Chapter 115: Bloodfang Gang

The beautiful white-haired woman he had hired to protect his family lay motionless on the floor, her clothes torn and stained with blood. Her once-pristine white hair had become tangled, with several strands stuck against her pale cheeks. Even in her unconscious state, the tension in her features suggested that she had endured a brutal struggle before finally collapsing.

Jackson stared at her for a long moment.

From the destruction surrounding them, it wasn’t difficult to imagine what had happened. The broken furniture, shattered walls, and deep gouges in the floor suggested that the battle had been fierce. Judging by the extent of the damage, Snow had likely fought until she could no longer stand, doing everything in her power to protect his mother.

And judging by the fact that Rose was still alive, she had at least partially succeeded.

Jackson’s emotions were complicated.

Part of him resented Snow for failing to protect his family. He had entrusted their safety to her, paying a considerable sum for her services, and yet his home had still been reduced to this state. His mother lay unconscious, and Aella had been taken away by unknown assailants.

How could he not feel anger?

But at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the possibility that Snow’s resistance had saved Rose’s life. If the white-haired woman hadn’t stood her ground, his mother might already have been dead.

That thought made it difficult for him to direct all his anger toward her.

Jackson took a slow breath and focused his attention on Snow.

A translucent status window immediately appeared before his eyes.

[Name — Snow Farcry]

[Age — 25]

[Talent — Erupting Fury]

[Realm — Late Third Sequence]

[Spiritual Force — 80.9]

[Mana/Physique — 82.7]

[Current Status — Seriously injured, heavy bleeding, poisoned]

Jackson’s expression darkened as he read the final line.

As expected, Snow’s condition was considerably worse than his mother’s.

The amount of blood surrounding her was alarming enough, but the poison made the situation even more dangerous. Even a Third Sequence Awakened couldn’t afford to ignore such injuries. If left untreated, the combination of blood loss and poison could quickly become fatal.

Fortunately, Jackson possessed something that could help.

The Golden Brush appeared in his hand.

Without wasting time, he examined Snow’s status window and began removing the negative conditions listed there. His spiritual force flowed into the brush as its golden tip moved across the invisible interface, erasing the effects that threatened her life.

One by one, the dangerous conditions disappeared.

Only after finishing did Jackson retrieve a Rank Three Vitality Pill.

The pill was far more potent than the Rank One Vitality Elixir he had given his mother. Snow’s injuries were considerably more severe, and he wasn’t willing to gamble with her life by using something inadequate.

He carefully supported her head and administered the pill, making sure she swallowed it.

Once he had finished treating both women, Jackson finally allowed himself a moment to think.

He wanted to search the surrounding area for clues. There might be traces of the attackers outside the house, or perhaps some evidence that could reveal where they had taken Aella.

But he quickly abandoned the idea.

What if the attackers returned?

He had no idea how many enemies were involved, nor did he know their true strength. If they came back while he was away, his mother and Snow would be completely defenseless.

He couldn’t afford to take that risk.

For now, he would remain at home and wait for one of them to regain consciousness. They were the only people who might be able to tell him exactly what had happened.

Jackson settled beside the sofa, keeping both women within sight.

His gaze repeatedly shifted toward his mother.

Please wake up soon, Mom.

He had already used the Golden Brush to eliminate the dangerous conditions shown on their status windows and had administered the vitality medicine. There wasn’t much more he could do without knowing the extent of their internal injuries.

Waiting was all that remained.

And Jackson hated waiting.

Every passing second reminded him that Aella was somewhere out there, in the hands of people whose intentions he couldn’t even begin to guess.

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to remain seated.

He couldn’t afford to lose his composure now.

Fortunately, the medicine began working sooner than he had expected.

Although both women had received their respective treatments at roughly the same time, Snow was the first to show noticeable signs of recovery.

The vitality of a Third Sequence Awakened was extraordinary. Her body possessed a natural resilience far beyond that of an ordinary human, and once the poison and other harmful conditions had been removed, the Rank Three Vitality Pill could work without those threats continuing to weaken her.

Jackson watched as the changes gradually became visible.

The bleeding stopped. The torn flesh around her more severe wounds began to close, and the pallor of her face slowly faded. Her breathing grew steadier, while the tension in her body eased as the medicine restored her vitality.

It was almost possible to watch the recovery happen in real time.

Jackson felt a small measure of relief.

At least Snow would be able to explain what had happened.

His attention briefly shifted toward Rose.

His mother’s condition was also improving. The Vitality Elixir had restored some of her strength, and her breathing was no longer as faint as before. Yet despite the progress, she showed no immediate signs of waking.

Jackson couldn’t help letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Come on, Mom..."

He had already spent what felt like an eternity worrying about her. Now that her condition had stabilized, he wanted nothing more than to hear her voice and confirm that she was truly safe.

But he couldn’t rush the recovery process.

Just as he turned his attention back to Snow, her eyelids fluttered.

