The storm outside was relentless, pounding the streets and rooftops with a fury that matched the turmoil in Hùng's mind. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a low, ominous sound that seemed to shake the very foundation of the small apartment where he stood. He stared out the rain-streaked window, his reflection faint against the backdrop of the darkened city. His eyes were hollow, the weight of his past decisions pressing down on him like a crushing burden.

The message from Vinh had changed everything. They were coming for him—Quân, his men, and perhaps even Thu. The very people who had destroyed him once before were now closing in again, and this time, Hùng could feel the noose tightening around his neck. His second chance, the life he had fought so hard to reclaim, was slipping through his fingers.

"Not again," Hùng whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the storm. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the knuckles white with tension. "I won't let them take it from me again."

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he instinctively reached for the knife he kept hidden in the drawer by the kitchen. The knock came again, louder this time, more insistent. Hùng's mind raced as he debated whether to answer. It could be Vinh, but it could just as easily be one of Quân’s men, sent to finish the job before Hùng had the chance to strike back.

He crept toward the door, the knife gripped tightly in his hand. The rain outside had grown even louder, the sound of it almost drowning out the world beyond. As he reached the door, he hesitated, his breath coming in shallow, quick bursts. This was it—this could be the moment where everything changed.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

A pause. Then, a familiar voice.

"It's me, Vinh."

Hùng let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He unlocked the door and pulled it open, revealing Vinh standing there, soaked to the bone from the rain, his expression tense.

"Let me in," Vinh said quickly, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting someone to be watching. "We need to talk. Now."

Hùng stepped aside, allowing Vinh to enter. The man shook off the rain from his jacket, his eyes darting around the room as if checking for signs of danger.

"What's going on?" Hùng asked, closing the door behind them.

Vinh ran a hand through his wet hair, his face pale and drawn. "It’s worse than we thought. Quân’s got people everywhere, Hùng. He's pulling strings, calling in favors. If you don't make a move soon, he'll find you—and when he does, it won’t be pretty."

Hùng's jaw tightened as he listened. He had anticipated that Quân would retaliate, but not this quickly, not with such precision.

"How close is he?" Hùng asked, his voice low, almost a growl.

Vinh hesitated, his gaze shifting to the floor. "Closer than you think. He’s got people watching your old contacts. He knows you're working with me. Hell, I barely made it here without being followed."

Hùng swore under his breath, his mind racing. Time was running out, and he could feel the walls closing in. He had been too careful, too calculated, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But now, it seemed that moment might never come.

"What do we do?" Vinh asked, his voice filled with an urgency that made Hùng's skin crawl.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Hùng stared at him for a long moment, his thoughts churning. There was no going back now. If he didn’t act, Quân would crush him—again. And this time, there wouldn’t be a second chance.

"We need to hit him where it hurts," Hùng said finally, his voice cold and decisive. "No more waiting, no more subtlety. Quân wants to play this game? Fine. But we play it my way."

Vinh nodded, though there was a flicker of fear in his eyes. "You’re sure about this?"

"Absolutely," Hùng replied, his grip tightening on the knife in his hand. "We go after his money. His connections. We cut him off at the knees. And when he’s vulnerable, we finish him."

The Setup

The next few days passed in a blur of planning and preparation. Hùng and Vinh worked tirelessly, using every resource they had at their disposal to track Quân’s operations, his financial dealings, his movements. They mapped out his network, identifying weak points, key players who could be manipulated or eliminated. It was a delicate web, and one wrong move could send the whole thing crashing down.

But Hùng was ready. He had been planning this moment for months, ever since he had awakened in Tấn’s body with the burning desire for revenge. He had bided his time, gathering information, learning the lay of the land. And now, he was ready to strike.

Vinh had secured the location—a high-rise office building in the heart of the city where Quân conducted much of his business. It was well-guarded, but Hùng had a plan. He always had a plan.

"Are you sure about this?" Vinh asked as they sat in the dimly lit basement of the building, reviewing the final details of their plan. "This could go south really fast."

"It won’t," Hùng replied confidently, his eyes never leaving the blueprints laid out in front of them. "Quân thinks he’s untouchable, that no one would dare come after him. That’s his weakness. He’s arrogant. And we’re going to use that against him."

Vinh didn’t argue. He knew better than to question Hùng’s resolve at this point. But there was still a tension between them, a silent understanding that this plan was dangerous—perhaps even suicidal. But for Hùng, there was no turning back. Not now.

The First Strike

The night of the operation arrived, and the city was bathed in darkness. Hùng and Vinh moved like shadows through the building, their movements quick and precise. They had memorized every inch of the layout, every guard rotation, every security measure. They knew exactly where to go, what to do.

As they approached the office where Quân’s financial records were kept, Hùng’s heart pounded in his chest. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. The moment when everything would change.

They reached the door to the office, and Vinh quickly disabled the security system with a few swift keystrokes on the control panel. The door clicked open, and they slipped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of computer screens casting eerie shadows on the walls. Hùng wasted no time. He moved to the main terminal and began downloading the files they needed—bank records, offshore accounts, everything that would expose Quân’s illegal operations and bring his empire crashing down.

"How much longer?" Vinh asked, his voice tight with tension as he kept an eye on the hallway outside.

"Just a few more seconds," Hùng replied, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

But just as the final file was about to download, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Hùng froze, his heart skipping a beat.

"We’ve got company," Vinh whispered, drawing his gun.

Hùng cursed under his breath. They had been so close—too close to fail now.

The Confrontation

The door to the office burst open, and three armed men stormed inside, their guns drawn. Hùng and Vinh ducked behind the desk, the sound of gunfire filling the small room.

"Go!" Vinh shouted, returning fire as Hùng grabbed the USB drive containing the stolen files and made a break for the exit.

But as they reached the door, they were met by more of Quân’s men, their faces twisted into sneers as they blocked the only way out.

"You really thought you could pull this off?" one of the men sneered, his gun trained on Hùng’s chest.

Hùng didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, the knife in his hand flashing through the air as he slashed at the man’s throat. Blood sprayed across the walls as the man crumpled to the ground, gurgling as he bled out.

Vinh fired off two more shots, taking down another of Quân’s men before grabbing Hùng by the arm and pulling him toward the window.

"This way!" Vinh shouted, smashing the glass with the butt of his gun.

The cold night air rushed in as they climbed out onto the narrow ledge, the city sprawling out below them like a glittering ocean of lights.

"We’re not going to make it," Vinh muttered, his voice shaking as he glanced down at the dizzying drop.

"Yes, we are," Hùng replied, his voice filled with a calm determination.