Chapter 72: South America’s God of Slaughter

The elevator went straight to the top floor.

"Ding" - the elevator doors slowly opened.

A wave of decadent air, thick with cigar smoke, liquor, and perfume, hit them as they stepped out.

Leo and Serafina stepped out of the elevator to find a huge rooftop pool.

The pool sparkled under the moonlight, surrounded by a dozen bikini-clad women lounging around, laughing and playing.

In the center of the pool area, a slightly chubby man in his forties was half-reclining on a giant beach chair, a thick cigar in his mouth, while two beauties fed him grapes.

This was Lone Wolf, one of the three major players in Miami's underworld.

Behind him stood four bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses.

"Lone Wolf."

Carlos, clutching his still-aching neck, walked up to Lone Wolf and pointed at Leo, resentment burning in his eyes. "That's him."

"Smack!"

"Serafina, sorry, my guy doesn't know any better!"

Lone Wolf blew out a puff of smoke, squinting as he sized up Leo, then slapped Carlos across the face before breaking into a smile. "Long time no see. Has the Miami sunshine made you even more passionate?"

He spread his arms, as if wanting to give Serafina a hug.

When it came to a woman like Serafina, Lone Wolf didn't dare have any improper thoughts.

He knew very well which women he could touch and which he couldn't.

But Serafina just smiled charmingly and gracefully dodged his arms. "Lone Wolf, I'm here to talk business."

"Of course, of course."

Lone Wolf's gaze returned to Leo, his smile instantly turning cold. "But before we talk business, shouldn't we first settle this little misunderstanding between us?"

He pointed at Carlos, still standing nearby.

"My guy may not know better," Lone Wolf said slowly, "but rules are rules. On my turf, hitting my people is disrespecting me."

Even though this incident offended Serafina, if his own guy got beaten and he, as the boss, didn't step up, that would hurt his crew's loyalty.

"So... how should we handle this?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Several bodyguards had quietly placed their hands on the holsters at their waists.

However.

Leo ignored Lone Wolf and those menacing bodyguards, walking straight through the crowd to the bar by the pool.

He scanned the liquor cabinet and took down a limited-edition whiskey worth a million dollars from the top shelf, pouring himself a glass.

"You're pretty cocky."

Lone Wolf's smile completely disappeared, replaced by a dark expression.

In Miami, no one had ever dared to ignore him like this.

Leo picked up the glass, took a small sip, then turned around, leaning against the bar, savoring the taste of the whiskey.

After a while, he finally spoke slowly. "Your liquor cabinet... is quite interesting."

"Macallan 1926, Louis XIII Black Pearl..."

"Looks very expensive, just not sure..."

He paused, looking at Lone Wolf with amusement in his eyes.

"If the owner knows how to appreciate them."

Lone Wolf's eye twitched.

This guy was implying he was a nouveau riche.

Lone Wolf sneered. "Looks like Serafina found you a very tasteful... pet."

"Knowing how to appreciate wine means you can survive in Miami?"

He flicked his cigar, looking at Leo. "You know where the last person who acted all refined in front of me is now?"

"At the bottom of the ocean."

"Feeding the fish."

Leo didn't get angry at this. Instead, he smiled.

"So..."

He looked at Lone Wolf, his lips curling into a mocking arc. "You're the kind of country bumpkin who kills people who appreciate wine, then keeps buying wine to show off?"

"No wonder this place of yours..."

Leo glanced around at the beauties by the pool and shook his head.

"So lively, yet nothing like what a king should have."

"More like... a beauty pageant thrown by a nouveau riche."

"You're fucking asking for it!"

Lone Wolf slammed his hand on the beach chair's armrest.

The beauties by the pool instantly fell silent.

The bodyguards all pulled out their guns in unison.

Dark gun barrels all pointed at Leo.

Yet Leo remained completely calm.

He even poured himself another glass.

"See, I told you."

Leo held up the glass, examining the whiskey's color against the light.

"Not elegant at all."

Lone Wolf took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger.

"Interesting."

"Now I'm a bit curious."

