Chapter 38: Blood Debts Must Be Repaid in Blood

It was already deep winter.

In the suburbs of New York, inside a wooded area by the water, a layer of white frost covered the leaves, and the water's surface reflected the sparse colorful trees along the shore and the gray-blue sky.

Under a bare tree, a man with a bruised and swollen face was tied up.

This person was none other than Killer, who had been captured by Leo two days ago.

In the distance by the roadside, an SUV drove up.

The car door opened, and Leo got out, turning back to look at Chloe behind him.

"Are you ready?"

Chloe was wearing a simple black dress, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail.

"I'm ready."

Leo led Chloe, stepping on the frost-covered dead leaves, walking deeper into the woods.

The sound of their footsteps was especially clear in the quiet forest.

Killer heard the footsteps and slowly lifted his head, looking at the two approaching figures.

When he saw Chloe's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted.

So similar!

He remembered very clearly the people he had killed!

"You... you are..."

Killer's voice was hoarse. "That baby from back then... you're still alive?"

Chloe stood in place, trembling all over.

The person before her was the killer who had murdered her mother over twenty years ago.

When enemies meet, hatred burns especially bright.

"You... you monster!"

Chloe gritted her teeth, her eyes instantly turning red, tears streaming down her face. "My mother was so kind, why did you kill her? Why?"

"Killers just do jobs for money!"

Killer spoke with resigned calm, even with a hint of self-mocking smile. "Killers will eventually die from hatred. That's something we should understand from day one in this business."

"Shut up!"

Chloe screamed hysterically. "No matter who hired you, you're the murderer!"

Leo silently pulled out a handgun from inside his coat and checked the magazine.

Then he walked to Chloe's side and handed her the gun.

"His life is now in your hands."

Leo's voice was calm. "You can choose to forgive him, or you can choose to settle this blood debt with your own hands."

"I won't interfere with your decision."

Chloe took the handgun, the cold metal making her hands tremble slightly.

"Go ahead, let your mother's blood debt end in your hands." Seeing Chloe raise the gun, Killer voluntarily closed his eyes.

Chloe held the gun, her hands shaking more and more violently.

She had never killed anyone before.

Even though the person before her was her mother's killer.

Leo walked behind her, gently embracing her from behind, his large hands covering her delicate ones.

"Don't be afraid."

Leo's voice sounded by her ear, deep and gentle. "I'm here with you."

Chloe felt Leo's warmth, and the fear in her heart gradually calmed.

She took a deep breath, tears sliding down her face.

"Mom... I've avenged you..."

A gunshot rang out.

The bullet precisely hit Killer between the eyes.

This "King of Killers" who had dominated the assassin world for thirty years widened his eyes, his body stiffened, and slowly lowered his head.

The gun in Chloe's hand dropped to the ground.

She turned around, threw herself into Leo's arms, and cried her heart out.

"...Leo..."

"It's okay, it's all over now."

Leo gently held her, reaching out to pat her back, his voice unusually tender. "You did great."

Chloe cried even harder, her tears soaking Leo's shirt.

Twenty years of pain, twenty years of hatred, completely released in this moment.

Just then.

A seductive laugh came from the woods.

"What a heartwarming scene. Reaper, so you have such a gentle side too."

Victoria walked out from the tree shadows in high heels, moving gracefully as if on flat ground.

She wore a wine-red low-cut gown, her skin glowing enticingly in the cold winter daylight.

Chloe immediately lifted her head from Leo's embrace, looking at Victoria warily.

She wiped away her tears forcefully and stood in front of Leo, glaring at Victoria like a protective kitten guarding its food.

"What are you doing here?"

"You're quite hostile, aren't you?"

Victoria smiled charmingly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Relax, I'm not interested in your man. I'm just here... to deliver intelligence."

"He's not my..."

Chloe's cheeks flushed slightly, wanting to refute but not knowing what to say.

Leo reached out and gently patted Chloe's shoulder.

"Go back to the car first. Leave this to me."

"But..."

Chloe bit her lip, her eyes full of reluctance.

"Listen to me."

Leo's voice was gentle but left no room for refusal.

Chloe finally gave in.

She glared at Victoria, then turned and walked out of the woods.

Before leaving, she looked back at Leo, her eyes full of concern.

After Chloe left.

Victoria smiled even more seductively.

"The way she looks at you, she practically wants to devour you."

She walked up to Leo, extending her slender finger to trace across his chest. "What's this? Reaper, have you developed a taste for something gentler?"

"Cut the crap."

Leo grabbed her wrist. "You said you have intelligence. What intelligence?"

"Don't be so rough."

Victoria pouted but still took out an encrypted USB drive from her handbag and handed it to Leo.

"In here is detailed information about Nightfall organization's European headquarters. Including the address, personnel deployment, weapons cache, even their escape routes."

Leo took the USB drive, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"How did you get all this?"

"I'm the biggest intelligence broker in Europe."

Victoria smiled proudly. "There's no intelligence in this world I can't get."

"However..."

She suddenly leaned close to Leo, her red lips almost touching his ear.

"This intelligence is very valuable. How do you plan to... compensate me?"

"Tonight, I'll be staying in the guest room at the manor. Want to have an in-depth exchange about intelligence?"

Leo pushed her away and turned to walk out of the woods.

"I'll have finance transfer the payment to you."

"How heartless."

Victoria laughed and shrugged. "But that's okay, I have plenty of time."

"Someday, you'll come looking for me on your own."

Meanwhile.

At the Drake Mansion, in the main building's study.

"What?"

William suddenly stood up, the wine glass in his hand falling to the floor.

"Killer... failed? And was captured?"

Standing before him was a liaison from the Nightfall organization, a middle-aged man in a black suit.

"Yes, Mr. Drake."

The middle-aged man's expression was grave. "Moreover, according to our intelligence, Killer has already been... executed."

"Damn it! "

William trembled with rage, pointing at the middle-aged man and roaring. "Didn't your Nightfall organization claim to never fail? You can't even kill Leo?"

"Mr. Drake, please calm down."

The middle-aged man remained expressionless. "Leo's capabilities far exceeded our estimates. Even a top-tier assassin like Killer was no match for him."

"Damn it! Damn it all! Damn it!"

William shook with anger, suddenly clutching his chest, his face turning deathly pale.

"Mr. Drake!"

The butler was shocked and quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Quick... call the doctor..."