Chapter 598 Spar with Sidney
Upon hearing the news, they all showed strange expressions. Just as Sidney was mentioned, he arrived.
"Invite him in," Rolf said without missing a beat.
Sidney's sudden appearance at the National Security Agency sent a ripple of tension through the room. The top brass exchanged uneasy glances—this wasn't going to be good.
Sidney was a medium-built man, dressed in a neat military uniform, looking very imposing. Just standing there, he was like a tower.
When he spotted Rolf and the crew, he flashed a smile, stepped up, and shook Rolfs hand. "Mr. Tackett, sorry to drop in like this."
Rolf grinned right back. "Cut it out, Sidney. We're glad you're here."
After a quick round of small talk, Rolf cut to the chase. "So, Sidney, what brings you to the National Security Agency this time?"
Sidney didn't beat around the bush. "Heard you guys snagged a new instructor who's a real martial arts hotshot. I wanted to check him out."
No sugarcoating—he laid it all out there. Despite not being some hulking giant, Sidney was known in the military for his fierce, fight-loving streak. That's how he earned his rep as a true martial arts nut and shot up the ranks to become a top soldier at a young age.
Rolf raised an eyebrow . "Sidney, you're always in the loop. Mr. Smith just got here, and we haven't even made it official yet, but you're already on it."
Sidney chuckled. "What can I say? Martial arts is my thing. When a pro joins the ranks, I hear about it fast."
To most, that might sound legit, but Rolf wasn't buying it. He knew Sidney wasn't here just for a friendly spar. Recently, James had put the Lawson family in Suncrest City on blast, and with Sidney's rep, he was definitely here to even the score.
Rolf gave a meaningful smile and said, "It seems Sidney's visit is to spar with Mr. Smith?"
"That's right," Sidney admitted straightforwardly.
Sidney was riding high on his own hype. As last year's Army King, he was the undisputed top dog in the military's martial arts scene. And since then? He'd only gotten better. Taking down some random instructor from the National Security Agency was child's play to him.
Sidney's ego was off the charts. He was convinced no one in the military could touch him. So when he caught wind of James humiliating the Lawson family, he was livid. As far as Sidney was concerned, James was already a goner.
He'd been itching to storm the National Security Agency and put James in his place—violently. But every time Sidney made a move, James was nowhere to be found. Today, though, he got word that James was back. So Sidney dropped everything and bolted over.
He was dying to see who this James guy thought he was, pulling off such a bold move.
The other high-ranking officials were unaware that James had offended the Lawson family. They sensed Sidney's hostility and showed surprised expressions.
But they were not worried at all. James was a top martial artist at the fourth stage, and they didn't believe Sidney could defeat him.
"Mr. Smith is currently teaching on the field. Sidney, you might have to wait a bit," Rolf said with a smile.
Sidney raised an eyebrow and said, "Teaching? Perfect, I've encountered some bottlenecks in my martial arts. I'll go ask Mr. Smith for advice."
Without waiting for Rolf to respond, Sidney moved swiftly and disappeared in the blink of an eye, reappearing on the field.
Sidney's speed made the high-ranking officials' faces change slightly. "Sidney's leveled up since last year. He's even faster now!"
"You think Mr. Smith can take him?"
"He should. Didn't he claim he's a fourth-stage top martial artist?"
"Yeah, but who knows if he's just talking big?"
The room buzzed with concern.
Rolf narrowed his eyes. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
James was deep into his teaching when a voice cut in, "Well said! The pinnacle of martial arts isn't about fighting or killing—it's about understanding life. Looks like Mr. Smith's got some serious chops."
The voice came out of nowhere, breaking James' flow mid-sentence. It was a bold move, downright disrespectful, and dripping with provocation.
Naturally, it was Sidney. He strolled over with a smirk, clapping his hands, his face lit up with a challenging grin.
James had already sensed his presence, so he wasn't surprised. He looked at him curiously and asked, "And you are?"
"Sidney," Sidney replied.
Plenty of folks at the NSA knew Sidney, and James could practically feel the tension spike in the room.
"Sidney! You've got some nerve showing your face here again!" A second-stage martial artist shot him a glare and snapped.
Others also stared angrily at Sidney, showing their animosity.
The name clicked instantly—James knew exactly who Sidney was. The Lawson family's top soldier. It was a bold move for him to show up at the National Security Agency like this, looking for trouble.
James had a knack for sizing people up, and it didn't take him long to peg Sidney as the fiery, no-nonsense type—a martial artist through and through. It's why he'd hit the fourth stage, after all.
But here's the kicker: James figured Sidney was even a notch above Neil.
Now that was something.
Things were heating up. The military was clearly stacked with talent. Rolf, the National Security Agency's deputy director, was a fourth-stage martial artist, and now Sidney, last year's Army King, was in the same league. It made James wonder—how many more heavy hitters were out there? Were there fifth-stage fighters? Sixth? The possibilities were wild.
James said, "Your martial arts are impressive, at the upper level of the fourth stage. I didn't expect the military to have such experts."
Sidney showed some surprise and laughed, "You know me well. Since we're both here, let's see what you've got."
No small talk, no hesitation—Sidney went straight for it. His hands snapped into claw-like shapes, slashing toward James's face with lightning speed. Before he even made contact, the sheer force of his movement sent a hot gust of air rushing at James.
James didn't bother blocking. Instead, he bent his knees and leaned back at a sharp angle, like he was being yanked by an invisible wire, smoothly dodging Sidney's strike. All the while, he kept talking, cool as a cucumber. "Pay attention, everyone. The real secret to martial arts isn't in the moves—it's in the Mind Method."
He was literally teaching a class while handling Sidney.
James's cocky attitude only fueled Sidney's rage.
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