Ethan stared at the man in front of him, his expression flat, his voice stripped of any warmth or hesitation.
"You. Leave."
The order landed like a stone dropped into still water.
The man he addressed was no ordinary subordinate. He was the same one who had approached Blackie earlier, the only one who had survived the storm of bullets that should have torn him apart. Second-in-command of the Apex Predators. A Mutant whose body could dissolve into smoke and reform at will.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Confusion rippled through the gathered mercenaries, and even the second-in-command himself stiffened in place. He lifted his head and met Ethan's gaze directly, his eyes sharp despite the shock. "Why?"
Ethan smiled faintly, the kind of smile that carried no humor. "My name is Ethan Caelum. If you've heard it before, you already know the answer."
