Just as Lucian returned to the security department, a visibly anxious Victor dragged him into the locker room.
"What's going on? I heard Boss Zoe called you into the gym?"
"Yeah." Lucian casually lit a cigarette, looking completely at ease. "Our company's gym is top-tier. Honestly, it's almost up to international standards."
Victor wasn't in the mood for Lucian's nonsense. He grabbed him and started checking him all over, hands flying everywhere until Lucian angrily shoved him off.
"What the hell are you doing? I'm not that kind of guy!"
"You're not injured?" Victor let out a deep breath, rubbing his chin in disbelief. "Zoe didn't give you trouble? Hyin didn't try anything?"
Lucian plopped into a chair and crossed his legs. "You think I'm the type to be scared of a woman?"
"Cut the crap," Victor scoffed. "I've already heard the whole story. Zoe's dead set on kicking you out, and Hyin's the kind of bastard who wouldn't pass up a chance to make your life hell."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "So you really do know everything."
Victor chuckled. "Truth be told, I've had beef with Hyin for a while now. The fact that I'm close to you? That alone is reason enough for him to want you gone. That guy's petty as hell."
"You bastard. So you're using me as cannon fodder?" Lucian slammed the locker door shut and acted all offended. "And here I thought you were my bro. Turns out you're just a low-down scumbag!"
"Calm down!" Victor quickly pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Lucian. "I'd never sell out a brother, alright? But think about it—our security department's got nearly thirty people. Aside from Zoe, it's just me and Hyin calling the shots. If you stick with me, you'll be on Hyin's bad side. But if you side with him, you'll be crossing me."
Seeing Lucian's eyes fixed hungrily on the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, Victor gave in and handed over the whole thing. "With the bond we've got, you really think you'd join Hyin's camp?"
"Fair point." Lucian smoothly pocketed the pack and took a satisfying drag. "Didn't like that guy from the start anyway."
"Exactly!" Victor said, riled up. "He thinks he's untouchable just 'cause Zoe's backing him. Always dumping the hard work on our team. One of these days, I swear I'm gonna take him down."
Lucian just smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Noticing his silence, Victor pressed on. "So, what really happened? Hyin looked like he just swallowed a pile of crap. Did he get shut down? Did Zoe let you off the hook?"
"Yup. I'm officially part of the security team now," Lucian said with a falsely modest smile. "Please take care of me from now on."
"You got it!" Victor slapped his chest. "When I eat meat, I'll make sure you get soup too!"
Lucian gave a small nod, then eyed Victor's casual outfit. "Aren't we still on duty? Why are you already in civvies? Planning to ditch work? Take me with you…"
"Hell no. The company assigned me to something." Victor rolled his eyes. "I'm supposed to escort someone from Finance to collect an overdue payment."
"We're the security department. Since when do we do Finance's dirty work too?" Lucian muttered. "What are we, cheap labor?"
"It's not that bad. We're just going along to make a show of force. The debt's been overdue for months, and the boss is breathing down everyone's neck about it." Victor lowered his voice and leaned in conspiratorially. "Let me tell you, Kynix is full of gorgeous women, but if we're talking quality—Marketing and Finance take the crown. Marketing's full of young, energetic beauties. But Finance? That's where the real classy goddesses are."
Hearing that, Lucian wordlessly pulled the cigarettes back out of his pocket and offered them to Victor. "I've been here for two days already. Time to see what this company really has to offer, don't you think?"
Victor grinned slyly and accepted the pack. Adopting a smug little leader stance, he said, "Thanks to company policy, we don't get many chances to mingle with female colleagues. But outside company hours—well, that's another story."
"Late-night supper's on me," Lucian said. "Drinks too."
"Deal!" Victor declared, clapping him on the back. "We're in the same boat now, brother. And let me tell you—Finance Director Lilith is the crème de la crème at Kynix. Gorgeous face, killer body, and that gentle, elegant vibe? Absolute perfection."
Lucian chuckled. "You're even more shameless than I am."
"Now hurry up and get changed. They're waiting!"
Once suited up, the two headed down to the parking lot, where Victor took the opportunity to brief Lucian on the task at hand.
The debtor was a company called Solviva, which operated a chain of hotels, bars, and KTVs. While flush with cash, its operations were shady at best—regularly bullying partners and notorious for refusing to pay up. Normally, Kynix wouldn't go near a company like that. But someone within had taken bribes and secretly greenlit a huge contract behind Seraphina's back. The project was completed, but when it came time to collect the final payment—nearly 20 million—the other side started playing games, dodging the payout for months.
