Chapter 3: Ptoo!

Words : 1955 Updated : Jan 8th, 2026

After spitting out a mouthful of venom, Salvatore Casson drew out several more, then lifted his head to breathe. He swept his gaze over the ground, ripped up a handful of grass blades, chewed them into pulp, smeared the paste over Ivanka Yale's leg, and cinched it tight with a bandage. Ivanka stayed remarkably calm, watching him in silence. Only after he finished did she ask, "Without antivenom, do we need to go to a hospital?" Carrying Samuel Looske's medical legacy, Salvatore said evenly, "No. These herbs will counter the venom." He plucked another bunch of leaves and crushed them between his palms until juice ran green down his fingers. After a few squeezes, he collected nearly half a cup and handed it to Ivanka. "Drink it." Ivanka eyed the grassy liquid, scalp tingling. "Do I have to?" she asked, plaintive. "If you don't, your skin will turn black and swell," Salvatore said. She didn't hesitate again. She took the cup and swallowed the lot in one gulp. The bitterness twisted her delicate features out of shape. Seeing Ivanka out of immediate danger, Salvatore said, "Miss Yale, may I use your phone?" He had been off the grid for a month and wanted to let his family know he was safe. Still grimacing and flicking her tongue at the bitter aftertaste, Ivanka pulled out a brand-new smartphone and passed it over. "This is my spare. Go ahead." "Thanks." Salvatore quickly dialed home. It rang four or five times before someone picked up. A hoarse voice came through. "Hello… who are you calling for?" He knew at once it was his mother's voice. His eyes stung, but he kept his tone steady. "Mom, it's me-Salvatore." "Salvatore…" Her voice trembled, then broke into tears. "Son, where are you? Are you safe?" His throat tightened. "Mom, I'll be home today. Don't worry." Suddenly, the call filled with the clatter of things being smashed and a few men cursing. "Stop breaking things…" came his mother's cry, followed by sobbing. Salvatore's hair bristled like a tiger's hackles. He raised his voice. "Mom, what's going on?" "It's nothing. The neighbors dropped by… they drank too much," she said. "Salvatore, come home fast. You've been missing a month-your dad and I are worried sick." He frowned. He didn't buy it, but he kept his voice gentle. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be there soon." He offered a few more words to comfort her, then hung up and turned to Ivanka. "Miss Yale, I need to get home immediately. Could you drop me at the high-speed rail station?" "What happened?" Ivanka asked, concerned. "Something at home. I have to get back as fast as I can." Ivanka thought it over. "I'm heading back to the provincial capital anyway. It's on the way. We can go together." Salvatore considered and nodded. "All right." They took an off-road vehicle and left Ghost Ridge. Half an hour later, they pulled into a small county town to rest, topped off the tank, and found a restaurant. While they waited for food, Salvatore noticed a huge electronic billboard across the street. On the screen, a man and woman were embracing. The woman holding flowers was Ruby Showyer, and the suited man was Harry Hauk. Following his gaze, Ivanka said, "That's Harry Hauk. The Hauk family somehow latched on to the Mabre family in the capital. With the Mabres backing them, a Hauk has become a real power in this province. The woman is Ruby Showyer. The Hauk family and the Showyer family are jointly developing a project worth over a billion dollars. They're the faces of the partnership. I heard they're about to get engaged. Do you… know them?" Salvatore said coolly, "Even if they turned to dust, I'd still recognize them." Ivanka grew thoughtful but didn't press. "If you've got a grudge with Harry Hauk, be careful. The Hauk family is riding high. They have the potential to become a first-tier clan." "It's fine. Our accounts will be settled-slowly," Salvatore said. After they ate, they hit the road again. Ivanka had been bitten and couldn't use her leg well, so Salvatore drove while she rode shotgun. The vehicle was a Defender 130, fitted with a 5.0T engine-plenty of muscle. He didn't have much experience behind the wheel, but his five senses were razor-sharp. With Ivanka's few pointers, he got the hang of it quickly and drove fast and steady. Along the way, Ivanka felt more and more that Salvatore carried a singular presence, and her regard for him grew. Before they knew it, three-plus hours had passed. The vehicle stopped before a courtyard house in the northern suburbs of Yanos. They got out. Salvatore pushed the gate open and Ivanka followed him inside. The yard was a wreck-tables, chairs, teacups smashed across the ground; window glass shattered; footprints everywhere on the door. A gang of burly men were hauling things from the house. Anything valuable went out the door; anything else got tossed wherever it fell. Inside, someone shouted, "Nixon Casson, your son stole jewelry worth millions from the Showyer family. Your family must compensate!" Salvatore's father, Nixon Casson, roared, "Lies! My son's honest. He wouldn't steal from anyone!" "Hmph. Your son is a thief. His face is plastered across the web-everyone's hunting him! He stole, so he pays. Move it!" One of them scooped up a computer-Salvatore's. His mother, Paulina Yare, cried out, "That's my son's. You can't take it!" The man shot her a nasty look and kicked her in the stomach. Paulina flew several yards and crashed hard. Her forehead smashed into a table leg and blood streamed down at once. Nixon bellowed, "I'll fight you!" He barely moved before two men pinned him. Salvatore arrived just in time to see it. His temples throbbed. He surged into the house, and the man who had kicked Paulina went sailing several yards with a single kick, slamming into the east wall. Several men in security uniforms jolted, and the two holding Nixon let go. Seeing Salvatore return, Nixon's eyes lit up. "Salvatore, you're finally home!" Paulina, painful as it was, forced herself up and clutched her son, sobbing. In just a month, her hair had gone gray. She had clearly been beaten-her left eye was bruised, her face swollen. "Salvatore, thank goodness you're back… sob…" "I'm fine, Mom," Salvatore said softly. The intruders looked him up and down, baffled. The leader was a middle-aged fat man. He cleared his throat and barked, "You're Salvatore Casson?" "I am," Salvatore said, voice like ice. "Who are you, and why did you break into my home to beat my family and loot our things?" The man snorted. "We're with Highland Security. Nixon Casson caused a disturbance. We're here to arrest him." "You dogs have some nerve," Salvatore said coldly. "A company's security detail thinks it can come into my home and seize people? Who gave you that authority?" "My boss, obviously. Know who he is? That's Harry Hauk-Young Master Hauk," the man snapped. "Salvatore Casson, you showed up right on time. You stole jewelry worth millions, so we'll take you too. You and your old man can reunite in jail." He waved, and two hulking men, both around six-foot-two, lunged for Salvatore, trying to clamp his shoulders. Killing intent flashed in Salvatore's eyes. The instant their hands touched him, both screamed. One of them got sent flying by a single punch. The other's left foot crumpled under Salvatore's stomp. The middle-aged fat man flinched, whipped out a stun baton, and pointed it at Salvatore, yelling, "You dare resist!" Salvatore pinned him with a stare and sneered, "A couple of dogs think they can threaten me?" He had grafted Samuel Looske's five organs into himself-a half-immortal body reinforced by Immortal Energy. His strength and reflexes were beyond ordinary men. He stepped once, and before the stun baton even crackled, his boot crashed into the fat man's face.

Chapter 3: Ptoo!

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