Chapter 161: Public Opinion Storm

Six a.m.

Along the Seine, morning mist drifted through the air.

Paris, the city of romance, awakened as it always did.

On the Champs-Élysées, a bakery owner in his apron skillfully arranged fresh croissants in the display window.

At the corner café, a waiter polished wine glasses, preparing for the first customers of the morning.

In front of the Louver, flocks of pigeons pecked at breadcrumbs in the early light.

Everything seemed so peaceful, elegant, filled with that distinctly French leisurely atmosphere.

However.

When the clock struck seven a.m.

That tranquility was completely shattered.

"Oh, my God! Check the news!"

"Antoine's video! Antoine's deathbed confession just dropped!"

"What? Let me see!"

In the café, patrons who had been quietly enjoying their meals pulled out their phones.

The bakery owner set down his bread and turned on the television.

In the metro, everyone's eyes were glued to their phone screens.

Every major French news site and social media platform was simultaneously flooded with a single video.

[SHOCKING! Antoine's Deathbed Confession! Louis Valois Is the Mastermind!]

[SILENCED! Antoine's Entire Family Murdered! Video Reveals the Valois Family's Horrific Crime!]

[The Truth from Twenty-Five Years Ago! The Valois Family's Bloody Power Grab!]

In the video.

Antoine Bernard lay on his study floor, covered in blood, his face deathly pale, his voice trembling yet clear:

"I am Antoine Bernard... I know I won't survive the night... Louis has already sent people to silence me..."

"Twenty-five years ago, Louis Valois came to me with a large sum of money, asking me to help him assassinate the previous family head..."

"That night, I led troops to seal off the perimeter of the Valois Manor and cut all communications..."

"I watched with my own eyes as Louis's men stormed the estate and slaughtered everyone loyal to the former head..."

"The previous head's son, five-year-old Erwin, barely escaped... Louis has been hunting him all these years..."

"I am guilty... but Louis's crimes are far greater... He is the true executioner!"

"If you're seeing this video, it means I'm already dead... killed in Louis's silencing operation..."

"I'm using my life to expose this demon's true face..."

The video ended.

All of France fell into deathly silence.

Then.

Public opinion exploded!

"Oh, my God! Antoine really was murdered to keep him quiet!"

"The Valois family... seized power through murder!"

"That poor Erwin... lost his parents at five years old..."

"Louis Valois, that bastard! He must be brought to justice!"

Every social media platform instantly crashed.

The hashtag #ValoisFamilyMassacre shot straight to number one on trending lists, its popularity skyrocketing.

Morning news programs on television abruptly interrupted their scheduled broadcasts to report this explosive story.

"According to the latest information, last night Antoine and his son Philip Bernard were attacked by unidentified armed assailants at their home and killed on the spot."

"Just hours before their deaths, Antoine recorded this deathbed confession, revealing the Valois family's shocking crime from twenty-five years ago."

"The French prosecutor's office has now launched an investigation. As for Louis Valois himself, he remains unreachable..."

On the streets of Paris.

Countless people gathered in the squares, holding signs and chanting slogans.

"Punish the murderers!"

"Justice for Erwin!"

"The Valois family, get out of France!"

The flood of public opinion pushed the Valois family to the eye of the storm, plunging them into an unprecedented life-or-death crisis!

Meanwhile.

In the penthouse presidential suite of an ultra-luxury five-star hotel in central Paris.

Sunlight streamed through massive floor-to-ceiling windows into the spacious dining room.

At the table, four stunning women—each with her own distinct beauty, yet all breathtaking enough to topple kingdoms—were enjoying an exquisite French breakfast while watching the explosive news about the Valois family on their tablets.

"Louis is well and truly roasted now."

Victoria cut into a small piece of mousse cake with her knife and fork, her seductive face full of schadenfreude. "My intelligence network just reported that the Valois Manor is in complete chaos. Even the presidential palace has been calling them."

"This is what they call 'reaping what you sow.'"

Serafina languidly stirred the coffee in her cup, her long, narrow eyes gleaming with mockery. "I'd love to see Louis's expression right now—probably wishing he were dead. Reaper's move of 'killing with a borrowed knife' was absolutely brilliant."

Ivy and Charlotte also looked completely relaxed, as if they hadn't been the ones who'd triggered last night's earth-shattering upheaval.

