One more issue to address

Chapter 5

May 27, 2020. 12 a.m. Lunch time

The female receptionist didn't even get the opportunity to introduce herself properly, as she simply excused herself and went to you to personally explain to Lush Coco what just happened. Ethan just smiled and told her to take a deep breath and clam down, as she was clearly flustered. He reassured her that everything was under control and asked her to take a moment to compose herself before continuing.

As she walked toward the elevator, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't introduced herself. while standing inside the dock service elevator door, when she wanted to mention her name but it was already too late, even if the reception desk where Ethan was located was actually facing him, suddenly closed and the noise from the trucks parking muffled her voice, when the elevator door closed

Ethan wanted to wait but he thinks providing the female receptionist with the basic information and his actual on line link concerning his design was sufficient, and deep down he was just trying to calm down the woman who was really distressed by the situation. Ethan hoped that his gesture would help ease the tension but never expected that they would even look at his portfolio , given that they already rejected him before.

Ethan just like any other day, wonders why he has to do these things; why can't he be just those other people who just do not care, who just go through life without feeling the need to constantly prove themselves? He longed for the simplicity of being content with who he was, rather than always seeking validation from others. When he was still young he would always ask his father about helping others without expecting anything in return. His father simply smiled and said,

"True fulfillment comes from giving without expecting anything back."

This simple yet profound statement left Ethan pondering the idea of selfless acts of kindness and how they can bring true happiness. He wanted to be like his father, finding joy in helping others without any ulterior motives. But sometimes we get more than what he bargains for, at times leading him to suffer in the process and teaching him valuable lessons about the complexities of human nature and the importance of setting boundaries. Ethan realized that while giving without expectation is noble, it is also crucial to prioritize self-care and maintain healthy boundaries in order to avoid burnout and maintain a sense of balance in life.

But it never happens; like, it's already engraved in his bone to help, just like what happened today, but as he drove back toward the warehouse he felt nothing would eventually come out of his small gesture, despite the fact he was a nobody in the design industry. .he was actually getting tired and disappointed in the past few weeks because all his plans didn't go as plan, and he never expected city life and the competitive nature of the design industry to be so draining. However,

The moment he was about to pack his bags and just go back home was miraculously saved save by getting hired at the warehouse that Mr. Ross managed, where he found a sense of purpose and fulfillment in his work. The physical labor and camaraderie with the unexpected introduction to a very powerful and influential man brought him a newfound sense of belonging and motivation to keep pushing forward in his chosen career.

While driving, he came across the same location where he saved the young woman last night and coincidentally stopped at the crosswalk. As the light stopped turning red, the van was on the left side near the side walk, directly exposed at the back alleyway opening. A few men were lingering, eyeing the van with suspicion. This sight immediately made him tense up, as he remembered that the same man he had beat up, the night before was staring at him with a menacing glare.

Baek Hyeon was still seen with bandages on his check and bruises on his arms, evidence of the previous night's altercation. He, along with the three men who were with him in the alleyway, looked in the direction where Baek Hyeon seemed to recognize the person who ruined his face that night , causing Baek Hyeon to dash in Ethan's direction, cursing at him.

Ethan quickly locked his doors and drove just away as soon the traffic light turned green, feeling a sense of unease at the possibility of encountering trouble once again in that area, and he was not about to ruin the van in the process if he had to resort to fending off these individuals. He made a mental note to avoid that alleyway in the future, realizing it was not worth the risk of another confrontation. But it was too late; Baek Hyeon was already following him behind.

This wasn't his first time; he was just annoyed because he had to worry about the van. that was currently the sole property of the delivery company, helping tends to get gain a lot of head ache , Ethan now understood the reason why many people just ignore those who were asking and pleading for help, as he casually view the car following him, it seems these group wont leave him alone, letting them know where works will be a greater issue later on, 

so while driving he recalled a spot where there were no CCTV cameras in the area. Or a blind spot that was safe to park the van and leave it for a few minutes, so Ethan slowed down and made a turn toward the location that was under the train railway bridge that was a few blocks from the warehouse.

It was a good thing that the van did not have any emblems or painted signage to get identified. It was just a white van. The street that was running under the railway bridge was bound to the east side of the city, leading directly toward the seaport docks within half a mile. Unfortunately, the road only has two lines. And the right line was situated at the river bank, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through quickly. This bottleneck could potentially create an accident. So many vehicles just ignore this route.

He parked the van under the railway bridge and just got out and walked toward what seemed to be an old sign post with the name of the street. He stood there as the car that was following him finally reached him. As they saw Ethan waiting for them, Baek Hyeon was able to confirm that he was the guy you beat up. The three men were also Korean and looked like your typical thugs that were seen on Korean dramas.

