In the Fortis Group, the title of Chief carried weight, but it wasn't handed out simply because someone was the best fighter on the roster. Fighting ability was important, sure, but that was only one piece of the puzzle. The Fortis organization prided itself on being more than fists and muscles. They sold themselves as professionals who protected the wealthy and influential. That required more than combat skill, it required coordination, clear thinking, and the ability to make decisions when pressure mounted.
Chiefs were chosen because they could command respect and manage groups, because they could evaluate tense situations and resolve them without spiraling into chaos. That was what the training manuals said, what the Fortis promotional videos promised.
And yet, as Max stood in the lobby with Darno barking at him like a rabid dog and Chief Nonto scowling from the elevator, it was clear something was very wrong.
It seems like Chief Nonto's forgotten all of that training, Max thought bitterly. He's acting out of impulse. His emotions are spiking, and he looks more concerned about appearances than control. Is it the pressure of hosting important guests? Or just his own pride? Either way, you're a damn idiot, old man.
The truth was, it was a mix of both.
With a calm head, Nonto would have pieced the situation together easily. He would have realized that Darno, the loudmouth standing in the middle of the lobby, veins bulging, spitting threats, was the same employee who had nearly tanked the entire company before. The same man who had thrown a punch at a female fan during a showcase, a punch caught on video that spread across the net and dragged Fortis into infamy.
Ordinarily, someone like that should have been fired immediately. Assaulting a civilian was unforgivable. But Darno hadn't been fired.
Because Darno was special.
He was one of their most skilled operatives. A top-class fighter, quick on his feet, ruthlessly effective. He had saved celebrities from stalkers more than once, tackling down lunatics with knives or intercepting would-be kidnappers before they could even reach their target. Clips of Darno acting the hero had gone just as viral as the scandal, clips that made Fortis look like gods among guards.
On top of that, Darno had the look. Athletic build, sharp features, and a confidence that shone under stage lights. He was perfect for promotional showcases. He was the poster boy of Fortis, the face that reassured clients that their money was well spent.
Without him, bookings would have dried up long ago. The company was already teetering. With him gone, they'd collapse entirely.
That was why, even after his mistakes, they'd kept him. He was their ace in the hole. Their gamble.
But that meant that if Darno lashed out at Max here and now, if he struck a kid in broad daylight in the middle of the lobby, Fortis wouldn't survive. There would be no saving face, no PR spin strong enough. They'd be forced to fire him, and the company would bleed out with him.
And everyone knew it. Every guard standing there, every receptionist clutching her phone, every staff member sneaking glances from down the hall. Their jobs depended on him keeping his cool.
Yet Darno only smirked, wagging his tongue like a playground bully. "Well, kid, looks like your luck's run out." He leaned forward, voice dripping mockery. "Maybe if you hadn't been so stupid, if you'd been polite, I could've trained you. Shown you the ropes around here. You know what they say, right? It's not what you know, it's who you know."
His laugh was ugly, grating, loud enough to echo against the glass walls.
Max's eyes flicked across the room. Two guards closing in. Suzie, pale at her desk. Chief Nonto glaring like he couldn't be bothered. Darno vibrating with reckless energy.
Do I really have to fight all of them? Max wondered. He flexed his fingers, knuckles popping quietly. Fine. If that's what it takes, I'll test what this so-called "elite" security group is made of.
But instead of throwing a punch, he lifted his chin. His voice carried sharp and clear across the lobby.
"I'm not here to be a guard," Max said firmly. "I kept trying to tell you, but you wouldn't let me speak." He glanced around at their sneering faces. "The reason I'm here… is because I'm a representative of the Billion Bloodline Group."
The words slid through the room like a blade.
Darno blinked. One guard scoffed. The receptionist tilted her head. For most of them, the name meant nothing, just a jumble of syllables.
But for Chief Nonto?
His scarred face twitched. His breath caught for half a second.
Tim Heart, the CEO, had briefed the senior staff. He had explained the takeover. The company had been bought out. Fortis wasn't independent anymore, it belonged to someone else now. And the name of their new owner was etched into his memory: Billion Bloodline Group.
It was the reason he had told his men to be on their best behavior. To keep everything pristine, to avoid mistakes. To present the illusion of strength and professionalism for their new masters.
But how…? Nonto's mind raced. How does a kid know that name? He looks like he just wandered off the street. Did he overhear something? Did someone leak it? No. Impossible. There's no chance they'd send a brat like this as their representative. This is just a trick. He's lying.
He straightened, masking the flicker of doubt in his eyes. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, boy," Nonto said coldly. "But your game ends here. Enough of your nonsense. You two, " he gestured to the guards flanking him, ", take him away. And if he resists… feel free to use force."
The order snapped the tension.
Darno scowled, clearly unhappy that someone else might get to rough Max up, but he said nothing. If someone had to take the fall, better them than him.
The two guards approached cautiously, spreading their stance, arms raised. They weren't taking chances this time.
Max exhaled through his nose, stepping back. I really didn't come here to fight. I just wanted to look around. But maybe this is the perfect chance to test what these guys can do.
He balled his fists, shifting his weight to his back foot. The first guard lunged, reaching for Max's shoulder.
And then,
A hand shot out from behind Max, larger and stronger than either guard's. Fingers clamped around the attacker's wrist with iron strength, halting the motion mid-air.
The guard winced, his arm twisting under the pressure.
A calm, deep voice rumbled from behind Max.
"I'm sorry," the voice said. "But I can't let you do that."
Max turned his head slightly, and relief flickered across his face.
Na had arrived.
The man's towering frame stood just behind him, his presence heavy and unshakable. His eyes burned with quiet intensity, his grip unyielding on the guard's hand.
The lobby froze.
Darno's grin faltered. Nonto's expression darkened. The receptionist's mouth fell open in shock.
And Max?
Max smirked. He didn't need to say anything.
Because Na had just made his entrance.