Chapter 69: THE RESCUE MISSION

Kai moved slowly—creeping among the trees. Crunch... Dry leaves underfoot, but the sound was barely audible. Whoosh... The night wind blew—carrying the scent of earth and leaves. Kai took a slow breath—regulating his rhythm. He had to move fast. But he also couldn’t be discovered. If he was discovered—Lydia and his students would become victims.

He stepped carefully—choosing paths covered by trees. Avoiding open areas. Avoiding the main trail. He moved like a shadow—unseen, unheard. His trained body moved efficiently—every step calculated, every movement measured. He was used to moving in dangerous terrain. He was used to moving without sound. Every branch he was about to step on—he checked first. Every stone he was about to step on—he made sure it wasn’t slippery. He couldn’t make mistakes. Not a single suspicious sound.

He kept moving—following the dark side of the forest. Tall pine trees towered around him—blocking the moonlight. Only occasionally did moonlight penetrate through the gaps in the leaves—creating patterns of light on the ground. Kai used every shadow—every dark corner—to hide. He was like a ghost—moving among the trees.

Suddenly—

"In fifteen minutes—if you don’t come immediately—I’ll hang this teacher and these students."

Hff... Kai stopped his steps—his eyes narrowing. That voice—from the megaphone. From the direction of the tower. The voice echoed throughout the forest—loud, threatening. Kai turned toward the sound. He saw something in the distance—a wooden stage. On the stage—several figures. Kai sharpened his vision. He blinked several times—making sure of what he was seeing.

He saw Lydia—standing on the stage. Her eyes were covered with cloth. A thick rope was tied around her neck. Her hands were tied behind her back. Beside Lydia—Nora. Her eyes were also covered. The rope around her neck was tied tightly. Nora stood upright—even though her hands were tied. Beside Nora—Iris. The girl’s eyes were also covered. But there was a thin smile on her lips—a smile Kai couldn’t read. Beside Iris—Eve. Her glasses were still on her nose—though crooked. And at the end—Aria. The girl looked trembling. Even from a distance—Kai could see her body shaking. Her shoulders rose and fell quickly—like she was holding back tears.

KREK! Kai clenched his fists. His anger burned—boiling. He wanted to run there. He wanted to save them. Now. But—he had to think. He had to be calm. If he acted rashly—they would die. He had seen too much death. He didn’t want to see it again. Didn’t want to see them die in front of him.

Haaah... Kai took a deep breath. He controlled his emotions. He forced himself to stay calm. To think clearly. He observed the surrounding area—noticing every detail. The watchtower—an old three-story building. Made of wood and stone. Its walls were cracked—its roof collapsed in places. In front of it—the wooden stage where Lydia and his students were hanged. The stage was made of rotting planks. Around the stage—dozens of men. Maybe more than a hundred. They carried weapons—knives, sticks, guns, swords. They spread out—watching every corner. Some stood near the tower. Some patrolled around the stage. Some hid behind the trees.

Kai observed again. He saw symbols on the tower’s wall. A symbol he didn’t recognize. An eye with a compass in the center. The symbol was displayed in several places—on the wall, on flags, on the clothes of some men. Hmm... Kai furrowed his brow. An organization’s headquarters. He had to remember this symbol. He had to find out—what organization this was. For later.

Tap... Kai grabbed something from the ground—a cloth. The cloth had the same symbol drawn on it. He put the cloth in his pocket. Evidence. For later. He didn’t know when he would need it. But he had to keep it. He had to gather as much information as possible.

Kai observed again. He made a map in his head. Escape routes. If he saved them—he had to know where to go. There was a trail on the left side of the tower—leading downward. The path was narrow—but enough for one person. There were dense trees on the right side—could be used as cover. There was a small river behind—maybe could be used to erase traces. Kai remembered all of it. Every detail. Every possibility.

Kai nodded slightly. He had a plan. Now—he had to move. He had to get closer. He had to make sure—he couldn’t be discovered. He had to move like a shadow.

Tap... tap... tap... Kai advanced slowly—approaching the stage. He was very close now. He could hear their voices. He could hear Lydia’s voice—still standing calmly. He could hear Aria’s voice—still crying. He could hear Eve’s voice—still closing her eyes. He could hear Iris’s voice—still smiling. He could hear Nora’s voice—still clenching her fists. He stopped behind a large tree—peeking.

He saw the tattooed man—the man he’d beaten at the shop. The man was talking to someone. In his hand—a phone. Kai sharpened his hearing. He had to know—what they were talking about.

"Yes... yes, I understand," the man said—his voice soft. "I’ll fix this situation. I won’t give the Ten Gates organization any problems."

Ten Gates. Kai furrowed his brow. He’d heard that name before. From Lydia—back at the shop. An organization controlling the outskirts of the city. An organization with ten groups. An organization that couldn’t be touched.

"Yes... I understand," the man continued—his voice growing softer. "Please tell them... I’ll finish this. I’ll make sure no one knows."

Click! The call disconnected. Haaah... The man let out a breath—long. He rubbed his face—sweaty. Sweat flowed down his temples—even though the night felt cold. He looked nervous. He looked scared.

One of the men beside him approached. "How is it?" he asked—his voice soft.

The tattooed man—Jero—shook his head. "Very bad," he answered. "They’re... they’re not happy. We have to fix this situation immediately."

The man beside him furrowed his brow. "The organization shouldn’t have a problem with the current situation," he said. "We’re just following orders."