Ethan was wearing an ordinary navy blue shirt and brown cargo pants. He unpinned his identification card and made sure it was tucked away inside his cargo pants; leaving evidence after a scuffle was not an option. And he casually took off a disposable face mask and wore it.

Baek Hyeon was already standing a few meters away from Ethan; they were the same height but Ethan's physique was more refined as his muscles were more defined because he worked at a farm. The tension between them was palpable as they locked eyes, both ready for the impending confrontation. Baek Hyeon's gaze was steely, a stark contrast to Ethan's calm demeanor.

Baek Hyeon was fruriuos and was speaking in Korean. Ethan just stood there and waited, Baek Hyeon realized he was just an average working class man who was too naive in what he just did.

"휴.. 이 바보랑 얘기하느라 시간낭비 중이야, 저 사람 좀 봐, 쟤 정의로운 노예세력. 불쌍한 사람."

"Sigh.. I am wasting time talking to this fool, Look at him, his just slave force. A poor person "

"하지만 네가 내 얼굴을 쳐서 모든 걸 망쳤다는 건 내가 여기서 너를 불구로 만들겠다는 뜻이야."

"But the fact that you hit my face and ruined everything means I am going to

cripple you right here."

"Jonjung-gwa gyeomson-eul baewoya haeyo."

"You need to learn some respect and humility."

Ethan's voice was a calm counterpoint to the storm brewing in Baek Hyeon's chest. The fact that Ethan could speak Korean, the language of his homeland, ignited a fresh wave of fury in Baek Hyeon. It was as if Ethan's fluent Korean was a personal insult, a mockery of his own heritage. His anger, already simmering, boiled over. 'You think you can talk to me like that?' he spat, his voice laced with venom. His eyes, narrowed with rage, darted to the three towering Korean thugs flanking him, their faces mirroring his hostility. 'Get him!' Baek Hyeon roared, his voice a command that left no room for argument. The three men surged forward, their fists clenched tight, their eyes fixed on Ethan. The air crackled with tension, the silence broken only by the heavy thud of their feet against the hard ground as they moved to carry out Baek Hyeon's brutal order.

Ethan's heart raced as he prepared to defend himself against the onslaught of attackers. Adrenaline surged through his veins, sharpening his focus and quickening his movements in the face of imminent danger. Ethan smiled and stepped back into a defensive stance. The three were just thugs and used force to inflict fear and overwhelm their victims.

The concept of guaranteed success in figthing using martial art or force is a dangerous illusion. Even the most skilled fighters are vulnerable to unexpected attacks or sudden blows that can incapacitate them. The reality of street fights is that they often start with an abrupt barrage of punches that can floor an opponent before they even have a chance to react.

This is why the essence of street fighting can be distilled down to a single imperative: strike first. By initiating the attack, you gain the advantage of controlling the tempo and intensity of the confrontation, increasing your chances of neutralizing the threat before it escalates. However, it's important to note that this does not imply preemptively attacking someone without provocation. Instead, it emphasizes the need for situational awareness and the ability to respond decisively when faced with a sudden and imminent threat.

The counterattack must be smooth and accurate. The force needed to bring down an enemy especially in a three-against-one fight, must be ensured with maximum effectiveness and power. Doubt and hesitation at this moment might lead to his death.

Protecting the enemy was always the last thing on his mind. Because the enemy wasn't concerned about his well being , Ethan Stance was slightly adjusted to have enough room to swing and lean backwards to strike at an angle the second thug wont expect,

As the first thug came at him, Ethan leaned forward, exposing his face and baiting the enemy to strike first. As Ethan calculated the perfect moment to give a left upper cut, he followed with a right hook and a side sweep, delivering a liver strike with his left hand and all his force. With a swift and precise movement, he incapacitated the first thug even before the thug fell to the ground. Before turning his attention to the second, dashing at a low stance,

Ethan gave out short and compact jabs on the second thugs in his stomach while he head-hit the enemy's chest and used the impact to create enough safe distance between them. The second thug was now gasping for air as Ethan quickly assessed his next move. With a calm and focused demeanor, he prepared to defend himself against any further attacks. and as soon as the second thug extended his body upward, Ethan made another elbow strike toward the jaw. The blow landed with precision, causing the thug to stumble back in pain. Ethan took advantage of the opening and swiftly followed up with a powerful kick to the chest, knocking the second thug to the ground.

The third Korean thug saw this and stopped coming close to him, but Ethan tackled him and swung a swing at him while grabbing his waist, and with this Ethan pulled him backward and smashed him to the concrete pavement face first. The impact of the strike left the third thug dazed and disoriented, giving Ethan the opportunity to stop them. With all three thugs incapacitated, Ethan quickly made his way toward Baek Hyeon.

