Violet Residence No. 1, one of the top three luxury villa areas in East Sea City, nestled against the mountains and by the water, with lush greenery and an incredibly beautiful environment, like a paradise on earth.

Living here meant you were either rich or powerful!

Campbell Watson stepped out of the taxi and glanced at the golden letters on the gate that read "Violet Residence No. 1." He then walked straight towards the entrance.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop right there! What do you think you're doing?"

The security guard, holding a plastic baton, jogged over and blocked Campbell, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

Campbell was dressed plainly, definitely not someone who lived in Violet Residence No. 1. Besides, the guard had been working here for five years and had never seen him before.

"I'm here to see someone," Campbell replied honestly, standing at the gate.

"See someone? Who?"

Although the guard didn't believe him, he still asked patiently, as a professional should.

"Magnus Nelson."

"Magnus... President Nelson? Kid, are you messing with me?" The guard's demeanor changed instantly upon hearing the name.

This kid must be looking for trouble.

As a security guard at Violet Residence No. 1, he knew exactly who Magnus Nelson was.

Magnus Nelson was the head of one of the top ten wealthy families in East Sea City, the Nelson family, and the founder of SkyRise Corporation, with a net worth in the billions.

Moreover, he was the developer of Violet Residence No. 1!

An ordinary person trying to reach such a big shot? It seemed like a joke.

"Forget it, I won't make it hard for you. I'll call him myself," Campbell Watson said, tired of arguing with the security guard. He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Hello, is this Mr. Watson?"

Soon, a deep male voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yes, it's me, Uncle Nelson. I'm at the gate of Violet Residence No. 1..."

"Ah, Mr. Watson, I'm really sorry. I had sent Promise to pick you up from the airport, but something unexpected came up. My apologies... Promise should be at the gate now. Hold on a moment, I'll call her, and you can come up together," Magnus Nelson arranged over the phone.

"Okay, sure," Campbell replied cheerfully and ended the call.

"You... you really know President Nelson?"

The security guard swallowed hard, now addressing Campbell respectfully.

He had recognized the voice on the phone as Magnus Nelson's, but it was still hard to believe that this ordinary-looking guy actually knew President Nelson.

Moreover, from the tone of President Nelson on the phone, he seemed very polite.

Could this guy be some rich heir who likes to keep a low profile?

Thinking about his earlier attitude and tone, the security guard felt a bit uneasy.

"I don't know him, never met him," Campbell Watson replied casually, then stood quietly to the side, waiting.

Beep beep...

Just as the security guard was about to say something nice, an Audi RS7 pulled in.

"Hey, Wang, what are you standing around for? Lift the barrier... Who's this beggar? Get him out of here, he's an eyesore."

The driver's window slowly rolled down, revealing an arrogant and haughty face.

Campbell turned his head and chuckled.

Well, isn't this a small world? This guy was the same jerk who tried to smother Promise Nelson at the abandoned factory. What was his name again? Berloff Nelson?

"Mr. Berloff, good day..."

Seeing Berloff, the security guard quickly lifted the barrier, nodding and bowing with a fawning smile on his face.

"Are you Campbell Watson?"

At that moment, the passenger door opened, and a stunningly beautiful woman stepped out, her eyes scanning Campbell.

"Miss Promise, good day..." The security guard bent even lower upon seeing the woman.

The woman was none other than Promise Nelson.

She and Berloff had just come from giving their statements at the police station. Since her car was still parked at the airport, she had asked Berloff to give her a ride back.

Just as she reached the gate, she received a call from her dad. He told her that the important guest she was supposed to pick up at the airport was waiting at the security booth and asked her to bring him back.

She initially thought this important person must be quite impressive, but now it seemed otherwise. However, as the head of a corporation, she knew better than to judge someone by their appearance.

So, they quietly sized each other up.

"It's me."

Although she had seen photos of Promise Nelson before, the real person was even more stunning.

"Get in."

Promise Nelson greeted politely but distantly before getting back into the car.

Campbell Watson shrugged, opened the back door, and bent down to get in.

