Heartbeat of the Ruthless Criminal (English Version)

Larco's anger surged as he forcefully hurled a glass brimming with alcohol, causing it to shatter against the walls of his office. "What did you say? Blocked again? Again!? That's bullshit!" he shouts at his subordinate, who kneels before him, blood still seeping from a wounded arm. "Get out of my sight now!" Terrified, the man quickly rose, clutching his injured arm, and hastened to leave the room. Frustration engulfed Larco, and he furiously wiped his own face, venting his anger by throwing all the stacked papers on his desk in a fit of irritation. It was inconceivable to him that their illegal firearms transaction had been thwarted once more. Only last year, the police intercepted a drug shipment valued at fifty million, and now they were foiling a deal involving almost two hundred million worth of firearms. The police seemed determined to push his patience to its limits, and he had reached his breaking point. "I've had enough of their antics. Fine, I'll give them what they want," he declared emphatically, clenching his fist tightly, causing the veins on his muscular, tattooed arm to bulge. Larco swiftly grabbed his cellphone and dialed his business partner and friend's number to check on his whereabouts and get an update. Despite several attempts, no one answered, and concern for his friend, Darius, began to gnaw at him. He hastily grabbed his coat from the couch and rushed out of his office, intent on finding out what was happening. On the other side, deep within the heart of the forest, Darius found refuge in a small hut, perched on a bamboo bench. He removed his black t-shirt and grabbed a beer can next to him, pouring its contents over his bloody arm in an attempt to clean the wound. The sting of the alcohol didn't deter him as he clenched his shirt between his teeth and retrieved a small knife from his side. Determinedly, he used the blade to extract the lodged bullet from his arm, his face contorting with pain throughout the process. Drenched in sweat, Darius persisted, utilizing his right hand to skillfully remove the bullet from his left arm. As he finished, he released a heavy exhale, then tore his tattered t-shirt and tied it around his bloodied arm. Once done, he leaned against the bamboo wall, shutting his eyes to find relief from the stickiness brought on by the sweat. Unaware of his own exhaustion, Darius had unintentionally dozed off inside the cramped hut. The sound of an approaching horse abruptly startled him awake. Reacting swiftly, he instinctively reached for the nearby gun and stood up, on high alert. As he prepared to step outside the hut, he caught sight of the incoming horse and its rider, causing him to abruptly retreat. Concealing himself within the hut, he tightened his grip on the gun, Confusion etched across his forehead as the horse came to a stop right beside the hut. Curiosity drove him to approach one of the small holes in the wall to catch a glimpse of the rider. Upon seeing a young woman sitting on the ground, looking at the horse which had thrown her off, his furrowed brow eased, and his mouth fell open in surprise. "Stupid horse! Why did you throw me off? I hate you!" the girl shouted, her voice tinged with near-tearful frustration from her fall. Darius couldn't help but release a relieved sigh. He had been apprehensive, thinking the police might be hot on his trail, but luckily, that wasn't the case. For some unknown reason, Darius became aware that he had been silently tailing the girl without making a sound. Until she finally came to a stop at a picturesque waterfall. Upon seeing the girl glancing around, Darius swiftly sought cover behind a tree, wincing in pain as a branch grazed his wounded arm. As he cautiously peered at the woman once more, his jaw dropped in astonishment at what he witnessed. She began removing her dress, her back turned to him, revealing her fair skin cascading down to her feet. To his surprise, she didn't stop at her dress; instead, she proceeded to remove all her clothes, leaving her body completely exposed. Snapping himself out of his daze, he quickly averted his gaze from the woman, feeling a mix of embarrassment and guilt. Leaning against the tree that had offered him refuge, he let out a deep sigh, shaking his head in an attempt to clear his mind. "Damn it! I need to get out of here," Darius whispered to himself, determined to put distance between them. He took a step, intending to leave, but his body froze in place upon hearing the woman's joyful giggles. It was as if she was completely unaware of his presence. Reluctantly, he found himself glancing back at her once more. Unintentionally, Darius became captivated by the scene unfolding before him. He couldn't help but watch as the oblivious girl enjoyed her time swimming in the gentle stream. Her earlier scowl, a result of the fall from the horse, had transformed into a radiant smile, clearly delighted by the cool embrace of the water. "What if someone else saw you, baby girl? You'd be in trouble for sure. But you're still lucky, because I'm the one here," Darius muttered to himself, keeping a close eye on her as she swam. Once she finished her swim, she gracefully emerged from the water, picked up her clothes, and dressed herself again. Darius couldn't help but shake his head once more at the entire situation. However, his attention quickly shifted when he heard the persistent sound of a horse approaching. Realizing the potential danger, he swiftly left the tree and sought refuge in thicker bushes, ensuring he wouldn't be spotted by the approaching person. The sound of the horse's hooves grew louder and eventually came to a stop right beside the tree where Darius had been standing just moments ago. "Kierra! What are you doing here? I told you not to come alone!" scolded the man, clearly worried. "Well, the thing is, Brother Renz's horse threw me off! That's why I couldn't come back right away. My waist hurts so much now," the girl explained and complained. "Tsk. Come here; we need to go back. Mommy has been looking for you since earlier!" he replied, showing his concern as he addressed her. From the safety of the thick grass, Darius carefully peered at the man who had just arrived. Unfortunately, the man had his back turned, making it impossible for Darius to see his face clearly. His attention then shifted to the girl being assisted by her brother as she mounted the horse. Once she was on the horse, her brother kicked into a gallop, and the horse turned to face Darius, bringing the rider into view. Upon recognizing the man, Darius instinctively tightened his grip on the gun, his emotions swirling. To his dismay, it turned out to be none other than Lieutenant Cevastian Gabriel, one of the policemen he had encountered during a previous shootout. The realization clenched his fist with frustration as he watched the Gabriels move further away. It meant he was in the land of the Gabriels without even realizing it. Damn! It dawned on him that he had unknowingly entered the territory of General Carlito Gabriel, a man known for meddling in their dealings and now actively hunting him down. "It seems I've stumbled into the land of the Gabriels without even realizing it. Damn!" Darius muttered, his frustration evident. Aware that the stakes had just escalated significantly, he couldn't help but grin with determination. "So, General Gabriel, you have a daughter, huh? Let's see what happens next," he said with a mix of confidence and defiance.