Seraphina was livid. She'd blown up during several executive meetings, ordering that the money must be recovered within a month or heads would roll.
"Twenty million isn't a huge deal to Kynix," Victor said, "but our boss? She's not the type to swallow any insult. You cross her once, and she'll tear you apart, even if it means dragging everyone down with her. That's why they brought in our secret weapon—Director Lilith. Kynix's top diplomat."
"Our diplomat?" Lucian looked surprised. "Didn't you just say she was all gentle and soft? How's she supposed to negotiate?"
Victor shot him a look. "You think diplomacy means throwing punches? Lilith's brilliant—sharp mind, silver tongue. Give her two or three rounds with those guys and they'll be eating out of her hand."
Lucian privately shook his head. Diplomacy means nothing if you don't have power to back it up. If the other side isn't afraid of Kynix, even Lilith's sweet talk won't mean a damn thing.
As they chatted, two young women in business attire appeared in the parking lot. The one in front had her jet-black hair elegantly pinned up, revealing a smooth, fair neckline. Her delicate face radiated a calm, warm charm, and her bright, intelligent eyes sparkled like twin obsidian gems.
"Captain Victor. Sorry to trouble you and your team," said Lilith, her soft voice carrying the faintest natural fragrance as she walked gracefully toward them.
"No trouble at all, Director Lilith. Security is here to serve," Victor replied with a wide, harmless smile—just the kind that could get a girl into bed and still have her sweetly hand him his clothes afterward.
"And this is…?" Lilith's eyes were bright, her smile graceful—truly a picture-perfect woman.
"Oh, he's new with us in Security. You can call him Lucian."
"Lucian?" Lilith repeated, her voice like pearls on porcelain. "Thank you for your help."
For a moment, though, her soft gaze flickered with confusion—almost as if she recognized him from somewhere.
"Just doing my job," Lucian replied with a smile, following her assistant into a white BMW 7 Series.
"I think she likes you," Victor nudged him with a wink. "Even her eyes had something extra in them. Go for it—bag her and I'll ride your coattails."
"Screw off. What do you take me for?" Lucian muttered—but even he was slightly puzzled. Why did she feel so familiar? He was sure he'd never met someone like Lilith during school, military service, or overseas. A gentle, graceful woman like that? No way she would've slipped past me.
Kynix really is something else, he thought. A boss who's stunning, a director who's soft as silk—even that tyrannical queen in Security's got a killer face.
…
The meeting venue was a once-popular upscale nightclub in the city center. Back when it opened, celebrities flocked there and business was booming. But poor management led to frequent fights, drunken chaos, even a death once—sending profits into a nosedive. More recently, rumors of drug use and illegal deals had scared away what few customers remained.
By the time their group arrived at the "Phantom" nightclub, it was high noon, and the place was eerily quiet. Dimly lit and reeking of alcohol mixed with vomit, the club clearly hadn't solved its basic hygiene problems. With no staff greeting them, just a few dozing waiters slumped over tables, Lucian couldn't help but scoff—no wonder they're going under.
Lilith clearly wasn't comfortable in the stifling atmosphere. She frowned the moment they stepped inside, her eyes scanning for their contact.
Lucian noticed her discomfort and approached a sleeping waiter. Tapping the table with practiced rhythm, he smiled politely.
"Is your boss in?"
The waiter groggily opened his eyes and scowled. "We're not open yet. Come back tonight if you want drinks."
"We're not here for drinks," Lucian said, lighting a cigarette.
"Then what are you here for?" the waiter asked grumpily.
"Debt collection."
"Debt collection?" The waiter blinked, then asked curiously, "You're from Kynix?"
"That's right," Lucian nodded.
"I'll go get the boss." The waiter quickly scurried off toward the back rooms.
Lucian relayed the situation to Lilith, then picked out a relatively clean and spacious booth.
"Director Lilith, let's take a seat while we wait."
"Alright." Lilith nodded gracefully, settling into the booth. With a soft smile, she glanced at him and said, "Thanks for your help…"
Lilith offered a gentle smile, her eyes as soft as spring water settling on Lucian's face. She asked,
"Lucian, you haven't been in Kynix for long, have you?"
"Yeah. It's only my second day on the job. I'll be counting on your guidance, Director Lilith," Lucian replied politely.
