Let the world burn

5

The search for her—the angel who saved me—was driving me insane. Weeks passed, but no matter how much I dug, I found nothing. It was like she had disappeared into thin air.

I couldn't let it go. Her image was burned into my mind: her gentle hands stopping my bleeding, her calm voice that had cut through my panic. And those eyes... God, those eyes.

But every lead turned into a dead end. Frustration bubbled inside me, threatening to boil over. Then, during a routine report, I overheard something that made my blood run cold.

"They're auctioning girls again," one of my men muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. I froze. "What the fuck did you just say?" I asked, my voice sharp as a blade.

The room went silent, every pair of eyes turning to me.

"The... uh... the trafficking ring, boss. They've been holding auctions for weeks. We were tracking them, but we hadn't moved yet—"

"*Why the fuck not?*" I snapped, slamming my hand down on the table. My chair screeched as I stood up, my anger barely contained.

"We... we didn't have confirmation on the location until now," he stammered. "Well? Spit it out. Where the hell are these bastards?"

"An abandoned warehouse near the docks. They're set to auction tonight."

"Get the team. We're raiding it. Now," I ordered, my voice low but dangerous.

Lisa leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, her sharp gaze locking onto me. "You sure you're ready for this, Ryu?"

Her voice carried the weight of years of experience. Lisa had been in this world far longer than I had, and her instincts were razor-sharp. She was family—not by blood, but by bond—and the one person who'd always had my back.

"I'm more than ready," I growled. "This ends tonight."

Lisa gave a curt nod, her expression unreadable. "Good. Let's make sure they regret ever breathing."

---The warehouse was as grim as I'd expected—dark, damp, and reeking of desperation. The sound of muffled sobs and angry shouts echoed through the cold, empty halls.

My men and I moved silently, taking out guards one by one. Lisa moved beside me, her presence steady and grounding.

The main hall was up ahead, and I could hear the sickening cheer of men bidding on women like they were objects.

I felt my blood boil, my hands twitching with the need to destroy every single one of them. "On my signal," I whispered to my team.

The double doors to the main hall creaked open, and I stepped inside. The scene before me made my stomach turn.

Women—scared, bruised, and barely clothed—stood on a raised platform as a disgusting man barked out bids. The men in the audience laughed and shouted, raising their hands.