Chapter 104

Seeing how resolute she was, Leonard didn’t argue further.

He knew—his niece was far more capable than he was.

In the end, he relented.

Before leaving, Suzy prepared carefully. In case something delayed her—or worse, she couldn’t return—she left behind ample supplies and several weapons. Enough for Leonard to survive comfortably for a long time.

Once everything was in place, she set off.

"Suzy... you really won’t let me come?" Leonard stood by the door, reluctant.

She waved him off lightly, her calm far beyond her years. "I’ll be fine. Just stay here and watch the house. I’ll be back soon."

He sighed.

And watched her leave.

Suzy headed right downstairs. From the underground garage, she retrieved a car and drove toward Derek’s neighborhood.

The streets were nearly empty.

But the aftermath of the typhoon made driving difficult—fallen trees, scattered debris, blocked roads.

It slowed her down by a lot.

***

At the same time, Richard was already on the move.

After confirming Teresa was safe for the moment, he didn’t go to her immediately.

Instead, he drove to the largest commercial complex nearby.

Every shop in the city was closed, which meant everything inside was free for the taking.

Soon, the entire area would be underwater. Better that these supplies ended up with him than rot beneath the flood.

When he arrived, water had already begun seeping into the ground floor.

He parked, stored the car into his space, geared up, and entered the mall.

This place had long been on his list.

First stop, the underground supermarket. It wasn’t fully submerged yet, but water was steadily rising. It wouldn’t last long.

Wherever Richard passed, shelves were stripped bare.

Most food had already been looted, so he focused on daily necessities, tools, and miscellaneous supplies.

After clearing the supermarket, he moved upstairs.

Luxury clothing. Designer bags. Everything—gone.

Second floor. Third. Fourth. Fifth.

For two full hours, he swept through the entire complex like a plague of locusts.

Anything useful—

Anything he

might

need—

Went into his space.

Luxury goods. Watches. Cigarettes. Alcohol. Snacks. Nothing was left behind.

Only when the rain intensified—and Teresa’s panicked calls became more urgent—did he finally stop.

Time to go get her.

***

Teresa’s neighborhood... Was the same as Derek’s.

Different phases of the same development.

Her building was part of Phase One—lower ground. Already flooded. Half the first floor already submerged.

Richard parked at the roadside and stepped into the murky water.

With each step, it grew deeper. Soon, it reached his upper thighs.

He frowned and turned back.

From his space, he took out a compact inflatable boat, inflated it quickly, and climbed in.

And began rowing toward her building.

As he moved forward, his eyes scanned constantly.

The place was too quiet. Too still.

Dark windows loomed above—like empty sockets... or watching eyes.

The rain suddenly intensified, pelting against him. He pulled out his phone and called Teresa.

It rang.

And rang.

No answer.

His heart tightened.

Something’s wrong.

He dialed again, faster now, rowing harder.

At last, Building Three came into view. He guided the boat into the entrance.

Inside, the corridor was completely flooded; only the upper stairwell remained visible.

He looked up and called out—

"Teresa!"

"I’m here!!" Her voice came from the second-floor landing—trembling, on the verge of tears.

A pale, frightened face appeared at the corner of the stairs.

Seeing her alive, he exhaled, tension easing slightly.

He was just about to wade in when, from the corner of his eye, a strange shadow moved.

"Richard—watch out!!" Teresa’s trembling, tear-choked voice echoed through the stairwell.

Something was wrong. Richard sensed it instantly. His instincts screamed danger.

He stepped back at once, his hand slipping behind him—into his space.

A gun appeared in his grip.

He chambered a round. Raised it.

From the corner of the stairwell, a shadow finally emerged. A man stepped out. A long scar slashed across the right side of his face.

And in his hand was not a blade.

But a gun.

Richard’s pupils shrank. He pulled the trigger immediately, but he was a fraction too slow.

"Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!!"

Three deafening shots exploded through the corridor.

Richard’s bullet hit its mark, but at the same time, he was hit too.

The impact slammed into his abdomen.

The force threw him backward, his body crashing hard against the wall. A muffled groan escaped him.

Blood spread rapidly, soaking through his clothes, diffusing into the filthy floodwater below.

His strength began to drain away—

Fast.

Too fast.

"You... you..."

He stared at Teresa, disbelief written across his face.

Her eyes were red, swollen, overflowing with tears.

"You betrayed me!" His voice broke into a hoarse roar, laced with agony.

Why?

Why would she betray him?

In his past life, she had been kind. So kind, she had even been willing to sacrifice herself to save him.

So why... Why was this happening now?

A figure suddenly leapt down from above.

Before Richard could react, a heavy kick sent the gun flying from his hand, clattering away.

It was out of reach now.

Once they were certain he could no longer fight back, the man called upward: "It’s done."

Three more men descended.

They gathered around Richard, circling him, looking him over like predators inspecting prey.

"Tsk... looks like he’s been living well lately," one of them said with a smirk. "Well-fed. Soft."

Richard’s gaze flickered from face to face.

Strangers. All of them. He was certain—he had never seen them before.

"Why...?" he forced out.

Blood spilled from his lips, trailing down his chin, staining his collar.

"Why?" The crew-cut man chuckled. "Because you love showing off."

"If you hadn’t been flaunting your life all over the place, we wouldn’t have known there was such a big fish like you in A City."

Richard’s mind went blank.

The scar-faced man returned, dragging Teresa with him.

Richard’s bullet had struck him, but only grazed his body.

Teresa’s eyes were swollen from crying. Seeing Richard on the brink of death... her tears fell even harder.

"I’m sorry... Richard... I’m so sorry... I didn’t mean to..."

Her voice broke completely. Despair consumed her. She really meant that.

Half an hour ago, these men had broken into her home.

They threatened her, forced her to contact Richard.

If she refused, they would kill her.

The blade had been pressed against her throat.

She had no choice.

"Why didn’t you come sooner...?" she sobbed, voice shaking. "If you had come earlier... this wouldn’t have happened..."

Her eyes were red, filled with regret.

If only... If only he had arrived sooner. Or let her go to him. Maybe none of this would have happened.

Richard’s thoughts collapsed into emptiness.

So... It was his own decision that led him here?

He tried to speak again. But the moment he exerted any strength, darkness swam across his vision.

Still, he refused to accept it. He simply couldn’t.

He had been reborn. Given a second chance.

So why—

Why was he dying even earlier than in his past life?

And who were these people?

Where had they come from?

"Not bad," the scar-faced man muttered, picking up Richard’s fallen gun and weighing it in his hand. "If he’s got this, there’s definitely more good stuff at his place."

Meanwhile, the crew-cut man crouched down, searching Richard’s body.

"Where are your keys?" he asked casually.

"Hand them over now... and maybe I’ll make it quick for you."