Chapter 12: Terrified

Words : 1988 Updated : Dec 20th, 2023

The members of the Dyson family had lost any appetite for celebration. Fanix's actions were more than just offensive—they were a direct slap in the face. the Dyson family was one of the most respected and influential families in Norston, known for their power and prestige. They had built a reputation that demanded respect from everyone. Today's gathering was supposed to be a grand celebration, with distinguished guests from all over. But now, the disgrace they faced was unbearable. How could they let someone who had just been released from prison humiliate them so brazenly in front of so many onlookers? "Take him down, now!" Carl, trembling with rage, helped his wife, Thalira, to her feet. His anger was palpable. If this continued, the Dyson family's reputation would be in tatters. But Carl was a businessman, not a fighter. If he had the skills, he would have gladly torn Fanix apart right then and there. He could only rely on the remaining bodyguards and subordinates to restore his family's honor. But to his shock, the men hesitated, not daring to approach Fanix. "Useless cowards! I'll handle this myself," a voice boomed. From the crowd, a tall and imposing figure emerged, easily over six feet three with a broad chest and powerful stature. This was Vikram, the second son of the Dyson family. Vikram was known for his arrogance and his frequenting of various entertainment venues. He had connections with tough guys from the underworld and had witnessed countless brawls and violent confrontations. At his age, full of youthful aggression, Vikram often bullied others using his family's influence. He never expected anyone to come to his doorstep today and challenge them so brazenly. Given Vikram's fiery temperament, he found this situation utterly intolerable. "Vikram, be careful! Don't act recklessly. He's not as simple as he seems," Carl warned. He had already learned the hard way that Fanix was no longer the same person he once knew. "Why should I be afraid of him? I could crush his skull in seconds. What's your name again?" Vikram growled, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "Fanix. When I left Norston, you were just a boy," Fanix said casually, setting down his wine glass. "Spare me your nonsense. Open your eyes and take a good look at where you are. Are you tired of living or just plain stupid? I'll give you one chance—apologize and beg for mercy right now." Vikram clenched his fists, itching to strike. "It seems your brother didn't teach you any manners. You don't even know how to show respect," Fanix said with a shake of his head, as if disappointed. "Enough of your act! You're asking for death!" Vikram, furious beyond reason, lunged at Fanix. But Fanix remained seated, unmoved. As Vikram approached, something unexpected happened—his knees buckled, and with a loud thud, he dropped to his knees before Fanix. Stubbornly, Vikram tried to hurl insults, but before he could utter a word, Fanix grabbed his head and slammed it repeatedly against the table. The sickening sound of bone against wood filled the room as blood spattered everywhere. Vikram's neck snapped, blood poured from his head, and his massive body convulsed uncontrollably. By the time the others in the room recovered from the shock, Vikram's body was already crumpled on the floor, twitching as life drained from him. His once formidable figure now lay still, reduced to a tragic heap. The room was eerily silent as everyone realized that Vikram was beyond saving. Outside, a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, and the mansion lights flickered ominously in the stormy weather, as if they were about to extinguish. A baby's cry pierced the tense silence, amplifying the unease in the room. "You... you killed Vikram?" Carl stammered, his face drained of all color. His wife, Thalira, who had witnessed the gruesome scene, was so overwhelmed with terror and pain that she fainted in his arms. Carl was on the verge of collapse. He could barely stand. In an instant, his beloved son was dead, and his wife was unconscious—right in front of him, on his own turf. The horror of it all was beyond comprehension, like a living nightmare. "The next one... will be you. And then the rest of the Dyson family," Fanix spoke calmly as he adjusted his collar and sat up straight, his gaze cold and piercing as he scanned the room. The onlookers were terrified. They hid their faces or shrank back into the shadows, desperate to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Who was this man? How could he be so brazen and ruthless? "Is he insane? Does he have a death wish?" "Even if we capture him, we'll likely end up dead, and who knows how many more he'll kill in the process. If he harms anyone else, what will we do? We should just leave," The room was filled with women and children, many of whom were too scared to move. Even those who wanted to flee found their legs unwilling to cooperate. "Listen to me! Whoever stops him now, I'll give them half of the Dyson family's fortune!" Clutching the unconscious Thalira, Carl pleaded from the floor, his voice filled with desperation. But despite his offer, no one stepped forward. They had seen Fanix's ruthlessness and knew that no amount of money was worth risking their lives. At that moment, Fanix calmly pulled a notebook from his pocket, along with a pen. He opened it, revealing a list of names, all belonging to the Dyson family. "If none of you are coming forward, then I'll start calling names," Fanix said, a chilling smile on his face. It was as if he held the book of life and death, and no one dared to meet his gaze. Many in the room silently thanked their luck for not being part of the Dyson family. "Fanix, you are truly vicious. What deep-seated hatred do you have against the Dyson family to want to exterminate us all?" Carl shouted, his voice trembling with fear. Fanix's pen hovered over the notebook, his eyes never leaving the page. "Do you really not know? Do you have no idea what kind of immoral deeds your family committed to build the fortune you have today?" Carl's mind raced, flashes of the despicable actions he had taken in the past flickering through his memory. Blinded by greed, he had done things he now deeply regretted. "Yes, but even so, I wasn't the mastermind behind it all. I only took a small share of the profits. Do you really intend to wipe out my entire family for that?" "Is that so? But did you ever consider the pain and suffering you caused me back then?" His words cut through the air, filled with a bitterness that left the room in silence. "You—you only spent a few years in prison. Why do you have to do this to us?" Carl's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at the devastation around the Dyson mansion, deeply pained and regretful. "A few years? You'll slowly experience the suffering and ridicule you inflicted on me. I don't want to waste more time talking with you. Think carefully about any final words you have, so I can send you off from this world." Fanix's fingers lightly tapped the table, and fear instantly enveloped the entire hall. "Are—are you really going to kill me?" Carl took a few steps back, looking around for help, hoping someone would come to his aid. He realized clearly that, at this moment, he was just a weakling in front of Fanix. The past glory and pride of the Dyson family meant nothing to Fanix now. Carl felt as if his heart was being torn apart. His anguish was palpable as he looked skyward and cried out in despair. "I never expected this. I treated you all so kindly. You all swore to fight for the Dyson family. Yet today, just one person has scared you all into fleeing in terror. It's truly tragic." "Are you finished with your final words? Is that all?" Fanix's voice was thunderous. "No, there's more. Fanix, considering the past friendship between the Edwards family and the Dyson family, please spare us. At most, we'll return everything we have to you and try to make amends." Carl knelt weakly on the ground, trembling as he moved closer to Fanix. "It's too late. If you had done this a few years ago, things wouldn't have come to this. I am determined to get what I want. Perhaps you should do it yourself." Fanix sighed lightly and tossed a knife and fork in front of Carl. "If I end my life, will you spare the rest of my family?" Carl, trembling and pleading pathetically, was met only with Fanix's cold and indifferent shake of the head. "Looks like God wants to destroy the Dyson family. I will remember this." Completely stricken by despair, Carl raised the knife to end his life when suddenly someone started clapping. The applause was incredibly out of place, accompanied by mocking laughter. "This is quite interesting. I've really learned something, haha." As the person spoke, he clapped and walked up to Carl, his gaze fixed on Fanix, inspecting him from head to toe.

Chapter 12: Terrified

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