The head guard was startled, his heart pounding in disbelief. "How is that possible?"
Rage engulfed the head guard as he watched his men fall to the ground, with horrific injuries. Not one of them managed to wound, let alone touch, Tom and Ferdy. Panic began to creep in, and he immediately helped his men, preparing to attack Tom and Ferdy. However, before his fist could swing, Tom's kick landed squarely on his stomach. The head guard was sent flying backward.
Blood trickled from the corner of the head guard's mouth, his face pale from Tom's powerful kick. He tried to get up but kept failing. Zack, who had been watching the whole time, stepped closer to the fallen head guard.
Slap! Slap!
Two hard slaps landed on the head guard's right and left cheeks. Zack's slaps were so strong that the head guard's jaw felt like it was cracking, and he collapsed to the ground again. Zack grabbed the head guard's collar, lifted him high, then slammed his body down hard. The head guard felt his entire body go numb, no longer able to get up. He could only groan in pain.
"Now, do we have permission to see Mr. Sebastian?" Zack asked right next to the head guard's ear.
"Wait a moment, I'll contact Mr. Sebastian first," the head guard said, enduring the pain.
Zack snapped loudly, "Why didn't you do that earlier, huh?! If you had done it from the start, this pathetic situation wouldn't have happened!" Zack slapped the head guard's face once more.
With pain racking his body, the head guard immediately made a call. The call connected. "Sir, a group of young men wants to meet with you," the head guard said, trembling.
Mr. Sebastian asked casually, "Who are they?"
"He claims to be Samson, sir. Along with his four companions, they claim to be security officers for your store," the head guard replied.
"Oh, they've arrived then!" Mr. Sebastian answered with a flat tone, unaware of what was happening. Then he gave another order, "Tell them all to come in!"
"Understood, sir!" the head guard replied, wincing in pain. He then allowed Samson and his companions to enter.
Mr. Sebastian, who was engrossed in sitting on his rocking chair, saw five figures enter his yard. He then rose from the chair and greeted Samson and the others, "How are you all? Come on in, please!"
Samson and his four companions did not respond to Mr. Sebastian's greeting. They immediately stepped into the magnificent house.
With a gesture of his hand, Mr. Sebastian invited them to sit. "Please, have a seat! Wait a moment, I'll get you some drinks." He raised his hand, and a servant hurried over. "Please prepare the best drinks for the five of them!" Mr. Sebastian requested of his servant.
Shortly after, the servant returned with a tray of drinks. Mr. Sebastian offered them the beverages.
Without further ado, Zack started the conversation with a question. "Let's get straight to it, sir, why did you invite us all here?"
"You haven't changed, Zack, always straight to the point. Alright then, let's get right to the issue." Mr. Sebastian immediately explained, "As you all know, we've just suffered a fire. And the losses we incurred are very significant."
Mr. Sebastian paused for a moment, then continued, "Oh, another reason I invited you all here is to inform you directly that, effective immediately, you no longer work for me. I sincerely apologize and deeply regret this. But don't worry, I will give each of you $20,000 in compensation. I hope this is enough for you. And I hope you all understand and accept this situation."
Samson sighed deeply, saying with a slight awkwardness, "Alright, sir, if this is your decision, we'll accept it."
"We were happy to have worked for you, sir," Tom added.
Zack then interjected, "Is there anything else we need to discuss, sir?"
"Oh, I think that's all I needed to tell the five of you," Mr. Sebastian replied without a hint of guilt.
"Alright then, we'll take our leave to go home," Samson said, rising from the sofa.
Mr. Sebastian accompanied Samson and the others to the exit. They shook hands.
On the way home, Zack asked Samson, "Didn't you notice something strange just now?"
"What kind of strangeness do you mean, Zack?" Samson furrowed his brow, asking back.
Zack replied casually, "Didn't you notice that while we were there, Mr. Sebastian kept looking at your necklace?"
