Chapter 7: Vito Romano

"Marcus?"

Carter clearly recognized this real big shot in the intelligence world and quickly rushed forward with a fawning smile, "Why did you come in person? There's this reckless thug who broke in here, just in time..."

However, what greeted Carter was a loud slap across the face.

"Get lost, you stupid fool!"

Marcus slapped Carter across the face and rushed toward Leo in the center of the crowd.

Just moments ago, he had seen that prominent badge on the inside of Leo's suit.

The badge was pitch black, with a black dagger in the center, its edges engraved with encrypted runes that only the highest levels of the intelligence system could recognize.

That was the "Abyss" special badge!

Only three existed in all of America!

It represented absolute authorization for the nation's most classified operations, with supreme power to act first and report later!

Carter clutched his face, his expression full of disbelief.

He was the chief of Chicago's South District precinct, under the protection of the Romano family; even the mayor had to show him some respect.

And now he'd been slapped in public?

However.

An even more shocking scene unfolded.

Under the extremely horrified gazes of Frank, Carter, and more than twenty police officers.

"Sorry, sir, I'm late!"

Marcus, the CIA Chicago station chief, knelt directly before Leo!

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Only the dense sound of rain echoed.

Someone who could make a CIA station chief of the highest rank kneel in public.

Someone he didn't even dare to raise his head before...

Just who was this young man?

The arrogant Director Frank kept blinking his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

The imperious Carter, clutching his swollen cheek, instantly realized he'd offended the wrong person.

Leo's voice was calm, so calm it was chilling, "I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Marcus's whole body trembled as he suddenly raised his head.

"Carter, chief of Chicago's South District precinct."

Leo's voice was indifferent, "The Romano family's key piece in the police force. Over the years, how many murder cases he's covered up for the Romano family, you should know better than I do."

Marcus certainly knew.

The CIA had long had a thick file on Carter's dirt.

They just hadn't made a move due to the Romano family's influence.

"This person, I don't want to see him again."

Leo lit a cigar and looked up at Chicago's sky, still raining in autumn.

Marcus's whole body trembled.

He understood.

The next second.

Marcus suddenly stood up, drew his gun from his waist, and turned around.

Gunshot.

A bullet hole appeared in Carter's forehead.

His eyes widened, his face still showing an expression of disbelief, his body collapsed like a broken wall, crashing to the ground.

The chief of Chicago's South District precinct.

The Romano family's key piece in the police force was cultivated over more than a decade.

Just died like that.

Without even getting to say a last word.

More than twenty police officers watched as their own chief was shot in the head by the CIA station chief, and instantly raised their hands.

"All... all personnel drop your weapons!"

Marcus turned around, gun pointed at those panicked officers, shouting sternly, "From now on, everything that happened here, you saw nothing, you know nothing!"

"Do you hear me?"

"Yes!"

The officers threw down their firearms one after another, squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads.

What district chief, what Romano family.

Before that young man, they meant nothing.

Underground level two.

Cell number seven.

A putrid, moldy smell mixed with the pungent odor of disinfectant hit them in the face.

In the cramped, dark cell, a skeletal young girl was curled up in the corner.

She wore a stained hospital gown, her golden hair had long since become a tangled mess, and her face was covered with bruises and wounds.

On her wrists and ankles were deep, bloody marks from being chained.

More than a year of inhuman torture had reduced this once sunny girl to something barely human.

Leo kicked open the rusty iron door and stood in the doorway, slowly clenching his fists, "Lily. It's me, Leo."

In the girl's hollow eyes, there was finally a flicker of movement.

She slowly raised her head, looking at the figure standing backlit in the doorway.

"...Leo? Is that you... Am I dreaming again..."

Leo quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and gently lifted Lily's face.

Lily threw herself into Leo's arms, crying hysterically:

"Leo... it really is you..."

"My brother is dead, they killed my brother, that witch Alice, she's working with the Romano family..."

"I tried to report it to the police, but no one believed me, they said I was crazy... locked me up here..."

Leo held Lily tightly, clenching his fists, "I'm sorry, Lily. I came too late. But I promise you!"

"Those who hurt you, those who killed Luke, not one will escape."

"I'll make them pay. Blood for blood!"

With that, Leo turned to look at Olivia.

"Remove her shackles, take her to a safe house. Get the best doctors, twenty-four-hour care."

"Yes!"

Olivia stepped forward and carefully removed the shackles from Lily's hands and feet.

Looking at those shocking wounds, even this battle-hardened female officer's eyes flashed with sympathy.

"Damn it, none of them will get away."

Leo stood up, turned, and walked out.

Chicago suburbs.

Oak Brook Estate.

This private estate was now brightly lit, like daylight.

Hundreds of armed personnel stood ready, distributed throughout every corner of the estate.

Snipers were hidden at vantage points.

Heavy machine guns were positioned behind walls.

There were even several modified armored Hummers parked at the estate entrance, their dark gun barrels aimed at the only entry point.

This was the first time in thirty years that the Romano family had entered maximum alert status.

Inside the estate's main building.

In a lavishly decorated conference hall, smoke filled the air.

Half of Chicago's underground world was now gathered here.

Dozens of men in suits sat around a huge, long table, each face bearing gravity and anxiety.

These people were all core members of the Romano family.

There were bosses in charge of gambling, key players controlling drug networks, financial experts responsible for money laundering, and high-level pieces who had infiltrated politics.

At the head of the long table sat an elderly man with white hair and beard, holding a glass of red wine, looking completely calm.

Vito.

The godfather of the Romano family.

The true king of Chicago's underground world.

He already knew everything about what happened to Mario.

But in his eyes, Leo posed no threat—just a monkey with some strength!

"Gentlemen."

Vito spoke, his voice hoarse but full of authority.

"Tonight, someone has challenged the authority of my Romano family. It's been thirty years, and I want all of Chicago to see what happens when you challenge the Romano family."

"I want that arrogant bastard to know just how deep the Romano family's connections run!"

He turned and took down an old-fashioned red telephone from the wall.

This phone had only rung twice in thirty years.

Each time, it meant someone would completely disappear from this world.

This was also why he'd gathered so many people—to intimidate those with divided loyalties!

The red hotline on the table suddenly rang.

Illinois State Capitol Building.

One in the morning.

Lieutenant Governor Robert was in his office handling documents.

This well-dressed, sanctimonious politician was the Romano family's highest-level piece in the state government.

Twenty years ago, he was just a poor, struggling small-time lawyer.

It was Vito who discovered his "talent" and used money and resources to push him step by step into the lieutenant governor's position.

In return, over the years, he'd smoothed over countless troubles for the Romano family and blocked countless investigations.

Hearing the phone ring, Robert's whole body trembled as he shakily picked up the receiver.

"Robert."

Vito's hoarse voice came through the phone.

"...Godfather."

Robert instinctively stood up, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Although he was already lieutenant governor, he still had an innate fear of this underground king of Chicago.

"You should know what happened. I want that man called Leo dead! I don't care what excuse you use, what forces you mobilize."

"Do you hear me clearly?"

The phone hung up.

Robert's hand holding the receiver trembled violently.

Three seconds later.

He grabbed another phone and frantically pressed a string of numbers.

"This is Lieutenant Governor Robert! Activate emergency protocol immediately! Complete lockdown of Route 94! Mobilize all available SWAT forces to hunt down that man called Leo!"

"What? It's the middle of the night?"

"I don't give a damn what time it is! Fifteen minutes! You only have fifteen minutes!"

"If you can't complete this mission, you can forget about keeping your position as chief!"