"From your accent, you're local?" Lilith didn't seem in a rush to meet the bar owner. Instead, she opened up a conversation with Lucian.
"Yes. I'm from Solviva City." Lucian took a bite of the chilled appetizer as he drank. Having been busy all morning, he didn't really care about table manners. Victor, sitting beside him, felt a wave of frustration.
Damn it, can't you at least act more refined in front of someone like Lilith? Can't you tell she's clearly interested in you?
Victor was practically gnashing his teeth in annoyance, while Lucian himself was somewhat puzzled. Judging by Lilith's demeanor, she really did seem interested in him. But Lucian wasn't some cocky rookie. He didn't believe that a high-ranking executive like her would take special interest in a new hire she just met.
Lucian had been around the block. Even if he didn't have a long resume, he was no novice when it came to reading people. In a world as cutthroat as his had been, the fact that he was still alive spoke volumes. Someone like Lilith—elegant, powerful, and poised—might appear warm and kind, but that didn't mean she'd take notice of just any random guy.
If she really was interested in him, there was likely another reason. Maybe they'd met before?
Of course, deep down in his soul, Lucian liked to imagine she had simply fallen for his good looks. It had always been his dream to live off his face alone. A handsome man's dream, after all.
"Did you go to Solviva No.1 High School?" Lilith asked, her voice still calm and sweet, but her eyes held a strange hint of urgency.
"How did you know that?" Lucian blinked in surprise. "Wait, don't tell me… you went there too?"
"I graduated in '04," Lilith replied, trying to keep her emotions in check. "You?"
"I started in '05," Lucian answered, a bit disappointed they hadn't been classmates—there went his best chance to bond. At the same time, he was now sure she must have mistaken him for someone else.
Back in high school, Lucian had been a top student. But despite his grades, his behavior had always been a subject of controversy. He hung out with all kinds of characters—both in and outside of school. The administration had given him several warnings over the years, almost expelling him more than once. If not for the fact that he was clearly gifted and hadn't brought his street-side tendencies into the classroom, he would've been kicked out long ago.
Still, that rebellious aura only made him more irresistible. Girls at school, especially the shy ones, had a huge weakness for his type—smart, bold, and always ready to step up for the underdog. Lucian had become something of a legend at Solviva No.1 High, capturing the hearts of many upperclasswomen and freshmen alike. Had he not walked out of school just before the college entrance exams in a fit of anger, he might have become a doctor—or at least a top-tier lawyer. Not some low-level security guard answering to a woman's orders.
Lucian was lost in thought, and across the table, Lilith was clearly distracted too. Her gaze lingered on Lucian's face with an intensity that was almost unsettling, like she was staring at a long-lost first love.
Just then, a voice rang out with exaggerated surprise.
"Well, well, if it isn't Director Lilith! What brings someone of your status to a little place like this? Don't tell me Kynix is so broke now that they're sending top brass over a couple thousand bucks?"
The woman striding over from the staff area wore a tight black mesh dress that hugged her curves like a second skin, her figure sinuous and eye-catching. Her face was fair and powdered to perfection, lips painted a striking crimson, exuding a provocative allure. With each sway of her hips, the snow-white cleavage that peeked out from her dress bounced wildly—nearly giving Victor a heart attack.
"Holy hell… that woman's a walking death sentence," Victor muttered, clutching his burning nose as he fought back a nosebleed. This negotiation is doomed…
Her name was Liuly. She had slept with several gang bosses, toyed with plenty of boy toys, and earned a reputation that was as notorious as it was respected. Maybe because of the number of powerful men she had tangled with, she carried a kind of untouchable aura in the underworld. Some even whispered that a certain police bureau director had once been seduced and roped in by her. Whether or not that was true, one thing was certain—Liuly was a woman to be reckoned with.
Lilith, ever the professional, remained composed. She had heard the rumors, of course, but chose not to let it show. Rising from her seat with grace, she greeted her unexpected opponent.
"Boss Liuly. What brings you here today?"
Lilith didn't answer Liuly's provocation directly. Instead, she countered with a question, trying to regain the upper hand. But in her heart, she already knew—if they were sending Liuly to the table, then it was clear they didn't intend to pay the outstanding balance.
Liuly smiled seductively as she slid into the seat across from Lilith. Her legs crossed slowly, revealing a tantalizing amount of thigh. She lit a slim cigarette like a noblewoman at a gala, her voice dripping with charm.
"Oh come on, Director Lilith. I'm a part-owner of this bar. Do I really need permission to check in on my own business?"
