Chapter 149: Are You Threatening Me?

"Hiding in your little mountain fortress like beaten dogs—barking behind a shell. Is that what the Gray Cloaks call dignity? Pathetic."

Leo exhaled a heavy plume of smoke, his dark eyes sweeping coldly over the terrified elders huddled in the council chamber.

"Let's see how many lives you rats—skulking in the sewers for centuries—have left to spare."

"You... you..."

Wayne, collapsed on the floor, finally got a clear look at Leo's face. His entire body convulsed violently. "Monster... you're a monster..."

Eugene roared, slamming his cane against the ground. "Get up! You coward! You're a disgrace to the Gray Cloaks!"

But Wayne couldn't hear him. He only trembled harder, curling into himself.

Eugene took a deep breath, forcing down his own terror. He lifted his wrinkled face and locked eyes with Leo.

"Leo, I'll admit—you've got skills."

Eugene sneered. "But don't think killing a few nobodies makes you some kind of god. This is the Gray Cloaks' headquarters! Centuries of legacy are buried in these walls!"

"You think you can waltz in here alone and make a scene?"

"Alone?"

Leo flicked ash from his cigar, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Who said I came alone?"

The moment the words left his mouth—

Three deadly, graceful figures stepped through the carnage, emerging from behind Leo into the council hall.

Ivy's crimson claw-blades still dripped blood, her azure eyes glinting with mockery.

Serafina lazily licked a trace of blood from her fingertips, her red lips curving into a seductive smile.

Charlotte slid her scalpel back into its sheath with icy precision, her emerald eyes regarding them like corpses waiting to happen.

"Those three hundred guys outside? Barely a warm-up."

Ivy giggled. "Reaper, think these old bones will give us a better workout?"

At the sight of these three lethal beauties—like female reapers incarnate—the elders' faces went even paler.

"Leo!"

Eugene ground his teeth. "Don't get cocky! You think that's all the Gray Cloaks have?"

"Is that so?"

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Then show me."

A vicious glint flashed in Eugene's eyes. He clapped his hands sharply.

The crisp sound echoed through the vast chamber.

In an instant—

The seemingly ordinary fireplaces, statues, even the paintings lining the walls—all groaned with the sound of hidden mechanisms grinding into motion.

Nine concealed doors opened simultaneously.

Nine towering, muscular figures stepped out from the darkness, each radiating a terrifying aura of death.

Every one of them stood over six-foot-three, their bodies rippling with corded muscle. The killing intent they exuded was leagues beyond the two Round Table Knights Leo had already slaughtered.

"This is the Gray Cloaks' true strength!"

Eugene's face twisted into a smug grin. "The Nine Round Table Knights! Every single one forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood!"

The man at the front wore black heavy armor and gripped two jet-black scimitars.

Dark crimson stains—still wet—glistened along the blades.

"First Knight—Cadoc!"

Cadoc raised his head, his scar-riddled face splitting into a cruel grin. "Reaper? I thought you'd be some kind of monster. Turns out you're just a pretty boy."

The other eight Knights joined in with contemptuous sneers, slowly closing in on Leo.

"Buddy, you've got terrible luck."

A hulking man wielding a war hammer chuckled darkly. "Today, all nine of us happen to be here at HQ. Running into us? Worst mistake of your life."

"Is that right?"

Leo exhaled another stream of smoke, his expression as calm as still water. "Nine of you? Well, that saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one."

Seeing Leo's complete lack of fear, Eugene's brow furrowed.

Either this young man had terrifying confidence—or he'd been scared senseless.

Either way, with all nine Round Table Knights deployed, Eugene was certain the outcome was already decided.

"Leo."

Eugene spoke slowly. "You're strong—I'll give you that. Making it this far proves your skill. But..."

He paused, his tone edged with menace. "Do you really think you're walking out of this fortress alive?"

"Even if you could defeat the Nine Knights, you'd pay a steep price. By the end, you and your women would be torn to shreds."

"So why not—"

Eugene forced a smile. "Let's shake hands and call it even. The Gray Cloaks will offer you half our assets as a gesture of goodwill. From now on, we stay out of each other's way. What do you say?"

At that, the other elders visibly relaxed.

If money could solve this, there was no need for bloodshed.

After all, the man standing before them was terrifying.

However—

Leo, hearing this proposal, looked like he'd just heard the world's funniest joke.

"Shake hands and call it even?"

Leo scoffed, his dark eyes flashing with utter contempt. "You rats hiding in the dark—do you have any idea how weak you actually are?"

"The moment I stepped into this fortress, your fates were sealed."

Leo exhaled the last of his smoke, tossed the cigar to the floor, and crushed it beneath his heel. "I don't shake hands with dead men."

"And besides—"

Leo's gaze swept over the nine Knights, dripping with disdain. "You're overestimating yourselves. In my eyes, you're all trash. You don't even qualify to scratch me."

"Arrogant bastard!"

Cadoc exploded in fury, crossing his twin blades. "Boys, shred this cocky son of a bitch!"

Leo sneered. "So you think you're my match?"

At that moment, everyone in the room understood—Cadoc didn't stand a chance against Leo.

Eugene slowly drew a black device from his coat and raised it high.

"Leo, did you really think I wouldn't have a backup plan?"

His eyes gleamed with madness. "Beneath this fortress, there are five tons of C4 explosives buried underground! And this controller in my hand—if I press this button, the entire fortress, including everyone in it—you, me, all of us—will be blown to pieces in an instant!"

"Worst case? We all go down together!"

His thumb hovered over the red button at the center of the device, ready to press at any moment.

At those words, everyone's faces went white.

Even the Nine Round Table Knights instinctively took half a step back.

Five tons of C4?

That was enough to level the entire mountain.

"You're insane!" Cadoc stared at Eugene in horror.

Leo's eyes locked onto the controller in Eugene's trembling hand—and then, slowly, a cold, amused smile curled at his lips. "You're... threatening me?"

"That's right!"

Eugene bit out through clenched teeth. "Either accept the deal, or we all die! Your choice!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Everyone held their breath, watching this deadly standoff unfold.

But then—

Leo laughed.

That laugh was laced with a bone-chilling coldness.

"You think..."

Leo said softly, "...you'll even get the chance to press it?"

"What—"

Eugene's words died in his throat.

BANG!

A sharp gunshot cracked through the council chamber!

Eugene didn't even see where the bullet came from.

The black device in his hand was struck dead-center by a sniper round—and exploded into fragments.

"...What?"

Eugene stared in disbelief at the shattered remains in his palm.

Before he could process what had happened—

From the shadowed corner of the hall, Olivia slowly lowered her still-smoking sniper rifle and blew coolly on the barrel.

"Boss, threat neutralized."

"Good work."

Leo rolled his neck, then looked up. "Now... time to send you all to hell."

"Kill him! "

Eugene shrieked hysterically. "Nine Knights! Everyone! Slaughter these invaders! For the honor of the Gray Cloaks!"

The Nine Round Table Knights erupted into motion!

Cadoc's twin blades became a black whirlwind of death, slashing toward Leo's throat!

The hammer-wielding brute charged from the side, his terrifying strength tearing through the air itself!

The other seven Knights unleashed their killing techniques, converging on Leo from all directions!