Chapter 43: Reaper Appears

Manhattan's core area, Fifth Avenue.

A black armored command vehicle sat parked by the roadside, its body marked with the silver Delta Force insignia.

Inside the vehicle, a burly middle-aged man was studying the tactical map before him, his brow furrowed.

His name was Jack Thompson, a Colonel and commander of Delta Force's Fifth Squad.

"Sir!"

A fully armed soldier ran up to the vehicle, stood at attention and saluted. "Manhattan's core area has been completely locked down, all checkpoints are in position. The target Leo's whereabouts... still no sign of him."

"Keep searching."

Jack didn't look up, his voice low. "Roland's orders - we must find the target within twenty-four hours."

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier was about to turn and leave.

"Where's your commander?"

A deep voice came from behind the armored vehicle.

The soldier whipped around to see a young man in a black trench coat, hands in his pockets, slowly walking toward them.

The coat's collar was slightly open, revealing a dark silver badge.

It showed a wolf's head crossed with a dagger.

"Stop right there!"

The soldier immediately raised his assault rifle. "This is a restricted military zone! Unauthorized personnel, leave immediately!"

Hearing the commotion, patrolling soldiers quickly surrounded them, a dozen gun barrels all pointing at Leo.

"Where's your commander?"

Leo's steps didn't slow at all as he continued forward, as if he didn't see those gun barrels at all.

"Are you fucking deaf?"

One soldier roared, "One more step and I'll shoot!"

"Shoot?"

Leo suddenly laughed, a contemptuous laugh. "You sure you want to shoot me?"

"Why waste words?"

Another soldier impatiently stepped forward. "Just grab him - he might be the target we're looking for!"

He reached out to grab Leo.

The next second, the soldier flew backward, crashed heavily into the armored vehicle, and passed out.

"What?"

The other soldiers were shocked, not yet understanding what had happened.

Leo had already appeared before another soldier, chopping his neck with his hand.

That soldier's eyes rolled back as he collapsed softly to the ground.

"Let him in."

Jack's voice came from inside the vehicle.

The soldiers hesitated, then finally cleared the way.

Leo climbed into the command vehicle in his military boots.

Inside, Jack turned around to look at Leo.

His gaze first fell on the dark silver badge on Leo's chest.

"You... you're..."

Jack's eyes widened, looking at the young man before him in disbelief.

"Long time no see, Colonel Thompson."

Leo removed his sunglasses, revealing those sharp eyes. "Jack, so Roland sent you to catch me?"

Jack's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at this young man in the black trench coat.

The coat's collar stood high, sunglasses covering half his face, but that badge and that voice - there was no mistake.

"This..."

Cold sweat broke out on Jack's forehead. "Sir, I... I'm just following orders..."

"Following orders?"

Leo sneered. "Do you know who I am?"

"I know! You're... the commander of Shadow Operations, codename Shadow!"

Jack gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling. "Three years ago, when I led Delta Force's Seventh Squad on a mission in the Middle East, you led the Shadow team to rescue us from the encirclement!"

"Without you, I'd be buried in the desert!"

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Since you remember, then now... what are you going to do?"

Jack took a deep breath, suddenly removed his military cap, and knelt on one knee.

"Sir! I'd rather face a military tribunal than take action against you!"

If he had known Reaper's name was Leo Ashford, he definitely wouldn't have come!

All the surrounding soldiers were shocked.

Their commander was actually kneeling before a "target"?

Leo looked at Jack kneeling on the ground, silent for a few seconds.

Then he reached out and gently patted Jack's shoulder.

"Get up."

"Sir..."

"I won't put you in a difficult position."

Leo turned toward the vehicle exit. "I'll go find General Roland myself."

"Yes, sir!"

Jack stood up and saluted again.

Leo jumped down from the command vehicle, put his sunglasses back on, and strode away.

Two hours later.

Near the Pentagon, General Roland's private residence.

Roland was pacing anxiously in his study, the whiskey in his hand already his third glass.

On the huge New York City map on the wall, the red dot representing the Fifth Squad had stopped moving, filling him with an ominous feeling.

The encrypted phone on the desk rang.

Roland picked it up.

"General, we have a problem!"

An anxious voice came through. "Delta Force's Fifth Squad... refuses to execute orders!"

"What?"

Roland shot to his feet, nearly dropping his glass.

"Jack says... says Leo is his superior, he can't take action against his own superior..."

"Bastard!"

Roland smashed his glass to the floor, shards flying everywhere.

"Jack! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

"General, Jack also said... if you keep insisting, he'll surround your house with his men..."

Roland trembled with rage, his face dark.

"Rebellion! They're all rebelling!"

He grabbed the phone, about to dial another number.

The study door was suddenly kicked open.

The heavy oak door shattered on impact, fragments flying.

Roland spun around, looking toward the doorway.

A young man in a black trench coat stood there, hands in his pockets, slowly walking in.

A cigar in his mouth, smoke rising slowly in the dim light.

"Roland, I've heard so much about you."

Leo walked up to Roland, looking down at him. "I'm Leo."

Roland's pupils contracted sharply, his face instantly turning pale.

"You... how did you get in here?"

"I walked in."

Leo casually exhaled a puff of smoke. "Your security system is worse than I imagined."

"Someone! Someone!"

Roland shouted in panic.

"Stop shouting."

Leo walked to the sofa and sat down casually, crossing his legs.

"Those people outside are all asleep."

"You..."

Roland's legs gave way as he collapsed into his chair.

"General Roland, let's have a good talk."

Leo flicked his ash, his eyes cold. "If we can reach an agreement, you can keep being a general. If not..."

He paused, pulling a handgun from his waist and placing it on the table.

"Today, you'll have to answer for the Drake family."

Roland looked at the gun on the table, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

"You... what do you want to talk about?"

"It's simple."

Leo exhaled smoke. "Stop all your operations. Then tell me everything you know about the Drake family."

"Otherwise... I don't mind letting the politicians at the Pentagon know what their Deputy Secretary has been doing behind their backs all these years."