Baek Hyeon saw everything , and his mind could not wrap around what just happened. The poor average man before became a rampaging beat running toward him, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. Baek Hyeon's heart raced as he realized he was now face to face with a someone who he mistakenly thought was a harmless bystander. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, causing him to freeze in fear, but Ethan meanwhile saw he was frozen in fear and has already wet his pant is fear.

After seeing this, Ethan just walked past him and went toward their vehicle. Vehicle, Baek Hyeon could not move when he heard a stabbing jab as air was rushing out. As he turned around, he saw that the man he just insulted was actually carrying a weapon and punctured the tires of his car. But in reality, Ethan just used the van key to open the air valve on their car so to the wont follow him.

But out of fear, Baek Hyeon saw a different picture, leading him to believe he was in danger. Ethan quickly walked back to his van as Baek Hyeon stumbled backwards and raised his arms in a protective posture , as if his life were in danger and he were in a panic state, but Ethan just walked past him, went inside the van, and drove away, leaving Baek Hyeon on the ground in shock,

What he was was not a man but in his eyes, it its a beast pretending to be human. While this was happening, a familiar cat was watching the entire scene unfold from a nearby rooftop, its eyes gleaming with curiosity. The cat seemed to understand more than anyone else present.

At the same time, Monica (Mono) Siegert was sitting on a sofa inside her cousin's office, drinking espresso coffee, and was in a trance state , looking over the city skyline, as if she were watching something very intently. Lush Coco stormed into his office, pissed off as he heard that his 3 well paid artists had just quit.

But Monica was still in a trance.

"Hello! Aren't you going to ask me what just happened, huh?!"

"Quiet. I am busy here!"

"doing what!"

"You are wasting time here, can you stop whatever you are watching and listen to me?"

"God! Such a drama queen!"

"What might be super important? You had to disturb me, huh?"

"WHAT…"

"My three artists just quit their jobs."

"So what? Hire a new one."

"Hire ten if you really want to; stop whining like a child."

"Ask Sonia to hire or get new ones,"

"Where is Sonia, by the way?"

"Ah, about that,"

"you didn't!"

" I kind of demoted her, and placed her at the mall receiving docks, as the receptionist,"

"Dammit, if you were my younger brother , I would have fired you a long time ago for your lack of professionalism."

"Well, lucky for me, I am your younger brother, and you can't get rid of me that easily."

"Shut the hell up,"

"I'm serious, you need to start taking this job more seriously, or I'll have no choice but to find someone else to run things around here."

"Understood, I'll make sure to step up my game moving forward."

When suddenly a knock was heard on the office door, their boss walked in with a stern look on his face, clearly having overheard the conversation. The tension in the room immediately heightened as they awaited her response.

"Hello, Katarine, what brings you down here?"

"Katarine?""

"Who do you think I am, Mr. Arthur Siegert?"

" the President ma'am,"

" SO KINDLY ADDRESS ME AS ONE."

"Director Monica, I heard a very annoying conversation coming from this office. I trust you are taking the necessary steps to ensure nothing fall short from my expectation."

"Yes, ma'am , as we speak, Sonia, the assistant human resources is currently searching for the proper replacement,"

Suddenly another knock at the office door was heard , is was Sonia catching her breath as she saw a very shocking scene it was the president herself, while she was holding the company tablent on hand,

"I apologize for interrupting, but I overheard your conversation. I wanted to address the issue personally and ensure everything is being handled properly,"

"Madam, kindly look at this online portfolio, for a replacement artist that you are looking for,"

Sonia quickly handed the tablet to the president, who examined the online portfolio with great interest. After a few moments, she nodded in approval and thanked Sonia for her proactive approach to finding a suitable replacement artist.

"This is what I am talking about: efficient, and professional. "

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Sonia."

The president then made arrangements to contact the replacement artist and ensure a smooth transition for the company's upcoming project. But this time she chose to work as a contract employee, providing flexibility for both parties and allowing for a trial period before committing to a permanent hire. The president was pleased with Sonia's initiative and foresight in handling the situation.

Then, after she went out of the Lush Coco office and asked Director Monica to follow her up to the conference hall after an hour to discuss the details of the contract with the other project, especially the construction projects for their new building,

"noted madam"

After Katarine left the Lush Coco office, the three of them were able to catch their breath. Her intimidating aura caused Monica and Coco to perspire, and Sonia trembled but smiled at being complimented by the president herself. Monica and Coco exchanged nervous glances, as Monica was unsure of what to expect in the upcoming meeting.