The Scene Opens Big

From this moment on, perhaps, it wasn’t just Tony Stark’s fate that was altered, but also Frank Catalan, who Tony Stark had set his sights on.

Although Jarvis spoke highly of Tony Stark’s strengths, attributing them to his intelligence.

But…

For a Tony Stark who was so arrogant and proud, the fact that Lake had advised him against it, and that the mastermind behind the scenes had given up directly upon seeing that Tony hadn’t fallen for the trap, was undoubtedly a bloody reality for Tony Stark.

He was a weakling.

Lake didn’t want him to go to Texas to protect him.

Hydra giving up directly upon seeing that Tony hadn’t taken the bait meant they felt his current threat level wasn’t as high as Lake’s.

In short.

No matter which it was, Tony Stark couldn’t accept it calmly. Since when did he, Tony Stark, suddenly become someone who needed to be protected?

Especially…

Hydra’s actions were even harder for Tony Stark to accept. Seeing his father’s killer right there, yet being unable to avenge himself because he knew it was a trap, forcing someone else to help him.

Even though Lake and Tony were allies in this matter, it didn’t bring Tony any peace.

Of course.

The fact that Tony had abandoned beautiful women to learn martial arts was something Lake didn’t know about.

Amarillo, Lone Star State.

The Department of Homeland Security’s private jet had just arrived in the city, and it was already two o’clock in the afternoon local time.

"Director Edwin, this is Agent Calilan from the Texas branch of the Department of Homeland Security!"

"Hello, thank you."

After Lake got out of the car, he shook hands with Calilan, who had a beard, looked like a cowboy, and was clearly a local. "Didn’t I ask you to go to Vega Town first?"

Calilan smiled and said, "Our Chief specifically asked me to welcome you here."

Lake nodded thoughtfully.

Calilan also shook hands with John Wick, who had followed him out.

John Wick said expressionlessly, "John Wick."

After Calilan released his hand, he pointed to a car not far away with his right finger.

Lake made a "wait a moment" gesture and looked at John Wick, his lips curving slightly. "Mr. Wick, one last time, are you sure you’re not coming with me?"

John Wick gave Lake a deep look, then turned and walked out of the hangar on his own.

Lake waved to the agents who were about to stop John Wick, signaling them not to block him. Instead, he watched John Wick leave the hangar on his own and disappear from Lake’s sight.

"This…"

Director Calilan looked at John Wick’s departing back, then looked at Lake with some confusion.

Lake smiled and said, "Mr. John Wick isn’t one of us, but he also needs to come here. He has his own business."

With that said.

Lake looked at Calilan.

"Let’s go."

"This way, Director Edwin."

Calilan came back to his senses, smiled, and invited Lake to the car parked not far away.

Soon.

Three SUVs drove away from the hangar and headed west of Amarillo.

Twenty minutes later.

The cars were speeding, approaching Vega Town, which was still eighty kilometers away.

Sitting in the passenger seat, local Director Calilan looked at Lake, who had his eyes closed and arms crossed in the rearview mirror. As he reached under the seat for a silenced pistol, he said, "Sir, the sheriff of Vega Town sent a message saying he saw a family claiming to be tourists from San Horn an hour ago. Our people have already rushed to Vega Town."

Lake said without opening his eyes, "Is there any information from the New York Operations Center?"

"Not yet."

"Mm."

Lake yawned. "I’ll take a nap. Wake me up when we get there."

Calilan, in the passenger seat, gently flicked the safety on the pistol and grunted in response to Lake, exchanging a glance with the agent driving the vehicle.

The next second.

"Pfft pfft!"

"Thump thump!"

"What?"

Calilan immediately turned around and fired two shots at Lake in the back seat with the silenced pistol in his hand. However, Lake, who had been sleeping in the back seat just a moment ago, had suddenly disappeared.

"What the hell?"

"Hi, I’m here!"

"…Bang!"

Hearing the sound, Carland looked down and saw Lake lying on the floor of the back seat. But as he saw Lake, he also saw the muzzle of the gun pointed at him.

The next second.

The gunshots happened simultaneously.

Lake immediately sat up straight, returning to the passenger seat. He pointed the handgun directly at the driver’s forehead: "Move, and you’ll die too, believe it or not?"

The driver slammed on the brakes.

"Bang!"

"Thud!"

Lake shot and killed the driver. Then, he slammed his left hand hard against the rear car door and, while the vehicle was braking sharply, jumped out.

Rumble!

He rolled, and behind him, the car crashed head-on into the metal pole of a roadside billboard, instantly exploding into a massive fireball.

Damn it.

Was Hydra not even going to pretend anymore?

Lake felt speechless. The moment he got off the plane and shook hands with this Carland, Lake knew one thing: the Carland in front of him was a fake. The real operations director, Carland, had probably already arrived in Vega Town.

The reason?

