S-Class Killer: The Butcher

The ticking sound was like a devil's melody.

Qin Yao's delicate body trembled.

Though her eyes were closed, she knew the woman from earlier had strapped a timed bomb to her.

She also knew the man who kidnapped her was now threatening her father.

No one was fearless in the face of death—not even the strongest.

When she heard the bomb's timer accelerate, Qin Yao's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest.

Her vision was pitch black, with only the sound of the bomb ticking like the grim reaper's call.

"Qin Yao! Don't be afraid! I'm here!"

An Yi stared at Qin Yao, bound to the bomb, and shouted.

"An Yi! An Yi! Is that really you?"

Qin Yao, eyes still shut, grew emotional at the sound of his voice, her strong facade crumbling as tears streamed down her face.

Bastard!

An Yi and Lin Chen barged in, their expressions turning icy when they saw Qin Yao tied up.

Her arms were pierced by thin steel needles, blood soaking her skirt and pooling beneath the chair.

"Qin Zhengwei, I tried negotiating business with you properly, but you refused. Now you’d rather see your only daughter blown to pieces?"

Butcher glanced coldly at An Yi and Lin Chen, leisurely holding the bomb's remote, its speed already maxed out.

The timer, originally set for twelve hours, had been accelerated—first to double speed, then triple, finally stopping at six times faster.

Now, the bomb would detonate in less than two hours.

"Butcher! Please, I beg you—disarm the bomb! I’ll give you anything! Tomorrow, my company, all my properties, luxury cars, funds—everything will be yours! Just don’t hurt my daughter!"

Qin Zhengwei roared into the screen, eyes bloodshot, face twisted in fury.

Butcher sneered. "At this point, I might as well tell you the truth, Qin Zhengwei. I never planned to spare your daughter! I was going to take a billion and then send her off, but these two brats ruined my plans. You should thank them—they just saved you a billion!"

"You son of a bitch, I hope you die screaming!" An Yi spat, gripping a sleek black combat dagger.

"Plenty of dying men have cursed me. Funny thing—they’re all dead, and I’m still here."

Butcher smirked, eyeing the dagger in An Yi’s hand. "That’s Wolf Eye’s custom blade, worth a hundred grand. Barely used, and now you’ve got it."

Blue Shark and Wolf Eye had been sent to intercept the intruders.

Now, the two were nowhere to be seen, while An Yi and Lin Chen had made it inside. The outcome was obvious.

Butcher was shocked by their strength.

Wolf Eye wasn’t much of a fighter—his real skill lay with firearms.

But Blue Shark? A genuine killing machine. Yet even he had fallen to them.

Butcher seethed silently.

First, Tiger Cannon had been captured, costing him his right-hand man. Now, Blue Shark and Wolf Eye were gone too.

His team was down to just him and Viper.

"That woman in the bodysuit looks tough. I’ll take her. You handle the idiot wearing sunglasses at night!" An Yi said coldly, dagger in hand.

Lin Chen: "…"

Viper was an A-rank assassin—and a woman.

The man in sunglasses was Butcher, an S-rank killer, one of the top names in the Paradise organization.

The difference in their strength was obvious.

And this bastard was leaving the hard fight to him!

"You know how to defuse bombs?" Lin Chen asked seriously.

An Yi: "…"

Watching the two determined youths, Butcher casually ended the call with Qin Zhengwei’s frantic projection and drew a short blade from his sleeve.

The silver-white weapon was barely an inch long, more like a long dagger, gleaming coldly.

"Both of you, come at me together."

Butcher spoke with confidence.

His strength allowed him that arrogance.

"I can handle you alone, no problem!" An Yi taunted, stepping forward with his dagger.

At the same time, Lin Chen dashed toward Viper, launching his attack.

Butcher instantly understood their plan.

One would stall, the other would rescue. Not a bad idea.

"Kid, you two might’ve stood a chance together. But splitting up? That’s just stupid."

Butcher grinned.

His body moved like a gust of wind.

An Yi’s pupils shrank—he barely had time to react before Butcher was behind him.

"Pathetic."

Butcher wiped blood from his blade with a smirk.

A long, deep gash split open across An Yi’s waist, blood spilling out.

Lin Chen’s heart raced at the sight.

This was an S-rank killer from Paradise—far beyond their level.

He had to finish Viper fast, or An Yi would die.

"Kid, if you don’t treat that wound, you’ll bleed out."

Butcher’s grin was sinister.

His blade wasn’t ordinary—its jagged, serrated edge ensured wounds wouldn’t stop bleeding.

"The hell kind of knife is this? More like a damn saw!"

An Yi pressed a few acupoints, stopping the blood flow.

Butcher’s eyes widened.

Was this kid using… pressure points?

No way.

That was just TV nonsense.

Suppressing the bleeding with controlled energy, An Yi exhaled in relief.

"Kid, you even know medicine? I’m starting to like you. Join Paradise—work for me."

Butcher reappeared beside him, voice smooth.

Familiarity bred confidence.

This time, An Yi handled Butcher’s terrifying speed better, though still strained.

Clang!

Dagger met short blade, sparks flying in the dark.

An Yi gritted his teeth against the force. "Let Qin Yao go, and I’ll consider your offer. Ten grand a month, plus a new woman every day? Not bad."

"Then just die!"

Butcher swung again, twisting his body for a brutal slash.

Clang!

Another metallic screech.

An Yi staggered back, slamming against the wall to steady himself. His arm nearly gave out from the impact.

Strong.

This sunglasses-wearing bastard was strong.

An Yi’s gaze turned icy.

His Flash Fist wouldn’t land a fifth hit.

Even if it did, it might not do any damage.

Use Backstab’s 150% damage boost?

But a fighter like Butcher would never expose his back.

Speed, strength—Butcher outclassed him completely.

And after just two exchanges, An Yi knew: this man was a master with the blade.

With his own dagger skills at Level 1, winning through technique was a pipe dream.

For the first time since coming to this world, he felt true helplessness.

But... there might still be a chance!