Chapter 58: Acting Upon Self-Defense
Surrounded by a number he was sure he couldn’t count, as these security members stretched until the ends of the branching corridors, Terrence could only shake his head.
His blood boiled with adrenaline while his eyes sparked with excitement at the sheer amount of people he had to fight.
However, he quickly soothed his thrill, forcing himself to remember what his true purpose was for being here.
"Hey, what are you guys even on about? It was strictly self-defense," Terrence said in a flat tone, entirely devoid of any emotion.
One of the higher officials of the security detail stepped forward, carrying immense hostility in his posture toward Terrence.
"You physically hurt a direct heir of the Merchant Group," the official growled. "Did you seriously expect us not to act?"
Terrence casually shrugged, his eyes still scanning and counting the impressive number of security guards surrounding him. He let out a low sigh as he shook his head.
"Don’t worry about it. I came fully prepared. Go call your president. I have crucial news for him."
"You actually think you can just order us around like dogs?"
Snorting in disgust, Terrence looked down at Milan, who was still laid out on the cold floor, completely out of consciousness.
The surrounding security guards stared at him with sharp preparedness, ready to act based on protocol the very moment he attempted to launch another attack.
However, everyone from the security group didn’t hold a single grain of respect toward Terrence.
"You were disowned by the main Lee Family," a security member sneered, stepping closer. "So, you don’t have the right position to order us around, or to even meet ny of the Merchant Group’s important figures."
"Hey... who are you?" Terrence interrupted, his gaze locking onto the man. "Did I give you permission to talk?"
How flat and dismissive Terrence’s tone sounded made a series of thick veins bulge from the official’s neck all the way up to his temples. The higher official of the security group could barely contain his explosive temper anymore.
"You’ve had enough disrespect for one day—"
"Hey, if this news I have for the president is important, you will surely lose your life if it doesn’t arrive at the proper ears," Terrence stated smoothly.
The higher security official tightened his fist so hard his knuckles turned pale, while his other hand adjusted his sleeves, pulling them up his forearms.
His bulky, muscular body was emphasized as he prepared for combat, and the rest of the security members immediately followed that motion. They were now vastly more prepared for violence than they were moments before.
"This massive crowd..." Terrence murmured, looking directly into the higher official’s furious eyes.
"Whatever it is you think you have, I am completely sure it is not important," the higher official retorted coldly, slowly moving forward toward Terrence.
But suddenly, an imposing voice cracked from behind the dense crowd, instantly creating a wide split in the sea of security personnel.
Their eyes widened in sheer panic as each heavy tap of expensive leather boots on the marble floor grew closer to where the center of this heated commotion was.
At the growing split of the security’s sea, both Terrence and the higher official’s attention fell directly to where the mysterious person was approaching.
The corridor became quiet far too suddenly, and everyone’s wide eyes silently demanded an answer.
"Who are you to decide on whether something is important or not?" The voice was stern, carrying a suffocating amount of heavy pressure despite how normally it was delivered.
The man’s voice continued to resonate through the silent hall.
"If someone is asking for the president’s audience, no matter how unimportant they might seem, shouldn’t you properly entertain them until it is assessed if it is truly worthy of the president’s attention?"
This voice was simply too heavy to endure, as if the localized gravity inside the hallway had dropped further with each word he spoke.
As the man who owned that voice finally arrived at the very center of the scene, the higher official’s aggressive character instantly dropped, and his former proud, arrogant personality completely disappeared.
"Master Ron! Please, let me explain—!"
The man simply raised a single hand, and the higher security official stopped mid-sentence, terrified. He could only follow this imposing man with his nervous eyes as he was entirely ignored, the man walking straight up to Terrence.
"Terrence Lee... a former member of the Lee Family, at least," the man said, analyzing him. "Just how important is this news of yours that you had to create such a massive commotion inside our building?"
Terrence carefully inspected the man standing before him.
He was probably around the 30s age group, extremely fit, tall, and formally appealing in his impeccably tailored tuxedo. He stood noticeably taller than Terrence, forcing Terrence to raise his eyes just to look him directly in the eyes.
"I didn’t mean to cause a scene," Terrence replied simply. "One of your heirs attacked me out of nowhere, and I merely acted on self-defense."
The man’s sharp eyes followed Terrence’s subtle gesture, catching sight of Milan lying unconscious on the shattered floor. But while his eyes faintly reacted in brief surprise at the sight, he suppressed it instantly, acting like it was absolutely nothing.
He returned his cold gaze back to Terrence.
"Self-defense..."
His voice was dangerously quiet.
"I see... Anyone can act upon self-defense, but maybe you forgot where you currently are."
Terrence slowly blinked, a faint, provocative smirk touching the corner of his lips.
"I know where I am," Terrence exhaled softly. "This is basically like walking into a tiger’s den. But I have absolutely nothing to be afraid of since I came here to conduct important business."
"So, you mean to tell me that what you brought fully justifies how you acted just now?"
Terrence didn’t reply immediately, letting the tension hang in the air for a second.
"Yes."
"And what exactly is this business about?"
"It is about the barren slum of the outskirt sector," Terrence stated clearly, his eyes narrowing. "Or maybe... about an escapee from one of your secret human experiments three years ago?"
And with what he just exposed, the imposing man’s eyes widened in genuine shock, completely breaking his cold and stern character impression.