Andrew kicked open the car door on the other side, rusted out. Riker pursued relentlessly, actually lifting up the entire SUV and crawling out from underneath it.
Meanwhile, the twenty-odd Hidden Dragons elite martial artists surrounded Andrew but did not dare make a move. They were completely stunned that Riker had taken such a beating from this guy. After all, Riker was a master of physical techniques in martial arts and a high-level martial king.
“That’s enough, Mr. Lamar. Gather your people and head back,” a calm voice called out from the distance.
A figure had arrived quietly, without anyone noticing. When Andrew saw who it was, he immediately frowned. Henry had returned much faster than expected. Judging by the man’s slightly pale complexion, chasing Jerome had clearly taken quite a toll on him. Whether he had caught him or not, though, was anyone’s guess.
Riker wiped the blood from his face and roared angrily, “Mr. Fischer, this bastard is asking for death! I’ve got to take one of his arms!”
Henry replied flatly, “You can’t beat him, so don’t humiliate yourself further.”
Riker was left speechless. “I…”
Henry ignored him and looked at Andrew instead. “Your people have safely left Goldridge. Now you can come with me, can’t you?”
Andrew responded calmly, “Why should I go with you?”
Henry sneered coldly. “Do you think you have a choice? Andrew, with your current strength, do you really believe you can win in a fight against me? Or do you think I wouldn’t go after your people, hunt them down on the road, and make sure they never make it to Gabo Creek?”
Andrew exhaled slowly and said coldly, “Fine, I’ll go with you. But Henry, you should know that you wouldn’t be able to control me.”
Henry gave a faint smile. “Well, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Riker quickly shouted, “Wait a minute, Mr. Fischer! Andrew still owes me five billion dollars plus a drug formula!”
Henry frowned and looked at Andrew without saying anything.
Andrew shrugged, “I was just talking nonsense. There are always fools who’ll believe it. Let’s go. I don’t want to see this brute anymore!”
Riker’s eyes blazed with fury. “Andrew… you son of a bitch! You went back on your word! You think I won’t hunt down your people right now?”
Andrew snorted. “Riker, you’re still too green to play mind games with me. Go ahead, send your guys. Let’s see how far they get. By now, my people should’ve already crossed into Gabo Creek. You probably don’t know this, but I have a decent relationship with Governor McCormick. Send someone if you dare, but he might just put a bullet in their skulls.”
Riker’s eyes filled with bitter hatred. “So, that’s what this was. You planned the whole damn thing!”
He pulled out the formula sheet and glared at it. “Then tell me this… Was this real, or was it crap?”
Andrew chuckled. “Feel free to ask Henry for a second opinion.”
Henry frowned and glanced at it, then read aloud, “Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus…”
He stopped reading. He turned to Riker and said, “You’ve been played for a fool… Let it go!”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and left with Andrew.
Riker stood frozen, staring at Andrew’s back, burning with rage. He had been made a fool of! He had spent his life in the underworld, staring at Andrew’s retreating figure with murderous intent. He had been played for a complete fool! Everything came down to the disadvantage of being illiterate. Riker had started running the streets early and never went to school. Finally, fate had struck him down with the curse of illiteracy.
“Andrew, you’ve gone too far!” Riker roared. He felt his intelligence had been insulted and secretly vowed that if he ever got the chance, he would make sure Andrew died horribly.