Chapter 3
A secret only the squad and Captain Carter would know?
I closed my eyes. Countless memories swirled in my mind.
We were at the training base, totally wasted, hugging each other and belting out army songs.
We were in the jungle, splitting the last ration bar between us.
When things got deadly, we never thought twice about taking a bullet for each other.
Were these really secrets?
No. That was just everyday life for us. That kind of trust and instinct was etched into our very bones.
What Dereck needed was an anchor point, the one thing that could prove who I really was, something no one else could fake.
I opened my eyes and looked at him.
I said, "The final test to join the squad.
"Captain Carter dumped the ten of us on a deserted island.
"There was no food, no water, just a single combat knife.
"The mission was to survive for seven days and walk out alive."
Dereck listened quietly, not interrupting.
I continued, "By the sixth day, everyone was at their breaking point.
"The ten of us split into small groups, each one watching the others like hawks, ready to fight over whatever scraps we could find.
"The ugliest side of human nature was laid bare on that island, except for me and one other guy.
"No matter what happened, we never turned on each other.
"We found water, hunted for food, and survived the toughest days.
"On the seventh day, right before we made it out of the jungle, we ran into another group.
"They'd gone completely feral, coming at us like rabid beasts.
"He took a blow to the back of his head from a rock just to give me a chance to escape."
My voice shook as I spoke, "I hauled him out of there on my back.
"When we finally stumbled out of the jungle, Jack was already waiting for us.
"He just stood there, watching me carry my barely-breathing partner, not saying a single word.
"He just quietly passed me a cigarette.
"That was my first cigarette ever.
"And it was the roughest drag I've ever taken in my life."
I was done.
Dereck didn't say anything for a long moment.
His eyes were rimmed with red.
"What was his name? The one you carried out?" he asked.
"Harry Hall," I said. "Codename: Blade-03.
"He was burned alive in that car fifteen years ago to protect me."
Dereck closed his eyes and let out a long, shaky breath.
It was like he'd just let go of all the weight he'd been carrying.
"That's enough," he said. "Jack never told anyone about this."
"After Harry died, I went through his belongings. In his diary, I found this entry," Dereck said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Welcome back, comrade Kevin Knight," he said.
That single word "comrade" hit me like a punch to the gut. I broke down, tears streaming down my face.
I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let a sound escape.
Men wouldn't cry easily unless the pain cut deep.
Dereck gave me all the time I needed to pull myself together.
Then he steered the conversation back on track.
"What else do you know about Phantom?" Dereck asked.
I shook my head.
"He was always cautious. It was like he barely existed in the squad," I replied.
"There was nothing special about his looks. He always kept to himself. He was the kind of guy you'd never notice unless you were really paying attention.
"If it weren't for that final shot, I honestly wouldn't even be able to picture his face."
"What happened after the ambush?" Dereck pressed.
I replied, "Our squad was scattered.
"I watched Captain Carter take a bullet and drop right before my eyes.
"I saw Phantom grab the briefcase straight from Captain Carter's hands.
"I went after him, fought him tooth and nail, desperate to wrest the list back.
"But he set off explosives he'd planted ahead of time.
"The shockwave threw me clear, and I blacked out.
"When I came to, I was in a place I'd never seen before.
"It was members of the Black Lotus Cartel who found me.
"Their leader told me he was impressed by my skills and wanted me to join them.
"I realized it was the only way I could survive and keep my mission going.
"So I said yes. I became Karson White.
"It took me five whole years to claw my way up from just another nobody to his trusted right-hand, the cartel's number two.
"For the next ten years, I kept digging in the shadows, chasing any lead I could find on Phantom and that list."
"Did you ever get anywhere?" Dereck asked.
"Yeah." I nodded. "After Phantom got the list, he never handed it over to the Black Lotus Cartel.
"He used it to squeeze those protectors, milking them for everything he could.
"He turned into a king in the shadows, running a criminal network way bigger and deeper than the Black Lotus Cartel ever was.
"The Black Lotus Cartel was just a piece on his chessboard, something he dangled out in the open for everyone to chase.
"A while back, the Black Lotus Cartel got torn apart in a brutal turf war and was wiped out by another force.
"I was the last one standing, the second-in-command. They tossed me to the authorities like some prize catch, a war trophy for the cops.
"All of it was orchestrated by Phantom.
"He wanted to use the police to finish me off, to erase the last witness who could expose him."
"Kill two birds with one stone," Dereck muttered, his expression so grim it felt like the air could crack. "Cold and efficient."
"Where's the list now?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. "That list is Phantom's ace in the hole. He'd never let anyone else lay eyes on it.
"But after all those years in the Black Lotus Cartel, I managed to piece together part of it by chasing every scrap and rumor I could find."
Dereck's eyes sparkled with sudden interest.
"Where's the list?" he pressed.
"It's all up here," I said, tapping my temple.
"That's exactly why Phantom wants me dead," I added.
Dereck paced back and forth in the room.
Clearly, the news had left him stunned and torn.
I was the only living witness who could testify against Phantom.
I was also the only one with part of the list stored in my head.
My value was beyond measure.
But my identity was a ticking time bomb.
Phantom sent me to the execution site once, so he could easily do it again.
"Kevin, you have two options now," Dereck said, stopping and looking me in the eye.
"First, we'll give you a brand new identity and send you somewhere nobody knows you, so you can live out your days in peace. The government will make sure you're taken care of, with the highest compensation."
"Second." He took a deep breath and added, "You can keep going with your mission.
"Find Phantom, recover the list, and get justice for your fallen brothers.
"But this time, you won't be fighting alone anymore.
"The entire nation stands behind you.
"But you need to understand. This road is even more dangerous than the fifteen years you spent in the Black Lotus Cartel."
He didn't give me a chance to hesitate because he knew I didn't need to think twice.
I replied, "I'll take the second one.
"I want to nail Phantom to the wall of shame myself.
"For Captain Carter, for Harry, for every member who gave their life, I'll get justice for them all."
Dereck stared at me, then gave a firm nod. "Good.
"From now on, your codename is no longer Blade-07.
"Your new codename is Swordbearer.
"That blade, locked away for fifteen years is yours to raise.
"What do you need?"
"I need someone," I said. "Ryan.
"He hasn't forgotten the Blade squad, and he still burns with that fire.
"I want him as my contact."
"Alright," Dereck replied, not missing a beat.
I added, "And I've still got some people in the Emerald Triangle.
"They're my contingency plan, the ones I've kept in place for the past fifteen years.
"I need to reach out to them."
Dereck's eyes widened for a moment, then the surprise faded into recognition.
Anyone who managed to survive and climb the ranks in the Black Lotus Cartel was bound to have some hidden cards.
"Where's your network now?" he asked, cutting right to the chase.