As soon as Leon tried to run, Dango grabbed him by his collar, lifting him up like a toddler.
"Put me down!" Leon shouted as he struggled to break free from Dango's iron grip. But as Dango took two steps forward, Leon smashed the back of his head into Dango's nose.
"Fuck! You'll pay for this, I swear!" Dango released Leon's collar, hurling curses while clutching his bleeding nose.
Yet Leon still couldn't escape—two other guys stood on either side, seizing him again, one gripping his right arm while the other held his left.
"See what resisting has got you. If you had cooperated willingly, you wouldn't have pissed us off. But now?" Tiger's voice dropped to a whisper, his laughter unhinged.
"The guy I use to discipline the strong students now has your name and face etched at the back of his head. If I were you, I'd beg for death rather than living another day to face Dango's wrath."
As Leon struggled, the thug holding his right arm drove a fist into his ribs. Leon's entire body shuddered, but he forced himself to stay upright.
"Don't waste your energy on him. His sister will thank me letter…" Tiger's words cut off mid-sentence as he saw Leon's eyes shifting.
"Don't you dare touch my sister. Or else." Leon whispered in a razor-sharp tone. A flicker of fear passed through Tiger's men, but they laughed when Tiger spat on Leon's face.
"What'll you do?" Tiger slammed both hands against Leon's cheeks, his demeanor twisting as if possessed.
"Of all the students I've beaten, you'll be the most memorable." His grip tightened, threatening to crush Leon's skull.
Every word from Tiger stoked Leon's rage. His hands inched closer, palms nearly meeting as if he meant to pop Leon's head like a grape.
"I'd love to hear your sister moan when I fuck her in the ass." Tiger landed a slap on Leon, then stepped back, laughing like a mad dog. But Leon didn't cry—he stood motionless, eyes sharp like a hawk's.
"Don't…" Leon's retort was cut short as Dango punched him in the stomach, forcing a cough.
"Don't what?" Dango sneered. "Know this: I'll carve out your sister's eyes after Tiger is done. I'll make sure she goes blind; no, I would rather make her suffer worse than your filthy, blind, paralyzed mother."
Dango landed another punch into Leon's chest. Sweat beaded on Leon's face, but they refused to fall.
Tiger gripped Leon's jaw—as soon as he raised his head—and whispered.
"Choose: die quick, or watch us destroy your family, make them vanish like your father did while you remain hinged to my ceiling?"
As Leon opened his mouth, Tiger smashed his fist into his right eye.
"Fuck! Why's your face so hard?" Tiger shook out his hand, but Leon's glare never wavered, as if the blow was nothing more than just a mere whip.
"Do you wish to counter all their punches?" As Leon fixed his gaze on the rings on Tiger's fingers, a voice echoed in his ears—similar to the old woman's voice again.
"Throw him down and do whatever you want with him. I'm heading to his house to have a taste of his sister in her own room." Tiger laughed while he strode towards his jeep.
"Hey!" As Tiger opened the door of his car, a shout erupted from one of the cars, which just stopped behind Tiger's jeep.
Black Mamba—the car used by the elite warriors when they want to move through the city and enjoy themselves.
"Tiger!" As soon as a man stepped out of the car, Tiger froze. Sweat dripping like blood from his face.
"What else do you want to have?" Tiger scrambled back like prey before a lion as the man advanced.
"After all the things you were given, is this how you utilize it?!" Even when Tiger fell to the ground, the man didn't stop.
"Uncle, it's not what you think!" Tiger dropped to his knees as the man loomed over him.
"This guy has been threatening me and my men. So, we decided to just teach him a lesson."
With the look on his uncle's face, Tiger knew there was no way he could sway him off without pushing the blame on Leon instead.
Then, his uncle turned towards Leon's helpless body like a missile locking on.
"You filthy scumbag—you dare threaten my nephew?" He paused, studying Leon's piercing gaze.
"I've seen these eyes before... No. He can't be his son." He laughed in a cold tone as he shook his head to brush it off. Then, advanced towards Leon.
"Do you know what happens to those who threaten any of my family members? You're not worthy of my wrath, or else I'd have crushed and grind you into the pavement in an instant."
Tiger stood up, cleared the dirt that had clung to his uniform, and began moving closer to his uncle.
As the man walked past Leon, he tapped Dango's shoulder and whispered:
"You can continue to do whatever you want with him, but remember to bring him to me. I'll feed him to my dogs."
Tiger and Dango's eyes widened—then they burst into laughter. But just as the uncle moved a bit closer to the main entrance of the school, he waved at them and opened the door.
"Leon, you're blessed to meet his dogs," Tiger wheezed.
"Is that the same beast he caged after returning from the recent battle?" Dango whispered between laughs.
Tiger's uncle turned back, frowning. "Where have I seen those eyes?" A chill ran down his spine as he tried to remember.
"I remember some of the top, almost ancient warriors have that kind of eye—but who?"
He kept wandering. If his hunch was right, Tiger and his team's fate was sealed. He had to remember and stop them immediately.
Just as he reached the hybrid monument, he turned and opened the office door.
"Lieutenant Gray, welcome; we've been waiting for you." Mr. Lee stood up and greeted him while pointing to a seat.