Raymond frantically dialed number after number, desperate for anyone who could save him.


    But every time the call connected and people arrived, the answer was the same- was tearing him apart from the inside.


    His breath came in ragged gasps, and blood oozed from the corner of his eye.


    no one could handle whatever


    A sudden wave of horror crushed him: he was running out of time. He practically stabbed at his phone.


    "Lyra...!"


    Lyra''s voice sounded maddeningly calm on the other end. Uncle Raymond. So... have you finally prepared the Cheval nc paperwork?"


    "You little wretch," Raymond snarled, his voice cracking with anguish. "I told my people to handle it, all right? Tell your man to get over here and fix me!"


    Lyra only snorted. "You''re the one begging for help, Uncle. Doesn''t seem polite to order him around like somepdog, does it?"


    Raymond''s pain spiked; his vision blurred red. Still, he forced down his fury and stammered, "Fine-where''s Alex? I''lle to him myself."


    Lyra sounded almost amused. "Oh, I''m with him now. We''re at a small vige about two hours outside Vancouver by bus. I''ll send you the location. Hurry, unless you''d rather drop dead first."


    The moment Raymond got the GPS pin, he barked at his pilot, "Move, dammit! Find that brat-now!"


    The helicopter tore across the sky, slicing the trip down to ten minutes instead of the usual twenty-five.


    One hour earlier, at a small orphanage in a dusty mining town...


    Alex was busy sorting out donation funds with Ruth, the orphanage caretaker.


    She felt overwhelmed by the sudden windfall-exactly one million dors.


    Josephine helped the restaurant while Alex patiently exined the paperwork to Ruth.


    Lyra called. "Alex, where are you?"


    "Why?"


    "My father says Raymond''s copsing from whatever poison you predicted. I want toe see you. Mind if I drop by?"


    Not long after Lyra arrived, the thundering chop of helicopter des overhead


    sent children running outside in wide-eyed excitement.


    It was their first time seeing a real helicopternd in the fields behind the orphanage.


    Raymond staggered out, drenched in sweat, looking like a man on the brink of death.


    He spotted Alex calmly standing beside Lyra.


    "You-!" he wheezed, clutching his chest. "I''ve been healthy my entire life. Exin why I''m suddenly keeling over with this goddamn pain, you-little punk! Did you do this to me?"


    Alex arched an eyebrow. "Uncle Raymond, you think I poisoned you? Sounds like paranoia."


    Raymond red, jaw clenching through waves of agony,


    "I don''t care who''s behind it. Just fix me! Now! Come here!!


    He doubled over, nearly copsing.


    His bodyguards exchanged panicked looks-if their boss died, nobody would sign their paychecks.


    One of them, Tony, turned a hostile stare on Alex. "What the hell is wrong with you, doctor?"


    Tony spat out the word like an insult. "Get over here and cure him, or I''ll make you regret crawling out of your mother''s womb."


    Alex was just about to step forward when those venomous words pped the air. His expression turned ice-cold.


    They''re the ones desperate for my help... and this is their attitude? Who the hell do these fools think they are?


    "Find yourself another miracle worker," Alex said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Because I''m sure as hell not wasting my time on you."


    A shocked silence fell over the group. Nobody had ever dared show such tant disregard in front of Raymond''s men before.


    "You arrogant punk!" one bodyguard snarled, veins bulging in his neck. "Our boss is a goddamn VIP. If you don''t get on your knees and help him, I''ll ughter your entire family!"


    "Yeah," another guard chimed in, eyes narrowed. "Unless you''re dying to have your skull caved in, get over here and do your damn job!"


    Alex''s lip curled in a sneer. "Try me, you mouth-breathing thug."


    The first bodyguard let out a scornfulugh. "Big talk for a nobody who doesn''t know what pain feels like. If you don''t fix our boss, I''ll burn this ce to the ground-everyst board and brick, and every miserable soul in it!"


    He lunged forward with a crackling punch aimed straight for Alex''s face.


    His fist blurred through the air-a clear sign he was no amateur.


    The raw arrogance in his eyes looked unsettling, almost toxic.


    He was a power-addicted tyrant who demanded worship, and by working for Raymond, he seemed unstoppable.


    But before the punch even grazed Alex''s cheek, Alex''s arm snapped up.


    There was a sudden crack-the guard''s neck twisted at an impossible angle.


    He didn''t even manage a scream before copsing, dead on impact.


    "The graveyards are full of men who thought they were indispensable. Go join them." Alex flicked his hand as if shaking off dust.


    "Watch your mouth. Threatening me-or my family here leads straight to the grave."


    The other bodyguards jumped back, eyes wide with terror. They whipped out their firearms, trembling with adrenaline.


    Alex''s gaze darkened. "So you all came here to kill me, is that it? You really want to die on this orphanagewn?"


    Lyra stepped forward with a slow, mocking p. "Gentlemen, if you''re here for trouble, I suggest you load your boss back into that helicopter and go buy him a coffin. You''d be doing him a favor."


    Rayinond was half-copsed, panic warring with agony as more blood bubbled at his lip.


    "Lyra! This arrogant bastard not only refuses to save me, he just murdered one of my men! How are you going to handle this?"


    Lyra''s lip curled in disdain. "Uncle Raymond, you and your crew started this. Whye here just to die together? Go find another ce. Don''t die in this small vige, only to be left as nothing but scraps for the vultures to feast on."


    Raymond stared at his dead bodyguard, and for the first time in years, true fear flickered in his eyes.


    The pain in his chest spiked, his nostrils ring as blood trickled out.


    “Lyra... I... I said some foolish things earlier. And my bodyguard made a mistake.


    I''m sorry," he blurted, his voice shaking. "Please... get Alex to help me."


    Lyra shrugged. "Not my call. You need to talk to him."


    Raymond steeled himself, forcing out the words in a rasp. "Alex... I''m sorry. I lost my head. Didn''t mean to insult you. Please, just make this pain stop..."


    When Alex didn''t respond, Raymond blurted out in desperation, "I''ve got the paperwork-my hotel and restaurant! You can have them. Just... please, do something."


    Alex turned away, clearly unimpressed.


    Raymond''s face twisted with realization-the violent threat from his bodyguard had pushed Alex past reason.


    He had to sweeten the deal, and fast.


    "Wait, wait!" Raymond babbled, head spinning. "I have an entire vault of rare herbs-stuff no one else can get. I''ll give you any one you want!"


    That finally made Alex pause. He needed rare herbs to raise his level. He nced


    over.


    "Herbs, huh? I''m picky. Maybe your collection''s worthless to me."


    Raymond scrambled to appease him. "No, no-I can get whatever you name! Just


    tell me!"


    "Fine. I want five-hundred-year-old wild American ginseng," Alex said, his voice


    clipped.


    Raymond sagged in relief. "I-I''ve got that exact one in my vault!"


    Alex nodded slowly. "Hand it over first. Then I''ll cure your poison." Raymond nearly doubled over from another surge of pain. "Please! I can''t stand it!


    Just fix me now, and I swear I''ll have the ginseng delivered in a few days."


    Alex shot Lyra a look-he didn''t trust Raymond not to double-cross him the moment he got wh


    wanted.


    Raymond, seeing the doubt on Alex''s face, pleaded, "Lyra... help me out here.


    You know I keep my word. If I say I''ll deliver it, I will."