Chapter 184: Uniform

Chapter 184: Uniform

James took a few steps forward and stopped in the middle of the courtyard.

He swept his gaze across the crowd, his expression calm.

"I'm not here to wipe everyone out."

He pulled the list from his pocket and gave it a slight wave.

"Anyone whose name is on this list—step forward now.

The rest of you can leave. I won't stop you."

Nobody in the courtyard moved.

People glanced at each other nervously, edging backward.

No one dared to leave.

Kyle was right there watching. If they left now, they'd face retaliation later.

Kyle gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"James, don't get cocky!

I've already sent someone to notify Cedric. His security team will be here any minute.

You can still leave now, but once they arrive, you won't be able to walk out of here!"

James let out a derisive laugh.

"Cedric's people?

I'll be waiting."

Without wasting more words, he took a step forward.

"Since no one's volunteering, I'll find them myself."

The moment he finished speaking, James moved.

His speed was ridiculous—in the blink of an eye, he'd closed the distance to the front row.

The first guy didn't even have time to react before James's fist connected with his chest.

He screamed and flew backward, crashing into two people behind him.

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

"Get him! Everyone attack together!

He's just one guy—there are so many of us, what are we afraid of!"

Someone shouted, forcing himself to charge forward with his blade raised.

James sidestepped the blade, grabbed the man's wrist, and applied just a bit of pressure.

Another crack.

The wrist snapped clean.

The knife clattered to the ground.

James kicked the man in the stomach, sending him flying.

Every movement was efficient and precise.

Iron Wolf and Kevin sprang into action too.

The two flanked the crowd from left and right.

Iron Wolf hit hard—his fists were like stones. One punch and basically nobody could take it.

Kevin was nimble, targeting joints specifically.

He'd either dislocate shoulders or kick out knees—a few moves and someone was down.

Screams echoed through the courtyard one after another.

The Tovar family looked like they had numbers, but they had zero fighting spirit.

If Kyle hadn't forced them, they would've run ages ago.

Now that the real fight had started, nobody dared to risk their lives—everyone was trying to back away.

Some even deliberately fell to the side, pretending to be injured, lying on the ground playing dead.

James wasn't killing anyone either.

Just like he'd said—he was only crippling them.

Unless someone actually tried to kill him first, he wouldn't use lethal force.

In the chaos, James spotted Bob in the corner.

The same guy who'd harassed Caroline back in Silvermoon City.

Bob saw James too and nearly died of fright. He immediately turned and tried to run.

He wanted to hide in the crowd and escape in the confusion.

James changed direction and went straight after him.

Bob ran pretty fast, but how could he compare to James's speed?

He'd barely taken two steps when someone grabbed his collar.

James yanked him around with one hand.

Bob's face went deathly pale. His legs gave out and he dropped to his knees.

"I was wrong!

I'm just an errand boy—the Harris family made me do it!

I'll never do it again, please spare me!"

He kept talking while kowtowing, his forehead turning red from the impact.

James looked down at him, his tone flat.

"Outside the Collins Group building—you blocked the entrance three times.

When the receptionist tried to stop you, you grabbed her arm hard enough to bruise it. Did that happen?"

Bob's whole body shook. He kowtowed even harder.

"Yes, yes, yes! I'm scum! I'm shameless!

Please spare me just this once!

I'll never do it again!"

James said nothing. He lifted his foot and placed it on Bob's knee.

He applied gentle pressure.

Crack!

Bob let out a piercing scream, writhing on the ground in agony.

"Don't ever appear in front of me again."

James pulled his foot back and turned to continue forward.

Bob clutched his broken leg, drenched in sweat from the pain, but he felt relieved inside.

At least he was still alive.

James hadn't killed him—that was already getting off light.

In less than ten minutes, most of the courtyard was down.

Only about ten people were still standing.

They huddled against the wall, trembling, not daring to move forward.

Kyle stood at the main hall entrance, his legs barely holding him up.

He gripped the doorframe just to stay standing.

How could this happen?

Over sixty people, and they couldn't even last ten minutes.

What the hell was James—human or monster?

"Kyle, what do we do?

We can't beat him!"

One of his trusted men came over, his voice shaking.

"Should we just surrender?"

"Surrender?"

Kyle whipped his head around, eyes bloodshot.

"You think we'll be fine if we surrender?

My dad died by his hand—you think he'll let me go?"

"But we can't win.

Where the hell are Cedric's people?"

Kyle's man was nearly in tears.

Kyle clenched his jaw and looked toward the entrance.

He had sent someone to report earlier, but it'd been forever and there wasn't even a shadow.

Could the messenger have just run away?

Kyle's panic intensified.

He watched James in the courtyard, casually making his way toward them.

Each step felt like it was crushing his heart.

No—he couldn't just sit here and wait to die.

Kyle bit down hard and turned to run toward the back of the hall.

There was a back door that led to an alley.

Better to run first and figure things out later.

"Kyle! Wait for me!"

Seeing Kyle bolt, his man immediately followed.

The remaining few saw Kyle running and figured there was no point in staying either.

Someone threw down their weapon and turned to flee.

"Think you can run?"

Iron Wolf snorted coldly and gave chase.

He was fast—within moments he'd caught the last two runners, grabbed one in each hand, and tossed them back.

Kevin circled around to the back door and blocked it.

Want to run?

Not that easy.

James walked to the main hall entrance but didn't rush inside.

He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for whoever was inside to come out.

Less than two minutes later, Kevin dragged Kyle back, looking thoroughly disheveled.

The trusted man followed behind.

Both had been blocked—neither escaped.

Kevin threw them to the ground.

Kyle looked pathetic.

He lifted his head and looked at James, eyes filled with terror.

"James.

I was wrong. I was really wrong.

I shouldn't have opposed you, shouldn't have helped my dad go after you.

Please spare me—I'll give you all the Tovar family's money.

All our assets too. Just let me live."

He crawled forward as he spoke, trying to grab James's leg and beg for mercy.

James stepped back, avoiding him.

"I'll take the money and assets myself."

James's tone was flat.

"But what you've done can't just be written off."

Kyle's face went ashen.

"What do you want?

My dad's already dead—isn't a life for a life enough?"

"A life for a life?"