Third person's POV
In this vast world, if Tabitha and Gloria were hiding in some remote and desolate place, living anonymously, even someone as capable as Derek or Leopold could not find them easily.
The two exceptionally skilled men were at a loss in their search for them.
Tabitha's adoptive parents had long passed away, and she had few attachments left in this world.
As for Derek, he was the last bond she severed.
Since then, she had lived like a free bird, soaring through the expansive skies without restraint.
Derek could only face this loneliness alone, year after year.
One year, two years, three years...
Tabitha remained a thorn in Derek's heart, impossible to remove or forget. Each time he thought of her, a dull ache pierced his heart.
Over these three years, Derek's position had become increasingly secure.
The plan he had meticulously crafted for a decade was finally reaching its fruition.
Without Tabitha by his side, Derek had no distractions and accomplished many things.
His methods grew increasingly ruthless. He would not easily let go for the sake of his goals.
In Wintertown, Derek, donning a ghost mask, led his men to completely dismantle the enemy's stronghold.
The factory was in chaos.
"Alpha Derek, we only captured the second-in-command. Golden Shark escaped through the underground river. This man named Pufferfish was the one who orchestrated things on Commercial Street back in the day," a subordinate reported to Derek.
Derek looked down at the man at his feet. The man had a long scar on his face, one that Derek himself had inflicted ten years prior.
"It's you," Derek said coldly.
"Ghost Owl, you bastard! Ten years ago, we trusted you so much, and yet you betrayed us. Now, after ten years, you've caused another tragedy," the man at his feet cursed furiously.
The corners of Derek's mouth curled into a cold smile beneath his mask. "You commit murders and arsons, smuggle and traffic drugs, destroying countless families. People like you deserve to be executed a thousand times over. It's time to settle the accounts from three years ago. Rest assured, I'll grant you a 'dignified' death."
With that, he released his foot and said to Alvin, "Behead him and post the photos on the dark web."
Three years prior, Derek's identity was exposed on the dark web, drawing numerous enemies seeking revenge.
Some, unable to strike at him directly, targeted the Greenwood Group.
For a time, all of the group's industrial chains faced severe issues.
The public, unaware of the underlying reasons, speculated that it was other merchants deliberately causing trouble out of competition.
The Greenwood family, a top financial powerhouse, left everyone curious about who dared to provoke them.
But Derek remained unperturbed. He followed the clues, investigating each one meticulously.
It turned out that in addition to some clandestine organizations, several powerful wolf packs were also taking advantage of the chaos, planning to divide the resources and take over once the Black Thorn Pack fell.
Every organization Derek uncovered, he personally led raids against, ensuring all lawbreakers were dealt with according to the law.
He even thoughtfully assigned them numbers—No. 1, No. 2, No. 3...
Rather than saying Derek had become a target of public criticism, it was more accurate to describe him as a hunter, with those involved individuals becoming his prey.
Derek used to have a conscience.
In business, he did not monopolize all the profits.
On the one hand, the Black thorn Pack, with centuries of accumulation, possessed wealth sufficient for generations to live lavishly.
Born into wealth, Derek did not particularly value money.
On the other hand, he had been serving the country, eliminating all factors detrimental to it.
He silently protected the nation, finding this work more meaningful than earning money as a CEO, despite its dangers.
In the business world, he was not a domineering figure. While ensuring his own gains, he would also leave room for others.
However, after Tabitha left, Derek's temperament underwent a significant change. He took a hard line against the heirs with ill intentions.
He effortlessly dismantled those families, redistributed their resources, and reshaped the commercial landscape.
For a time, several major families around Seattle lived in fear, lest they become the next target.
In these three years, as many as twenty families, big and small, faced bankruptcy due to Derek.
These families spanned various sectors, including real estate, smart development, chip research, and finance.
Derek began constructing a new commercial empire, like an ambitious monarch expanding his territory.
In his words, it was akin to spanking a disobedient child to bring them to heel.
Only by controlling everything in his grasp could he prevent unexpected situations.
Under his reorganization, Seattle became a domain where the Black Thorn held absolute dominance.
The Rios family was perhaps the worst off.
Known for their discretion, they held a special status in Seattle that few dared to provoke.
Previously, Derek had maintained a hands-off approach with them.
But after Derek's identity was exposed, he shed his veneer of kindness and began aggressively targeting the Rios family.
The Rios family's influence gradually waned, while the Black Thorn Pack ascended to the pinnacle of power.