Chapter 627

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

They instinctively surged forward, wishing they could take that punch for Director Wright.

Leo Wright's eyes widened in horror, a raw scream tearing from his throat. "Dad!"

Evelyn Ross's brow furrowed slightly, her pupils contracting sharply.

But she didn't move.

She saw clearly that Director Wright had shifted his body slightly, already avoiding a vital spot.

Even if hit, it would only be a flesh wound.

Director Wright staggered and fell, tumbling out of the temporarily marked sparring circle.

He had lost.

He clutched his abdomen, his breathing somewhat labored.

The surrounding crowd immediately closed in.

Grace Lorenz and Jeremy Brown also rushed to Director Wright's side.

Grace asked urgently, "Uncle Wright, are you alright?"

Director Wright gave a strained smile. "I'll live."

He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Do you know how I got all these old injuries?"

Everyone was taken aback, shaking their heads.

Director Wright lowered his eyes, his voice low. "Thirty years ago, I was Leo's age. Twenty."

"That mission was to bring someone back."

"He held crucial technological secrets for our country. They absolutely could not fall into foreign hands."

"The person had already fled abroad."

"The other country, to keep him, used this exact same tactic—claiming he had violated local laws, detaining him legally, refusing extradition."

Director Wright paused, then continued. "Back then, I used our Special Operations Division's old method."

"One person, taking on ten of theirs."

"In the end, I won. I brought him back."

The scene fell into complete silence.

Director Wright looked at them, speaking slowly. "In the face of a greater cause, what do personal honor, gain, or loss amount to?"

He didn't blame anyone.

But those who had been concerned about face, who felt a war of attrition wasn't honorable, now flushed with shame.

They had been here, fussing over martial virtue and propriety.

But thirty years ago, had anyone bothered with such niceties with them?

No.

The reason they could afford to worry about dignity today was because their predecessors had paved the way with their own flesh and blood.

Grace gritted her teeth. "I only hate that I never learned martial arts."

"Otherwise, I could go up too. Even if I just wore him down a little, creating an opportunity for those after me."

Leo Wright clenched his fists, looking at his colleagues in the Special Operations Division.

Ethan Valentine simply roared, "If you guys don't go up, I'll go call the Cortez Sect!"

"But the Cortez Sect is far from here. They won't make it in time!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a male colleague jumped out. "I'll go!"

Immediately, others from the Special Operations Division with decent skills stepped forward.

They quickly formed a long line by the ring.

Leo and Grace exchanged a glance, both sighing in relief simultaneously.

Ethan instinctively looked at Evelyn.

The skills of those now stepping up were all slightly inferior to Leo's.

Their purpose was clear—to drain King's stamina.

Each would lose. That was inevitable.

Taking advantage of the fierce fight on the platform, Ethan slipped over to Evelyn, lowering his voice. "Little sis, are you going up?"

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

She would decide based on the situation.

If Leo and Ethan could win, naturally there was no need to expose her identity as the First Senior Sister.

But if they couldn't...

Evelyn's expression turned serious. She was about to speak when Grace coughed, cutting in first. "Evelyn won't be going up. You guys go ahead!"

As she spoke, she shot Evelyn a meaningful look.

Ethan was momentarily stunned, then gave a bitter smile. "But I've watched King's style. I'm afraid Leo and I alone won't be able to take him down."

Evelyn lowered her gaze. "Just do your best. Don't be afraid."

Ethan instantly understood something, letting out a heavy sigh of relief and nodding.

He turned and walked to the end of the line, standing in front of Leo.

Leo was taken aback. "You should be behind me."

Ethan's martial arts were better. Staying last gave a greater chance of winning.

But Ethan just smiled. "I'll do the wearing down. If you can win, that's best."

"If you can't win, don't worry either."

He patted Leo's shoulder. "Even though we both like Kiki, and we're rivals."

"But today, I'm willing to set aside our differences."

"If you win, your reputation in the Special Operations Division will soar. Taking over the department will be justified."

Leo was stunned.

He awkwardly turned his head away. The harsh words he might have said never left his lips.

The people in line ahead went up one by one.

The time each person lasted grew progressively longer.

Partly because the remaining fighters were stronger, and partly because King's stamina was being steadily drained.

The effect of the war of attrition was beginning to show.

By the time it was Ethan's turn, King was already starting to pant.

These people from the Special Operations Division were more troublesome than professional boxers.

With Director Wright's example before them, every subsequent fighter was fired up, giving their all, only conceding when pushed to the absolute limit.

Ethan looked at Leo, grinning widely. "I'll go do the last round of wearing down."

"By your turn, it should be time to win."

"Leo, this time, I'm betting on you!"

With that, he leaped into the sparring circle.

Ethan stretched his limbs, then crooked a finger at King. "Come on!"