Chapter 28: Nightfall Descends

The Rosenberg Mansion.

Olivia hurried into the study of the main building, her expression grave, placing an encrypted file in front of Leo.

"Boss, just as you predicted, William, the head of the Drake family, has transferred one hundred million dollars to that organization codenamed 'Nightfall' through an encrypted Swiss bank account."

Leo took the file without even opening it, casually tossing it onto the desk as he relit a cigar.

"One hundred million dollars? William's quite generous."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the gloomy sky outside the estate. "Olivia, spread the word. Say that tomorrow morning at nine, I'll be leaving New York, driving back to Chicago alone. The route will be Highway 90."

"Boss, this..." Olivia paused, then understood. "You're luring them into a trap?"

Leo took a deep drag on his cigar. "Exactly. Rather than going to Europe to find them, let them come to us!"

Just then, Chloe pushed the door open and walked in.

"Leo, it's too dangerous! Nightfall is a top international assassin organization; they never fail..."

Chloe walked to Leo's side, her beautiful eyes full of worry. "How about I have Grandma send more people to protect you?"

"No need."

Leo reached out and gently patted her shoulder, his eyes softening a bit.

"Don't worry. This so-called Nightfall is nothing but rats in the gutter. A bunch of cowards who only dare to ambush from the shadows isn't worthy of making me, Leo, back down."

Chloe bit her lip, wanting to say more.

But Leo had already turned and headed for the door.

"Tomorrow morning at nine, we leave on time."

The next morning.

On Interstate 90 from New York to Chicago, a black armored Maybach was speeding along.

On both sides of the highway stretched endless autumn wilderness, shrouded in morning mist.

Several hundred feet ahead, atop an abandoned service area, three figures in black combat gear lurked in the shadows.

They were the ace assassination squad sent by the "Nightfall" organization.

The leader was a burly man, codename "Falcon."

He was observing the approaching Maybach through high-powered binoculars, a contemptuous sneer curling at his lips.

"That's it? One man, one car?"

Beside him, a sniper codenamed "Viper" lay on the abandoned rooftop, watching the black sedan through his scope.

"Falcon, is this target really worth a hundred million dollars? Looks like just some cocky nouveau riche."

The third member, codename "Ghost," was adjusting the detonator for a remote-controlled bomb.

"Who cares if he's worth it or not? The money's already in the account. Quick job--blow up his car, finish him with a shot, then get out."

"Wait."

Falcon suddenly raised his hand, signaling the others to stop.

He narrowed his eyes, watching through the binoculars as the Maybach suddenly slowed down and stopped by the roadside about a kilometer away.

The car door opened.

Leo got out.

With his hands in the pockets of his black trench coat and a cigar in his mouth, he looked up toward the abandoned service area.

Then, he smiled.

Leo's voice carried clearly across the empty highway.

"People from 'Nightfall,' had had enough of hiding?"

Falcon's pupils constricted sharply.

"He... how does he know we're here?"

"Damn it! We're exposed!" Viper's expression changed drastically.

"Impossible!" Ghost couldn't believe it. "Our camouflage is perfect; even thermal imaging can't detect us. How could he possibly spot us?"

However, the next second.

Leo's voice rang out again, this time with undisguised mockery.

"Top international assassins? I thought you were here to die."

"Damn it!"

Falcon was enraged by the blatant humiliation.

He suddenly stood up, gripping his assault rifle, and emerged from the shadows of the abandoned service area.

"You're pretty cocky!"

Falcon walked toward Leo with a sinister grin. "Since you have a death wish, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Viper and Ghost also emerged from cover, the three of them surrounding Leo.

"Just you three?"

Leo glanced at the three men, exhaled a puff of smoke. "Is this the level of 'Nightfall'?"

"You're asking for it!"

Falcon roared and threw his assault rifle to the ground.

"I admit you've got some skills, being able to spot our ambush. But so what? I've been in the assassination business for twenty years and never failed!"

"Today, I'll show you what a real expert is!"

With that, Falcon assumed a fighting stance.

