Chapter 1556: The man saw what he shouldn’t.

Intimidation didn’t need a lot of words — something Hugo had learned over the years of serving his country. All he needed was to show intent, and people like this guy would sing like canaries.

After all, the toughest enemies Hugo had ever faced weren’t the street thugs whose confidence came from their crew or weapons. No, the real threats were those who fought for a cause, who believed in something deeply enough to die for it — their country, their people, their ideals.

Seated on the chair once more, Hugo listened to everything the man was saying. Stephen, standing off to the side, furrowed his brows as he listened.

"I swear," the man huffed, tempted to raise a hand to emphasize his sincerity—but alas, they were tied behind his back. "That’s all I know. They told me if I planted that bomb... they’d take care of my little brothers and sisters."

Stephen pressed his lips into a thin line before his eyes flared with anger. "You expect me to believe that? That you’d willingly throw your life away for a few bucks?!"

"For you, it’s a few bucks — you’re a rich guy!" the man snapped. "But for us, that’s already a fortune!"

Stephen’s fist trembled. A threat to his life was one thing — but to hear the price they’d put on his head? Not even a hundred thousand?! Was that all he was worth?

"Hugo, he’s lying!" he shouted, pointing accusingly at the man. "This guy’s lying! Don’t fall for his sob story!"

"I’m telling the truth!" the man hissed, turning desperately to Hugo. "I swear! Check it yourself — I’m not lying!"

Hugo just looked at him lazily, as if the whole thing was a boring lecture. Then, casting Stephen a slow glance, the same thought flickered across his mind:

This is why I prefer working alone.

"Don’t listen to him, Hugo," Stephen insisted, shaking his head. "We can’t trust a single word out of this guy’s mouth!"

"Uncle," Hugo said with a slow blink, "have you ever... slept on the street?"

Stephen blinked, caught off guard. "What does that have to do with this?"

"Because I have. He has. And I’ve seen countless people with no choice but to sleep in a concrete pipe just to stay safe," Hugo continued in the same calm tone. "You’re angry that this guy agreed to risk your life and his for what you think is pocket change. But for him? That’s his siblings’ education, their daily meals, maybe even a shot at a brighter future."

"..." Stephen pressed his lips tightly, still visibly unhappy.

The hostage, meanwhile, exhaled. It wasn’t out of relief — just a heavy breath weighed down by the reality of his choices.

He explained that he belonged to a small gang. In his neighborhood, gang affiliation was a way of life. If he weren’t in one, he was a target. He joined at sixteen. Later, their gang was absorbed into a larger organization that brought more money, but also strange jobs.

Like this one: a suicide mission. Take down Stephen Bennet.

Because of a past dispute with the boss, the job fell to him. The money was supposed to go to his siblings once he succeeded. And with that in mind—and knowing what would happen if he refused — he hoped, at the very least, the money would buy his family a way out of that hellhole.

"Even if that’s true..." Stephen’s voice shook as he stared at the man. "What makes you think the same people who sent you to die would keep their promise?"

The man didn’t flinch. He held Stephen’s gaze. "Because I know they will. That’s our gang. Violent, sure — but we stick to our word."

Stephen didn’t understand it, but in the man’s world, that was gospel.

"Do you think that’s believable from a rogue?!" Stephen harrumphed, still not making sense of it all. "You’re a fool! How could you make what you’re doing sound so noble when you don’t even know if they will uphold their promise? And dare you make it sound noble, when you’re taking someone else’s husband and father, huh!?"

The man pressed his mouth and looked away bitterly.

"Then how did you know me?" Hugo cut in before this could divert anywhere else. "The first time you saw me, you reacted. So I know you’ve seen me before."

The hostage sighed. "Because before this mission... we were briefed about you."

"Me?"

"Yes." The man nodded. "You saved that woman, didn’t you?"

Mint?

Hugo arched a brow. "Were you the ones who ambushed her?"

"No. We were only told to follow her and update her location," the man clarified. "Some of our guys were caught by Homeland Security. But even then, our boss just kept sending more people to track her every move."

"Were you also one of the watchers?"

The man didn’t answer right away. "I was there the night of the shooting. The night you came to save her." Then, panic swelling in his voice, he quickly added, "I swear, the people who attacked her weren’t us! I was the only one on duty that night because my partner went to whatever."

"Who were they?"

"I... honestly don’t know," the man said, eyes narrowing with confusion. "While we were tailing her, two other groups suddenly appeared. At first, it seemed like they were from the same side, but then some of them started... killing each other. And then they went after her. If you hadn’t shown up, she wouldn’t have made it."

Hugo’s already raised brow lifted a notch higher. "What’s that look on your face?"

"It just... didn’t make sense," the man muttered. "It was like they were one group—until they weren’t. Then they turned on each other, and finally, her. After that night, we were warned about you. Told not to cross paths with you."

"..."

Hugo stayed silent, studying the man’s expression. He wasn’t buying the story just because it was told well—he could feel it. This guy was telling the truth.

And that last part? That strange detail about the attack on Mint?

Hugo couldn’t help but wonder... maybe that was the reason this guy had been sent on a suicide mission.

The man saw what he shouldn’t.