Bully Lord

Part-173

For hours, they observed the movements of people coming and going from the shop. The tension was palpable. James, sitting by the window, kept his eyes sharp, searching for any sign of their target. "He'll show up sooner or later," James murmured, not taking his eyes off the shop. The others nodded in agreement, though Sourov sighed heavily, clearly growing impatient.

The first day passed slowly, but fortunately, as dusk settled, their patience paid off. Arad appeared. The moment they spotted him, they all straightened up, exchanging looks of determination.

"There he is," Ryan whispered.

"Let’s follow him, but stay sharp. He’s not just some ordinary guy," James warned. "If he senses anything, we’ll lose our only lead."

They moved quickly and quietly, trailing Arad from a safe distance. Arad, a tall, lean man with sharp eyes, navigated the streets with ease. He had the look of someone who had been involved in dangerous business for a long time. His movements were calculated, and James noticed that he constantly glanced over his shoulder. He knew something wasn't right.

Suddenly, after turning into a narrow alley, Arad stopped in his tracks. His posture stiffened, and without turning around, he spoke loud and clear, his voice dripping with amusement.

"You might as well come out of the shadows," Arad said. "I know you're there."

James’s heart skipped a beat. Arad had spotted them. There was no point in hiding now. He motioned for the others to step out from their hiding spots.

They cautiously emerged into the alley, James leading the group with Ryan and Sourov close behind. Arad turned around slowly, a sly grin on his face. His eyes scanned each one of them with a mix of amusement and disdain.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A bunch of school kids playing detective?" Arad mocked, folding his arms across his chest.

James didn’t flinch. He stared straight at Arad, refusing to be intimidated. "We’re not playing detective. We know what you’re involved in, Arad," he said firmly.

Arad raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly do you think I’m involved in, hmm? Go on, entertain me."

"Spider Eyes," James said, his voice unwavering. "We know you’re part of it. And we know it’s more than just some small-time scam. We know about the Fire Fly Group."

For the briefest moment, Arad’s confident expression faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. He clapped slowly, mockingly. "You’ve done your homework. But knowing doesn’t mean you can stop it."

"That’s what you think," Ryan chimed in, stepping forward. "We’re here to put an end to it."

Arad chuckled darkly. "You’re just kids. You have no idea what you’re up against. Do you think the Fire Fly Group even cares about you? They won’t lift a finger to help you. And even if you did manage to get in the way of Spider Eyes, Fire Fly would just crush you like the insignificant bugs you are."

James felt a flash of anger but kept his composure. "Maybe. But we’re willing to take that risk. We’re not afraid of you or Fire Fly."