Supreme God Of War!

2

Eric Edward led the guards toward Richard Nicholas.

Three meters.

Two meters.

One meter!

In the nick of time, when they were only a meter away from Richard Nicholas—before they could even touch him—there was a sudden explosive sound. In the blink of an eye, two guards were sent flying and collapsed, unconscious.

The scene immediately fell silent, as if a sheet had been draped over it.

"What’s going on? What just happened?"

"I don’t know. In the blink of an eye, the two of them were thrown out and knocked out."

"Is he doing magic? What’s the trick?"

Eric Edward swallowed hard, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes.

"This guy… he’s a monster?"

"Everybody… no, we keep going!"

The guards exchanged glances and then rushed forward again, raising their electric batons toward Richard Nicholas’s head.

Richard Nicholas raised his arms, and a gust of wind seemed to sweep across them.

Then he suddenly lifted his foot—so fast that no one could clearly see the movement.

One after another, each guard was struck squarely in the stomach. The sounds of impact rang out in rapid succession.

In an instant, all the guards were lying on the ground, blood at the corners of their mouths.

No one dared to laugh anymore.

Now they understood what it meant to have one’s name written in this man’s black book.

Richard Nicholas stepped forward and placed his arm around Eric Edward’s shoulder.

Eric Edward was so terrified that his legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees.

"Mr. Richard, I was wrong. Don’t hit me. I… I was close to Andrew Nicholas. We often drank together."

"Mr. Richard, please let me go. I beg you."

Richard Nicholas gave a short laugh, patting Eric Edward’s shoulder a few times, making him flinch with each pat.

"Try to take care of your little life."

Then Richard Nicholas turned and walked toward the main doors.

Everyone stepped aside, none daring to block his way.

Watching Richard Nicholas’s back as he left, Eric Edward exhaled a long breath.

But then he stood and said with a dark expression, "Richard Nicholas, not killing me today is the biggest mistake of your life. You won’t get another chance."

Outside the gates, Brian Dennis hurried over to meet Richard.

"Master, are you all right?"

Richard Nicholas smiled. "Of course. Do I look like anything happened to me?"

"That’s good, that’s good."

"Uncle Dennis, we shouldn’t linger here. You go home first. I’ll come visit you shortly."

"All right, I’ll go first then. Master, you must be careful."

After Brian Dennis left, Richard Nicholas walked alone along the wide road until a black car pulled up in front of him.

He opened the door and got in.

Vincent Scott glanced at him in the back seat and asked curiously, "Mr. Richard, why give them seven days? With your abilities, you could have killed one of them tonight."

Richard Nicholas didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Do you know why cats catch mice?"

"To eat them?"

"No."

"Cats don’t eat mice. The reason they catch them is to enjoy playing with them. During that time, the mice know they’re going to die, they can’t escape, and they can’t fight back. They can’t die, yet they suffer pain."

"Only when a person knows he is certain to die, tries everything to survive, and finally realizes there’s no way out—only then does true despair and suffering take hold."

"If killing them is too easy, it’s not punishment."

"I want them to despair."

Vincent Scott gave a low chuckle. He understood perfectly what Richard Nicholas intended.

"That’s right, Mr. Richard, I’ve just received word that three regions—A City, B City, and C City—will merge into the new city of California. You will be appointed as the general manager there."

"Mr. Richard, that’s a very high-ranking post."

Richard Nicholas looked out the window. "I’m not interested in such things now. Let’s go."

"Where do you want to go?"

Richard Nicholas thought for a moment. "Go back first, then head home for a visit."

Half an hour later, the car slowed to a stop.

Richard Nicholas told Vincent Scott to leave first, then walked alone into Walnut Quarter, making his way toward an older-style villa.

He knocked on the door a few times.

"Who’s there?"

The door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman—Vivian Elizabeth, Richard Nicholas’s mother-in-law.

Upon seeing him, she froze for a moment, then said happily, "Oh, Richard Nicholas, when did you come home?"

"I just came back not long ago."

"Come in, come in and sit down."

After his brother’s death, his mother-in-law’s family had become Richard Nicholas’s only family.

Vivian Elizabeth led him inside, telling him to sit while she cheerfully poured him some water.

Just then, his father-in-law, Edric James, came in. "Who’s here?"

"It’s Richard Nicholas. He’s back."

"What?"

Edric James cast a sidelong glance at Richard Nicholas, coughed lightly, and sat down at the table.

"Richard Nicholas, you still came back?"

The words instantly made the atmosphere tense and awkward.

"This old man—Richard Nicholas just got back. Why are you talking like that?" Vivian scolded.

"Quiet, this is no place for you to speak. Go get Serena."

"Fine, fine."

Edric James stared straight at Richard Nicholas and asked bluntly, "I heard about your brother. Now, there’s no longer any connection between you, Dream Science, and the Nicholas family, is there?"

