Chapter 44: Are You Reaper?

Roland's private residence, study.

"Leo."

Roland looked at Leo and the gun. After a moment of composure, he showed a mocking smile. "Do you know what you're doing? Threatening an active general is a serious crime!"

He knew very well that Leo wouldn't dare touch him.

An active Deputy Secretary of Defense, a powerful figure in the military--how could someone like that be killed just like that?

"Serious crime?"

Leo suddenly laughed.

The next second, he grabbed Roland by the collar and lifted him up from the chair.

A heavy punch slammed hard into Roland's abdomen.

Roland's eyes went wide, vomit and stomach acid spewing from his mouth as his whole body doubled over on the ground.

Leo let go, and Roland collapsed to the floor, clutching his stomach and coughing violently.

"Why do you think I dared to break in here?"

Leo looked down at him from above. "You... if you've got the guts, kill me..."

Roland gritted his teeth and shouted, "I'm a general! Deputy Secretary of Defense! If you kill me, you won't be able to survive in America!"

"The U.S. military will never let you go!"

"The FBI will hunt you down! The CIA will come after you! Even the President will order your arrest!"

"You think you're so tough? Before our nation's machinery, you're nothing!"

"Is that so? Aren't you afraid of being disgraced?"

Leo pulled out a manila envelope from inside his coat and threw it in front of Roland. "In here is all the evidence of the bribes you've taken from the Drake family over the years. Bank statements, secret agreements, offshore accounts... everything."

"So I'll hand this evidence over to the Congressional Oversight Committee, the FBI, and The Washington Post."

"Then we'll see if you can keep your Deputy Secretary position. That'll be up to your luck."

Roland's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Every transaction, every call record, even his secret account at a Swiss bank--all investigated thoroughly.

"You... how did you..."

"I told you, there's nothing in this world I can't find out."

Leo sat back down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and leisurely smoked his cigar.

Roland trembled all over.

He knew very well that once this evidence was exposed, his political career would be completely finished.

Not only that, he would face a military tribunal and possibly even life imprisonment.

But...

"Compared to being disgraced, I'm not even afraid of death!"

Roland suddenly raised his head, a flash of madness in his eyes. "You think you can threaten me with these things? I'm a general! I've served this country for thirty years! Even if something happens, even the President won't be able to protect you!"

"Is that so?"

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, a mocking smile on his lips.

Just then.

The study door was pushed open again.

An elderly man in a crisp military uniform with a chest full of medals strode in.

He was about seventy, with snow-white hair, but eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Most prominent on his chest was a gold five-star insignia.

Five-star general!

And not just any five-star general.

He was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff--General Stephen Holman!

The highest commander of the American military!

Roland saw who it was, and joy flashed in his eyes instantly.

"Mr. Holman, thank goodness you're here! Quick! Arrest this lunatic! He broke into my residence and threatened me!"

Roland scrambled toward Stephen Holman as if grasping at a lifeline.

"Mr. Holman, this man is called Leo. He's an enemy of the Drake family. I was ordered to capture him, but he..."

"Shut up!"

Stephen Holman turned sharply, glaring at Roland. "Roland! Who gave you the authority to command troops on your own and launch an attack on Reaper!"

"What?... Reaper?"

Roland froze, struck as if by lightning.

Reaper!

That was a god-like existence in the military's most classified files!

Rumor had it he once infiltrated the Middle East alone and took out three top international terrorists.

Rumor had it he led a team to wipe out an entire mercenary group in Eastern Europe.

Rumor had it he'd executed thirty-seven top-secret missions with a zero-failure record!

He was a true god of war, a Reaper that struck terror into his enemies!

"Let me introduce myself."

Leo stood up and slowly walked over to Roland, looking down at him.

"I am Reaper. Code name: Shadow."

"No... impossible..."

Roland trembled all over, his legs went weak, and he fell to his knees.

He never imagined that the person he was trying to deal with was the legendary Reaper!

"Roland!"

Stephen roared, "Do you know what you've done? Unauthorized deployment of Delta Force to attack the commander of the Shadow action group!"

"This is treason! This is betrayal!"

"I... I didn't know... I really didn't know..."

Roland completely broke down, crying and shouting, "William just asked me to help eliminate an enemy. I didn't know it was Reaper..."

"William?"

Stephen Holman snorted coldly. "How much did you take from the Drake family? For money, you even dared to go after Reaper?"

"Roland, do you want to face a military tribunal?"

"No... please no..."

Roland collapsed on the floor, utterly desperate at this moment.

He knew he was finished.

Completely finished.

Leo walked to the sofa and sat back down, crossing his legs. "Roland, now answer my questions. And I suggest you think carefully before you speak."

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

Roland sat slumped on the floor, completely drained of energy. "What do you want to know?"

Leo took out his cigar case and cutter, methodically cut the cigar tip, then lit it with a metal lighter. "What other cards does the Drake family have? William can't have just you as his only card."

Roland was silent for a few seconds before speaking with difficulty. "You're right. William's connections in the military aren't just me."

"Admiral Clayton Weston of the Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Ruben Black, and the Deputy Director of the Pentagon's Joint Operations Command, David Wilson."

Leo's brow furrowed slightly.

These people were all high-ranking.

"Keep going."

"Over the years, William has funneled huge profits to them through Drake Group's military contracts. Drake Group appears to be a finance and real estate company, but actually, they own three military contractors."

Roland wiped the sweat from his forehead. "These three companies get over five billion dollars in orders from the Defense Department every year."

"And all these orders were obtained through William's connections."

"Give me the names of those military contractors."

Leo flicked his ash.

"Osiris Defense, Blackhawk Armaments, and..." Roland gritted his teeth, "Falcon Tech."

"Falcon Tech?"

A cold glint flashed in Leo's eyes.

He remembered that the new energy technology Luke had developed before his death was forcibly acquired by the Drake family and incorporated into a company called "Falcon Tech."

"Falcon Tech is the Drake family's most critical military contractor. On the surface, they develop military energy systems, but actually, they're developing a new type of weapon."

"I don't know the specific details, but William never mentioned it to me."

Leo was silent for a few seconds.

If he guessed correctly...

The core technology of this weapon was very likely the new energy technology Luke had developed back then!

"Where is Falcon Tech's headquarters?"

Roland shrank back in fear and answered tremblingly, "New Jersey, a secret base on the outskirts of Camden."

Leo stood up and straightened his suit. "Stephen, I'll leave Roland's matter to you."

"Understood."

Stephen nodded, then looked at Roland. "Guards, take Roland away!"

Two fully armed guards rushed in from outside, unceremoniously grabbed the collapsed Roland, and dragged him out like a dead dog.

"Reaper... Stephen... spare me..."

Roland's desperate wails gradually faded away.