IN THE CAGE

119. MEMORIES OF ACE

"It doesn't mean I'm gonna betray Ace's master or anything, anyway. I just feel..., Fawnia, what's wrong with putting myself first? I am currently, I think...., being selfish and following your own heart is not a mistake, right? You.., you might understand what I mean. After all, we share the same situation. We both put our feelings on the opposite sides of our lives."

"Vera, do you like Mr. Angga?"

"I don't want him to get hurt."

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...NORMAL pov...

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It was still early morning when Ace was having a cup of coffee on his balcony. Butter was on Ace's shoulders, wringing spoiled with a fine snore greeting the ears. That very moment, on a peaceful morning, accompanied by Butter and a cup of hot coffee, Ace felt amazing.

Ace's mood is pretty good today. Very good, actually. He felt.., as the morning sun's energy seeped in his skin, illuminating the gloom in his heart and clearing away all the turmoil there.

It felt, like in a moment, Fawnia would be in his grasp.

"Patience," murmured Ace. His hand that supported Butter's back, rubbed the cat's gray fur with tenderness. "He'll be back."

In a moment, he'll be back.

Ace was convinced, not to God or the destiny that lay before him, that Ace was sure of himself and of the destiny he embroidered with his own hands.

"Boss Ace," Joseph greeted behind him. "The car is ready."

"I'll be down in a minute." Ace handed his coffee cup to Joseph, before pulling Butter's body slowly off his shoulder. He raised the cat with great care before putting it on a bed that was special for Butter.

"I'm leaving" Ace murmured. Beware of Butter who was now looking at him with widened eyes. "Joseph, get me a new shirt. I'll change at the office."

"Good, Boss." Joseph swiftly prepared Ace's clothes. One red shirt, a suit and black pants. After packing them in plastic clothes, Joseph left Ace to put the shirt in the trunk of the car.

Ace caught up with Joseph shortly afterwards.

"Good morning, Ace boss." Carcel who was always on standby waiting for him-is now standing next to the passenger door that opens. Ace passed Carcel and got into the car. Carcel circled the car before sitting on the steering wheel. Three other bodyguards flanking them from the front and rear were spontaneously on standby.

"We're leaving now" Carcel told two other drivers. Along with the report, the car in front of them moved. Carcel followed behind him while occasionally glancing at Ace's fresh face. He was relieved that his boss showed no sign of his temperament rising. It could only mean one, between his bosses getting a good night's sleep ration, or.

"Didn't the Boss want to stop by somewhere this morning?" Carcel asked.

"No, just go to the office." Ace said.

"All right, Boss."

As Carcel refocused on the long road ahead, Ace fiddled with the tab he was holding.

The report on his schedule today was just sent by Jerome from the office. Putting aside the fact that he was at war with the Caspian family, Ace's schedule as usual, kept tight. Instead, perhaps because he was trying to tear down Clubs, Ace's already full schedule, grew increasingly due to that planning.

Ace needs to seize the Caspian family project, eliminate the trust of the people from them, and destroy their financial resources, be it from the legal and illegal side.

The Caspian family was famous for its gold mining business that spread everywhere, but in truth, it wasn't the business that strengthened them. Prostitution efforts, illicit goods, and their involvement in illegal imports and exports - contribute more in fattening their finances, their power. If Ace is able to destroy the Clubs, Ace will be the sole ruler above all else. He will have the world at his feet.

"Boss Ace..." Carcel interrupted Ace's concentration, the speed of his car died down slowly.

"What's wrong?" Ace is still fixated on analyzing his schedule today. Who to meet, when and where. All that is too much and too...

"Boss Ace" Carcel repeated. "We're intercepted."

After hearing the report as well, Ace turned off his tab screen. He held his back and smiled a little. "How much?" ask Ace.

"6 people, boss."

"I don't need to go down then." For six people, Ace thought Carcel alone was enough to clean up those guys. But...

"A minute, a minute." Ace stopped Carcel from retracing.

"What's up, Boss?"

"I think I need to warm up for a bit."

"Huh?"

At the time, although Carcel did not want Ace involved in the dispute, Carcel was unable to rebel or prevent Ace. Carce-that very moment, when he saw Ace's sparkling witty eyes, Carcel spontaneously swallowed his protest. He just got out of the car, opened the door for Ace and let Ace pitch in front of him.

