Interwined Fates.

Marcus looked at David's immobilized body, for a moment he wondered if he had created a too cruel illusion for the man. On the other hand, knowing the character of Elena's husband, Taubert was sure that from now on he would think twice before risking his life.

According to Marcus, David had to learn to protect not only his family but also himself, given the consequences of his possible death for Elena. This woman was too valuable, and if someone wanted to be with her, he had to prove his suitability for this.

These guys demanded a good portion of discipline, and Marcus's educational methods were justified. At least according to Marcus himself.

And the one who needed such an upbringing most was Rick.

Marcus looked at his servant, who had been meekly obeying for several years. It was hard to predict what Stein was thinking from his facial expression, but the tension in the man's body did not escape Marcus's eyes.

"It seems to me that my order was quite clear. You don't seem to hurry up to fulfill it, do you?" said Taubert in a slightly annoyed voice, making it clear that he did not intend to wait long before Rick got down to action.

Daniel took a step back and stood in a defensive pose, his relative advantage was that he had sparred with David many times and could have guessed how strong his current opponent was.

In normal condition, Rick and David were at about the same level, but now that the man's mind was turned off, Rick was unpredictable.

"I do not understand, what is the use of my death? You will not get anything from this," Daniel said to Marcus, not taking his eyes off Rick, walking in his direction at a slow pace, like a predator.

"You're right, young man. You have nothing to do with it," Marcus yawned and leaned on a large stone, like on a bar stool, "Your friend disobeyed me, and as a result crossed the line, the return from where is highly unlikely. I generously give him the last chance to make his choice, but I am no longer sure that this will help him."

Daniel didn't really understand what kind of crossed line they were talking about, but Rick's eyes, which were turning redder every second, caused growing concern in the man.

"Richard, kill him."

Rick rushed to Daniel at the speed of lightning, the man barely managed to bounce to the side and avoid a direct hit.

The enemy did not use teleportation, but his movements, even without this skill, were at the limit of human capabilities.

'Damn, this is very, very shitty,' Daniel dodged Rick's punches as best he could, but his counter punches were like an attempt of an inexperienced teenager to engage in a fight with a sports master.

Daniel always had a strong physique and good strength and dexterity, even among professional athletes there were those who could not prevail over him. But when it came to people like David or Rick, Daniel's options were limited. In the end, he was not the owner of such super powers and could rely solely on his body.

"Does it just seem to me, or are you holding back, Richard? You easily got rid of a whole group of bandits in a matter of minutes, why still could you not cope with one single person?" Marcus looked at Armand, the man was still unconscious, but Taubert determined with his eyesight that his brother would soon wake up. Breaking his neck the second time to gain time, even for Marcus, was too much.

"Tsk, who would have thought that Daniel would be such a strong opponent. You twice refused a woman in his favor, and even now you are showing weakness. I won't be surprised if your daughter considers him dad instead of you, hahaha," Marcus's loud laugh filled the air, Rick's movements accelerated at that very second. Daniel did not have time to take a better position and missed a powerful blow right in the chest.

"Damn you, Rick! Don't you see that he is deliberately provoking you?!"

Daniel's angry gaze had no effect on Marcus's mood, he became even more inspired and continued to poke Rick in his sore spots, "Ahaha, baby Riri is apparently so absorbed in himself that he has already lost touch with reality. Hey, Riri, do you want to tell your friend a story about one little blond girl named Corey?

She was waiting for you so much, poor little girl, but you chose to leave her then. No wonder she found solace in the arms of another man."

Rick's eyes were bloodshot, in the blink of an eye, he quickly grabbed Daniel by the neck and with all his might hit the man on the ground. The blow was so powerful that Daniel felt something crackle in his chest, he couldn't breathe, his eyes darkened.

He grabbed Rick's hand with one hand, which was squeezing his throat, and with the other hand touched his forehead, "God damn it, come to your senses, finally!" Daniel used his last powers to plunge into the man's mind and was shocked when Rick's childhood pictures flashed before his eyes.

He saw through the man's gaze a little girl standing near the entrance to the hotel and waiting for someone. Her mother was next to her, but the girl did not calm down until her attention was attracted by a passing teenager.

"What the hell?!" Daniel completely forgot about this moment from his childhood, it turned out that their fates were intertwined even then. Corey at that moment was only a little older than Ashley, but now, having seen Rick's memories, Daniel remembered that day as if it was yesterday.

"Thanks for the help," Rick loosened the grip on Daniel's throat, the man's eyes were still red, but there were small blotches of blue on the retina, "I will use this thing, ok?" He winked and pulled a silver fluid syringe from Daniel's breast pocket.

Marcus watched the situation with all attention, but this sudden change of events was so unexpected that Rick took him by surprise.

As Stein disappeared from his sight, Marcus immediately bounced to the side, feeling a blow directed at his back.

"Hmm, got a little better, Richard?" Marcus smirked, but from the look of Rick, he realized that something was wrong. The man felt a strange tingling on his neck, he raised a palm to his skin, fingertips clearly touched the trace of a puncture. "What the?!" This was clearly not part of his plans.

Rick smiled mysteriously, playing with an empty syringe between his fingers, inside which were visible the remnants of a silvery liquid, "Well, how does it feel?"

For the first time in many years, Marcus felt what became a vague memory for him. His legs and body were heavy as if all his strength had left him in an instant, his vision had faded and his hearing was dull, all his senses had lost their brightness by several times.

"Ungrateful bastard, what did you inject me with?!" The current situation for Marcus was extremely critical, if he knew that he would get to this, he would not bother trying to save the life of this problem person.

"Who? Me? Ungrateful?" Rick opened his eyes as if Marcus's words had wounded him in the heart, but the next moment his eyelids almost closed in one line, the corners of his lips turned up. He stretched out his palm, a small light in its center gradually grew, transforming into a bright flame,

"Do not worry, I will now gladly show you how 'grateful' I am for all that you have done, Mas-ter."