The Battle with Killian

Pepper rose and walked toward the door.

"It should be the tea I ordered."

Leo wolfed down the pizza in his hand. The familiar flavor lifted his spirits as well.

Maya, who had been talking with Pepper for quite a while, looked increasingly conflicted, as if she were thinking about something.

A faint golden light flickered in Leo's eyes as he looked toward the door.

Pepper had also reached the door and was just about to open it.

"Wait!"

Leo's voice suddenly rang out.

Pepper turned to look at Leo in confusion.

"I'll open it."

Leo stepped forward and opened the room's door.

A man dressed as a hotel attendant pushed a small cart inside. With a brilliant smile, he greeted Pepper.

He looked perfectly normal.

"Good evening. Come in."

Pepper smiled and replied as well, looking at Leo as if she found it somewhat strange.

But Leo's gaze never rested on the attendant. It was fixed on the space behind him.

A figure suddenly appeared behind the attendant, placed both hands on his head, and twisted hard, killing him cleanly and swiftly.

And that man was Pepper's former colleague and Maya's employer, Aldrich Killian.

This brutal scene appeared right before Pepper's eyes without warning, instantly filling her with terror. Her first reaction upon turning around was to shout,

"Maya, run!"

Only after shouting did she remember that Leo had already arrived.

Killian charged in without hesitation, preparing to grab Pepper while completely ignoring Leo's presence at his side.

He brushed past Leo and reached directly for Pepper's neck.

The next moment, Leo tensed his right leg slightly and lashed out with a powerful whip kick.

His foot struck Killian in the abdomen.

Bang!!

The swift kick, backed by tremendous force, sent Killian flying with a trailing afterimage before he