"Hey, hey, hey... Be careful! My seat covers and floor mats are all designer brands, worth thousands... You can't afford to dirty them... Promise, who is he?"

Berloff Nelson was visibly annoyed seeing Campbell sit on his newly bought leather seats.

"He's a distinguished guest invited by my dad."

Promise Nelson explained coldly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Berloff Nelson had no choice but to swallow his remaining words and reluctantly started the car.

Campbell Watson, sitting in the back, glanced at Berloff and Promise, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The security guard watched the Audi drive away and let out a long sigh of relief.

Man, these rich kids are getting more and more creative. Pretending to be poor losers? Looks like I need to be more careful in the future. The city's tricks run deep, and being a security guard is getting tougher by the day.

The security guard shook his head, deeply sighing.

If Campbell Watson knew he was mistaken for some rich young master by the guard, who knows what he would think...

****

Violet Residence, Building No. 1.

The king of the villas, Magnus Nelson's residence.

Driving through the brass gates, the first thing you see is a huge artificial fountain, surrounded by flower beds with various rare flowers and trees. It's like a paradise on earth.

"Hey, we're here. Get out of my car... Damn it, now I have to replace the seat cover!"

Berloff Nelson parked the car in front of the villa and, after Promise Nelson got out, turned his head and shouted at Campbell Watson with a nasty attitude.

Campbell smirked, pushed open the car door, and casually closed it.

Boom!

It was like someone had thrown a grenade under the car.

The brand-new Audi RS7 lifted four or five inches off the ground and then crashed down hard. All the windows shattered instantly, and the car body was severely deformed, emitting a piercing alarm sound.

Not far away, Promise and Magnus Nelson were both startled, thinking they were under a terrorist attack.

As for Berloff, who was sitting in the car, he was so scared by the sudden explosion that he scrambled out of the car in a panic, looking as pathetic as could be.

"You filthy beggar, what did you do to my car?"

In front of Promise Nelson and Magnus Nelson, Berloff Nelson felt utterly humiliated. He couldn't care less about his image anymore and angrily pointed at Campbell Watson, loudly questioning him.

Promise looked at Campbell with a puzzled

expression. The car had been fine just moments ago, so how could it suddenly explode? Could simply closing the car door cause such a massive impact? It seemed too far-fetched.

Promise didn't believe it was human error.

Perhaps there was something wrong with the car.

On the other hand, Magnus seemed to understand, nodding subtly as he looked at Campbell. It appeared this young man was indeed extraordinary.

Facing Berloff's accusations, Campbell looked innocent as he defended himself, "It really wasn't my fault..."

"It was because you, Malik, closed the car door that it exploded! Do you know how much that car is worth? Two million! You worthless beggar, you could never earn that much in your lifetime. How are you going to pay for it..."

"Shut up."

Magnus timely intervened to stop Berloff's rant.

"Mr. Campbell is my honored guest. As for your car, file a claim with the insurance company."

"Uncle..."

"Enough, no more talking. Leave now."

Magnus's stern gaze swept over Berloff, the authority in his eyes silencing him instantly.

Berloff, feeling resentful, shot a venomous glare at Campbell before getting into the deformed Audi. With a puff of black smoke, he left the villa in disgrace.

"This really has nothing to do with me. I just gently closed the car door, that's all."

Facing the gazes of Magnus Nelson and his daughter, Campbell Watson shrugged again, his expression as innocent as could be.

"Haha... Campbell, let's not beat around the bush. Come on, let's go inside and talk," Magnus said with a hearty laugh. He walked down the steps with a big stride and warmly invited Campbell into the villa.

"Such strong killing intent."

Campbell Watson, who had spent years walking the edge of death, keenly sensed that there were at least ten bodyguards hidden around the villa.

These weren't ordinary bodyguards either; they were likely soldiers who had seen combat and bloodshed.

Campbell could feel their cold gazes fixed on him, ready to take him out at the slightest misstep.

With a quick sweep of his peripheral vision, he noted the villa was surrounded by surveillance cameras, leaving no blind spots.

Even he wasn't confident he could silently infiltrate the villa.

Especially concerning was the top floor, where a faint but deeply unsettling aura emanated.

