Bully Lord

Part-184

Ryan’s frown deepened. He wasn’t sure if Jeren was telling the truth, but the tone in his voice suggested he might be. The description was vague, but it gave them a starting point. He knew he couldn’t push Jeren much further without risking his life, and he wasn’t here to kill – just to gather information and stop Spider Eyes’ operations.

Ryan pulled back, loosening his grip on Jeren’s chest but keeping him pinned. His eyes remained sharp, reading Jeren’s body language for any hint of deceit. "How many people are there?" he asked.

Jeren took another shuddering breath, the pain still evident in his face. "About fifteen, maybe more. We’ve got lookouts, a few enforcers... It’s not heavily guarded, but enough to cause trouble if you’re not careful."

Ryan nodded slowly. The pieces were starting to come together. Fifteen people wasn’t a small number, but it wasn’t insurmountable either. If what Jeren said was true, they could take down Spider Eyes’ base and cripple their operations before they had a chance to regroup.

Ryan looked over his shoulder at the ongoing fight. James and Dwip were still locked in a brutal confrontation with Arad, but something had shifted. Arad, who had been fiercely resisting just moments before, now lay slumped against the wall, unconscious. His face was bloodied, and his body was limp. James, battered and barely standing, was leaning against Dwip, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Dwip, always quick to observe, looked at Ryan and gave a small nod, signaling that Arad was no longer a threat.

With the situation under control, Ryan turned his attention back to Jeren. "If you’re lying," he said quietly, "I’ll find out. And if I do, I’ll come back for you."

Jeren, still gasping, didn’t reply. His face had paled, and the smirk that had once graced his lips was gone, replaced by fear and exhaustion.

Ryan stood up, releasing his hold on Jeren. He cast a final glance at the beaten man, then turned and walked toward James and Dwip. His steps were steady, but inside, his mind was racing. They had the information they needed, but there was no telling what awaited them at the slum.

As he reached James and Dwip, Ryan took in the scene. James looked utterly exhausted, his clothes torn, and his body bruised, but he was still standing. Dwip, with his usual calm demeanor, was wiping the blood off his knuckles, having delivered the final blow that knocked Arad unconscious.

"Arad’s down," Dwip said, his tone matter-of-fact, though his sharp eyes flicked over to James, concerned about his little friend’s condition.

James nodded weakly, a faint grin on his face despite his exhaustion. "Good... because I’m about to collapse."

Ryan couldn’t help but smirk at James’s comment, but he quickly got back to business. "I got the information we need. Jeren spilled. The base is in the southern slum, a two-story building. About fifteen people guarding it."