Chapter 107: The Jewish Family

"A mole?"

Even with his sternum crushed under Leo's foot, the pain sending cold sweat streaming down his face, Kenjiro let out a sharp, unhinged laugh the moment he heard the question. Blood and foam sprayed from his lips.

"Leo, keep dreaming!"

"You think that little power of yours can stand against the true gods who rule this world?"

"You have no idea how terrifying the forces behind us are! We're talking about a capital empire that moves markets across the globe -- an existence that can topple entire nations at will!"

"So what if you kill me? You'll never find out who the mole is!"

"The second you set foot in Europe, I promise -- you'll die without a grave. Every woman at your side, every man under you, they'll all be skinned alive and--"

"Shut up."

A flicker of impatience crossed Leo's eyes. He shifted his weight slightly.

The sound of ribs snapping rang out even sharper than before.

"AAGH!"

Kenjiro let out a wretched scream and curled into himself.

"I'll ask one last time."

Leo looked down at him from above, his voice cold enough to cut. "Who is the mole in Washington?"

"I... I don't know..."

Kenjiro coughed up a mouthful of blood, but a flash of bitter hatred crossed his eyes. "Even if I did... I'd never tell you! The Rothschild family gave me glory and power! I will never betray them!"

"Kill me, and you get nothing!"

"Is that so?"

Leo exhaled a slow breath of smoke.

"Then you're of no use to me."

"Wait!"

Something seemed to click in Kenjiro's mind. He cried out in panic. "I can pay you! I have three hundred million dollars in a Swiss bank account! I'll give you the password! And the Black Dragon Society's entire global intelligence network! It's all yours!"

"Please... let me live..."

He broke completely, begging in a frenzy.

But Leo's eyes didn't move. Not even a flicker.

"I'm not interested in your money."

Leo tapped the ash off his cigar. "As for the intelligence network..."

He raised his right foot -- the one in the bespoke leather shoe -- and lined it up with Kenjiro's head.

"I'll have Ivy pick that up."

"No!"

A dull crack exploded through the dojo.

A spray of red and white splattered across the tatami mats and wooden walls.

Kenjiro's headless body twitched a few times, then went still.

The supreme chairman of the Black Dragon Society's North American branch -- dead.

In the corner of the dojo, a few Black Dragon Society members who had somehow escaped the carnage went chalk-white at the sight. One of them vomited on the spot.

Leo reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a crisp white handkerchief. With unhurried ease, he wiped the blood and matter from the tip of his shoe, then tossed the handkerchief onto the corpse.

Then he turned to look at the trembling Black Dragon Society members.

"Pass the word."

Leo's voice was quiet, but it sent shudders through every one of them.

"Starting today, all Black Dragon Society assets in North America fall under the Drake family."

"Anyone who disagrees is welcome to come find me."

With that, Leo walked out the door in unhurried strides.

Olivia and Ivy followed right behind.

The Black Dragon Society members didn't dare breathe until Leo's figure had completely vanished. Then they collapsed to the floor, gasping.

Outside the dojo.

A black Maybach was already waiting beyond the bamboo grove.

Leo pulled open the rear door and got in.

Ivy settled gracefully beside him and pulled the door shut.

Olivia slid into the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Ivy."

Leo leaned back against the leather seat and closed his eyes. "Can you take over the Black Dragon Society's intelligence network?"

"Of course."

Ivy smiled, her fingers circling lazily on Leo's thigh.

"That idiot Kenjiro thought he was so well hidden. But the Drake family had already worked our way into the core of his New York operation long ago."

"His safe combination, his Swiss bank accounts -- I even know about the vault he keeps under his bed."

She ran her tongue over her red lips, a glint of hunger in her eyes. "That said, Reaper, why bother gnawing on the Black Dragon Society when you could go straight to the Rothschilds behind them?"

Leo opened his eyes and looked at her.

Ivy straightened her blonde hair, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Leo, do you know how deep the Rothschild family's roots run in Europe? Deeper than you think."

"They control most of the European banking system. They've worked their way into the political and business circles of the UK, France, Germany -- all of it."

"And..."

Ivy paused, her expression growing heavier. "Based on intel the Drake family had before -- the Valois family behind Nightfall has very deep ties to the Rothschilds."

"Both are ancient families of Jewish lineage."

"There's even a rumor that the Valois family is actually a branch of the Rothschild family -- the one based in France."

"Jewish..."

Something lit up in Leo's eyes.

A memory surfaced.

A few days ago, at the classified meeting inside the Federal Building.

General Vance had mentioned something in passing.

Inside the Pentagon, there was a chief of staff aide of Jewish descent.

The man had shown an unusual level of interest in the Abyss Blade operation.

He had even pushed to be involved in planning it.

Vance had shut him down, citing insufficient clearance level.

At the time, Vance had laughed it off -- "These Jewish guys always have such a sharp nose for things."

But now...

"Jewish."

Leo said it slowly, and the cold light in his eyes kept growing.

"Looks like this trip to Europe is going to be a lot more interesting than I thought."

"Leo?"

Ivy caught the shift in his tone right away. "What are you thinking?"

"There might be a mole inside the Pentagon, too."

Leo said it without much expression. "And there's a good chance he's Jewish."

"What?"

Ivy's eyes went wide. "You're saying... someone inside the Pentagon has been turned?"

"Wouldn't be surprising."

Leo let out a cold laugh. "The Rothschild family has been playing this game for hundreds of years. They have pieces on the board all over the world. Having someone in Washington is the most natural thing in the world."

"So what are you going to do?"

Ivy looked at him with a trace of worry. "If there really is a mole inside the Pentagon, then your itinerary, your equipment -- even your operational plan -- could already be in Nightfall's hands."

"Doesn't matter."

Leo settled back in his seat and brought the cigar to his lips, pulling a slow, deep drag.

"If they want to play, I'll play with them."

"Olivia."

"Yes sir."

"Get in touch with Vance. Have him run a check on every Jewish officer in the Pentagon's joint staff. Focus on that chief of staff aide."

"On it."

Olivia pulled out an encrypted satellite phone immediately.

Leo exhaled a curl of smoke and watched the New York streets blur past the window.

"Ivy."

"Yes?"

Ivy leaned softly against his shoulder.

"How many contacts does the Drake family still have in Europe?"

Leo asked, his voice even.

"You may have pulled the Drake family up by the roots in New York..."

Ivy smiled. "But in Europe, we still have some people working in the shadows. Especially in France and Italy -- a few old families with marriage ties to the Drakes."

"Good."

A sharp light crossed Leo's eyes. "Activate all of them. I want to know what the Valois and Rothschild families have been up to in Europe lately."

"Understood."

Excitement flashed through Ivy's eyes. "Reaper, it sounds like this trip to Vienna is going to be something else."

"Of course."

The corner of Leo's mouth curved into a cold smile. "They want my life so badly -- I'll show them what hell actually looks like."