"Oh yeah, I did notice his eyes kept looking at this necklace I'm wearing," Samson replied, who actually didn't care about his necklace.
"What's with your necklace, Samson?" Zack asked, curious.
Samson answered Zack's curious question, "How would I know, Zack! Besides, in my opinion, this necklace is just ordinary, nothing special."
"No way it's not special if Mr. Sebastian kept looking at it. Maybe there's something we don't know about your necklace, Samson," Zack explained, offering his opinion.
Samson clarified, "I've worn this necklace since I was a kid, and I don't think it has anything to do with Mr. Sebastian." Samson paused for a moment, then continued, "Even if he wanted to buy it from me, I wouldn't give it to him."
"Maybe he remembered something about your necklace," Tom said from behind Samson.
"Enough! We don't need to discuss my necklace anymore," Samson said, flicking his finished cigarette.
Zack then asked Samson for advice, "Now, what should we do, Samson? Now that Mr. Sebastian no longer employs us, we won't have any income."
"I'll think of a plan for all of us going forward," Samson said, trying to encourage his companions who were starting to get anxious about not working anymore.
"Okay! Then let us know, Samson, when you have a plan," Ferdy said.
After Samson and his four companions left, Mr. Sebastian was seen pacing in his living room, deep in thought. He mumbled to himself, "Oh, isn't the necklace Samson is wearing the exact same one I've been looking for all this time? I'll contact Mr. Victor about this. He'll surely be very happy with this news."
Then Mr. Sebastian took his phone out of his pants pocket and called Mr. Victor. In two rings, the call connected.
"Hello! Why are you calling me?" a voice answered from the other end of the line.
"Sir, I have good news for you, about the necklace we've been looking for all this time," Mr. Sebastian replied enthusiastically.
"What?" Mr. Victor was startled to hear it, then eagerly asked again, "Have you found where the necklace is?" Mr. Victor's eyes sparkled.
"But I'm not entirely sure yet, sir, if it's truly the one we've been searching for. However, its characteristics and motif are indeed the same," Mr. Sebastian explained.
"So, where is the necklace now?" Mr. Victor asked again.
Mr. Sebastian then explained, "The necklace is being worn by a young man; he happened to be a security guard at my store. But just recently, I let him and his colleagues go from their jobs."
"Do you know where the young man and his colleagues live?" Mr. Victor asked again.
"I don't know where he and his colleagues live. But I know all their names and faces," Mr. Sebastian replied confidently.
Mr. Victor frowned and scowled, listening to Mr. Sebastian's explanation. Then he angrily snapped, "Are you too stupid, Sebastian? You hire someone, but you don't know anything about their background?" Mr. Victor clenched his fist, as if he wanted to crush Mr. Sebastian's face, whom he considered foolish.
"I apologize, Mr. Victor, I am very sorry. But don't worry, I will order my men to find Samson and his colleagues. I'm sure they are all still in the same city as me. Besides, this city isn't too big; I'm sure I'll find them," Mr. Sebastian explained and gave his reasons to Mr. Victor.
Mr. Victor looked disappointed, then replied with a strained intonation, "Okay! Don't disappoint me, and make sure he doesn't find out what's behind that pendant." Mr. Victor paused for a moment, then continued in a grim and slightly trembling tone, "You know, I don't want to be like this forever; I'm like imprisoned for my whole life in this physical condition, I can't do anything."
"Alright, Mr. Victor! Don't worry, I will try my best to find that young man, and I will inform you immediately after I find him," Mr. Sebastian explained to reassure him.
"Okay, Sebastian! Again, don't disappoint me, and don't worry, I'll give you a worthy reward," Mr. Victor warned Mr. Sebastian sternly.
"Thank you, Mr. Victor!" Mr. Sebastian replied, ending the call.
Then, clenching his fist, he wondered to himself, "Damn it! Where do Samson and his colleagues live?"