Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

Chapter 103: Apologize to Me

The guards shoved Jax forward, the heavy iron shackles around his wrists and ankles clanking with every step. They dragged him toward the exit, treating him like common trash.

Just as they reached the elevator bank, a soft chime announced an arrival. The polished steel doors slid open to reveal the ninth floor.

Victor stood inside, a lit cigar clamped between his teeth. He froze mid-step, his eyes widening as they landed on Jax, who was trussed up in chains like a dangerous criminal.

The club manager, standing by the wall, also froze when he saw the boss. Panic flickered across his face, and he scrambled forward to hold the elevator door open.

“Chief! You’re here.”

Victor offered a curt nod, but his gaze never left the prisoner. He pointed a finger at Jax, his voice dangerously low. “That is my guest. Would someone like to explain why he’s in chains?”

A sudden silence fell over the corridor. The onlookers, who had been mocking Jax moments ago, stared in disbelief. They hadn’t expected the formidable Chief Victor to claim this nobody as a guest.

“What the hell? Did Chief Victor just call him a guest?”

“Holy shit, I’ve never heard of this guy before. I thought he was just some inner-city punk, but he’s actually VIP?”

“Look at Victor’s face. That isn’t just politeness; that’s panic. This guy must be a heavyweight.”

“We’re done for. Victor is vindictive as hell. Slade and the manager are going to get skinned alive for this.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd as people subtly shuffled backward, desperate to distance themselves from the unfolding disaster. They had been happily adding fuel to the fire just seconds ago, jeering at Jax’s misfortune, but now they feigned ignorance with practiced ease.

The manager’s face went pale, beads of cold sweat erupting on his forehead. “Chief, please, let me explain! This man won the bid for the S1 experimental subject—fifty Tier 3 Cores! But the auction ended, and he couldn’t produce the Credits. We suspect he was trying to scam us. It’s protocol to detain him for compensation!”

Slade stepped in, eager to twist the knife. “Exactly. I can testify to that. This kid is broke but decided to act like a big shot, disrupting the order of your auction house. We were just doing you a favor by arresting him!”

Victor’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint sharpening his gaze. “Forget the protocol. I’m going to hope this has nothing to do with you, Slade, because Jax is my personal guest.”

He reined in his temper, mindful of the business ties between himself and The Helios Syndicate, but his tone brooked no argument.

Slade blinked, stunned. “Chief Victor, are you serious? You’re calling this guy a guest? Don’t be ridiculous, he’s just a pauper from the slums!”

Victor shot him a glare that could cut glass, signaling him to shut up. Then he turned on the guards holding Jax.

“What are you morons staring at? Do I need to unlock those shackles myself?”

The guards scrambled, fumbling for their keys in terror. With a series of clicks, the heavy iron cuffs fell away. Jax rolled his shoulders and rubbed his wrists, offering a faint, easy smile.

“Chief Victor,” Jax said casually. “I admit, I am a little short on funds at the moment. I was wondering if you could lend me a few Credits to cover the bill?”

To everyone’s shock, Victor threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Brother Jax, don’t insult me! We’re partners now. From today on, anything you want in this club is yours. On the house!”

He waved a dismissive hand at the gawking crowd. “Alright, show’s over! The auction is finished. Clear out!”

“Hold on,” Jax interjected smoothly. “It’s not quite over. Someone here insists on settling a score with me.”

He turned his gaze toward the trembling manager and the bewildered Slade. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Manager? And you, Slade?”

The manager felt as if his back was soaked in ice water. Slade, however, was still trying to process how a nobody like Jax had suddenly climbed to the top of Victor’s food chain.

Victor caught the drift immediately. He turned to the manager, his voice dropping an octave. “Why aren’t you apologizing to Brother Jax yet?”

The manager practically folded in half. “Mr. Jax! Sir! I have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please, forgive my stupidity!”

Jax nodded, his expression neutral. “Fine. Just be smarter next time.”

Victor then shifted his gaze to Slade. “And you?”

Slade’s brow furrowed, his pride bristling. “Victor! What is this? You expect me to apologize to him?”

“Are you openly disrespecting me in my own house?” Victor asked softly, the threat hanging heavy in the air.

Slade grit his teeth. He wasn’t the head of The Helios Syndicate yet; he needed Victor’s support to secure his position. Burning this bridge now would cost him the family leadership.