His muscles were knotted, his arms covered in scars.

Over the years, he'd killed no fewer than fifty targets with his bare hands, including highly skilled former special forces operatives.

"So much talk."

Leo casually dropped his cigar on the ground and crushed it with his toe.

Then, he moved.

Falcon didn't even see how Leo moved.

The next second.

A heavy punch slammed into Falcon's abdomen.

Falcon's eyes widened as he coughed up blood.

The force of that punch far exceeded his imagination.

It was like being hit head-on by a speeding truck.

His body flew backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily into an abandoned fuel pump ten feet away.

The fuel pump was crushed and deformed. Falcon slumped to the ground, countless bones broken throughout his body.

"Falcon!"

Viper and Ghost were shocked.

Their boss, "Falcon," who'd dominated the assassination world for twenty years, had been taken out with one punch?

"Kill him!"

Viper immediately raised his sniper rifle, aiming at Leo's forehead.

The gun fired.

The bullet whistled out.

However.

Leo merely tilted his head slightly.

The bullet grazed past his cheek and left a bullet hole in the Maybach behind him.

"Wha... what?"

Viper was completely stunned.

He was the top sniper in the "Nightfall" organization. Close-range headshots were as easy as breathing for him.

But this man had just dodged a sniper bullet?

Before he could react.

A dark shadow had already flashed in front of him.

Leo grabbed Viper by the throat and lifted him up.

"With just this level of skill, you dare call yourselves top assassins?"

With that, Leo flung him hard.

Viper's body flew like a rag doll, crashing heavily to the ground, knocked unconscious on the spot.

Ghost's legs went weak with fear. He tried to run.

A pistol pressed against the back of his head.

"Don't move."

Olivia had somehow appeared behind him, an icy smile on her face.

"You... you..."

Ghost trembled all over, finally understanding.

They had walked right into a trap from the very beginning!

In less than three minutes.

The top assassination squad that the "Nightfall" organization was so proud of had been completely wiped out.

Leo walked up to Falcon, who was slumped on the ground, and looked down at him.

"Now, I ask, you answer."

Falcon coughed up blood, struggling to lift his head, his eyes full of defiance and fear.

"What... what do you want to know..."

"Twenty years ago, your 'Nightfall' organization took a job. The target was Emily, heir to the Rosenberg family in New York. Who was the assassin who carried out the hit?"

Falcon paused, then let out a cold laugh. Falcon sneered. "We're professional killers with professional ethics. I won't betray the organization."

"Is that so?"

Before he could finish speaking.

Leo had already drawn his pistol, aimed it at Falcon's forehead, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The bullet pierced through his skull.

Falcon's eyes widened, his body stiffened, and he slowly fell into a pool of blood.

The scene fell deathly silent.

Both Viper and Ghost were stunned by the sudden gunshot.

They hadn't expected Leo would actually dare to kill!

And kill so decisively, so coldly!

"You... you..."

Ghost trembled all over, his pants already wet.

Leo turned his head, the gun barrel now pointing at Ghost.

"Your boss talked too much. Now, it's your turn. Talk, or not?"

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Ghost no longer had any backbone, immediately falling to his knees and groveling frantically.

"The financial backer behind the Nightfall organization is some European intelligence agency! I don't know which specific country--that's above my level! But I know the assassin who carried out the hit on Emily twenty years ago is still alive!"

"What's his name?" A cold glint flashed in Leo's eyes.

"Codename... Killer! He's one of the founders of the Nightfall organization, and the top assassin! He should be retired now, living in hiding somewhere..."

"Exact location."

"I... I really don't know..." Ghost looked miserable. "Killer's identity is the organization's top secret. Only founder-level people know his whereabouts..."

Leo was silent for a few seconds.

"Olivia."

"Yes!"

"Take him away, hand him over to intelligence for further interrogation."

"Yes!"

Olivia immediately stepped forward and dragged Ghost up.

Leo walked back to the Maybach and relit a cigar.

He looked at the gray, overcast sky in the distance, a trace of cold murderous intent flashing in his eyes.