Chapter 175

"What?" Tyrant sprinted toward the helipad and glared in the direction the helicopter had flown off, demanding through gritted teeth, "What the hell happened?"

The guard answered, "The FBI agents were standing watch there earlier. They told us to clear out, and then they took off with the prisoner."

"Mr. McCarthy, I think you owe me an explanation now." Tyrant turned to look at Zachariah, a cold flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to kill him right then and there.

Zachariah swallowed hard as a sense of dread unlike anything he'd felt before rose from deep within him.

He rushed to explain, "I don't know anything about this either. Those people were arranged by headquarters — there shouldn't have been any problems."

"Looks like I need to pay the FBI a visit and get some answers. As for you, stay here at our prison and wait for news." With that, Tyrant turned and walked toward the office.

"Seems like I've been used." Zachariah let out a helpless sigh and turned to walk away.

Meanwhile, in the office, Tyrant had already dialed William's number.

"Tyrant, you're actually calling me on your own initiative — that's a first. Did something happen at the prison?" William's voice came through the phone.

"Warden, a dangerous criminal has escaped." Tyrant spoke through gritted teeth, his voice carrying a note of self-reproach. "I'm sorry. This is on me. I'll bring him back."

"Someone actually managed to slip away right under your nose — now that's something." William sounded more surprised than anything, with no intention of placing blame. "Have you figured out who escaped and which route they took?"

Tyrant replied quickly, "I just looked into it. The prisoner who left was Number 9, codename Arbiter."

"So it's Greasley. How did he escape?" William pressed.

Tyrant laid out everything from start to finish, giving William a full picture of what had happened.

"I see. Well, you don't need to worry about it. Leave what comes next to me."

Barring any surprises, Greasley would come after him no matter what. After all, William had torn down everything that man had ever believed in and built his life around — revenge would bring him straight to William's door.

"But this happened on my watch. Let me handle it. I'll drag him back and break every bone in his body." Tyrant ground his teeth. The nerve of someone escaping while under his supervision — if he didn't snap every last bone in that man's body, he didn't deserve to be called Tyrant.

"That won't be necessary. Tyrant, take some time to rest." William stretched leisurely and said, "I told you — I'll handle this."

Tyrant had more to say, but William had made his position clear, and there was really nothing left to argue.

"Alright. Understood."

"Good." After hanging up, William stood in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought.

Greasley Harper — the God's Assembly he once founded had been the most notorious mercenary organization in the world. They were mercenaries, but they operated with a brutal code: the slightest dissatisfaction was enough for them to pass judgment on anyone, including their own clients.

William had once stormed the God's Assembly's headquarters alone, taken them all down, and arrested Greasley.

Honestly, William had assumed that after all this time, Greasley had long since given up on escaping. He never expected the man to break out with help from FBI agents.

"So someone in the FBI's upper ranks wants to come after me?" William rubbed his chin, murmuring to himself.

The words had barely left his mouth when Nora's puzzled voice came from behind him.

"The FBI's job is to protect people. Why would they go after you?"

William turned to look at Nora, a note of resignation in his voice. "It can't be helped. If I had to put it into words, my situation isn't all that different from what your grandfather went through."

The only reason no one dared make a move on William was because he was simply too strong.

"If someone's already targeting you, we should get back to Atlanta as soon as possible." Nora couldn't help but feel worried.

She didn't quite know why, but the thought of William dying because of all this made her chest tighten. She pulled out her phone and said, "We're going back tomorrow."

"Alright, whatever you say." William nodded in agreement. "Once we're back, let's get Zara together for a meal."

At that, Nora — who had been about to book the tickets — froze. She looked up at William, then back at her phone, standing there not knowing what to do.

"Are you scared?" William walked over and sat down on the sofa.

"Yes." Zara was her best friend — her only best friend. Through all the trouble she'd been through, Zara had always been by her side. She truly couldn't bring herself to believe Zara would do something like this.

"The more you bottle things up, the worse it gets — so you might as well say it all out loud. Even if it leads to a fight, at least you'll have said what you needed to say." William looked over at Nora and continued, "So think it over."

Nora said nothing, her head bowed in thought. After a long while, she finally booked the tickets and said quietly, "Done. Tomorrow at noon."

"Got it." William waved a hand and went back to resting.

By nine-thirty the next morning, the two of them were already in the car heading to the airport.

When they arrived at the entrance, Claire had been waiting there for a while. She fixed William with an irritated look and said, "William, how could you just leave without telling me?"

"Everything in Washington is wrapped up, so it's time to go." William smiled. "You've got Fenrir watching over you — you'll be fine."

Besides, too many eyes were on him now. Staying in Washington would only bring more trouble. Leaving was the right call.

Claire took a deep breath and said earnestly, "If you run into trouble, call me. I can help too."

She had been on the receiving end of William's protection for so long — she wanted to be there for him for once.

"My little sister really is dependable. I'll definitely come to you if I'm ever in danger." William ruffled Claire's hair, a warm smile on his face. "But don't push yourself too hard. With the Bennett family's head gone, I think you know what needs to be done."

"Of course. I've already got people moving to take over the Bennett family's business." Claire's lips curved into a confident smile. "Before they choose a new head, I'm going to swallow up everything I can and acquire all of their projects and companies."