Challenge

The man felt something stabbing his body. He moved his hand which was pierced by a dagger. He didn't react, didn't complain or looked in pain. He purely deliberately let Nick hit him. He could have blocked the dagger with the trunk or dodged it nimbly. But he didn't do that, instead he received the attack with his right hand. Drops of blood exploded onto the floor. More and more until a red puddle was created in front of the toe of his shoe.

"Nice throw." said the man as he pulled the iron from his flesh. Only then did he grimace a little. The dagger with the tip full of blood lay on the ground.

He stared at those armed men, "Let me know if you guys would do the same thing. Cause I want you all to know that I will immediately retaliate if you dare to do that."

The door to the house was wide open. They stopped fighting as someone appeared from the doorway. They all hid their weapons trying to act as usual. Except for the man, he was confused about what to bandage the wound with.

"You've grown up," said an old man to the man whose hand was injured. "Dashing and tall. Just like me, I mean.. back when I could still hold a big sword with one arm." said the old man who was sitting in a wheelchair. The man with a suitcase stared back at him, "I just came here to hand over this." he said briefly.

They all folded their arms and bowed their heads slightly. Except for the adopted son who bravely stepped closer to the old man. Intended to hand over the suitcase he had brought carefully across the continent. But Nick blocked his steps by standing between them. "Your deadly weapon can kill anyone within a second and I want you to take a step back."

"I won't do that to your father, Nick."

"How convincing, you pointed that needle right in front of my neck earlier. Father, I wanted you to chase this stranger away." said Nick as he pushed the man's chest.

"It's been a long time since I saw you two fight. I heard a gunshot, wasn't that you Nick? Are you really intending to shoot your brother?" asked the old man. Nick couldn't deny that suspicion and he gave the man a space so that they could talk.

"A jade hairpin from china. After this, I want a day off and you don't need to pay me." he said shortly. Everyone was waiting for a complete explanation of how he would carry out the mission and so on but there was nothing left of him to say.

"I'm afraid I can't do that son. NYX and our families are facing threats. And I need you to stay here. You remember Mr. Antonio?" The man nodded his head. He followed Nick and the old man inside the house.

The old man continued, "He and his group pointed their guns at us. I know that he has always been our enemy for a very long time, but it is getting worse these past years. Now that with my condition. I have to hand NYX over to someone. Don't let this be seen as a weakness for that bastard. You're ready, right?" The old man asked his older son.

Nick was stunned, "I didn't hear it wrong, right? This is a family tradition and such an important position should fall on the person who has the bloodline. He was just a stranger, I could never believe him."

"You are too young for that Nick, I'm afraid you don't have much experience. For now let your brother rule and I want you to respect him as you should."

"Oh I won't father, so do the rest of the NYX members. They didn't know him as part of NYX. He has a bad reputation, a secret agent that was dangerous and deadly as he proved when he arrived in this house. He almost killed one of us just with his bare hand. No one will ever respect him, and neither will I."

This made things difficult for the old man. Nick has long rallied NYX members to his side. He had earned the trust of many people in this organization and almost everyone had their hopes in him as they should in a potential leader.

On the other hand, his abducted son was very different. He never settles at home or around the NYX members. He doesn't like gatherings or talk to other members. He likes to be alone, sit alone, eat alone, sleep in his own house and never let anyone know about his life. He prefers to work alone and he is really good at that. Just like a lone wolf. He really hates it when other people disturb his solitude. 

Until no one dared to approach him or talk to him. Then he became a figure that was feared by others. Both inside the organization and outside the organization.

"Everyone had a bad reputation. And if NYX needs me, I will obey your wishes. I have no reason to reject it." the man interrupted and saved the man from his doubts.

"Then you have to kill me first." said Nick furiously as he took out his gun. And then the man also reached for his gun in its hiding place.

The guards immediately took out their weapons and protected the old man sitting in the wheelchair. Before anything bad happened, the old man clapped his hands until their focus returned to him.

"This is what I call weakness. Mr. Antonio keeps his ear and eyes wide open around us. Just imagine what will happen if he hears about your two childish behaviors. Your quarrel will be seen as an opportunity to destroy us." said the old man and then he looked at his younger son. "I want your brother to rule NYX and I want you to accept that."

"It's just temporary, I will give NYX back to you as your father's will when you are ready."

Nick glanced at the man cynically, "Don't be sweet-mouthed with me, stranger." he almost shouted. And then he looked at his father who was pale and weak. He suddenly remembered that his father had only a short time to live. 

Nick sighed, "Well then, you win. But before that, he has to prove his loyalty to NYX. So that I and the other members will have faith in him."

Nick smiled slyly then puffed out his chest. "Since you like to work so much, how about finishing a simple mission?"

"What mission? You know that your brother is very good at everything, right?" asked the old man proudly, "A year would be enough for him to finish fifty missions. Sabotaging submarines, killing, stealing, carrying out orders from any client are easy jobs for him. So do you think a simple mission will bring you benefits?" Said the old man full of worry.

"No need to get cocky, numbers don't really impress me. No need for many missions. I prefer quality over quantity. What a coincidence, this morning I got a call from someone you can't imagine at all. He needs someone to take care of his problems, how about that?"

"Fly to this country," Nick handed out the paper to the man. "If you succeed then I will not go against your wishes ever again father, both of you. In fact, I would drink acid if you succeed, maybe it motivate you."

"There is no need to do that Nick." whispered one of men behind Nick.

The old man interrupted again, "No, that's my boy. You have to give everything if you want something. What do you say son?" ask the old man passionately as he stared at his older son, waiting for an answer. 

"Okay." he answered nonchalantly.

He received a piece of the letter from Nick with his hands still full of blood. He read the contents of the letter, there was only one word there, written with the name of a country in Asia. What a waste of paper he thought, who likes to exchange messages with paper? Even though nowadays it is very sophisticated.

"Before you leave, I have to warn you about something. They have a lot of beautiful girls, maybe you could, no, maybe you will meet a woman and start dating one of them. You know, leaving matters here in my hands."

The man shook his head then stepped closer to his dusty car. Nick's teasing wasn't finished yet, "Try to focus on the mission, I've known so many agents got stuck over a girl and die there because they were fascinated by one of them. I hope one of them is you." he screamed.

The man was not interested in replying to Nick's words about beautiful women or being in a relationship. "Women..." he muttered and sighed. "I won't fall for any of that." he muttered in silence, talking to himself.