His collateral

Chapter one- Sold

Mom! You really don’t have to watch me pack my bags. I’m an adult, and I’m not ready to forget anything. Please stop crying, I’m going to be fine.”

Lena said helplessly as her mother continued crying.

“I think it’s me growing up and making a very great decision for myself, so please stop crying,” she added, trying to convince her mum.

“How can I not cry? My little baby is leaving me, and I don’t even know how to feel.”

“Mum! Can you just stop being dramatic? You have your husband and my little brother, so you’ll be fine.”

“About that… if you say so. I know you’re going to have lots of friends and have a whole lot of fun, but I want you not to forget us,” Lena’s mum added as she wiped her tears.

“You know that’s not possible, Mum. There is nobody compared to you guys in this life.”

“That’s okay, but I want you to make friends, be good, and also experience your life. Don’t hold back. Whatever it is that you want to do, make sure you do it. And you can also have a boyfriend—if you find a nice person, you have to be careful, right?”

“I know. Thank you, Mom.”

“Right now I do want to pack, and I really do not want to get distracted because you are distracting me.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll leave you to it.”

With that, Lena’s mum left her to continue packing her stuff.

…

“Ple…please, sir, spare my life. I promise to pay up. I wasn’t trying to run. I really am trying, please…”

Tears rolled down the rugged-looking man’s face.

“How pitiful,” Mr. Black said calmly. “I’m really not that generous. I gave you more than enough grace, but here you are, telling stories.”

“I promise to pay, Mr. Black. I was scammed and lost every single penny I had on me. Please.”

He begged desperately, knowing what it meant to mess with MR. BLACK.

Mr. Black smiled. All he heard were excuses, and he loved them. They gave him reason to inflict more pain.

“Tell me how you want to die,” he said, staring at the pleading man like the lord of death sent from hell. “But make it painful, or I’ll choose for you.”

“Please, sir. Give me grace. For the sake of my family.”

Heh. Heh…

Mr. Black chuckled.

“Family. Do you know why I hate that word?”

He paused, scanning the man’s reaction while exuding a deadly, intimidating aura.

“Because everybody uses it as an excuse, begging for useless pity. Since you mentioned family, why don’t we do a check?”

Mr. Black smiled as he turned to Kairo, his most trusted man.

“Kairo, get me his family information.”

“Sure. Be right back.”

“Please… my family has nothing to do with this.”

“Really?” Mr. Black asked with a devilish smirk.

“I thought you wanted pity for the sake of your family. Stupid humans.”

Kairo handed him the document.

“Let’s see what your family is made of,” Mr. Black said.

“Oooff… a wife, a daughter, a son, and a mistress. Interesting.”

He stood up.

“I will let you go.”

“R–really?” the man asked in disbelief.

“Are you questioning me?”

“No, no, no!”

“I am a man of my word,” Mr. Black said coldly. “But everything comes with a price.”

He squatted, lifting the man’s chin so their eyes met.

“And the price… is your daughter.”

The man collapsed to the floor.

“No! Kill me. I am ready to die. Spare my daughter, please!”

Hehehe…

Mr. Black laughed devilishly.

“Humans are ungrateful. You wanted to be spared without giving anything in return. That’s greed, isn’t it?”

“I’ll give you twenty hours to deliver her yourself. Or I’ll do it my way.”

“She’ll pay off your debt, depending on her abilities. She’s officially sold to me.”

He turned to leave.

“Don’t do this to me, please!”

The man grabbed his leg.

“Please, Mr. Black!”

Mr. Black stopped, pulled out his gun, and shot the man’s hand.

“I hate it when dirty beings touch me.”

He walked away, leaving screams and agony behind.

He moved like a shadow carved from stone, tall, broad, forged not in a gym but in blood and power. His jet-black hair was swept back in deliberate disarray, gleaming under low light. His face was sculpted with merciless lines: a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and faint stubble that hinted at danger.

His eyes, cold steel gray with flecks of silver—stopped breaths. A faint scar traced his left brow, whispering stories of violence untold. His lips rarely smiled, and when they did, it was never harmless.

Every step he took was measured. Predatory. Absolute.

He is Mr. Black.

Damian Blackwood.