Chapter 11

Shadow Sect had been silent for three years. During those three years, its twelve branches had been hiding around the world, never showing their fangs. The outside world even thought Shadow Sect had dispersed.

"First, launch the Hunting Network Plan. Within twenty-four hours, I want to see all one hundred and twenty-eight contact stations that the Assassin Alliance has set up worldwide turned into ruins. Leave no one alive."

"Secondly, notify the intelligence department. Put out a ten billion dollar bounty on the heads of those nine council members of the Assassin Alliance's Supreme Council. I want chaos within their ranks first. I want them to know what a real kill order means."

"Thirdly, deploy the Ghost Assassination Squad into Europe. Those twelve so-called SSS-level assassins—within three days, I want to see their heads on my desk."

Every word from Damien carried undeniable authority.

Adrenaline coursed through Ironclaw's blood . "Yes, Lord. I'll get right on it!"

"One more thing," Damien stopped Ironclaw, who was about to take his leave.

"Lord, what else do you need?" Ironclaw stopped and turned , waiting for Damien's orders.

"Send someone to find out certainly—five years ago when Sophia was kicked out of the Brown family and ended up in San Francisco, I need to know if there was some other force behind it all?" Damien's voice was low.

"An idiot like Milo couldn't set up such a big scheme. I suspect someone else was targeting Sophia's bloodline. Faye's Rh-null blood is no coincidence."

Ironclaw's heart skipped a beat. Faye had extremely rare Rh-null blood, which was priceless on the medical black market. If what happened to Sophia back then wasn't an accident, then the conspiracy behind it was huge.

"Understood. The intelligence department will immediately launch the highest level of investigation. We won't miss any clues," Ironclaw understood the order and left.

Only Damien remained in the reception room.

He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey. Ice cubes clinked against the whiskey glass as he swirled the amber liquid. He took a sip, then walked towards the stairs to the second floor.

The master bedroom door was slightly ajar, Damien pushed it open and walked in quietly.

Sophia was lying on her side on the large double bed, holding Faye tightly in her arms. Both mother and daughter were both sound asleep. Sophia's brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was dreaming.

Damien walked to the bedside and got down on one knee on the thick carpet.

He reached out and gently smoothed Sophia's furrowed brow.

"Don't be afraid," Damien said softly.

He would never let anyone hurt them again, not even a little bit. Whether it was the Assassin Alliance or Celestial Temple, whoever dared to aim their strike at her would lose their hand. Whoever dared to make an attempt on her life would have their entire family wiped out.

From today on, he would set the rules for this world.

Damien stood up, about to leave the room.

The encrypted phone on the nightstand suddenly vibrated urgently. Damien immediately picked up the phone, and walked outside the bedroom to pick the call.

"Speak."

Falcon's low voice came through the phone.

"Lord, we have a problem. The lookout we sent to protect the restaurant owner has lost contact. There are signs of a fight at the scene."

Damien's eyes instantly turned cold.

"Location."

"San Francisco Chinatown, Seventh Avenue. We found Celestial Temple's mark at the scene. Also, in the back kitchen of the owner's restaurant, we discovered a hidden basement with lots of medical equipment and blood bags. All the blood type is Rh-null blood. The owner's whereabouts are unknown."

Damien's grip on the phone tightened, almost crushing it..

Celestial Temple, restaurant, Rh-null blood.

The way these clues connected together pointed to one truth.

That restaurant owner who helped Sophia during her most difficult time definitely had a suspicious identity. Her approach to Sophia must have been planned all along.

"Lock down Chinatown. I'm going there myself."

Damien hung up, drained his whiskey in one gulp, and set the glass on the table. Just as he reached the first-floor entrance, soft footsteps came from behind.

"Damien."

Damien stopped,turning around to see Sophia standing at the top of the stairs, holding a delicate wooden box. She walked down the stairs and handed the box to Damien.

"What's this?"

"Medicine for healing."

Sophia lowered her gaze. "After you left, I couldn't sleep. I know you're going to risk your life again. I can't help much, but this is money I saved over the years. I bought emergency medicine on the black market. Keep it with you."

Damien opened the wooden box, and inside lay several brown pills. Their effects meant nothing to him, but the gesture weighed heavy as a mountain.

"Okay," Damien put the box close to his body.

"Daddy!"

Faye, holding a stuffed doll and barefoot, ran downstairs and hugged Damien's leg, looking up. "Is Daddy going to fight bad guys again?"

Damien crouched down, picked up Faye, and pinched her little nose. "Yes, Daddy's going to chase the bad guys away. Then Faye can go to the amusement park every day."

Faye held out her pinky finger. "Then Daddy, promise me—Daddy has to protect himself, and protect Mommy and me too."

"Okay, I promise," Damien hooked his finger with Faye's.

Sophia took Faye from Damien's arms and looked into his eyes. "Come back safely."

"Wait for me for breakfast."

Damien turned and pushed the door open, striding into the night. The SUV sped through the rainy night.

Damien sat in the back seat and pressed the red button on the armrest. Blue beams of light lit up inside the car, weaving into three holographic projections.

Ironclaw, Falcon, and a bald, muscular man bare-chested with a tiger tattooed on his chest.

The three main commanders of Shadow Sect's killer teams, all online.

"Lord!" All three of them got down on one knee, striking their left chest with their right hand.

"Get up."

Damien leaned back in the leather seat, his eyes cold. "Celestial Temple has reached into San Francisco, and the Assassin Alliance wants a piece too. Since they think that after my five years away, Shadow Sect's blade has dulled, let's use their blood to sharpen it."

"Rage Tiger," Damien called out.

"Here!" The bald man's head shot up, his eyes full of bloodthirsty excitement. The Tiger Strike Squad he led specialized in frontal assault. They'd been conserving their strength and had been holding back for three whole years—they were itching for action.

"Assemble the entire Tiger Strike Squad. Within twelve hours, dig out all the Assassin Alliance's bases, safe houses, and weapon caches in San Francisco. Map out their strength distribution," Damien's tone was icy.

"Remember, reconnaissance only. Don't alert them. I want to catch them all in one net."

"Understood! I guarantee we'll investigate them thoroughly." Rage Tiger slapped his chest.

"Falcon."

"Here!"

"Pull back the entire Eagle Special Forces to Safe House Number One. Activate the highest level defense plan," Damien tapped his knee with his finger.

"Even if the boss of Celestial Temple shows up, you must keep them outside the estate gates. If Sophia and Faye lose a single hair, you'll take your own life in apology."

"I will defend Mrs. Cole and the young miss with my life!" Falon said, preparing to die for the cause.