"That’s right."

"You’ve been in the army for five years. Do you have any position to return to now?"

Richard Nicholas shrugged. "It’s nothing important."

"No surprise there. With your IQ and skills, if you could land a position, that would be strange."

"So, what job are you looking for this time?"

"No plans for now."

"Hah."

Edric James sneered. "No company, no job—what’s the difference between that and being useless?"

As he spoke, the sound of high heels echoed down the stairs.

A young woman came down—a simple, form-fitting T-shirt showed off her perfect figure, and denim shorts revealed long, slender legs with fair, smooth skin.

Her face was pale and delicate like a goose egg, with high nose bridge and long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.

She was stunning—impossible to look away from.

"Mom, Dad, did you call me?"

"Yes, sit down. Richard Nicholas is back."

Serena James paused for a few seconds, looking at the man before her—both familiar and strange—unsure whether she felt more resentment or happiness.

Though they had been married for less than a month, Richard Nicholas had left for the Rocky Mountains to join the army.

That trip had lasted five years. She had lived like a widow for five years.

Now that he was back, she didn’t know how to face him.

Edric James said, "Richard Nicholas, as you can see, my daughter is better than TV models in both looks and figure. Every day, men come to propose, but she has remained a virgin because of you!"

"Dad! Why are you saying that?"

Edric James continued, "Your father and I grew up together—we were close friends and colleagues. He was an accomplished figure in Dream Science, and the James family was just starting to rise. I thought our two families could support each other, so I married my daughter to a friend’s son."

"Now your father is gone, your brother has taken his own life, Dream Science has become someone else’s company, and you’ve spent five years in the army with nothing to show for it. No money, no status—tell me, are you worthy of my daughter?"

The room fell silent.

Everyone’s breathing felt heavy.

After a moment, Edric James continued, "Don’t tell me I’m being harsh—life is cruel. I was going to have Serena divorce you, but for the sake of my decades-long friendship with your father, I’ll give you a chance."

"Half a year. I’ll give you half a year."

"If you can improve yourself—not necessarily become rich or powerful, but at least secure a position as a department head or inspector general—I’ll keep you as my son-in-law. Otherwise, pack your things and get out. I mean what I say."

Serena and Vivian’s faces were both strained. They didn’t dislike Richard enough to treat him this way.

He had just returned, and to greet him like this was truly humiliating.

Edric James stood. "I have a meeting to attend."

Vivian asked, "But the family party is about to begin. Aren’t you going?"

Edric James shook his head. "No. I just got word that A City, B City, and C City will merge. New leaders are coming. I have to take advantage of the meeting to secure relations with them. This concerns the future of the James family—and whether I get promoted. People in the industry are watching closely. I can’t let others seize the opportunity. You help me explain things to him."

Then he turned to Richard.

"Since you’re back, go to the family party with Serena."

He put on his coat and hurried out to prepare for welcoming the new leadership.

In her room, Vivian consoled Richard, "Don’t take it to heart. As long as you work hard, Edric won’t speak to you like that anymore."

"I know, Mom."

Richard Nicholas then got into Serena’s car, heading to Sunny Hotel.

Along the way, he looked out the window, silent.

Though they were married, they hardly knew each other.

Serena misunderstood his silence as anger. She spoke gently, "Don’t be upset. My father’s personality is like that. He’s right—you can’t keep drifting like this. You’re not young anymore. Do you expect my whole family to support you forever? Are you still a man?"

Richard Nicholas’s expression did not change.

Serena sighed in frustration.

As they neared Sunny Hotel, she reminded him, "Don’t talk too much later. If anyone says something unpleasant to you, just smile and ignore it, okay?"

Entering the hotel lobby, they saw a lavishly decorated banquet hall.

Guests were adorned with expensive jewelry and fine clothes, chatting happily over wine.

Serena led Richard to the main table in the center. "Grandpa!" she greeted an elderly man.

It was the head of the James family, Darius James.

He squinted. "Oh, Serena, why are you only arriving now? You’ve made your grandfather so anxious. Sit here."

He turned to Richard. "And who is this?"

Serena lowered her head slightly. "He’s my husband, Richard Nicholas."

"Oh?"

Darius looked Richard over and said, "I heard you joined the army. I didn’t expect you back today. Come, sit."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Richard had just sat down when Edgar James, seated across from him, said, "Brother-in-law, five years away must have been eventful."

"Just ordinary."

"Really? Did they give you some special discharge ceremony?"

"I wasn’t interested in such things, so I declined."

Edgar sneered, "Declined? Hah. Who are you kidding? Everything in the army is arranged. If you didn’t finish your service, it must be because you weren’t qualified and got kicked out."

The relatives at the table exchanged glances, their eyes holding quiet contempt.

Richard Nicholas said nothing.