The black SUV came to a silent stop in front of the entrance to Harbor 17. The salty sea breeze drifted through the air, whistling between rows of towering shipping containers. Although it was already midday, the entire harbor felt strangely lifeless.
Ethan closed the car door and slowly swept his cold gaze across the surroundings. Massive container stacks stood in long rows, while the towering cargo cranes remained completely motionless.
"...Too quiet."
He muttered under his breath. Tim, Kyle, and Mark stepped out of the SUV as well, instinctively scanning every corner around them. Mark activated his tablet and checked the GPS along with the warehouse layout.
"Container A-17... Dock 4... It's this way, boss."
Ethan gave a slight nod.
"Leave the car here. We'll continue on foot."
"Yes, sir."
The four of them slowly walked into the maze of shipping containers. Other than the sound of metal sheets rattling in the wind and distant waves crashing against the docks, there was absolute silence. Kyle frowned.
"Boss... there isn't a single dockworker here. Just a few fishing boats way over there."
"I noticed."
Ethan's sharp eyes continued scanning every possible angle. Tim lowered his voice.
"Could the harbor be closed today?"
Mark shook his head immediately.
"No. According to the official schedule, three cargo ships are supposed to arrive today."
That answer caused Ethan's eyes to narrow slightly.
"...Then someone cleared the place."
At that exact moment ….
Click.
A tiny metallic sound echoed nearby. Ethan's footsteps stopped instantly as he slowly turned toward the direction of the sound.
"Don't move."
The other three froze immediately.
"What is it, boss?"
Without answering, Ethan slowly crouched down and looked at the ground beneath his feet. Hidden beneath a thin steel plate was an almost invisible transparent wire. His expression immediately turned colder.
"Trip wire."
Kyle's eyes widened.
"A bomb?"
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"No."
His gaze shifted toward the corner of a nearby container.
"...An alarm."
Mark quickly walked over and examined it carefully.
"You're right. Not a motion trigger... It's a manual alarm wire."
Tim quietly asked,
"Should I cut it?"
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"Don't."
His eyes slowly moved across the endless rows of containers.
"They already know."
All three of them looked toward Ethan.
"They probably knew the moment we stepped inside this place."
Everything remained silent. Yet it was the kind of silence that carried the unmistakable scent of danger. Ethan slowly drew the pistol from his waist.
"Formation B."
Without saying another word, Tim, Kyle, and Mark instantly took their assigned positions. The four of them stood back-to-back, each watching one direction with unwavering focus. The sea breeze continued to blow.
Clang.
A faint metallic sound came from somewhere above one of the containers. Ethan's eyes immediately locked onto the source. A cold smile slowly appeared at the corner of his lips.
"So... you've finally decided to show yourselves."
He murmured softly. Moments later, footsteps echoed through the maze of containers.
One...
Two...
Ten...
Twenty...
Within seconds, more than twenty figures emerged from the shadows between the containers. Some had already taken positions on top of the containers with rifles aimed directly at Ethan's group. Others stood beneath the cargo cranes. The remaining men slowly surrounded the four of them in a wide circle. Tim quietly exhaled.
"Boss... that's more than twenty."
Mark glanced rapidly at his tablet before speaking in a low voice.
"Over thirty... almost forty."
Kyle curled one corner of his lips into a grin.
"Now that's quite a welcoming party."
At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped forward from the crowd. A long scar stretched across his neck, while his icy eyes stared directly at Ethan. After sizing him up for a moment, the man laughed.
"So... you're Eagle Wings' Kakamora."
Ethan remained expressionless.
"And you're Becky Gang's vice leader."
"Hahaha... That's right."
The man laughed loudly.
"We've been waiting for you here today. We wanted to personally welcome the famous Kakamora. It seems Devil Iris gave us accurate information after all. Eagle Wings really did send you."
Kyle stepped forward.
"So... you're Devil Iris' dogs now?"
The man merely shook his head while laughing.
"Dogs? Hah... You've got quite the mouth. We're simply the kind of people who never waste an opportunity. Devil Iris gave us the information. We kill you. That's all. The story is really that simple."
Ethan asked calmly,
"Where's the container?"
The man burst into another fit of laughter.
"You're still looking for the container? The moment you entered Harbor 17... There was never any container. There were only traps."
Tim, Kyle, and Mark immediately shifted into a more defensive stance. Only Ethan remained perfectly still. At that moment, the Becky vice leader tilted his head toward the biggest man standing beside him.
"Victor... Go. Give our guest a proper welcome. But don't kill him just yet. Leave him alive long enough for us to have some fun."
Victor slowly stepped forward. He stood well over six feet tall with broad shoulders and heavily scarred arms. Tilting his neck from side to side, he slowly clenched both fists.
Crack... Crack...
His knuckles echoed loudly. Kyle whispered,
"Boss... let me handle this one."
Ethan raised one hand, stopping him immediately.
"None of you move."
He removed his coat and casually tossed it toward Tim.
"This one... I'll deal with him myself."
Victor grinned.
"You've got confidence."
Ethan met his eyes coldly.
"I just don't like wasting time."
Victor's smile disappeared instantly. Without another word, he slammed one foot into the ground and charged straight toward Ethan with overwhelming force.