A martial arts grandmaster!

There was actually a grandmaster of the highest level here!

"Damn, that old man tricked me again..."

Campbell instantly regretted his decision.

The villa's formidable security made it clear that this place was far from simple and could very well be life-threatening.

The old man had assured him there was no danger, saying it would be like a vacation, and he had actually believed it...

"Please, have a seat... How is the old gentleman doing?"

Magnus Nelson led Campbell to a redwood sofa in the living room, poured him a cup of green tea, and asked politely.

The old gentleman referred to was Campbell's master.

"Hmm, that old guy is doing well. He eats and sleeps like a champ. He might just live for another thousand years," Campbell Watson said casually, taking a sip of his tea.

Uh...

A thousand years? Only Campbell would dare to say something like that about the old master.

"Haha, you sure know how to joke, my dear nephew," Magnus Nelson laughed heartily, playing along.

Years ago, by a stroke of luck, Magnus had an encounter with that old master. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been able to invite the master's only disciple, Campbell Watson.

Thinking about the old master's almost magical abilities, Magnus felt a wave of admiration and respect wash over him.

"Back to the point, this is my daughter, Promise Nelson. You've met her before.

Honestly, what do you think of her?"

"She's as beautiful as an angel," Campbell replied, glancing at the stunningly cold and beautiful Promise. His assessment was honest.

Although this mission had no payment and was quite risky, at least the person he had to protect was a breathtaking beauty. That was some consolation for Campbell.

"Haha... good, a great first impression. As long as you two spend more time together, I'm sure your feelings for each other will grow," Magnus said with a smile.

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Promise interrupted, unable to hold back any longer.

What did he mean by spending more time together and growing feelings? This sounded like a matchmaking session!

Campbell Watson also looked at Magnus Nelson with a puzzled expression.

"Ahem... What I mean is, since you two will be living together, you should communicate more..."

"Living together? Dad, what do you mean by that?" Promise Nelson quickly caught the key phrase in her father's words.

"Promise, now that you're the CEO of SkyRise Corporation, your status is different. I went through a lot of trouble to get Campbell Watson here. From now on, he'll be your 24/7 personal bodyguard," Magnus explained earnestly.

"What? A 24/7 personal bodyguard? That means I won't have any freedom! Absolutely not!" Promise immediately rejected the idea.

She couldn't stand the thought of having a big guy in black following her everywhere, let alone having no privacy at all.

"Promise, you saw what happened today. If it weren't for your luck, who knows what could have happened? With Campbell by your side, this kind of thing will never happen again. Do you want your dad to worry about you all the time?" Magnus looked at her with a face full of worry and concern, making it hard for anyone to refuse.

Promise's lips moved as if she wanted to argue, but seeing the gray hairs at her father's temples and the worry etched on his face, she sighed and said nothing, reluctantly agreeing.

"That's the spirit. Nephew, I'm entrusting my daughter to you. Take good care of her," Magnus said, turning to Campbell. However, the way he said it sounded a bit odd.

Meanwhile, Berloff Nelson drove his transformed Audi RS7 away from Violet Residence No. 1, feeling increasingly furious.

"Damn it, Magnus Nelson, that old man, yelling at me for the sake of an outsider. It makes me so mad," he grumbled.

"One day, everything the Nelson family owns will be mine!" Berloff Nelson gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination.

"Blue Wolf, that useless idiot, what kind of people does he hire? He can't even handle a simple task like kidnapping a woman. Damn it..."

Berloff pulled out his iPhone and dialed a number saved under 'Blue Wolf.'

"Hello? Blue Wolf... You owe me an explanation for last time, don't you?"

"Mr. Berloff, please rest assured. Last time was a slip-up. I'll hire some better hitmen next time. I promise it won't happen again," a gruff voice responded on the other end.

"Next time? Are you brainless? This failed kidnapping will make Magnus Nelson even more cautious. It'll be even harder to get him next time..." Berloff snapped angrily.

"Yes, Mr. Berloff, you're right. I have some things to take care of, so let's leave it at that for now. Maybe you can come to the bar later, and I'll apologize properly," Blue Wolf replied nonchalantly before hanging up.

