Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 2852

Andrew used the greatsword to lift Gaia's trembling chin. He grinned and said, "You know what? You're getting up there in years, and honestly, you're nothing special to look at. And yet here you are, acting all high and mighty!"

He continued, "But you got one thing right: a man like me should be sharp and calculating. If I wasn't sharp, would I have the balls to walk into the City of Hope?"

Gaia's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, nearly wetting herself. "S-Sir, please! Have mercy…"

Meanwhile, Toby felt his scalp tingle. He quickly spun around and ordered, "Boys, we're out!"

However, he had barely taken a step when Andrew's casual laughter stopped him cold. "Did I say you could leave? You're Toby from the Razor Crew, right? Get over here. I've got questions for you!"

Toby ignored him, picking up his pace and bolting for the exit.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

The knife in Gaia's hand had somehow ended up in Andrew's grip, and in the next instant, it shot forward with devastating force.

It slammed into the bar's metal door, pinning itself there.

The blade missed Toby's head by less than two inches!

Toby could see that the knife had punched clean through the bar's two-inch-thick steel door. His soul nearly left his body, and he felt a chill running down his spine.

He quickly spun around and dropped to his knees before Andrew. "I was blind! Please, sir, spare my worthless life!"

His terror was so obvious that the lackeys around him nearly pissed themselves in fear.

After all, Toby was a mid-level boss in Razor Crew. He was usually ruthless and brutal; murder and arson were just another Tuesday for him. But right now, he looked pathetic and terrified, like someone had grabbed him by the throat.

With that, Andrew reached into his pocket.

Toby flinched in terror, crying out, "Sir, don't kill me! I'll take you, I swear! Just spare my life!"

He thought Andrew was pulling out a weapon to finish him off.

However, what Andrew pulled out was a gleaming gold bar. He tossed it lightly and threw it to Toby.

"I know you brought your crew here for this thing. Keep it. Consider it payment for taking me to your boss. Use some of it to bury your boy over there, too. When you put him in the ground, remind him not to try cheap shots in his next life. Especially in front of someone who actually knows what they're doing. It tends to get you killed."

Toby stared, completely bewildered. He thought Andrew was truly something else. He killed a man without breaking a sweat, then paid for the funeral.

He wondered if this was how people from where Andrew came from played the game.