Chapter 3 Scram

• The tone sounded so dreary that it was like an explosion reverberating throughout the room, and Tigre's heart, even more so, twinged.
• This voice… I've heard it before…
• At that, he looked toward the source of the voice only to finally notice a man sitting in the corner, looking expressionlessly at him with a thick layer of frost glazed over his raven-black eyes.
• His scalp instantly tingled when he sensed a bone-chilling animosity enveloping him, and he turned grim.
• Everyone else's heart skipped a beat, seeing so. Sh*t, Tigre's mad. We're doomed! How can this b*stard not know any better and piss Tigre off?!
• Tia's face paled with horror as she nudged Aidan, urging him to figure out a way out of this situation.
• She didn't care what would happen to Daniel if Tigre was really pissed off. But her parents were still here, and if things really went south, she feared that something bad might happen to them.
• With gnashed teeth, Aidan cussed Daniel over and over again while glaring daggers at him a few times. But right then, he could only stand up, feign calmness, and alleviate the situation. "Mr. Tigre, have you forgotten about me? My dad and I had shared a couple of meals with you. My dad's Oliver, the head of the Hill Family. We really didn't know you were the one who booked this room. This is a complete misunderstanding, I promise."
• Even after Aidan was done speaking, he dared not look Tigre in the eye.
• It was true that he had shared a few meals with the kingpin, but they were all during the big shots' gatherings, where he and his father watched from a few tables away. Not even once had the father and son sit at the same table as Tigre. But right then, he really couldn't figure another way out of this if he didn't mention his father.
• "Oh, um, in that case, you guys enjoy your lunch. I'll, uh, I'll be on my way." Tigre suddenly stammered, looking like he had seen a ghost as his forehead was drenched in a cold sweat.
• With that, he scurried away, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
• Even Aidan was bewildered.
• What the… Why had Tigre suddenly run away? Was it because I mentioned Dad?
• Shocked, everyone exchanged glances before landing their gazes on Aidan, never noticing Daniel was no longer in the private room.
• After escaping from the private room, Tigre immediately turned into a washroom to wash his face. "Had I mistaken? How could he possibly be here?!" he mumbled.
• Alas, he found Daniel standing right across from the doorway, staring coldly at him as soon as he came out of the washroom. "You ran pretty quickly, Estrada. Are you afraid to see me?"
• Tigre jumped in horror and backed up a couple of steps only to slam his back on the door. "S-Sergeant. I-It's really you," he stuttered with fear.
• Sergeant?! No doubt it would cause quite a stir if anyone out there saw the fearless kingpin of Westhill, Tigre Estrada, cowering before a young man and even called him 'sergeant'.
• Everyone knew Tigre used to be in the special forces, but for some reason, he was suddenly discharged. Later he relied on his brute forces to climb to where he was today—the kingpin of Westhill.
• But now, Tigre was actually calling this young man, who was about ten years younger than him, sergeant!
• If word got out, Daniel would undoubtedly shake the entire Goldshore.
• "So, you do remember I'm your drill sergeant. Then, why have you forgotten my words?" questioned Daniel coldly, displeased.
• "I-I'm, I'm sorry, sir. P-Please, let me explain," Tigre mumbled with his head lowered like a misbehaving child, utterly ashamed.
• He was just a private seven years ago. Then, one day, a Satan of a drill sergeant came to his battalion. Though he was young, he was a terrifying fighter. At that time, hundreds of soldiers dropped to the ground before they could even land a finger on him.
• Of course, the man was none other than Daniel Hardon.
• For seven days, he taught them with great patience, leading them to achieve immense change. He even vowed that if they put his teachings into wrongful acts, he would personally take them back no matter where they went.
• It was because of Daniel's guidance that Tigre managed to join the special forces, and it was the same reason he fled upon meeting his previous mentor. It all boiled down to one element: shame.
• To think he would run into the drill sergeant that taught him all his combat skills after straying away from his path. He felt utterly ashamed to face Daniel.
• "Fine, I'll come and find you another day. I'd like to see what reason it could be that turned the soldier I taught into a maniacal rogue." Daniel's voice was filled with bone-chilling coldness.
• Tigre jolted, and his lips quivered, not daring to retort a single word, his impressiveness from earlier long gone.
• "Scram."
• "S-Sorry, sir." Tigre saluted Daniel before scurrying off with his head lowered.
• Meanwhile, Daniel shook his head with disappointment as he watched Tigre leave.