"What the hell? That bastard hung up on me?" Berloff fumed. He tried calling back, but the phone was already turned off, making him so angry he nearly smashed his phone.

"Damn it!"

Berloff pounded the steering wheel in frustration, feeling incredibly annoyed and irritable.

He had originally planned to have the Blue Wolf Gang teach that pesky beggar a lesson, but now it seemed like that would have to wait...

****

Old Temple District, Royal Clubhouse, Blue Wolf Gang Headquarters.

The gang leader, Blue Wolf, sat in a leather chair, taking a deep drag from his cigar and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. His fierce, wolf-like eyes were hidden in the haze, flickering in and out of view.

"Damn it, who the hell does he think he is, talking to me like that? If it weren't for the fact that you're still useful to Mr. Finnegan, I'd have slapped you to death already..."

Blue Wolf glared at the phone on the table, his eyes filled with a murderous glint. He shouted towards the door, "Tyrell, get in here!"

A lean, dark-skinned young man pushed the door open and entered.

The young man had a cold expression, his eyes sharp as knives, exuding a wolfish aura.

"Boss, you called?" Tyrell's voice was like a knife scraping against metal, sending chills down one's spine.

"Within three days, find the leader of the West Hill Five Ghosts and take him out.

Make sure it's clean, no loose ends."

Blue Wolf leaned back in his chair, issuing his orders.

"Understood."

Tyrell nodded, asked no questions, and left the Royal Clubhouse with his mission...

Meanwhile, in the East Sea City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Team meeting room, the air was thick with smoke.

A dozen elite officers wore grave expressions as they silently flipped through the files in their hands. The atmosphere was heavy, like the calm before a storm.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

The stern-faced Captain of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Hartman, sat at the head of the table. His right index finger tapped lightly on the table while his left hand massaged his temples, his forehead furrowed deeply.

After a moment, he stopped tapping and spoke in a deep voice, "You've all read the case files. Every person listed here is notorious in the Western underworld, with countless murders to their names. Their sudden appearance in East Sea City must have a purpose."

"However, they entered legally under the guise of a business inspection. We can't forcibly expel them. Our orders are to keep a close watch on them and ensure they don't cause any trouble. Understood?"

Hartman stood up, leaning forward with his hands on the table, his authoritative and piercing gaze sweeping over the assembled officers.

"Understood!" The officers straightened up and shouted in unison.

"Good. You'll be divided into five teams. Each team will select their targets and begin surveillance. Remember, these individuals are extremely dangerous. Do not engage them directly. If you notice anything unusual, report to headquarters immediately. Is that clear?"

"Clear!" The officers responded loudly again.

Hartman nodded, instructing his subordinates to form teams and choose their targets. He then sat back in his chair, exhaling smoke, a hint of worry appearing on his resolute face.

These adversaries were not ordinary criminals. Given the capabilities of the Criminal Investigation Unit, a direct confrontation would likely result in significant casualties.

Hartman was actually quite dissatisfied with the city government's decision. For the sake of political achievements, they had ignored the dangerous identities of these individuals and allowed them entry, essentially inviting wolves into their midst.

If things got out of control, East Sea City could be plunged into chaos and bloodshed.

Therefore, he had already contacted the Armed Police Unit. The armed police and SWAT teams were on standby 24/7, ready to act at a moment's notice.

The officers quickly divided into groups and selected their surveillance targets. Captain Hartman gave a final reminder before letting everyone collect their gear and start the operation.

"Brooke, hold on a second."

As everyone left the office, Hartman called out to Brooke from the crowd.

Due to the recent incident, the criminal investigation team was short-handed, so Hartman temporarily reassigned Brooke back to the team.

"You're not going on surveillance. There's a kidnapping case today, right? I need you to handle it. We're short on people, so I can't assign anyone to help you. Can you manage on your own?"

Hartman handed Brooke the file on Promise Nelson and spoke in a serious tone.

"Really? Captain, you're really giving me this case?"

Brooke's eyes lit up with excitement. She preferred solving cases over the monotonous task of surveillance.