Jero laughed—but his laughter sounded bitter. Ha ha... "Yes," he said. "If it were just the Ten Gates organization—of course there’d be no problem." He paused for a moment. Sweat started dampening his forehead. "But... there’s a much larger organization that always provides support to the Ten Gates. They... they feel our actions this time have ruined their plans."

HAAH! The man beside him was shocked. "Don’t tell me... that organization?"

Jero nodded—listlessly. "Yes. Them."

The man started trembling. He knew—they were in very serious trouble. He swallowed. Gulp! "What... what should we do?"

"Calm down," Jero said—trying to calm him. "As long as we can carry out that woman’s orders—she promised to forget this incident."

The man nodded slowly—a little calmer. But he still looked nervous.

Jero looked at the watch on his hand. "Damn," he muttered. "Twenty seconds over." He turned to the man beside him. "Push her," he ordered. "Now."

Hff... The man nodded. He stepped toward Lydia.

Kai saw that—and he moved. He couldn’t wait any longer. He couldn’t let Lydia fall. Tap! Tap! Tap! He ran—fast. He appeared from under the stage—from behind the wooden planks covering the bottom of the stage. Whoosh! He threw a knife—toward the rope. SNAP! The knife—very sharp—cut the thick rope with just one throw. Lydia fell—but Kai was ready. Tap! He caught Lydia—in his arms. He removed Lydia’s blindfold.

"Mr. Kai...?" Lydia whispered—her voice barely audible. Her eyes widened—not believing.

"I’m here," Kai said—his voice soft. "You’re safe now."

HAAH! Jero and the man beside him were shocked. They hadn’t realized Kai was that close. They hadn’t realized Kai was already under the stage. The man beside Jero—he wanted to push the others. He wanted to push Nora. But—Whoosh! Kai threw a knife—toward that man. SNAP! The knife hit his shoulder. HAAH! The man screamed—in pain. He held his shoulder—covered in blood.

Jero gave a signal. BANG! He fired his weapon—into the air. The gunshot sound—loud. Echoing throughout the forest. Jero and the man—they immediately ran. Tap! Tap! Tap! They disappeared among the trees. They didn’t look back.

Kai watched them leave—but he didn’t chase. He had to save the others first. He had to make sure they were safe. He released Lydia—slowly. "Ms. Lydia," he said—his voice firm. "Free the others. I’ll stand guard."

Lydia nodded. "Okay." She ran—up to the stage. Tap! Tap! She started untying the rope around Nora’s neck. Sss... The rope started loosening.

Kai stood in front of the stage—his back to Lydia and his students. He faced the dozens of men starting to approach. They carried weapons—angry. They didn’t accept—the situation changing. They didn’t accept—Kai appearing. They started surrounding—forming a circle. They approached—slowly. Carefully. Like wolves surrounding their prey.

Kai clenched his fists. KREK! He reached for his gun—but didn’t pull it out. He didn’t want to use the gun. Too risky. He reached for a knife—the knife he’d thrown earlier. He had already retrieved it. He also took another knife from his belt. Two knives. One in his right hand. One in his left hand. He was ready.

"Mr. Kai!" Lydia called—from the stage. "Ella and the others... they split up after we escaped from the prison. But... they must be okay."

Kai nodded—without turning. His eyes remained fixed on the dozens of men in front of him. "Good," he said—his voice relieved. "Focus on the ropes. Don’t worry about me."

"But—" Lydia tried to protest. She could see—the dozens of men. She could see—Kai alone. She could see—Kai would fight them all. "You can’t face them alone. I... I can help. I can—"

"No," Kai cut in—his voice firm. "You focus on them. Untie the ropes. Get them out. That’s your job."

"But—"

"Lydia." Kai turned briefly—his eyes looking at Lydia sharply. "I can’t protect them if I have to protect both of you at the same time. You have to free them. I have to hold them off. That’s the only way."

Lydia fell silent. She looked at Kai—for a long time. She could see the determination in the man’s eyes. She could see—Kai wouldn’t change his mind. She nodded slowly. "Alright," she said—her voice soft. "But... be careful."

"I’m always careful," Kai said—his voice flat.

Lydia nodded. She returned to focusing—untying Nora’s rope. Sss... The rope loosened. Nora was free. Lydia moved to Iris. Sss... Iris was free. Lydia moved to Eve. Sss... Eve was free. Lydia moved to Aria. Sss... Aria was free.

Kai stood in front of the stage—like a wall. Like a fortress. He didn’t move—even though the dozens of men were getting closer. He just stood there. With two knives in his hands. With sharp eyes. With a body ready. He waited—for them to move first.

"You’re alone," one of the men said—his voice heavy. He stood in front—maybe their leader. "You don’t stand a chance."

Kai didn’t answer. He just looked at the man—coldly. His eyes didn’t blink. His body didn’t move. He was like a statue—waiting for the right moment.

"Surrender," the man continued. "We’ll let you live."

Kai still didn’t answer. He just smiled slightly—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Fine," the man said—his voice starting to anger. "You chose the hard way."

He raised his hand—giving a signal. The dozens of men—they started moving. Approaching. Surrounding. Preparing their weapons.

Kai took a deep breath. Haaah... He was ready. He would fight them all. Alone. To protect them. To protect Lydia. To protect Nora. To protect Iris. To protect Eve. To protect Aria. To protect all his students. ℯ

He would stand guard—until Lydia finished. He would hold on—until they were all free. He would fight—until the last drop of blood.

"Alright," he murmured—his voice soft. "Let’s go."