Chapter 2 — The Name Behind the Legend
The man in the gray suit walked through the crowd without saying a word.
People moved aside instinctively.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't threatening anyone.
He didn't need to.
There was something about him that made people uncomfortable.
His name was Victor Kane.
Derek watched him approach.
"Who is that?"
Nobody answered.
Elias did.
"Someone I hoped I would never see again."
Victor stopped several feet away.
For several seconds, the two old men simply stared at each other.
The crowd had gone strangely quiet.
Finally Victor smiled.
"Still alive."
Elias's jaw tightened.
"Unfortunately for you."
Victor laughed softly.
"You haven't changed."
"I have."
"No."
Victor looked at Elias from head to toe.
"You've only gotten older."
Derek stepped between them.
"Can someone explain what's happening?"
Victor glanced at him.
Then smiled.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
Victor pointed toward Elias.
"Ask your opponent who he really is."
Derek looked at Elias.
Elias said nothing.
Victor continued.
"Ask him why a man who spent forty years avoiding competition suddenly appears at a public festival."
Derek frowned.
"Why?"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Because somebody found him."
The words struck Elias like a physical blow.
Derek looked confused.
"Found him?"
Victor nodded.
"After all these years."
Elias turned away.
"Leave."
Victor stepped closer.
"You can't hide forever."
"I already did."
"Not anymore."
The referee approached cautiously.
"Mr. Kane, this event is private."
Victor looked at him.
"I know."
"Then you need to leave."
Victor smiled.
"Tell them who Elias Stone is."
The referee froze.
Elias looked at him.
"Don't."
The referee hesitated.
Victor laughed.
"You see?"
He turned toward the crowd.
"Even now he's protecting them."
Derek was becoming impatient.
"What are you talking about?"
Victor looked at him.
"Your opponent isn't a retired athlete."
"Then what is he?"
Victor's answer came quietly.
"He was one of the greatest combat instructors America ever produced."
The crowd murmured.
Derek laughed.
"That's supposed to scare me?"
Victor didn't smile.
"No."
He looked at Elias.
"That is supposed to warn you."
Derek shook his head.
"I don't believe this."
Elias finally turned toward him.
"You shouldn't."
Derek stared.
"Then tell me the truth."
Elias remained silent.
Derek's frustration boiled over.
"You humiliated me in front of hundreds of people. You made me look like an idiot. Now this guy shows up talking about some secret past."
Elias said quietly,
"I never wanted you involved."
"Too late."
Derek stepped closer.
"Who are you?"
Elias looked at him.
Then at the crowd.
Then toward the American flags behind them.
"My name is Elias Stone."
Derek waited.
"That's it?"
Elias nodded.
"That's all you need."
Victor interrupted.
"No."
Victor looked at the spectators.
"They deserve the truth."
Elias's expression hardened.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I already did."
Victor pulled a small envelope from inside his jacket.
He held it up.
Elias immediately recognized it.
His face changed.
Derek noticed.
"What is that?"
Victor smiled.
"Proof."
Elias took one step forward.
"Don't open it."
Victor stopped.
"Why?"
"Because once you open it, people die."
The crowd went silent.
Derek looked between them.
"What kind of proof?"
Victor didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Elias.
"You remember the night in 1984?"
Elias's eyes darkened.
Derek didn't understand.
But a woman near the barrier suddenly gasped.
She had been listening carefully.
"My father talked about that."
Elias turned toward her.
"What did he say?"
The woman stepped forward.
"He said there was an incident at a private training facility."
Victor nodded.
"He's talking about Blackridge."
The name changed the atmosphere instantly.
Even some of the older spectators seemed to recognize it.
Elias whispered,
"Blackridge was closed."
Victor replied,
"Officially."
Derek stared at Elias.
"What happened there?"
Elias looked away.
"Nothing you need to know."
Victor opened the envelope.
Inside was an old photograph.
He held it up.
The image showed six younger men standing in front of a training facility.
At the center stood Elias.
He looked completely different.
Dark hair.
Straight posture.
Cold eyes.
Beside him stood Victor.
But there were four others.
Derek stared at the photograph.
One man looked familiar.
Very familiar.
He leaned closer.
"That's..."
Victor looked at him.
"Yes."
Derek's face drained of color.
"That's my grandfather."
Elias closed his eyes.
Victor smiled.
"Now you understand."
Derek looked at Elias.
"My grandfather knew you?"
Elias didn't answer.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your grandfather wanted you to forget."
Derek shook his head.
"What happened?"
Elias looked directly at him.
"He betrayed us."
Derek froze.
"My grandfather?"
Victor corrected him.
"He betrayed all of us."
Elias looked at Victor.
"You still don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Your arrival isn't about me."
Victor's smile disappeared.
Elias continued.
"It's about Derek."
Derek stared at them.
"Why me?"
Elias looked toward the black SUV.
Because now another vehicle had arrived.
Then another.
Three dark vehicles.
Security personnel stepped out.
The referee slowly backed away.
Derek whispered,
"What is happening?"
Elias answered.
"They're not here for me."
May you like
Victor looked at Derek.
"They're here for what your grandfather left behind."
