CHAPTER 278: CIRCLE OF STEEL

Although Wolf was working alongside Max and the Billion Bloodline group, it wasn’t his group.

He would fight for them, yes. He would help them grow, watch their name spread, and even shoulder the risks involved in their dangerous line of work. But in the back of his mind, there was always that calculation, what was the gain for him? That little mental ledger kept him grounded, a reminder that loyalty had its limits.

Which was why, even when Aron had personally asked him to come here, Wolf had already decided that if the situation turned too dangerous, he wouldn’t get involved. There was a line he wouldn’t cross.

After all, it wasn’t as if Max himself had been kidnapped. Sure, he felt bad for Abby, she was young, innocent-looking, and didn’t deserve to be caught up in any of this, but Wolf had seen far worse. In this world, in this business, girls like her weren’t rare. He’d met plenty of them, all trapped in different kinds of trouble.

Girls working in KTV lounges to pay off family debts.

Girls whose lives had been bought and sold, shipped from one country to another to be groomed into particular roles.

Some trying to survive, some too broken to even try.

Being in this life meant you couldn’t save everyone. No matter how kind your heart was, there were things you simply had to turn a blind eye to, things you had to ignore if you wanted to survive. If he’d been the type to act on every injustice, he would have joined the police force years ago.

That was why Wolf didn’t fully understand what came over him in that moment. Why he, without hesitation, had decided to attack the Rejected Corps. Maybe it was impulse. Maybe it was instinct. All he knew was that the second he moved, there was no going back.

The chance of escaping was slim, borderline impossible, but since he had already taken out the first one, he had committed himself.

"Come on, follow behind me!" Wolf barked.

The others hesitated, confusion flashing across their faces, but Wolf didn’t wait for them to make sense of it. He dropped low, exploding upward like a coiled spring, and slammed his fist into the first man’s face. The force sent the man staggering back, his head cracking hard against the cold metal wall of the container.

Wolf didn’t stop. Spinning, he drove a sharp kick into another man’s gut. The air left the man in a choked grunt, and before he could recover, Wolf followed up, his knee shooting up and smashing into the man’s face.

The third didn’t even have time to blink. Wolf surged forward, leapt, and came down with both knees into the man’s chest, using his weight and momentum to send him sprawling backward through the doorway he’d come from.

Wolf landed, breath steady, and turned immediately, Abby was right there beside him.

Good, he thought, relieved. She’s not frozen in fear. That’s a good sign. I was worried I might’ve done all that for nothing.

He grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not rough. The container’s cramped space had worked in their favor, not everyone could rush in at once. This was the only opening they were going to get.

Still, there were around thirty people scattered throughout the hangar, maybe more. Running straight ahead would’ve been suicide. Instead, Wolf pivoted, pulling Abby with him, and darted toward the far side of the hangar. Now they were heading toward the back, away from the bulk of the Rejected Corps.

And then Wolf broke into a sprint, hugging the side of the hangar, aiming straight for the exit.

"You have to keep up!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice sharp and urgent. "You have to keep this speed. If you slow down and they catch us, we’re both dead!"

Once again, Abby found herself being pulled to safety, not by Max this time, but by a complete stranger. She could only guess that the only reason he was risking himself for her was because of his connection to Max.

Her mind wouldn’t stop racing. Just how much is my escape going to affect Max’s life? What will happen to him if I get caught again?

That thought alone pushed her to keep her legs moving. Her lungs burned, her calves ached, but she forced herself not to fall behind.

Near the end of the hangar, a Rejected Corps member suddenly stepped into their path and swung hard, his fist connecting with Wolf’s head. The impact snapped Wolf’s head to the side, his vision flashing for a heartbeat.

But instead of stumbling, Wolf used the momentum of the hit itself. He spun with the force, whipping his body around and driving a backfist into the man’s jaw. The sound was a sharp crack, and the man crumpled instantly, unconscious before he even hit the ground.

Wolf didn’t break stride.

Seconds later, they burst out of the hangar doors and onto the wide asphalt strip that connected the other storage hangars in the area. The open space felt both like freedom and a death trap.

From somewhere in the distance, a voice rang out.

"I knew that guy was skilled. First time I’ve seen it for myself," Chrono remarked, almost sounding impressed. "Maybe bringing him to our side, rather than Max, wouldn’t be such a loss."

After all, Chrono could tell that the group’s real anger wasn’t just about Wolf, it was about their reliance on Max, and every questionable decision he’d made before now.

The moment of observation was short-lived.

A group of men spilled out from the hangar behind them, quick to give chase. Their steps were heavy but fast, well-coordinated. These weren’t random thugs, they moved with the confidence of men who trained their bodies for a living. Even if they weren’t experts in hand-to-hand combat, every single one of them was fit, fast, and relentless.

And that was a problem, because Abby was not.

Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her stamina draining fast.

"Come on!" Wolf called out. "The only thing we can do is get in a car and drive out of here! It’s the only chance we have!"

He was already scanning the area, eyes locking onto the car they’d arrived in earlier. He had no idea if the keys were still inside or if it was locked, but maybe, just maybe, they could get lucky. If not, he’d have to find someone else with keys and take them.

If it was a model Wolf was familiar with, they could barricade themselves inside long enough for him to figure out a way to hot-wire it. It was desperate, sloppy, and had no guarantee of working, but right now, it was all he had.

That plan shattered instantly when three large vans roared in from the side, tires screeching as they skidded to a halt in front of them.

The back doors burst open, and more Rejected Corps members spilled out, their silhouettes blocking the only path forward.

Wolf’s stomach dropped.

I’m... not sure I’m going to survive this.