Chapter 16

"Those bastards from the Assassin Alliance are really desperate. Since no one's taking the kill order, they can only send their own trained death warriors to their doom."

Ironclaw walked forward, placing both hands on the car window, "Lord is waiting for you. What did you find out?"

"Good stuff."

Ghosthand patted an encrypted hard drive on the passenger seat, "Get in."

Ironclaw opened the door and got in.

The SUV drove into the estate and stopped in front of the main building.

Damien was already standing on the steps waiting.

Ghosthand jumped out of the car and tossed the hard drive to Damien, "Boss, you asked me to track down where those three submarines went."

"I hacked into every traceable IP along the San Francisco coastline and found their final destination."

Damien caught the hard drive, "Where?"

"Alcatraz," Ghosthand's smile faded, his expression turning serious.

"That abandoned island prison. Ares took those blood bags and hid in the bomb shelter under Alcatraz. The place has now been converted into an armed fortress by Celestial Temple and the Alliance."

Damien gripped the hard drive tightly, "Alcatraz."

"That's not all," Ghosthand lowered his voice.

"I intercepted their internal communications. They're racing against time to analyze the antibodies in the blood bags."

"Once the antibody analysis is complete, they'll be able to create a genetic toxin targeting Shadow Sect members. When that happens, we'll be at a total disadvantage."

Damien let out a cold laugh, "They won't have that time."

Ironclaw stepped forward, "Lord, give the order. Iron Bears and Tiger can storm Alcatraz anytime."

"No rush," Damien raised his hand to stop him.

"Alcatraz is easy to defend but hard to attack. A direct assault would cause unnecessary casualties. Since they're on the island, let them stay on the island."

"Blockade the surrounding waters and cut off their supply lines. I want them to walk out on their own in desperation."

"Understood!" Ironclaw acknowledged the order.

San Francisco, the lowest level slums of the East District.

This was the sewer of the prosperous city, full of homeless people trying to survive.

In a stinking garbage alley.

Milo and Clio sat next to a worn-out cardboard box.

Their clothes were already in tatters, their faces covered in dirt and scars.

They had been dumped here like trash by Damien's people.

On their first day, the people here robbed them of the last valuable things they had and broke Milo's leg.

"How did I raise such an ungrateful wretch..." Clio gnawed on half a piece of moldy bread while crying, voicing out her complain.

Milo clutched his chest, gasping in pain.

"Stop complaining. Save your strength. We need to figure out how to contact members of the Brown family still in New York and have them send someone to get us."

"Contact them? With what? We're completely cut off from the world now. Who would believe us?"

Clio looked at her son's crippled legs, her heart shattering.

"This is all your fault. You insisted on selling Sophia to Ronnie. Now look, we're about to lose our lives!"

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.

Clio instinctively covered her head and squeezed her eyes shut, afraid it was the people from days ago coming to bully them again.

Milo dragged his broken body toward the corner, completely terrified from the beatings of the past few days.

A tall figure appeared at the alley entrance.

"Don't hit us anymore. We'll do whatever you want."

Clio begged. When the person didn't strike, she cautiously opened her eyes to look at the alley entrance.

Ares wore a tattered waterproof cloth, his body reeking of blood.

After consecutive failures at the dock and the cross-sea bridge, with his proud guard suffering heavy losses, he was on the edge of rage.

He walked into the alley, looking down at the two people on the ground.

"Are you Sophia's mother?" Ares asked.

Hearing this question, Milo's body trembled uncontrollably, "We don't know any Sophia."

"I need your help."

These words gave Clio hope.

She scrambled forward and grabbed Ares's leg.

"Sir, what do you need us to do? As long as you can get us out of here, we'll do anything!"

Ares kicked Clio away.

"Damien has pushed me into a corner," Ares looked at them coldly.

"He cares about Sophia. You being her mother is enough."

Milo's eyes lit up, "Yes, yes! I'm Sophia's brother."

"As long as we're in your hands, that bitch Sophia will definitely obey!"

A cruel smile curved Ares's lips.

He knew there were issues with Sophia's background, but he didn't care.

As long as he could disgust Damien and buy Celestial Temple time to analyze the antibodies, the two pawns before him still had value.

"Come with me," Ares turned around.

Milo and Clio exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming. They could finally leave this place.

They struggled to their feet and followed Ares, walking out of that hellish place.

Alcatraz.

The island, spanning hundreds of miles, was lush with vegetation, with towering trees standing throughout. From the outside, it looked just like a vacation island.

Milo and Clio followed War God Ares into the bomb shelter. Along the way, their expressions changed several times, their hands gripping each other tightly, afraid of dying here.

Having finally escaped the slums, they didn't want to go back.

Besides, they were very useful now! Important enough to decide Damien's life or death!

After casually placing them in a room, Ares left.

Several hours passed until they couldn't hold on any longer.

"We're hungry. Is there any food? Bring some over!" Milo, having recovered some courage, shouted at the assassin guarding them.

The assassin glanced at him but didn't respond.

"What's wrong with you? Didn't you hear what I just said? Go get us some food! If we starve and delay your boss's plans, let's see how you'll explain that!"

Milo was truly fearless in his ignorance.

Any one of these people could easily take his life. It was only because Ares needed to use them to control Damien that they were kept alive.

"That's right. We're Ares's most important hostages. Believe it or not, if we die here in the next second, you'll face the consequences," Clio spoke coldly.

After this series of events, she no longer put on airs, and even that trace of guilt in her heart had vanished.

That ungrateful wretch Sophia actually dared to cut ties with them and had Damien injure Milo and destroy everything the Brown family had.

How hateful!

The assassin said nothing, turned and left, then brought back a table full of delicious food for them to eat in the room.

The two ate heartily. After filling their stomachs, they drank two bottles of red wine and changed into the clothes the assassin brought, cleaning themselves up inside and out.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Milo regained his former confidence.

'Damien, oh Damien, you probably didn't expect this! When I see you again, I'll make you kneel and beg for mercy.'