WITHOUT HESITATION, Knight plunged the sword into the last man remaining in the Triad's headquarters. While the man was on the brink of his death, Knight pulled out the sword from his body and then thrust it into his neck until he drew his final breath.

Knight sighed. "Sorry about that."

He yanked the sword out of the man's flesh before standing from a kneeling position and then scanned the entire area with his gaze.

The silence was deafening. No one, not a single soul, was left alive. Blood was scattered on the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. Dead bodies were everywhere. He couldn't count how many lives he took since he walked in the compound. He just kept on attacking until there was no one left.

This Triad's headquarters needed cleaning because they stole some confidential Orgánosi files.

Knight walked toward the mahogany table before carefully sitting on the swivel chair and placing his katana on the side of the table. Using his blood-stained hand, he opened the laptop that was there and inserted a device that Shun had made into the USB port.

Knight tapped the earpiece on his left ear to turn it on.

"Bud," said Shun from the other line. "How is it?"

"Done. I'm now inserting the thing you told me to insert into the USB port—whatever that is," Knight explained as much as he could. He was really not a techie person.

"I'm hacking now."

Shun began breaching the headquarters' system using his own laptop. Thanks to the device that Knight inserted on the USB port, Shun could access the Triad's system easily.

Shun clicked his tongue. "Damn, Velasquez. I'm looking at the CCTV footage now in that HQ. This is the bloodiest that you've done so far. Ever. Stressed?"

Knight leaned against the sofa and reached for the tissue on top of the table to wipe the blood that clung to his katana.

"Yeah, kind of," he told Shun. "Someone tried to harm my baby today. I'm just letting off some steam."

"Tsk, now I understand why you're always alone in your missions. If someone personally sees your work, they'll shake in fear. Even I feel nauseous looking at these piles of bodies and pools of blood."

"Why is it that I don't feel the same?" he murmured before letting out a sigh. "Though fear is good to control people. And I'm used to working alone anyways. I don't want to be with someone who thinks and decides differently. I could end up killing him too." He then rested his feet on the corner of the table and closed his eyes. "I'll rest for a bit. Tell me if you're done hacking."

Shun no longer responded, though Knight heard him tapping on the keyboard.

Not even a minute had passed with his eyes closed when a hand gripped his rugged jeans. Knight opened his eyes and then looked down. It was the right-hand man of the boss of this Triad HQ. He was weak but was still able to glare at Knight with a murderous look on his face.

"You're still alive?" Knight sighed heavily before gripping his katana. "You should have played dead to live."

Right after he spoke, Knight plunged his sword into the man's back, making sure to hit his spinal cord this time so he wouldn't wake up anymore.

The man's body collapsing on the floor made a sound, but Knight shrugged it off and returned to closing his eyes to rest.

"Fuck, Knight." It was Shun's voice from the earpiece he was wearing. "How can you rest in a compound full of dead people that you killed?"

"What's wrong with that? I'm just resting," he replied before forcing himself to take a nap until he heard Shun's voice once again.

"I'm done. You can leave now."

He stood from his seat and pulled the device out of the USB port of the laptop before finally walking out of the office, then the building, and the compound.

Almost every path he walked had lifeless bodies. The whole place reeked of death. He could smell the stench of blood—that rusty smell that he was already used to smelling.

Others would find it strange and terrifying, but seeing dead bodies everywhere didn't make him feel anything. Nothing.

Am I used to it, or I am just numb to all of this? he would ask himself, but this was nothing. This wasn't the only Triad headquarters where he had killed many. This was just a small number of the Triad. He didn't even exert much effort to kill these sons of bitches.

But he knew that even though he remained emotionless until the last draw of his sword, these dead people would wreak havoc on his sleeping hours. This was the reason he couldn't sleep—he was always haunted by nightmares filled with the faces of those he had killed. They would never leave him alone, not even in his sleep.

But thanks to Sweet Monday, he could finally sleep now. Although bad dreams would occasionally visit him, at least he could sleep without taking some pills.