"Are you really confident... or just plain stupid?"

"In Miami, people who dare talk to me like this..."

He held up his hand, making a "zero" gesture.

"None."

"Not a single one."

"That's because..."

Leo put down his glass and looked directly at Lone Wolf for the first time.

"They're afraid of you."

"And I..."

His lips curved into a cold arc.

"Am not."

Their gazes collided in the air.

Lone Wolf's eyes were dark, filled with killing intent.

Leo's eyes were cold, completely calm.

"Lone Wolf, watch your attitude."

Serafina finally spoke up. She walked to the bar and picked up the other glass of whiskey Leo had poured.

"He's my honored guest, not someone you can insult at will."

"Honored guest?"

Lone Wolf looked at how Serafina was protecting Leo and suddenly laughed.

A very dismissive laugh.

"Serafina, you know what I admire most about you?"

Lone Wolf relit his cigar. "It's that you're smart enough and ruthless enough."

"But now... You don't seem so smart anymore."

"Coming to my turf to stand up for a man?"

"I get it now."

Lone Wolf looked at Leo like he was examining merchandise. "So he's your new toy boy."

"Tsk tsk tsk... looks pretty good, talks a lot too. No wonder you're protecting him like this."

"What, got tired of those muscle guys and changed your taste?"

Serafina's face darkened, about to speak.

But Leo spoke first.

"Toy boy?"

Leo chuckled. "That word coming from your mouth is pretty ironic."

"I see this whole pool full of beauties has got you so confused, you can't tell who's from today and who's from yesterday."

"Oh, right, you probably don't care anyway."

"After all... they're all bought with money."

Lone Wolf's face turned completely dark.

"You really think I won't touch you?"

"Serafina being here can protect you for now."

He slowly stood up from the beach chair. "But don't forget, this is Miami."

"My turf."

"No matter how cocky you are, can you be cockier than a bullet?"

Leo actually laughed at this.

"Bullets?"

He shook his head. "Lone Wolf, you know what the difference is between you and truly strong people?"

"Truly strong people rely on strength and intimidation."

"And you..."

Leo glanced around at those armed bodyguards.

"Only rely on numbers and guns."

"To put it bluntly..."

"You're just a paper tiger propped up by your subordinates."

"Without these guns, you're nothing."

A flash of rage crossed Lone Wolf's eyes.

But soon, he calmed down again.

He wasn't stupid.

This kid was deliberately trying to provoke him.

Lone Wolf suddenly smiled. "Interesting, really interesting."

"Serafina, I respect you because you're a dangerous woman."

"But I don't do business with toy boys who only know how to run their mouths."

He pointed at Leo, his eyes full of contempt.

"In Miami, I only talk to people with real power."

"No matter how good you are with words, it doesn't change..."

Lone Wolf showed a meaningful smile.

"The fact that right now, you're standing on my turf with my guns pointed at you."

"So..."

He waved his hand behind him.

A man built like a tower emerged from the shadows.

He was at least 6'3", muscles bulging all over, his bronze skin covered in vicious scars.

"This is my personal bodyguard, Stanley Ortiz."

Lone Wolf was introduced proudly. "A killing machine from the South American jungle. People who've died by his hands—if not a hundred, then close."

"Didn't you say I only rely on guns?"

"Fine, I'll give you a chance."

Lone Wolf said in a condescending tone.

"Let him fight you. No guns, fair duel."

"If you can last three minutes against Stanley..."

"I'll forget about today and talk business with you."

"If you can't..."

Lone Wolf's lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Then I'll throw you in the ocean to feed the sharks."

"Fair enough, right?"

Serafina just smiled faintly, because she believed no one could beat Leo.

Leo finally reacted after hearing this.

But he wasn't angry or nervous.

Instead...

He laughed.

He drained the whiskey in his glass, then casually tossed the empty glass onto the bar.

"Three minutes?"

He glanced at the tower of a man called Stanley, then looked at Lone Wolf, saying slowly, "Too long."

"That much time..."

Leo rolled his wrists.

"Is enough for me to kill him three times."