Just as the four women were chatting happily.

The master bedroom door opened from inside.

Leo emerged wearing a loose black silk robe, a freshly lit Cuban cigar between his lips, his steps lazy yet steady.

However, when he walked into the sunlight.

The slightly open collar of his robe revealed a sight that would make anyone's face flush and heart race.

Across his bronze, scar-covered muscular chest and neck were several thin, fresh red scratch marks.

Not only that, but along his collarbone and shoulders were several extremely conspicuous lipstick marks, as well as several obvious bite marks left by a woman in the throes of passion.

Clearly, last night in this presidential suite, there had been not only a bloody storm against the Valois family, but also an even more intense 'close-quarters combat.'

Seeing Leo emerge, the four women at the table exchanged knowing, suggestive glances.

"Well, well, our Reaper is awake?"

Ivy rested her chin in her hand, her azure eyes fixed directly on the scratch marks on Leo's chest. With a hint of guilt mixed with pride, she licked her red lips. "It looks like you sustained some 'injuries' in last night's 'battle.'"

Victoria laughed even more brazenly, her gaze traveling up and down Leo's body. "Who told Reaper to have such terrifying stamina? If the few of us hadn't joined forces, we probably wouldn't have been able to get out of bed this morning."

Serafina's pretty face flushed slightly, but her words were just as bold. "Exactly. Next time Charlotte needs to put in more effort too. We can't always have just the three of us holding down the fort."

Charlotte, usually cold as ice, turned bright red at the ears upon hearing this. She lowered her head and gulped down her milk, unable to hide the bashfulness at the corners of her mouth.

Faced with the brazen teasing from these stunning beauties, Leo's face showed not the slightest embarrassment.

He walked unhurriedly to the head of the table and sat down, picked up a cup of black coffee and took a sip, then exhaled a rich cloud of cigar smoke.

"You four are getting more and more outrageous."

Leo's gaze swept over the four women, the corners of his mouth curving into a helpless smile. "Last night, several of you ganged up on me, taking turns draining my stamina. If I weren't built differently, I probably wouldn't have made it out of that bedroom today."

Victoria laughed seductively. "Who told you to be so capable? If we didn't team up, we couldn't handle you."

"Exactly." Ivy blinked innocently. "And it was clearly you who—"

Leo coughed lightly, cutting off the words about to escape Ivy's lips.

He changed the subject. "Let's talk business. How's the public opinion outside?"

Hearing the shift to business, the four women immediately dropped their playful expressions.

Ivy picked up her tablet and reported seriously, "The reaction is massive. Almost all of France is talking about it. The Valois family's stock has plummeted thirty percent, and protests are breaking out everywhere."

"However..."

Ivy paused. "Louis Valois just issued a statement claiming Antoine's video was recorded under your coercion and that all the evidence is fabricated. They're denying all the accusations."

"Is that so?"

Not only was Leo not surprised, but the corners of his mouth curved into a meaningful smile.

"Just as expected."

He exhaled a cloud of smoke, his deep eyes gleaming with strategic brilliance. "Louis has The Evernight Order backing him, so of course he won't confess easily. However..."

"All of this is within my control."

Hearing Leo's words, curiosity flickered in the women's eyes.

Clearly, Reaper was playing an even bigger game.

Just then.

Someone knocked on the suite door from outside.

Then Olivia's ice-cold voice came through the door. "Boss, you have a visitor."

"Come in."

Leo said calmly.

Olivia pushed open the door and entered, dressed in black tactical gear, her face expressionless as she walked to Leo's side and lowered her voice to report.

"Pierre just contacted me. He wants to see you immediately. He sounded urgent—must be something important."

Hearing this, a gleam of satisfaction flashed in Leo's eyes.

"Finally."

He calmly drained the coffee in his hand and stood up. "Tell him to wait. I'll be there after I change."

"Yes."

After Olivia left, Ivy asked curiously, "Leo, you already knew Pierre would come looking for you?"

"Of course."

Leo pulled on a black trench coat, the corners of his mouth curving into a cold smile. "After Antoine's video went public, public opinion completely exploded. And this public opinion is exactly the opportunity Erwin needs to make his comeback."

"It would be strange if they didn't come looking for me."

"This... is my real objective."

With that, Leo strode out of the suite.