The enthusiasm Carcel rarely encountered from an Ace Hunter, he may be pleased, but he was never enthusiastic. If Carcel recollects, the day Ace Hunter appears to be the highlight is when Ace is drawn to Fawn's uniqueness, then on that day...

Carcel's memory was flung to 16 years ago, when the Ace before him was now not stained black. When Ace was 11 years old, he went hunting with Harkin Hunter. Carcel was also there at the time, accompanying his father who was also a loyal bodyguard of the Hunter family.

"Listen, Ace. We are the Hunter family. You are someone who will lead our family later. To be a leader, you have to show reasons, give others an understanding. Do you understand?"

Ace in Carcel's memory was a plain and innocent little boy. So, it was natural for him to be enthusiastic when he heard something new. It was natural for him to receive an air rifle and grab it with cheerful sparkling eyes.

16-year-old Carcel looked at 11-year-old Ace holding a rifle for the first time. Carcel showed discomfort at the fact that Harkin had just given his son a dangerous weapon. Ace is 11, for God's sake. The shotgun was the last thing Harkin should have given as a gift.

"Now hunt with Carcel. If you manage to bring a deer for me, I'll give you a better toy than this."

"Se-seriously?" Ace was very enthusiastic.

Harkin nodded. "Carcel, teach him how to use that rifle."

"But uncle...?" Carcel of course objected. However, the small hand that pulled the tip of his jacket left Carcel speechless. It was Ace, with eyes that glittered wittyly. "Carcel, what are you waiting for?"

"No, Ace's boss." Carcel swallowed his saliva. Swallowed all objections that were about to come out of his mouth.

Carcel could not protest against Ace, and Carcel was still the same.

16 Years ago or now, in Carcel's eyes, Ace was the same figure. A figure who will always show enthusiasm for dangerous things.

The sound of bullets ringing between them only lasted for some time. Ace who joined among his bodyguards made all attacks pause. The enemies looked at him cautiously.

"I'm so excited right now," Ace throws a glance at Carcel. Implicitly ordering that his bodyguards present there resist their attacks.

"Before I kill all of you, someone will raise their voice about who told you to?" Ace's approach sounded friendly and pleasant, probably because of his mood. Ace's attitude like that also made his assailants who wore black masks look at him with eyes that rotated carelessly.

"We're gonna kill you, Ace Hunter."

"That's interesting, then...., how about you attack me without a weapon, I'll fight you directly and my guards won't intervene?"

"What kind of empty egg is that?" Of course Ace's speech sounds pretty nonsensical. What kind of boss comes forward before his bodyguard. That's wacko.

"Are you guys scared?" Ace's voice implied scorn. Obviously, the goal is to provoke. The enemies understand that and that does not mean they doubt their own strength. If they manage to kill Ace here, then the infighting ahead is no longer needed. Their wages will be higher. 

However, this is Ace. Although he has no record in any martial arts, he is a walking mystery. Tens of people have died trying to kill him. Whether his victory during this time was purely because of his bodyguard or he himself was a threat, the opponents of Ace at that time did not know at all.

"Now" said Ace, deciding the negotiations. "Do you guys want to go first, or me?"

Ace came out from behind his hideout, and when the enemy side came out of their hiding as well, ready to attack him empty-handed, something flashed through Ace's mind in a split second. Like an alarm warning him about something.

Ace at that time...

Six bullet eruptions came out in a row in a period of time that was chasing. Ace with perfect precision, cleared the six men with his pistol.

Ace's bodyguards, including Carcel, were immediately agape over Ace's sudden attack.

Didn't he just say he was going to fight those six guys without a gun?

"What's Ace's boss?" Carcel approached Ace who showed displeasure. The six people who had been knocked down by his gunfire did not care at all, meaningless. It was as if they were just sandbags that were often destroyed when he practiced.

Ace's mind focused on just one thing.

"I forgot I had an important meeting today. Fuckin." Ace was disappointed not to be able to have any fun. But priority is priority. "It's a good thing I've read the schedule Jerome gave me today. Otherwise, I'd be late."

"O-oh." Carcel was surprised not to be surprised. "I think the boss wants to know who's ruling them."

With those six people already lifeless, it was impossible to find any room for interrogation.

"Don't think about it, they're just Caspian's deliveries."

"Do we need to counterattack?"

"Send Rio to foil their medicine transaction at the port tomorrow. Arrest his representative and blow up the rest including their ship. I think that's enough."

Carcel nodded, "Alright, Boss."

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