Hartman nodded, his expression stern.

"Brooke, the perpetrators this time are the notorious West Hill Five. Four of them are dead, but their leader is still alive and might be hiding somewhere in East Sea City, waiting for a chance to strike. Also, the person who killed the kidnappers is a formidable character. Be very careful while investigating. Don't take unnecessary risks.

If you need help, ask for backup immediately. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Captain. I'll be extremely careful."

Brooke picked up the file and saluted with a cheerful smile. "Captain, do you have any other instructions? If not, I'll get to work..."

"Go ahead, but be sure to stay safe..."

Hartman waved her off, though he couldn't help but give one last piece of advice.

"Captain, you can trust me completely... I'm heading out now."

Whether Brooke heard Hartman's warning was unclear, as her mind was already focused on the case.

Hartman sat alone in his office, his weathered and worried face barely visible through the swirling smoke. His heart was uneasy, a nagging feeling that something bad was about to happen.

It had been many years since he last felt this way...

Promise Nelson left Violet Residence No. 1 with Campbell Watson, her expression icy and her entire demeanor radiating a "stay away" vibe.

She couldn't believe her dad had forced a male bodyguard on her-yes, a personal, 24/7 bodyguard.

This meant that this stranger would be moving into her private villa, invading her life. The thought of having a strange man's eyes on her all the time made her feel uncomfortable and annoyed.

"Campbell Watson, right? Listen up. I only agreed to my dad's request to keep him from worrying. It's just a temporary measure. I don't need a bodyguard, got it?"

Promise said as she drove her dad's Porsche, barely out of the villa gates, eager to lay down the law with Campbell, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

"Got it," Campbell replied casually, while admiring the luxury car.

Promise shot him a surprised glance.

She had expected a lot of back-and-forth, but he agreed so easily.

Well, that was good. It would make parting ways easier and less awkward for everyone.

"Okay, where do you want to go? I can drop you off," she offered, feeling a bit better about the situation. It was rare for her to offer a ride.

But Campbell's next words froze the smile that had just started to form on her face.

"Of course, to your villa at Sandalwood Palace. Your dad said I should protect you 24/7."

Campbell emphasized "24/7" and "personal" with a deliberate tone.

"Are you messing with me?" Promise's eyebrows knitted together, her voice cold with a hint of anger.

Was this guy serious? Was he making fun of her?

"Miss, protecting you is my duty. Until the contract expires, I will strictly follow it. Do you understand?" Campbell Watson said firmly.

Promise Nelson took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. She asked coldly, "Fine, then tell me, how much did my dad pay you?"

"That's confidential. I can't disclose that."

"You... Fine. How about this? I'll give you an extra million. You can do whatever you want, and I'll cover for you. My dad won't know you didn't fulfill the contract. OK?"

Promise parked the car under the shade of a tree and turned to Campbell, offering him the deal directly.

"You're insulting my profession," Campbell replied, raising an eyebrow and rejecting her offer seriously.

Promise smiled faintly, showing the confidence of a businesswoman. She said slowly, "Getting paid twice and doing nothing-such opportunities don't come often. You should think it over."

"Miss, do you know how much I earn for a single mission abroad? At least five million dollars, and I take jobs based on my mood," Campbell said with a smirk.

Hmph... So he just wants more money, Promise thought with a cold smile. She had initially believed her dad's bodyguard might be different, but now she saw he was just like the others.

"Three million, that's my final offer," Promise said coldly, losing the last bit of respect she had for Campbell.

"Deal. Here's my bank card. Transfer the money," Campbell replied.

As soon as Campbell Watson heard "three million," his face lit up with a smile. He quickly pulled out a recently issued bank card and handed it over.

Promise Nelson felt a strong disdain for him but didn't say anything. She simply took out her phone and transferred the three million.

"The money's been transferred. Now get out."

"Tsk tsk, rich people sure are generous. Just like that, three million. Thanks a lot," Campbell said, grinning from ear to ear as he carefully put away his bank card.

Over the years, all the commissions he earned had been taken by his old master.