When he was finally out of the compound, the sun hit his face, causing him to squint his eyes. Lunchtime had passed.

Knight sighed. I wonder what my baby is doing?

Upon getting into the car that the Orgánosi of the country he was in owned, he tossed his two katanas into the backseat, removed the jacket he was wearing, before using the wipes available in the car to wipe the blood off his face and neck. Then he called North.

"It's a little bit messier than usual, North," he said. "Shun said it's the bloodiest so far."

"Are you stressed, Boss?" North asked. He knew Knight.

"Kind of."

"Feeling bored?"

Knight yawned. "Yeah."

"Should I look for another Triad headquarters for you to play with?"

He started the car's engine. "Nah, I want to see my girlfriend."

"If you say so," North said. "By the way, I booked you a room in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel as per your request. It's a premier suite. One of my men is waiting for you in the parking lot."

He raised both of his eyebrows. "North, I'll just take a bath."

"It says they have a great bathtub."

"I just need a shower, North," he reiterated before ending the call and speeding up his car.

Knight asked North to book him a hotel so he could take a bath before going home to SM. He didn't want to go home to her covered in blood this time. Sure, she knew his job, but he no longer wanted her to witness evidence of his monstrosity.

He didn't want to scare her away.

Knight parked his car in the parking lot of the hotel where an Orgánosi member was waiting for him.

"Boss," the member greeted. "This way."

Knight followed the guy until they reached the premier suite. He was left alone as soon as they entered inside, with a backpack carrying some spare clothes.

He drew back the curtains covering the glass wall and stared at the view of the city in front of him. From where he stood, he could see the Macau Cityscape.

He let out a heavy sigh before undressing himself and then entering the bathroom. When he was done, he immediately dried his wet body and put on some clothes.

Knight stared at the mirror where he could see the roots of his wet hair starting to turn into his hair's original color. He was used to SM drying his hair all the time. It always felt good.

Knight sighed before he dried his own hair.

He then reached for his phone, which he tossed into the bed when he undressed himself. It was only this time that he was able to open the text messages that Dimitri sent, as he didn't notice them when he called North a while ago.

Boss, I'm going to Hong Kong with Miss SM, Lord Jacques, and your butler Cloud.

And then another text.

Boss, we have already arrived in Hong Kong.

And that was an hour ago!

He massaged his temples. That was definitely Jacques's idea. That shopping idiot obviously dragged his baby to Hong Kong.

Fuck!

He called North. "Yes, Boss?"

"Send me a helicopter. I'm going to Hong Kong."

"Yes, Boss," North quickly replied.

After Knight ended the call with North, he called Shun next. "Track Dimitri. He's in Hong Kong."

Shun stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before he spoke. "He's in Louis Vuitton, Central, Hong Kong." Pause. "The fuck? When did Dimitri start liking luxury items? I thought he hated those?"

Knight lips thinned. "I know an idiot motherfucker who likes them."

He ended the call and read North's text message: Chopper on its way.

He took a deep breath and gazed through the glass wall of the hotel room.

My baby better be safe or you're all gonna be sorry.

JACQUES ACTED as if he were in a public market as he pointed at the items he wanted to buy while a staff from the Louis Vuitton store assisted him. Going into this kind of boutique made SM nervous. She didn't feel welcome. Maybe because she didn't have that much money to splurge.

But Jacques, well, he was another matter altogether. Even Cloud looked comfortable while roaming around. Meanwhile, she and Dimitri kept on glancing at each other while they awkwardly stood in one place.

"Fuck... I hate this," Dimitri mumbled.

"I feel so small," SM whispered.

"I feel like an ant in a big house full of big people."

SM agreed. She understood what Dimitri had said. She never thought that the price of a keychain could make her heart race in shock. Well, it was Louis Vuitton—what did she expect from a luxury brand? But Jacques didn't mind the price. He just kept on pointing at the items he desired to have, from shirts, to coats, to jeans and shoes. He even bought a backpack worth thirty-one thousand Hong Kong dollars for the reason that he needed a container to put all the items he bought because he didn't want to carry paper bags.