• He had thought Tigre was the most talented among his batch of students at that time. So much so that he even planned on transferring Tigre to Thanatos after the man had matured. But who'd have thought he was no longer the man he used to be? Alas, the former soldier was now a kingpin of the underworld. The discovery pained him.
• Moments later, he returned to the private room to hear his uncle a*s-kissing. "Aidan, I didn't realize your family's so influential that even Tigre Estrada dared not mess with you guys."
• Bridget echoed, "Yeah, look at how fast that man went out. It's like he was running away."
• "What could we have done without you, Aidan." Pearl beamed.
• Tia, too, smiled at Aidan. "Thanks."
• All of them revolved around Aidan, flattering him, believing Tigre only left because Aidan pulled out his Hill Family card. Even Aidan believed so, and he couldn't be smugger at this time as the arrogance beneath his eyes thickened.
• With that, he waved his hand and pretended to be humble. "I barely did anything; it's all thanks to my dad. You guys must be shaken up. I'm really sorry; it's all my fault."
• Aidan's words had Pearl loving this future son-in-law even more, and she said to Christopher, "Look at what a good man Aidan is. He's rich but humble. I'm assured, knowing Tia will be in good hands."
• Naturally, Aidan's smile widened at that.
• On the contrary, Christopher was rather silent, for he had noticed Tigre only ran away after seeing Daniel, and it was then he noticed his son was gone too.
• Just then, Daniel returned, and Christopher asked at once, "Where have you gone to, Dan?"
• But before Daniel could answer, Gerald scoffed, "Where else could he have gone to? Surely he had gone into hiding, seeing that he had caused trouble. Look at how fast he ran away."
• At that, everyone looked at the young man with contempt, and Tia was beyond disappointed with him.
• Forget that you're not standing up when Mom and Dad are in danger, but how can you make things worse and only save yourself?! I've thought you're just a coward, but to think you're not even a man!
• Pearl, on the other hand, stood up and snapped at once when she saw Daniel. "What was that all about, Daniel?! Thank goodness for Aidan, or your father and I would've been doomed all because of you!"
• "Mrs. Hardon, Daniel had just been in prison for too long and still has yet to correct his stuck-up ways," Aidan smirked as he looked at the man in question with contempt.
• Suddenly, Daniel's imperturbable gaze turned icy.
• As soon as he lifted his eyes, the entire room was enveloped in a bone-chilling iciness, making everyone shudder involuntarily.
• Daniel narrowed his eyes. "Do you actually think Estrada left because he's afraid of your family?"
• After a split-second stump, everyone burst into laughter while Tia frowned.
• "Don't tell me you're trying to say Tigre Estrada only left because he's afraid of you?!" Gerald ridiculed. "On what basis?"
• Daniel nodded in reply. "On the basis that I'm his drill sergeant."
• However, the truth only made them laugh harder.
• Meanwhile, Pearl, grim, thought this ungrateful b*stard had humiliated her utterly, and she wanted nothing more than to bury herself in a hole.
• Aidan, on the other hand, was joyous, for he thought he had thought too highly of Daniel. This man is nothing but an idiot! To think he would compare himself with this buffoon. Hell, he was only insulting himself!
• Anyone from Goldshore who hadn't been living under a rock would know Tigre was formerly in the special forces. So if Daniel was Tigre's drill sergeant as he claimed to be, then wouldn't it make him even more powerful than a member of the special forces?
• But seeing Daniel's pallid look, all of them thought this man was just completely bullsh*tting!
• Even Tia's face turned icy by the second.
• How can you still continue to lie that you were in the army when it has come to this?! Is pride really that important to you?!
• Aside, Christopher locked his brows into a tight furrow. He, too, thought Daniel's words sounded too outrageous.
• Knock, knock…
• A knock came at the door just when everyone was laughing and ridiculing Daniel, spooking them, thinking Tigre had returned.
• But instead, a valiant short-haired woman came in, and her military attire caught everyone's attention.
• Aidan's eyes lit up even more so, as even the loose-fitting uniform couldn't conceal the woman's shapely figure and stunning good looks.
• Very quickly, everyone was filled with bewilderment, wondering why someone from the military came in.
• At that, Christopher stood up. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I think you have the wrong room."
• Phantom knew who this middle-aged man was, so she treated him with the utmost respect.
• "But I haven't," she said with a smile. "I've come to report to his excellency." While speaking, she gestured palm up to the upright figure.