This bodyguard job was just his master's way of repaying a favor to Magnus Nelson, and he didn't get a single cent. He had less than fifty bucks left and was worried about money. Now, with just a few words, he had swindled three million. No more worries about living expenses.

Promise Nelson's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at Campbell with the corner of her eye. Her tone was icy as she barked, "Hey, I've given you the money. Why are you still sitting here? Get out!"

"Miss, you probably don't understand. Our profession has its own ethics. This three million is your apology for insulting my profession. Drive, back to the villa," Campbell said, patting the pocket with his bank card and leaning back comfortably in his seat.

"What do you mean? What apology? We agreed that you'd take the three million and leave. Now you're going back on your word?" Promise's face turned frosty, and the temperature inside the car seemed to drop several degrees.

Campbell sat up slightly, looking at Promise with a serious expression. "Miss, this three million is compensation for the insult to my professional integrity. Do you understand? And did I ever agree to leave after taking your three million?"

"..."

Promise felt like a herd of wild animals was stampeding through her mind.

Compensation for your integrity, my foot!

She had never seen someone so shameless.

Even with her good upbringing, she couldn't help but want to curse.

"Drive. I'm not leaving until the contract expires, unless you convince your dad to end it early," Campbell Watson said, crossing his arms with a smug look. This infuriated Promise Nelson, making her grit her teeth.

That jerk had the nerve to trick her and swindle three million dollars from her. She had never suffered such a loss before, and for someone who controlled a publicly listed company, this was an utter humiliation.

"You'll regret this, I promise," Promise said through clenched teeth, glaring at Campbell. She angrily stepped on the gas pedal and sped off.

She knew that the three million was as good as gone. The grudge between them was now set in stone. As she drove, her mind raced with plans on how to get back at him.

Meanwhile, Campbell sat in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, feeling incredibly pleased with himself. Three million dollars was a huge sum for him at the moment.

Should he hit up a bar tonight or get a massage?

****

At Violet Residence No. 1, Building 8, just after Campbell and Promise left, a burly man with thick eyebrows and a broad chest came down the stairs.

"President Nelson, is he the expert you hired to protect your daughter?" The man sat heavily on the couch, his voice deep and filled with undisguised disdain.

The man was Sebastian, the leader of the Action Group of the Ninth Bureau of Celestial Nation, also known as Ember Gate. This was the most secretive military organization in Celestial Nation, recruiting numerous martial arts experts to safeguard the nation's peace.

Sebastian was one of the top five commanders under Master Huston, the first war general, and a Grandmaster of the Earth level. He held the rank of Major General.

Recently, Magnus Nelson's bio-research department invented a technology capable of refining biological genes, which drew significant attention from the government.

Once perfected, this technology could be the most groundbreaking advancement in the field of biological genetics.

Somehow, word got out, and major foreign organizations also set their sights on this technology. Thus, Ember Gate specifically assigned Sebastian to protect Magnus and his research team, ensuring the technology didn't fall into foreign hands.

Promise Nelson, Magnus's only daughter, was someone Sebastian initially wanted to assign his own people to protect. However, Magnus insisted on finding someone himself.

Sebastian thought Magnus would hire some renowned martial arts expert, but to his surprise, Magnus chose an utterly ordinary person.

Sebastian couldn't see anything impressive about the guy. Despite his disdain, Magnus only smiled faintly and didn't argue.

"President Nelson, let me assign someone to protect your daughter.

This technology is crucial, and I don't want to give the enemy any opportunity," Sebastian suggested again.

"General Sebastian, thank you for your concern, but I don't want to involve my daughter. Besides, I believe Campbell Watson can protect her well. This matter is settled," Magnus replied, his tone polite but firm.

Sebastian felt a bit annoyed, but remembering his superiors' instructions, he suppressed his anger. He left with a final remark, "President Nelson, if anything happens, the consequences will be on you," and then turned to head back to the top floor of the villa.

"Franc, I need you to investigate that kid's background thoroughly... If anything seems off, take him out." Back at the top floor of the villa, Sebastian made a phone call.

There was no way he would let some random person protect Promise Nelson.

If the enemy captured Promise as leverage, the consequences would be dire.

He would never let that happen...