With that, she exhaled a puff of smoke—right into Victor's face. The poor man turned beet red, nearly choking, completely thrown off his game.
Seeing his pathetic reaction, Lilith's brows furrowed ever so slightly, her eyes flashing with subtle confusion.
"Boss Liuly, since when did you become a shareholder here? As far as I know, this place was opened by someone else entirely. Our previous contracts were all signed with him. I don't recall your name ever being mentioned."
Her tone was still smooth and pleasant, but her words had teeth.
Liuly, unfazed, glanced again at Lucian as if she were planning to devour him next. But Lucian didn't even look her way, focused entirely on his food and drink. That didn't bother her—she turned back to Lilith and responded coolly.
"About a month ago, the original owner transferred 51% of the bar's shares to me. So technically, I'm now the biggest boss here."
"I've heard Boss Liuly is a clever woman," Lilith replied with a faint smile. "But even the cleverest people make miscalculations."
"Oh? And what do you mean by that?" Liuly asked, raising a delicate brow.
"Everyone knows that Phantom's business has been failing for a while now. Debts piling up. By buying in now, you've basically picked up a ticking time bomb," Lilith said evenly.
"In business, there are always risks and rewards, wins and losses. Surely someone like you understands that?" Liuly responded with a sweet, almost mocking laugh.
"Since Boss Liuly is being so straightforward, then I won't beat around the bush either," Lilith replied, accepting a file from her assistant. "Across several of your KTVs and bars, the total amount owed to Kynix is roughly twenty million. I'm here today to collect."
Liuly took the contract, gave it a cursory glance, and chuckled.
"It does say there's a balance of twenty million left unpaid. But according to what I've heard, the design and construction services Kynix provided were deeply flawed. Some of it even impacted business strategy. Let's not talk about the others, just this bar alone—your team didn't follow the agreed specifications. That's why it's losing money. Not only will I refuse to pay the balance, I might even demand compensation from your side."
Now that was a textbook example of the guilty playing victim—Liuly executed it to perfection.
...
Outside the bar—what the hell was that?
To avoid paying up, they went straight to threats, bluntly laying out the stakes. Any further escalation, and the consequences would be on Lilith.
Not to mention Lilith, a woman with no fighting power—even Victor was shaken by the ruthless aura Liuly had just exuded. He quietly sighed, realizing that the 20 million was most likely gone. There was no way they were getting it back.
"I can handle it," Lucian suddenly said. "But you'll need to cover for me with a half-day leave."
"No problem! Go now, I'll explain things to Zoe for you," Victor replied without hesitation, urging him to go.
"Thanks." Lucian nodded, then turned to Lilith. "President Lilith, I'm heading out for now."
"Be careful," Lilith said softly. "If anything happens, call the police. Don't act on impulse."
"I know."
As Lucian walked off, Victor gave Lilith an apologetic smile. "President Lilith, I'm sorry. We didn't end up being any help at all."
"It's not your fault," Lilith shook her head gently, then after a moment of hesitation, asked, "What's Lucian's last name?"
"Rhys," Victor answered casually. He had looked into it back when Lucian joined the security department.
"Rhys…?" Lilith's elegant body gave the slightest tremble. A ripple of emotion flashed across her beautiful face. Her voice wavered slightly as she asked, "Lucian Rhys?"
"Yeah," Victor said, a bit puzzled. "What's wrong, President Lilith? Is something the matter?"
"No—" Lilith's expression turned complicated as she shook her head. "Nothing. I've got something to take care of. I'll be leaving first."
Victor: "???"
...
Inside the bar.
Two people were seated—one of them was Kosen, the man who owed the money.
"Interesting."
Just as Kosen was about to indulge himself with Liuly, a voice floated in from the door, laced with sarcasm and amusement.
"Who's there?!" Kosen jolted upright, glaring toward the entrance.
Liuly hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes, scanning the doorway with a guarded look.
"It's you?" Liuly recognized him—it was Lucian, the one who had been with Lilith earlier. A teasing smile curled on her lips. "What, missed your big sister already?"
"Miss you?"
Lucian casually sat down across from them, shaking his head calmly. "Don't insult my taste. Honestly, even with the lights off, I couldn't get over the mental hurdle of touching trash like you."
"Watch your mouth!"
Surprisingly, the one who erupted wasn't Liuly—it was Kosen, who had been on the verge of bedding her.
Trash?
