Chapter 2 Within Inches

Dominik studied the letter in his hands, his lips quivering intensely. Ruby was his childhood friend.

Even in their youth, Ruby was quite the beauty, and he suspected she had only become more elegant over time.

Cormac's words were so stern that Dominik was left with no choice but to heed his requirement.

The following morning, the prisoners cheerfully bid Dominik farewell from Phantom Prison. With the departure of this horrible prison guard, who was like a demon in their eyes, they were free to engage in their usual antics.

"I'll be back anytime. Make sure to note down any troublemakers while I'm gone. Record every single offense!" Dominik instructed those prison guards, smiling broadly.

The previously boisterous prisoners fell silent, each shivering slightly.

Dominik gave a few known troublemakers a sharp look, scoffed, and walked away from Phantom Prison, where he had spent over a decade. He then boarded a plane bound for Zlexvale.

"Why must I run into her again?!" Dominik grumbled as he entered the first-class cabin and saw that one of the eight seats was taken by Sylvia, whom he had recently encountered.

Sylvia, now in black casual attire instead of her usual military uniform, still radiated a commanding presence.

On seeing Dominik, Sylvia appeared slightly shocked, shook her head subtly, and chose to remain quiet.

"Didn't Miss Hewitt explain to you already? You and she are from different worlds. Why follow her onto this plane?" Sylvia's assistant, Trudy Curtis, whispered irritably, her face betraying her frustration.

Dominik paused, a flicker of contempt crossing his face as he took out a magazine, ignoring the two women entirely.

Sylvia frowned. She had little patience for men who clung to the past.

When they had met at Phantom Prison's entrance, Dominik kept silent. Now, he secretly followed her onto the plane cheekily, which made her disdain for him grow.

A man should know when to let go and move on!

Suddenly, three men burst into the cabin, brandishing handguns at Sylvia.

"General Hewitt, arresting our boss has caused us considerable trouble!" the leader declared with a malicious grin, disengaging his weapon's safety.

The passengers in the first-class cabin were all stunned. How on earth did these three manage to smuggle guns onto the plane?

Dominik glanced at the gunmen, then casually picked up his magazine again, acting as if he were suddenly blind to the danger.

Trudy turned pale with shock. She hadn't expected Whisker's henchmen to be so audacious as to board the plane!

She glanced at Dominik, who was positioned out of the gunmen's direct line of sight. If he acted now, they could potentially turn the situation around.

However, Dominik remained detached, seemingly captivated by whatever was in the magazine.

"This useless coward! It's fortunate that Miss Hewitt called off their engagement!" Trudy complained in her heart contemptuously, though her anxiety mounted.

Sylvia spoke up, her voice steady. "Oh? It seems not all of Whisker's men were caught by me? Or perhaps there are others backing him?"

The leader of the gunmen sneered. "General Hewitt, you shouldn't worry about that. Just come with us quietly!"

Trudy cast another hopeful look at Dominik, thinking that their only chance depended on his intervention.

"What a coward!" Trudy muttered under her breath, frustrated as Dominik didn't even glance their way.

Sylvia faced the three dangerous men directly, a slight smile playing on her lips. She said, "Do you know the saying from the martial arts world of Sruburgh-'one could be killed easily within inches'?"

The men's faces tensed, and they barked, "Cut the talk! If you don't want to die, come with us now!"

As they finished their threat, Sylvia leaped from her seat like a bolt of lightning. She moved with incredible agility, disarming one man in a swift motion while her palm struck his throat. A crisp snap echoed as he collapsed to the floor. Before the second could react, he was down, struck on the forehead, his fate uncertain.

The third assassin, seizing his chance, aimed his gun.

Dominik glanced at him. Any delay to the flight would be inconvenient.

Dominik flicked his finger and tapped the assassin's lower back lightly. The sudden, intense pain caused the man to faint, his finger slipping off the trigger he was about to pull.

In the next moment, Sylvia's long leg swept through the air, striking the assassin's head and sending him crashing to the floor.

To the onlookers, it appeared Sylvia had single-handedly subdued the three dangerous men effortlessly.

Trudy was astonished. She had not expected Sylvia to take down three armed men so swiftly and without endangering any bystanders.

"I apologize for the alarm," Sylvia addressed the cabin with a slight bow and a reassuring smile. "I will arrange for this to be handled promptly. It won't delay our flight."

One passenger recognized her and exclaimed, "Aren't you General Sylvia Hewitt? The newly rising star of our country, hailed as the Goddess of War!"

"Indeed, you are General Hewitt. It's an honor to share a flight with you," another passenger added.

With a laugh, another chimed in, "With General Hewitt aboard, this flight couldn't be safer! Just a minor hiccup; there's no need for concern, General Hewitt."

Once Sylvia was recognized, a wave of praise swept through the cabin.

Soon, military personnel arrived to escort the subdued assailants away, ensuring the flight proceeded without further delay.

Trudy cast a disdainful glance at Dominik. She thought little of his inaction.

Sylvia addressed Dominik calmly, "We are not from the same world. Stop following me; it won't change my mind."

Trudy sneered. "If you keep clinging to Miss Hewitt, don't expect any mercy from me!"

These words drew everyone's attention, and they looked at Dominik with disdain.

Dominik, however, ignored the sarcastic remarks. As long as his flight wasn't delayed, he was content.

Upon arriving at Zlexvale Airport, he promptly disembarked with his luggage.

"Huh? What's this?" Trudy noticed a letter on Dominik's seat and handed it to Sylvia.

Sylvia glanced at the letter and paused, a smile spreading across her face. "He wasn't following me; he came for another woman. It's better this way. He should now see clearly that we are different. After today, he should let go of any lingering thoughts."

As Dominik stepped out of the airport, he recognized a familiar figure.

"Mr. Gilbert!" he called out, a smile breaking across his face.

The surrounding passengers were visibly shocked.

"Who is that? Am I seeing things, or is that Bruce Higgins, the richest man in Zlexvale?"

"Mr. Higgins is bowing to a young man? Could he be someone significant from Frutshire?"

"My goodness, Bruce is always so arrogant and lofty. Who could be worthy of such respect from him? This young man must be someone special..."

Dominik chuckled and climbed into Bruce's Rolls-Royce.

As Sylvia stepped out of the airport gate, a luxury Rolls-Royce whizzed past her. She caught a glimpse of a familiar figure through the window.

"What? That must be my imagination." Sylvia laughed to herself. Dominik, ousted from the Gilbert family, couldn't possibly be riding in such a luxurious car.