Eric stood motionless in front of the loan shark leader.
The tension was so thick it seemed to vibrate in the air.
More than twenty men in black occupied every corner of the store. Silent. Still. Watching. Ready.
The leader took a small step forward—
As if preparing to grab Eric and use him as a shield.
Eric raised his hand immediately.
"Don't even think about taking me hostage," he said calmly. "They have orders to shoot anyone who interferes with this negotiation."
The man froze.
Even Elena, behind the counter, covered her mouth with both hands. Her legs trembled.
She counted at least twenty-three armed men.
Probably more.
Who is this man…? she thought, her stomach twisting.
Finally, the leader spoke.
"Who do you work for?"
Eric didn't answer.
He simply stared at him.
Then reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper, extending it forward.
"What's this?" the man asked, suspicious.
"A formal declaration stating that my fiancée's debt has been fully paid."
The leader laughed, surprised.
"And you think this has legal value?"
"No," Eric replied firmly. "It has… strategic value. What I intend to do with it is none of your concern."
That's when the man understood.
It was proof.
If anything happened to Eric or Elena, the document would show motive—history—connection.
He glanced around again, confirming the absurd disadvantage.
None of his men stood a chance against trained, armed professionals.
"A piece of advice," Eric continued. "Take the payment. Let my fiancée live her life."
The leader clenched his jaw.
He remembered the offer he had received—large sums from anonymous businessmen for Elena's "company."
The plan had been simple:
Pressure her.
Break her.
Then control her.
Everything had been going perfectly—
Until Eric appeared with what seemed like endless gold.
Now everything had changed.
This was no longer a game of threats.
This was an execution waiting to happen.
"And if I refuse?" the man asked, trying to preserve what little authority he had left.
Eric's expression changed.
Not to anger.
Not to fear.
But to sadness.
Elena saw it—
And something tightened inside her chest.
Before the man could mistake it for weakness, Eric finished:
"If you refuse, there will be no reason to let any of you leave this store alive."
He gestured lightly toward the men in black.
"And they'll keep the gold you're holding as a bonus."
The meaning was clear.
Refusal meant death.
Eric stepped forward.
"All I want is a peaceful life," he said. "And I believe you want the same. It's not worth risking everything for so little."
He pointed to the bag of gold in the man's hand—
The same one he had already been given.
The leader took a deep breath.
Closed his eyes.
Fought against his own pride.
Then opened them again.
"Do you accept my proposal?" Eric asked.
The man looked around one last time.
The black-clad men hadn't moved.
They didn't need to.
There was no escape.
No advantage.
No hope.
Finally—
He took the paper.
And signed it.
No words.
No sarcasm.
Just a signature.
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
The other five followed behind him—
Heads lowered.
Defeated.
When the last one left, Eric let out a deep breath, his body nearly giving in to the tension he had been holding.
Elena ran toward him.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Who are these men?!"
Eric looked at the masked mercenaries…
Then back at her.
And for the first time since the negotiation began—
He let the true weight of his actions show.