Chapter 101: Call Mourner

The Count greedily sucked in the stale basement air, tears, snot, and saliva smeared all over his face.

"Talk."

Leo's voice rang out again.

But to the Count's ears at this moment, it sounded like heavenly music, yet also like a demon's whisper.

"Vienna... on the outskirts of Vienna, Austria..."

The Count trembled, spilling everything he knew without hesitation. "Nightfall's European headquarters is hidden in a red castle in the southern suburbs of Vienna..."

"That castle is nominally the Valois family's private property, but inside it's been converted into an impregnable military fortress. 'Mourner' is usually stationed there, controlling the global assassin network..."

"I've told you everything... please... don't use that drug again..."

A flash of cold satisfaction crossed Leo's deep eyes.

The Valois family.

Good, finally caught this rat's true identity.

Leo ignored the Count's pleas. He reached into the inner pocket of the Count's custom suit, fumbling around, and pulled out a specially-made black encrypted satellite phone.

He glanced at the screen, directly used the Count's thumb to unlock the fingerprint lock, found the only number marked "S" in the contacts, and pressed dial.

The phone only rang twice before being answered.

"Count, is the North American matter cleaned up?"

A low, hoarse voice came through the phone.

The supreme leader of the Nightfall organization, Mourner.

Leo's lips curved into a mocking smile as he brought his cigar to his lips and took a drag.

"He's a bit busy right now, probably can't report to you personally."

Leo spoke into the phone with a playful tone, "So I'm making this call for him, to let you know he's safe."

The other end of the phone instantly fell into deathly silence.

A full five seconds passed.

"Leo."

Mourner's voice became extremely cold, "You're actually not dead yet."

"Sorry to disappoint you."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, "But those so-called European nobles and top assassins you sent--they died pretty neatly."

"Leo, you're too arrogant!"

Mourner sneered, "You think you've won? You have no idea what kind of existence you've provoked! This is Europe, the Valois family's territory! With one word from me, the entire European underworld will tear you apart alive!"

"Is that so?"

Leo's eyes instantly turned ice-cold, his tone carrying endless killing intent, "Vienna outskirts, red castle."

At these words, Mourner's breathing on the other end clearly hitched.

"Wash your neck clean."

Leo said word by word, "Before long, I'll personally make a trip to Vienna. I'll burn your broken castle to ashes, along with whatever pathetic Valois family is behind you."

"Leo! You dare--"

Before Mourner could finish his threat, Leo hung up directly, casually crushing the priceless satellite phone to pieces.

"...Mr. Ashford..."

The Count, tied to the chair, watched this scene, a glimmer of hope for life igniting in his eyes, "I've already told you everything I know. You said earlier that as long as I cooperated..."

"What did I say?"

Leo flicked the ash from his cigar, looking down at him from above.

"I said I'd give you that drug."

Leo raised his right foot in its custom leather shoe, his eyes as indifferent as if looking at a pile of garbage, "But I never said I'd spare your life."

"No--"

With an explosive thud, Leo's shoe stomped hard on the Count's head!

Red and white matter instantly splattered across the cold concrete floor.

The top assassin, "Count," who had shaken the European underworld, died on the spot.

"Clean this up."

Leo pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket, methodically wiped the bloodstains from the tip of his shoe, and casually tossed the handkerchief onto the corpse.

"Yes, boss." Olivia bowed respectfully.

...

Late night, Long Island, New York.

The Rosenberg Mansion.

When Leo pushed open the master bedroom door, it was already 2 AM.

A warm orange wall lamp was left on in the room.

Hearing the door open, Chloe, who had been reading in bed, immediately put down her book, threw off the covers, and came forward.

She wore a white silk camisole nightgown, her golden hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, those azure eyes full of concern and tenderness.

"Leo, you're back."

Chloe walked up to Leo and naturally took the black coat he was removing.

When she caught the faint smell of gunpowder and blood on the coat, a barely perceptible sadness flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

"You must be hungry? I'll get you something to eat."

"Don't trouble yourself." Leo reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, drawing her into his embrace. Breathing in the fresh shower gel fragrance from her hair, the sharp killing intent about him gradually dissipated.

"No, you've been busy all day, you definitely haven't eaten properly." Chloe stubbornly shook her head, breaking free from his embrace, her eyes bright. "Wait for me in the living room, it'll be quick."

Watching Chloe's figure hurry toward the kitchen, Leo's lips curved into a gentle smile as he walked to sit on the sofa.

Soon, the rich aroma of butter searing drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by pleasant sounds that made one's mouth water.

More than ten minutes later, Chloe came out carrying a tray and placed it on the table in front of Leo.

A perfectly cooked tomahawk steak, golden-brown on the surface, releasing the aroma of rosemary and black pepper, with exquisitely roasted asparagus and cherry tomatoes on the side.

"Try it." Chloe handed him the knife and fork, her eyes carrying some anticipation.

Leo cut a piece of beef and put it in his mouth.

Crispy outside, tender inside, juicy and full-flavored, the temperature is controlled to perfection.

"How is it?"

"Excellent." A flash of surprise crossed Leo's eyes. "I didn't expect that a socialite from the Rosenberg family would have such good cooking skills."

Hearing this praise, Chloe smiled playfully and sat down beside Leo, resting her chin in her hands as she watched him eat the food she'd made, her eyes full of happiness.

"Leo, did you forget? Before returning to the Rosenberg family, I wasn't the kind of socialite who did nothing."

Chloe's tone carried a hint of reminiscence, "After high school, I studied and lived alone in Chicago. To earn tuition and living expenses, I worked in restaurant kitchens and did housekeeping for people. If I couldn't even cook, I would have starved to death on Chicago's streets."

Hearing this, Leo's steak-cutting motion paused slightly.

He turned to look at the gentle woman before him, an indescribable tenderness welling up in his heart.

Yes, though she had top-tier family blood flowing through her veins, she had struggled alone at the bottom for so many years.

Leo put down his knife and fork, reached out his large hand, and gently cupped Chloe's beautiful face.

"You suffered a lot. You've grown in ways that amaze me, Chloe."

His voice was low, carrying a soul-touching tenderness.

Chloe's eyes reddened slightly as she leaned her cheek into Leo's broad, warm palm, gently nuzzling it. "With you by my side, all those past hardships don't matter anymore."

Leo's eyes darkened, and a flame within him instantly ignited by her obedient, dependent appearance.

"I'm full." Leo suddenly spoke.

"Hm? So fast?" Chloe paused, about to clear the dishes.

The next second, she cried out in surprise as Leo scooped her up horizontally.

"Leo... what are you doing..." Chloe's face flushed as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Now that I'm full, time to shower."

Leo's lips curved into a wicked smile as he carried her in long strides toward the spacious, luxurious bathroom. "I'm covered in the smell of blood, Chloe, help me wash."

"But... I just showered..."

Before Chloe could finish her protest, Leo had already kicked the bathroom door shut.

The shower turned on, warm water cascading down, instantly filling the bathroom with misty steam.

The water soaked Chloe's thin silk nightgown, the fabric clinging tightly to her skin, outlining her graceful, exquisite curves in vivid detail, making her even more alluring than wearing nothing at all.

Leo pressed her against the smooth marble tiles, lowered his head, and sealed her red lips with a domineering yet passionate kiss.

Chloe let out a soft, melodious moan, her hands involuntarily climbing up Leo's broad, solid back, her eyes full of infatuation.

In the bathroom, water gurgled.

Heavy breathing intertwined with blood-stirring cries of pleasure.