A moment later, her eyes suddenly sprang open.

Snow’s body reacted instinctively.

She tried to sit up at once, only to discover that her movements were still weak and uncoordinated. Her upper body lifted slightly before she lost her balance and fell backward.

Her head landed against Jackson’s legs.

He had positioned her there while administering the vitality pill, and he immediately reached out to steady her before she could hurt herself.

Snow blinked several times, her white hair spilling across his lap as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.

"I’m... alive?"

Her voice was hoarse and faint.

She slowly raised her hands, examining them as though she couldn’t believe they belonged to her. Then she touched her chest and arms, feeling the places where her injuries had been.

The pain that should have accompanied those wounds was largely gone.

Most of the bleeding had stopped, and the worst of the damage had already begun to heal.

She had been on the verge of collapse. She remembered the overwhelming pressure of the battle, the injuries accumulating across her body, and the moment when her strength had finally failed her.

She had thought that was the end.

Yet somehow, she was still alive.

Someone had saved her at the last possible moment.

"Yes, you’re alive."

Jackson’s voice pulled her out of her daze.

He looked down at her, his expression tense and his eyes carrying a cold urgency.

"Now tell me exactly what happened. Where is Aella?"

Although countless questions were crowding his mind, he forced himself to focus on the most important one.

His mother’s condition was stable, and Snow had regained consciousness.

But Aella was still missing.

Until he knew where she was, nothing else mattered.

"Aella...?"

Snow repeated the name in confusion.

Her gaze wandered around the room, seemingly struggling to connect Jackson’s words with her fading memories. Perhaps the injuries and blood loss had left her disoriented, or perhaps the shock of what had happened was still clouding her thoughts.

For several seconds, she simply stared at him.

Jackson’s patience began to wear thin, but he suppressed his frustration.

"Yes, Aella. My little sister. The girl you were supposed to protect."

The words seemed to strike a chord.

Snow’s expression changed abruptly.

Her eyes widened as the missing pieces of her memory fell into place. The confusion on her face gave way to horror, and her breathing quickened as she suddenly tried to push herself upright.

"Little Aella..."

She struggled to sit up, but her weakened body refused to cooperate. Her arms trembled, and she fell back against Jackson before managing to turn her face toward him.

"They took her away!"

Jackson’s blood ran cold.

"Who?"

"The Bloodfang Gang!"

The moment those words left Snow’s mouth, her expression twisted with urgency.

She tried to get up again, apparently intending to leave immediately, but her legs had yet to recover enough strength to support her. After a brief struggle, she could only remain where she was, her face filled with frustration and alarm.

Jackson, meanwhile, felt the temperature in the room drop.

"The Bloodfang Gang..."

His voice was quiet, but the coldness beneath it was unmistakable.

He had heard of them before.

While buying supplies through the black market, he had encountered information about the gang. They were one of the major criminal organizations operating in the shadows, dealing in illicit goods and engaging in activities that respectable organizations preferred not to acknowledge publicly.

They possessed manpower, resources, and connections that allowed them to operate beyond the reach of ordinary law enforcement.

At the time, Jackson had regarded them as just another dangerous organization to avoid provoking without sufficient reason.

He had never imagined that their paths would cross like this.

And now, they had taken Aella.

Jackson slowly rose to his feet.

The uncertainty that had tormented him since entering the house was beginning to give way to something far colder.

He finally had a name.

He finally had a direction.

There was no reason to waste another second.

He had to find Aella and bring her home.

But just as he turned to leave, a cold hand suddenly closed around his wrist.

"Don’t go."

Snow’s voice was weak, but the urgency behind it was unmistakable.

Jackson looked down at her.

She tightened her grip, using what little strength she had recovered to keep him from moving.

"You’ll only get yourself killed."

Her face had turned pale again, not from her injuries this time, but from the fear of what Jackson was about to do.

"The Bigwig Corporation is behind them!"

Jackson’s expression didn’t change.

He had heard her words, understood their meaning, and recognized the warning she was trying to give him.

The Bloodfang Gang wasn’t acting alone.

A powerful corporation stood behind them, one whose resources and influence could make the gang far more dangerous than its reputation already suggested.

But Jackson couldn’t bring himself to care.

What difference did it make who stood behind them?

What difference did their wealth, influence, or connections make when they had taken his little sister?

He had spent the past month growing stronger for precisely this reason. Every battle, every painful breakthrough, every monster he had killed had brought him closer to becoming someone capable of protecting his family.

And now, when he finally needed that strength, he wasn’t going to stand aside because his enemy happened to possess powerful backers.

If he had to fight the entire Bloodfang Gang, he would.

If he had to confront the Bigwig Corporation, he would find a way.

And if the people who had taken Aella stood at the very peak of human power, he would still go after them.

Jackson’s gaze hardened.

Snow stared at him and gradually understood that her warning had accomplished nothing.

He had already made his decision.

There was no point trying to convince him otherwise.