"He's an alien," Dimitri whispered to SM, referring to Jacques.

SM nodded. "You know the feeling that my butler is richer than you? That's how I feel right now."

"Lord Jacques, can you add this to my tab?" Cloud asked Jacques, handing him an LV belt.

"Sure," Jacques replied without any hesitation.

When the marquess had paid for everything and they exited the Louis Vuitton store, SM thought that they were done shopping. But as soon as they got in the limousine that Jacques had rented, he told the driver to drop them off at the International Finance Centre to buy Gucci items.

"Is that not enough?" Dimitri asked, amused.

"This?" The marquess's forehead creased. "How is this enough?"

Dimitri and SM just stared at each other, speechless.

That was where their true shopping began—no, it was only Jacques, sometimes Cloud. From Gucci to Prada, Versace, Coach, Saint Laurent, Hugo Boss, Balenciaga, and many more stores that sold luxury brands.

SM felt so drained by the time they sat at the restaurant named Lung King Heen for dinner at six in the evening.

"Don't you need a reservation here?" Cloud asked Jacques.

"I'm a marquess," Jacques replied as he browsed the menu, as if it were the answer to all their questions.

Cloud glanced at her. "You okay, Lady SM?"

SM smiled. "Yeah... just a bit shocked though."

"Why? What happened?" the marquess asked as he looked at her.

She grimaced. "This is my first time being exposed to such prices. It's shocking."

Jacques frowned. "Prices here are actually cheaper than in Paris."

SM raised both her brows. "I can't relate."

Dimitri sighed. "And do you really have to bring us here? To one of the most expensive restaurants in Hong Kong?"

Jacques smiled. "Of course. Only the best for milady, Cloud, and you," Jacques replied before calling for a waiter to order.

They let Jacques order for the group, though he would also ask them from time to time if the food he chose was fine.

SM stared at Jacques. There was no doubt that he was nobility, born and raised and pampered by a noble family. There was just this air around him. Even Knight had it too.

Her thoughts got interrupted when someone kissed her cheek. She quickly turned to look and gasped when she saw Knight smiling at her.

"Baby..." she whispered in shock.

He kissed her again, on the lips this time. "I was in Macau when I received Dimitri's text, and I've been tracking you down for four hours now." He glared at Jacques. "Really? You have to stop at every boutique?"

Jacques shrugged before gesturing to a vacant seat beside her. "You should thank me that I got us a table for five, you motherfucker."

"I can get a table myself, moron. I'm a count," Knight argued as he took a seat.

Cloud butted in, "Yes, but you're broke, my lord."

"Don't remind me, Cloud," Knight grunted. He then let out a heavy sight before wrapping his arms around SM's waist and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" SM asked after noticing that he looked bothered by something... and tired.

"I've gone to every place you went too. I can't keep up. It was exhausting."

SM discreetly whispered in his ear, "I'm tired too."

"Did you buy anything?" he asked as he rested his chin on her shoulder, his face facing hers.

"Baby, if you're broke, I'm poor."

"Then we really do make a great pair."

She playfully shook her head as she laughed. "The prices are nerve-wracking and somehow enlightening. I mean, four thousand HKD for a keychain? That's like twenty-eight thousand in our currency. That's equivalent to several weeks of my café's earnings. I financially can't."

"Do you like luxury items?"

SM shook her head. "I'm fine as long as the item looks fine. Maybe I can spend a thousand pesos for a dress, but that expensive? No. I feel like I'm wasting money."

Knight kissed her shoulder. "I missed you," he said, changing the topic.

She kissed his forehead. "How's work?"

Knight smiled, but his tone sounded different. "Work is okay. As usual."

"You're not okay," SM observed, her hands caressing his cheeks. "Do you want us to talk about it?"

