Before the man in the black vest could react, he felt a searing pain on his wrist. The pain was so excruciating that he dropped his pistol. James rolled under the table and instantly appeared before the man, kicking him across the room. He then picked up the dropped pistol. All this happened in a split second.

Before Jake could react, his man was sent flying, and a pistol was pressed against his head. Hearing the commotion, the mercenaries returned, pointing their firearms at James. Even with a gun pressed to his head, Jake remained calm. Composed, he calmly asked, "Do you know where you are? Do you seriously think you can get out of here alive after killing me?"

"Ten dollars. Deal?"

James pressed the pistol against Jake’s head, a mischievous grin on his face. "It’s better for you to make your men leave. Otherwise, a single movement of my finger and your brains will be blown out."

The man in the black vest, who had been sent flying, got up. "Bastard! How dare you?!" he sputtered. Jake waved dismissively. Seeing this, the man quieted down.

Unfazed, Jake sat on the sofa, looking composed. He asked, "Who are you exactly?"

"Henry, tell him who I am."

Henry sat down. Scarlett, terrified, followed suit. Henry laughed.

"Jake, I'd advise against that. You might be scared shitless once you find out who he is."

"Is that so?" Jake smiled dismissively.

"Tell me about it. I've been meeting some powerful people. I'm curious to know how powerful a man needs to be for me to be scared shitless."

Henry uttered, word by word, "The man before you is the Black Dragon, the commander-in-chief of the million-strong Black Dragon army of the Southern Plains and one of the Five Commanders of Sol."

Hearing this, the dozen or so fully armed mercenaries shivered, swiftly retreating and dropping their firearms. They collapsed to the ground, trembling. How could they not have heard of the Black Dragon? He was the world-renowned Ares.

Jake, too, was shivering. His composed face was now beaded with sweat. James tossed the weapon to the man in the black vest, sat beside Henry, and lit a cigarette. He ignored the kneeling mercenaries.

Jake wiped the sweat from his forehead. He didn't doubt James's identity. From the moment he saw how composed James had been with a gun pressed to his head, he knew he was no ordinary man. Moreover, James had subdued his man instantly. Jake was utterly convinced.

"T-To think I have the honor of welcoming the Black Dragon…" Jake stammered, trembling. If he hadn't been sitting, he would have collapsed.

"Should we proceed with our deal now?"

"B-But of course."

Jake immediately instructed, "Go, quick! Bring all information concerning the fire in the Cadens' residence ten years ago."

"Yes, Boss."

The man in the vest nodded and turned to leave, but stumbled a few steps before collapsing. He tried to get up, but his legs gave way, and he tumbled towards the database to retrieve the information.

Now that the tables had turned, Scarlett was relieved. As expected of the Black Dragon, he had remained composed throughout the ordeal, subduing Jake's man with a single cigarette bud. She was in awe of his strength, having witnessed the abilities of the most powerful man in the world.

James remained silent, but Jake was restless. The atmosphere was tense. After about five minutes, Jake could no longer contain himself; James's aura was overwhelming. He shrank back from the sofa, soon kneeling and begging, "G-General, please spare my life."

James glanced at him indifferently. "What are you doing? Get up and talk. Pray that the information you provide will be useful to me. Or else, the man named Jake Graham will no longer exist."

A chill ran down Jake's spine. He trembled, collapsed, then got up and knelt, kowtowing. "General, have mercy on me!"

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