Did this guy have any idea how many men would die to sleep with this seductive vixen? A thousand wouldn't be an exaggeration. And he thought a measly million would be enough without the two million buffer?
Kosen felt personally insulted! He shot a glance at the bar's security and discreetly signaled them to lock the door.
"Who the hell are you?" Liuly's face darkened, a murderous glint flickering in her eyes. "Do you realize? I could have you killed right here."
"Aw, are we upset now? Thinking of silencing me permanently?" Lucian's grin was devilish and dripping with malice.
Liuly's expression twisted. She slowly stood, her gaze ice-cold as it locked onto Lucian. "I don't care who you are or why you're slandering me. But you're not walking out of here alive."
As soon as she finished speaking, four burly, cold-eyed thugs emerged from the staff room, steadily approaching. Each drew a dagger that gleamed with a murderous light, locking their gazes on Lucian. They waited silently for Liuly's command to turn him into a pincushion.
"My, so well-rehearsed?" Lucian's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the trembling Liuly, his tone mocking. "You must've done plenty of dirty work to keep your past buried, huh?"
"Enough!" Liuly snapped, fury blazing. "Kill him!"
Three of the thugs rushed forward, but Lucian grabbed a thick, diamond-shaped liquor bottle and smashed it over one of their heads. The loud crack rang through the bar as booze and blood sprayed into the air. The man collapsed instantly, knocked out cold.
Thud!
Before anyone could react, Lucian drove the jagged half of the broken bottle into the chests of two others, fast as lightning. Blood gushed from the wounds like a burst pipe, splattering the floor in a red arc.
"You wanna die next?"
Lucian turned toward the fourth thug. The man froze mid-step, his face pale with terror. His body trembled uncontrollably, his knife hand shaking so badly it was practically useless.
In less than fifteen seconds, Lucian had dismantled three of them. The fourth was so stunned by the brutality that he couldn't even think of running—just stood there, drenched in sweat.
"Kosen," Lucian said lazily, lighting a cigarette as if nothing had happened, "if you think you can take me out, by all means, tell your dogs to try again. Otherwise, sit the hell down and behave."
Kosen dropped back onto the sofa, his fat face slick with cold sweat. Salty drops stung his eyes, forcing them shut.
Satisfied, Lucian took a drag, exhaled slowly, and turned to Liuly with a half-smile that chilled her to the bone. "You know, I kind of envy you. Must be nice—because the one you messed with… is the current version of me."
Liuly's body trembled uncontrollably, her face ghost-white. Her lips quivered as she whispered, "What do you want? Whatever it is, I'll give it to you."
"Don't flatter yourself," Lucian scoffed. "Whose big sister are you again? Want me to carve that pretty face of yours?"
Horrified, Liuly stumbled back. "Please… don't hurt me…"
Her looks had always been her lifeline. Without them, her career, her connections—everything would crumble. Scarring her face would be no different from killing her.
"A woman should at least try to be a little classy," Lucian muttered, as if critiquing an artwork. Only then did he finally turn his attention to Kosen. Straightening his collar, he sat across from him again.
"So, when are you planning to repay your debt?"
"Anytime!" Kosen stammered.
"I heard you've been delaying that final 20 million to Kynix for half a year now?"
"Six months," Kosen admitted nervously.
"Six months—might as well call it a year," Lucian mused. "What's the current annual interest rate for loan sharks in Solviva?"
"Twenty-five percent," Kosen answered, voice trembling.
"Are you kidding me?!" Lucian barked. "Ten years ago, I was paying thirty!"
Kosen hurried to explain, "The market's not what it used to be..."
"Fine, twenty-five it is." Lucian waved impatiently. He did some mental math. "Twenty million, one year, twenty-five percent interest—that's twenty-five million, correct?"
"Correct," Kosen replied, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Settle the balance before dinner. Can you manage that?" Lucian asked bluntly.
"I—I don't have that much cash on hand…"
"Want me to show you how to make a bank transfer?" Lucian said coldly.
"No need!" Kosen bowed his head repeatedly. "I'll repay everything before dinner, I promise!"
Later, Lucian left the bar and hopped on a bus heading back to Kynix. He thought to himself:
Good deeds should be kept to oneself, not broadcast. But with someone as sharp as Director Lilith, she'll definitely pick up on the clues. And when she does, she won't stop me from getting close to the pretty ladies in Finance… She might even give me some secret advice.
Just imagining being surrounded by beauties on both sides… damn, that's the dream!