"Later," Knight said before kissing her neck. He then turned to the marquess. "Call your pilot. Let's stay here for one night. We can go home tomorrow."

"Sure," Jacques agreed before calling someone.

"And book us a hotel, Marquess," Knight demanded.

"Okay—" Jacques was about to follow his instructions when he realized something. He paused and glared at Knight. "Why are you ordering me around? You're not milady."

Knight smirked. "I'm your milady's boyfriend. That makes me your milord."

"You're not married," the marquess pointed out.

"Not yet."

Jacques just clicked his tongue before handing his phone to Cloud and asked him to book the hotel.

Luckily, their food arrived, so Knight and Jacques didn't argue further. The food was indeed delicious. Very deserving of its expensive price.

"Hmm..." Cloud hummed while eating before glancing at Jacques. "You know how to pick a restaurant. Tastes good."

"He doesn't," Knight debated. "For sure he just googled 'expensive restaurant.'"

Jacques glared at Knight. "What's wrong with that, asshole?"

"You only knew expensive things. There are a lot of inexpensive restaurants offering food that are just as delicious."

"If it's not expensive then it's not good."

"Not at all. It's as if you're saying that having a rank in society makes you better than the commoners. We, nobles, are like luxury items. My father taught me that people without a rank or not nobles are nothing and are beneath me, but I came to realize that it's not true. You should too. And sometimes, people who hold high social ranks are the least deserving of living."

Jacques stared at Knight, amused. "What are you saying, Count?"

"I'm saying that even though it's not expensive and it's commoner's food, it's still worth your attention. It's just a matter of appreciation and enjoying what's in front of you and not looking for the most expensive thing to suit you. I learned that from my friends. They are the kind of people who prefer to have a simple gathering when we come together even though they have money to spend. It's not because we can't afford it but because we enjoy the simplest things that we seldom experience."

The marquess lowered down his gaze. "Simplest thing..." He gave a soft yet sad chuckle. "My mother will kill me if I ask for the simplest thing."

Dimitri butted in, "You really grew up with a golden spoon in your mouth."

"Yeah..."

"Then why become Miss SM's butler?" Dimitri's million-dollar question.

Jacques just looked at him and smiled. "I have my reasons."

Knight pouted before whispering in SM's ear, "This guy doesn't like you, right? He's not flirting with you when I'm not around, right?"

SM pinched Knight's ear. "You bugged my café. You tell me."

Knight scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry about that. I'm worried, especially when I'm not around to protect you."

Their conversation was cut off when Cloud spoke. "The hotel has only two rooms left. It's peak season."

Knight smirked. "Book it, Cloud. Marquess, sleep inside your plane."

The marquess looked at Knight flatly. "You'll use my card to book, and I'll be sleeping in my airplane? Wow. You have such a thick face, you motherfucking count. You're not using my card!"

Knight pulled out a card from his wallet and gave it to Cloud. "Use this."

"That's my card as well!" the Marquess hissed.

"I let you stay in my house. And a philosopher once said, nothing is free anymore. That philosopher is my friend Shun Kim. He's a swindler, and I'm learning from the best."

Knight laughed at Jacques, whose face looked extremely grim. Cloud continued to book the hotel, whereas Dimitri ate his food silently.

Knight and Jacques started arguing again because Knight stole the marquess's food—again—when they heard a glass wall shattering. Amid everyone dining in the restaurant screaming and fleeing in fear and panic, SM remained still, her hand resting on her stomach.

"Baby," Knight said as he held her hand to stand. "Let's get out of here. Come on."

But instead of standing, she looked up at Knight. "Just calm down," she started before slowly removing the hand holding her stomach to show him her bloodied hand and faintly smiling.

"I think I got shot, baby."

The fear, panic, and anger on Knight's face slowly disappeared when her eyes started closing.

"S-sorry, b-baby... s... s-sorry..." was all SM could say before the darkness swallowed her whole.