

After hanging up, I looked up at the lights in the apartment.

Jessica was still in there celebrating her upcoming "socialite life" with her parents, completely unaware that her world was about to collapse entirely.

I turned and disappeared into the night. Let her enjoy the last few hours of sweet dreams.

After all, despair isn't deep enough if it comes too quickly.