«{ FLASHBACK: 2 Years Ago… }»
Thirty minutes after M.V Athena exploded, Spike called James, informing him about the incident that happened at South Carolina's Coast.
Spike told him everything about the encounter between Catseye and the Joint Task Force against the Azumi Twins and the Dark Knight Organization.
James and Spike were talking over the phone.
"Boss… I am afraid to tell you but… Catseye was killed in that encounter." Spike said to him anxiously, worrying about his Boss's reaction.
There was a moment of complete silence when Spike said that.
After only God knew how long, James's voice was heard again from the other line.
"Come again? What did you say?" He heard it clearly but James was in denial.
"Catseye died in this mission," Spike said as he rephrased his words.
Thud!
The phone slid on his hand as his grasp loosened after hearing the bad news.
James felt miserable at that time. He couldn't believe it. He chose not to believe it.
"No way! She's not dead! She's not!"
After he recovered his wits from that shocking news, James picked up his phone again as he gave his command to Spike.
"Get me the fastest speedboat at South Carolina asap! I'm going there myself to confirm if that news is true.
'I need to see her! This is not true. Elle is alive. She must…' James thought to himself as he rushed out of his study, grabbing his car keys and jacket.
It only took him a ten-minute drive to reach his destination. Spike was very efficient. He was already there with the speedboat, waiting for James's arrival.
They soon departed from the port and went straight to the location where M.V Athena exploded and sank. Coastguards were also there, conducting both rescue and retrieval operations.
As if it was heaven's will, James was the one who found Lu and Elle, floating just kilometers away from the shore. Lu looked very exhausted and already weak when they found them.
Elle was still unconscious and barely alive. Fortunately, Lu succeeded in stopping her bleeding. Her gunshot wounds were not severe and critical. But the main concern was the effect of the toxin on the body of his Lady Boss.
Lu was already exposed to it that's why he felt so weak now. Then his prayer was answered. He was glad that someone found them. He waved his hand to the speedboat approaching them.
James felt relieved the moment he saw Elle. He knew it. She was still alive. Without thinking, James jumped onto the water to personally get her. But Lu immediately stopped him.
"No, don't come near us. You are not wearing any protective gear. We are both infected by bio-weapon. Let me carry her. We need to bring her to the hospital as soon as possible or it will be too late for her. She also has two gunshot wounds at her back. I temporarily stopped the bleeding."
After hearing Lu's statement, Spike quickly reached James's arm just in case he would insist on carrying Elle. The man beside her already said that they were infected by a bio-weapon. It's dangerous.
James didn't protest. They distanced themselves away from both Lu and Elle. With his remaining strength, Lu carried Elle as he climbed on the speedboat.
Spike concentrated on driving the speedboat while James called the best doctors he knew as well as their family doctor. He informed them about the situation.
Their family doctor advised James to bring her to the nearest hospital in South Carolina. Then he would be the one to take care of the rest. The hospital where they brought Elle was the same hospital where Erick was admitted.
Lu still managed to bring her inside the hospital. Upon arrival, they were welcomed by a pool of doctors wearing protective gear. Their quarantined rooms were also prepared.
After putting Elle on the operating bed, Lu turned to James who was following them behind. He borrowed a piece of paper and a ballpen.
"I have one more request. Can you please contact this number and inform him that we are here?" Lu requested James. The number he gave him was the contact number of Master Phantom.
It did not take long after Lu gave James the number, he vomited blood and collapsed in front of them. The doctors immediately carried him on the sickbed and examined him.
James was having conflicting thoughts as he watched the piece of paper in his hand. He didn't know who was the owner of this number. He was thinking that this number belonged to Chief Detective Inspector Erick Lee.
With that thought in mind, James just crumpled the paper and threw it on the garbage bin. He made up his mind. This time, he would be the one to protect and take care of Elle.
After removing the bullets on her body, Elle's condition didn't improve. Both Elle and Lu fell into a coma. The doctors checked their blood sample and they confirmed that there was biotoxin in their systems.
The Arison Family Doctor advised James to bring them to the States where there were more high technology and advanced medicines that could treat the two patients.
He referred him to Dr. Argus, a well-known doctor abroad. James agreed with his suggestion. On the same night, James prepared everything. He even asked Spike to hide this incident from everyone.
He made sure that the hospital would not talk about the two VIP patients who came there tonight. James had already decided on his next moves.
Elle and Catseye were now both dead in the eyes of many. No one should know that she was still alive. Though she didn't pass the critical stage yet, James believed that she would survive this. He won't ever give up on her. Never.
Tomorrow night, he would bring Elle and her savior to the States for their treatment. But before that, James didn't forget to make a move and take revenge against the Dark Knight Organization.
They killed his father and now they tried to harm the woman he loved. He won't forgive nor forget this. The next morning, James summoned the Branch Leaders and high-ranking members of Skull Gang.
He gave an order to directly confront the Dark Knight Organization and launched their attack. That's his first revenge.
On the same night, James left the city Z together with Elle and Lu using his private plane. He would do everything within his power just to make Elle recover.
*** End of Flashback ***