Swallowing his pride, Slade forced the words out through clenched jaws. “My apologies.”

Jax laughed, loud and unbothered. “No worries! Just cross the street next time you see me coming.”

With the nuisance handled, Victor gestured toward the elevator. “Brother Jax, let’s find a quiet place. We have tea to drink and business to discuss.”

Jax nodded, knowing exactly what that business entailed.

He glanced back just as Hazel came storming out of the auction hall, fury radiating from her in waves. She marched right up to them, only stopping when she realized Victor was present.

“Chief Victor,” she snapped, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. “You owe me an explanation!”

Victor frowned slightly. “Miss Hazel? What seems to be the trouble?”

“When I registered for this auction, I made it clear I don’t deal in illegal goods. Yet you put a live experimental subject on the block! That is a breach of contract. And on top of that, your goons kidnapped my friend!”

She turned to check on Jax, expecting the worst.

Instead, Jax grinned and raised his newly freed hands. “I’m good! Just a little misunderstanding. Why don’t we go grab some food?”

Hazel blinked, her momentum crashing into a wall of confusion. “Huh? What is going on?”

Jax leaned in close, whispering into her ear. He quickly summarized the events: the deal with Victor, and his new leverage.

Hazel’s eyes went wide as the realization hit her. She stared at Jax in awe. “You… you actually know Victor now?”

“As of about five minutes ago,” Jax chuckled. “Listen, I need to run to your office first to get Elena. Then I’ll meet you guys.”

“Wait,” Hazel said. “Why do you want me at this meeting?”

“I discussed a partnership with Victor. I want to cut you in.”

Hazel froze. “Cut me in? What do you mean?”

“Don’t you want to break free from The Sterling Syndicate?”

Hazel looked at him, a flicker of desperate hope igniting in her eyes. “You… you figured that out?”

Jax smiled. “It wasn’t hard. I saw the files in your office. Your family deals in mineral resources, and you’re trying to build your own power base, right?”

“Yes,” she admitted breathlessly. “I’ve been trying to separate from the family, but my resources are thin. I need land, and I’m short on Credits. That’s why I’m working here.”

“Well, consider your problem solved. The business I have with Victor needs supply chains. I can help you secure the distribution rights. Call it a thank-you gift for trying to save me earlier.”

Hazel looked at him with immense gratitude, her eyes shimmering. “Really? Jax, thank you. truly.”

“Don’t mention it. You guys go ahead to the meeting. I need to check on Elena.”

Jax turned to Victor. “Tell me where to go. I’ll catch up.”

“Eighth floor, reception room,” Victor replied with a nod.

As the group boarded the elevator, Jax turned and jogged toward Hazel’s private office. Even before he reached the door, he could hear the commotion inside.

“Who are you people? Get the hell out!”

Then came a shrill, effeminate voice. “Miss, you are being unreasonable! We saved you! Not a word of thanks, and now you’re waving a knife around?”

“Please, Miss, don’t worry, we really are here to help!”

“Get out!” Elena screamed, her voice cracking with fear and anger. “I don’t want to see you! I want to go home!”

Jax pushed the door open and strode in.

Elena was cornered against the desk, gripping two silver dinner knives like daggers. She was pointing them shakily at the makeup artist and Hazel’s assistant, looking like a feral cat backed into a corner.

When she saw Jax, she froze. The knives slipped from her trembling fingers, clattering loudly onto the floor.

“Ahem. Your ride is here,” Jax said softly.

Elena let out a wail like a lost child. She vaulted over the coffee table in a single stride, tackling Jax and knocking him flat on his back.

She straddled him, tears streaming down her face, and began hammering her small fists against his chest.

“You bastard! You jerk! Why didn’t you come sooner? I almost died! Do you know how scared I was?”

She pummeled his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, the terror of the kidnapping finally breaking through her defenses.

Jax winced, catching her wrists gently. “Hey, hey! I’m your savior, remember? Is this how you treat a hero?”

He helped her up, rubbing his sore sternum. “Let’s get out of here. Those two aren’t enemies, by the way.” He nodded at the terrified stylist and assistant. “They’re friends.”

After Jax calmly explained the situation, the fight drained out of Elena, leaving her exhausted but safe.