Chapter 20: True strength

Goto narrowed his eyes, trying to piece together James's cryptic statements. "The Assemblyman? How do you know him?" Goto asked sharply.

James, unfazed, tilted his head slightly, his smile still hovering somewhere between kind and unsettling. Instead of answering directly, James asked, "Are you strong?"

Goto scoffed, his confidence unwavering. "Other than you, I've taken down more people than I can count. I'm not weak—you're just beyond strong."

James nodded slightly, as though acknowledging Goto's response, before speaking again. "Strong or weak... good or evil... none of that matters. What truly defines a man is what he is when he's alone with himself." He leaned forward, locking eyes with Goto. "Are you truly strong? Or are you just empty?"

The words hung in the air, heavier than Goto expected. For the first time, he couldn't find a retort. James's smile remained, but it wasn't mocking—it was almost contemplative.

"Strength," James said, breaking the silence. "It's not about avenging the past or protecting the future. True strength is..." He trailed off and shook his head, as if realizing he was wasting his breath. "Never mind. You wouldn't get it, Goto."

Goto's expression hardened, but before he could respond, James picked up a file from a nearby table. Walking toward Goto, he extended it to him without another word.

"What's this?" Goto asked, taking the file cautiously.

"Evidence," James said simply. "It's everything you need against the Assemblyman and his lackeys."

Goto's eyes narrowed as he flipped through the pages, his mind racing. But before he could ask anything else, James turned and began to walk past him.

Goto instinctively grabbed James's arm. "What is this about?" he demanded.

Before he could process what happened next, Goto felt his body hurtling through the air. He slammed through the concrete wall of the classroom, crashing into the ground with a thunderous boom. Dust and debris clouded the air, and when Goto finally managed to look up, he saw the massive crater where he had landed.

Coughing and wincing, Goto struggled to get to his feet. His adrenaline was pumping, but his mind was reeling. He had been thrown like a rag doll, and the sheer force had shattered a thick layer of concrete.

James emerged from the dust, walking casually toward him with a lollipop now in his mouth. He crouched in front of Goto, his expression unreadable. "There's someone above the Assemblyman," James said matter-of-factly. "Someone far more powerful. And guess what?" He smiled faintly. "He's after you, Goto."

Goto's fists clenched, but he couldn't muster the strength to respond. He felt the weight of James's words settle in his chest.

James stood up, brushing off invisible dust from his jacket. "Welp," he said, stretching slightly, "I'm going to take care of your little crew."

Goto's eyes widened. He knew exactly who James was referring to—Si Mok and the others.

"You stay away from them," Goto growled, reaching for his phone despite the sharp pain in his side.

James smirked but didn't reply. He turned and began to walk away.

Goto, ignoring the pain, managed to pull out his phone and dialed a number. He brought it to his ear, but before he could speak, his vision blurred. The adrenaline that had kept him moving finally gave out, and his body slumped to the ground.

As Goto's consciousness faded, the last thing he saw was James disappearing into the distance, his lollipop stick glinting in the faint moonlight.