Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai

Chapter 36

Ponsak's car drove into a discreet motel, its low profile veiling secrets beneath its plain façade. Kwanruthai, trailing on her motorbike, parked at a safe distance outside. She was certain he wasn't there for a fleeting thrill. He was meeting someone—and she prayed it was the person she suspected. A drug cartel member, specifically the man with the dragon tattoo, the murderer of Maiseek, the assailant of Samlee, and the one who had tried to kill her.

If her hunch was correct, she intended to follow them back to their hideout and immediately alert Kongpop. Though her brother didn't carry a phone, she knew how to contact him using the old methods Pran Boon had taught her as a child.

Her eyes locked on her target. Ponsak stepped into a room, assisted by a hotel staff member. Yet, the man she was waiting for hadn't shown up. She continued her vigil.

After what felt like an eternity, a familiar pickup truck arrived. Out stepped the tattooed man—now she knew his name was Khawhan. The two men had indeed arranged to meet. Khawhan ordered his lackeys to stand guard outside but, curiously, entered a different room instead of joining Ponsak. After a brief knock, someone opened the door. From a distance, Kwanruthai saw an envelope handed to Khawhan. He grinned—a cruel, chilling smile—before drawing a silenced pistol and pressing it against the other man's forehead.

There was no sound, but the victim collapsed instantly. The woman in the room tried to flee, screaming in terror. Khawhan caught her easily, yanked her back into the room, and executed her with a shot to the back at close range. She crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

Kwanruthai covered her mouth to stifle a gasp, her eyes stinging with tears. She didn't know these people, but witnessing such a brutal murder shook her to her core. She turned away, unable to watch any longer.

Khawhan emerged, his composure unshaken, and knocked on Ponsak's door. Moments later, the two disappeared inside.

"Why are you late? You said it was urgent," Ponsak's impatient voice broke the silence, his eyes flicking to his wristwatch.

"Had to finish some business," Khawhan replied nonchalantly.

"Who did you kill this time?" Ponsak retorted, noticing the bloodstains on Khawhan's shirt.

Khawhan smirked, utterly unbothered. "Don't worry about it. Just a small matter. I called you here for something far more pressing. Our informants have uncovered that tonight, the Border Patrol and Infantry are planning to raid our production base."

"What?" Ponsak's expression hardened.

"Relax. The Boss knows and is ready for them. They'll regret ever trying."

Khawhan was Zhang Chen's right-hand man, ruthless and efficient. Zhang Chen had long been in the drug trade, relying on men like Ponsak to distribute narcotics across Bangkok and neighboring provinces. Ponsak's deep connections had shielded them from law enforcement for years.

"Don't underestimate them," Ponsak warned. "The Thai military is highly skilled. Many of them are seasoned veterans."

"No matter how skilled, they'll fall into our trap. None of them will leave alive," Khawhan declared with chilling confidence. "We'll annihilate them completely."

"Sounds like you've got a plan," Ponsak remarked.

"Of course. They'll walk right into their graves. With the weapons we've stockpiled, we could blow them to smithereens."

While Zhang Chen's forces weren't as vast as his predecessor's, their firepower was formidable. They had stockpiled arms from neighboring countries, strategically positioning themselves along the border where their strength was unmatched.