An operations director for the Department of Homeland Security, and his right hand had no calluses from years of holding a gun?

What?

Maybe Carland was left-handed?

That was a possibility, but Carland’s file didn’t mention him being left-handed. Besides, even without the handshake, Lake knew something was off about this Carland the moment he stepped off the plane.

Don’t forget.

The Force was with Lake.

Lake’s Force was constantly absorbing the ambient emotional energy within a five-meter radius centered on him, using it as nourishment for his Force Seed.

The moment Lake stepped off the plane, he absorbed emotional energy that symbolized darkness from this Carland and the Homeland agents Carland had brought with him.

Screech!

The two SUVs, one in front and one behind, braked immediately.

Behind Lake, the SUV doors opened, and the five agents inside prepared to disembark, holding assault rifles.

Just then.

Boom!

With a roar of an engine, a black pickup truck appeared from the small hill on the right side of the road. With a bang, the black pickup truck instantly crashed into the SUV behind it.

Instantly.

The SUV behind, along with two agents who were almost stuck to the vehicle after being hit by the pickup, was knocked off the road.

"Rat-tat-tat!"

"Rat-tat-tat!"

The five Hydra agents who had gotten out of the front SUV immediately opened fire, spraying bullets at Lake and the black pickup truck that had suddenly joined the fray.

Clang clang clang!

The dense hail of bullets struck the body of the black pickup truck, making crisp sounds.

From behind the cover of the vehicle.

Lake looked at John Wick, who was picking up an assault rifle from the ground, and said, "You didn’t bring any weapons?"

John Wick made two clicking sounds, checking the quality of the assault rifle in his hand: "It was too rushed, I didn’t have time."

"You take the right, I’ll take the left?"

"Okay."

When masters clash, there’s no need for many words.

Just like back in the hangar when Lake specifically asked John Wick if he wanted to go with him, they were both masters, and they understood each other’s intentions without needing to be too explicit.

It was the same now.

As the words fell, Lake and John Wick rose to their feet, one on the left and one on the right.

"Bang!"

"Rat-tat-tat!"

"Bang!"

"Rat-tat-tat!"

Handgun and rifle rounds fired simultaneously. In an instant, Lake’s bullets pierced the heads of two Hydra agents, while John Wick’s bullets blasted through the chests of two other Hydra agents.

Lake preferred headshots. Not only did they offer a great visual, but they also guaranteed a kill with a single shot, even against zombies.

As for John Wick, he favored the more conventional approach of aiming for the heart. After all, a killer’s goal was a swift and decisive kill, not a spectacular display.

The last one.

Lake and John exchanged a glance.

"Bang!"

"Thump!"

Two bullets of different calibers pierced the head and heart of the final Hydra agent almost simultaneously.

"Good shot."

"You too."

"Thanks."

Lake smiled slightly, accepting John Wick’s compliment.

Just then.

"Mr. Edwin, be careful, an armed helicopter is approaching your position."

"…"

Lake cupped his ear over his comms, then walked directly to the driver’s seat of the black pickup truck and opened the door.

At the same time.

Rat-tat-tat!

A black armed helicopter with no markings flew over the side of the desolate mountain. Below the helicopter, four missiles on their launch rails were ready to fire.

Boom!

Lake slammed on the accelerator. Just as John Wick stepped into the passenger seat, the vehicle roared to life and, with a deafening roar, crushed the fallen bodies, speeding towards Vega town, still eighty kilometers away.

Behind them.

The pilot of the armed helicopter pressed the button.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Two air-to-ground missiles instantly streaked towards the pickup truck Lake was driving.

Lake’s expression was unreadable. He yanked the handbrake with his right hand, coordinated his feet, and violently spun the steering wheel.

Boom!

Boom!

The two air-to-ground missiles detonated.

Boom!

The black pickup truck completed its spin and, without a scratch, shot through the billowing black explosion smoke, accelerating once more towards Vega town.

"Shit!"

"Let’s try again."

The Hydra agent piloting the armed helicopter, his expression unchanged, prepared to press the missile launch button again. Simultaneously, the gun barrel beneath the fuselage began to rotate.

Just then.

Lake yanked the handbrake again, the driver’s door swung open, and he stepped out of the driver’s seat, his expression blank. Holding a Glock 17 in both hands, he walked a few steps forward, his gaze fixed on the armed helicopter that was rapidly approaching them.

He pulled the trigger!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The first shot struck the helicopter’s fuel tank safety, the second shot pierced the fuel tank directly, and with the third shot, a thunderous explosion erupted, turning the helicopter into a fireball.

Turning around.

The moment the black pickup truck finished its spin, Lake slid back into the driver’s seat. He released the handbrake, and with a roar, the vehicle accelerated. The helicopter instantly crashed into the spot where Lake had been standing.

Rumble!

The helicopter smashed into the ground, causing another explosion!