Chapter 157: Sincerity

Victoria's gasp was cut short as Leo claimed her lips in a dominating kiss.

The wine-red silk slip dress became a casualty in this battle without smoke, quickly pooling into soft fabric on the carpet.

Inside the suite, the temperature skyrocketed.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Paris's rainy night remained ice-cold.

But inside, the scene was one of pure passion.

Two hours later.

Victoria lounged languidly on the sofa, her face still flushed with satisfaction.

Her long legs crossed casually as she slipped back into the now-wrinkled silk slip dress with elegant grace.

"Reaper, you really are insatiable."

Victoria tucked a strand of disheveled blonde hair behind her ear, shooting Leo a flirtatious glance. "My back is killing me."

Leo had already dressed, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window with a cigar between his lips. "You're the one who asked for it."

Victoria let out a sultry laugh, her heels clicking as she swayed over to Leo's side and planted a light kiss on his cheek. "I'm not complaining. Same time next round."

Just then.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Someone knocked on the suite door from outside.

Olivia's ice-cold voice cut through the door. "Boss, urgent matter."

Victoria raised an eyebrow, wisely detaching herself from Leo as she headed toward the bathroom on her heels.

"I'll take a shower first."

She glanced back seductively, blowing him a kiss. "Don't forget I'm still here when you're done."

Leo ignored Victoria's flirtation and walked over to open the door.

Olivia stood outside in black tactical gear, her expression blank.

"Boss."

She pulled a manila envelope from inside her jacket. "Someone just delivered this. The courier was a kid, maybe ten years old. According to Shadow squad surveillance, he came from the direction of the slums."

Leo took the envelope and tore it open.

Inside was a simple note with just one line:

"Tonight, 11 PM. Third alley east of Champs-Élysées. Black Citroën. —Pierre."

Leo checked his watch.

It was 10:20 PM.

"Prepare the car."

Leo casually tossed the note into the fireplace, watching it turn to ash in the flames. "Let's go meet this Pierre."

"Yes, sir."

Olivia turned and left.

10:55 PM.

Third alley east of Champs-Élysées.

This was a narrow alley without even a streetlight, flanked by abandoned old buildings.

Rain continued to fall, cold water dripping from the dilapidated eaves, creating ripples in the puddle-covered ground.

A black Citroën sat quietly in the deepest shadows of the alley.

Engine off, headlights dark.

If you weren't looking carefully, you'd miss it entirely.

Leo, wearing a black trench coat and smoking a cigar, walked alone into the dark alley.

Behind him, Shadow squad members had already taken positions at surrounding vantage points, ready to respond to any emergency.

When Leo got within thirty feet of the black Citroën, the rear door slowly opened.

From the dim interior came Pierre's aged but steady voice. "Mr. Ashford, please get in."

Leo didn't hesitate, ducking into the back seat.

The door closed.

In the cramped cabin, only two men remained.

Pierre sat across from Leo, his wrinkled face looking especially weary and aged in the occasional neon light flashing through the window.

"My apologies for arranging a meeting this way."

Pierre pulled out a thermos from inside his coat, poured two cups of hot coffee, and offered one to Leo. "But the Valois family has eyes all over Paris right now. I had to be careful."

Leo accepted the cup but didn't drink, simply watching Pierre coolly. "You contacted me. Do you have results?"

Pierre took a deep breath, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.

"Mr. Ashford, Erwin has agreed."

Pierre raised his cup and took a light sip, his aged eyes fixed intently on Leo. "But... as you know, twenty-five years of hiding has made us necessarily cautious."

"So before we fully cooperate with you, Erwin wants to see your sincerity first."

"Sincerity?"

Leo's lips curved into a knowing smile as he exhaled a stream of smoke. "Let me guess—you want me to kill someone for you?"

Pierre froze for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Indeed, nothing escapes your notice."

Pierre pulled out a neatly folded list from inside his coat and respectfully handed it to Leo. "Over these years, that bastard Louis has maintained his position as family head not just through the Evernight Order's support, but more importantly, through his deep roots in French politics and the military."

"Among them, the greatest threat to us is this man."

Pierre's finger pressed heavily on the list.

Antoine Bernard, Lieutenant General of the French Army, Deputy Director of the Defense Ministry's Operations Command.

"Twenty-five years ago on that bloody night, this bastard led troops to blockade the outer perimeter of the Valois Manor. If it weren't for him, Erwin's parents might have had a chance to survive."

Pierre's voice trembled, his eyes flashing with bone-deep hatred. "Over the years, Antoine has been like Louis's rabid dog, tearing apart countless people who tried to overturn the case."

"As long as he's alive, even if Louis dies, we can't truly control the Valois family. Because Antoine can mobilize military forces at any time to uproot us completely."

"So..."

Pierre took a deep breath, his tone extremely grave. "Mr. Ashford, if you can kill Antoine, we'll know you have sufficient strength and determination. When that happens, Erwin and I will give our all and follow your lead!"

Inside the cabin, a brief silence fell.

Pierre watched Leo anxiously, waiting for his answer.

After all, Antoine wasn't some street thug—he was a French lieutenant general with real power. Killing him would be no easy feat.

But the next second.

"Hahahaha!"

Leo suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

The laughter echoed in the cramped cabin, leaving Pierre completely baffled.

"Mr. Ashford, what's so..." Pierre didn't understand.

"Mr. Bynum."

Leo finished laughing and casually tossed the list back to Pierre. "Do you know why I'm laughing?"

"Please forgive this old man's ignorance."

"Because..."

Leo exhaled a thick stream of blue smoke, his deep eyes flashing with a savage coldness. "This Antoine you want me to kill—I was already planning to kill him."

"What?" Pierre's eyes widened.

"Just this morning, the French government sent a diplomatic note to the Pentagon through NATO channels."

Leo sneered. "Accusing me of illegally possessing military weapons and demanding my extradition to the US for trial. And the person pushing this behind the scenes is Louis."

"And one of the key figures executing this note is your Antoine."

Pierre suddenly understood, wild joy flashing in his eyes. "Then... that's perfect! Doesn't this align perfectly with your intentions?"

"It does indeed."

Leo nodded. "So go back and tell Erwin—Antoine's head is as good as mine. But..."

"But?" Pierre's heart tightened.

"But I don't want to kill him too easily."

Leo stubbed out his cigar in the rainwater outside the window, his tone flat yet carrying a chilling coldness. "Hypocrites like Antoine who wear medals of honor while their hands drip with blood—if I just put a simple bullet in his head, it would be too merciful."

"I want his death to be worth something more."

Pierre froze, not understanding what Leo meant.

But years of experience told him that the man before him was definitely plotting something far more shocking.

"Then... Mr. Ashford, what do you plan to..."

"Wait."

Leo pushed open the car door, stepping out in his trench coat and leaving behind one cryptic remark. "Before long, you'll understand."

With that, Leo strode out of the dark alley and disappeared into the rain.

Pierre sat alone in the car, staring at the list in his hands, his eyes full of confusion and anticipation.