Chapter 78: Surrender

Adder's screams echoed through the back alley, like wails from hell.

He rolled wildly on the ground, hands clutching desperately at his own hair, even tearing out a large clump.

"Ahhh... kill me... please... kill me..."

His voice had completely changed, filled with despair and agony.

Leo watched the scene expressionlessly, lighting a cigar. "Two hours and fifty minutes left," he said flatly.

"No... no..."

Adder's whole body trembled, tears and snot streaming down his face.

He thrashed frantically on the ground, his nails scraping the cement until they bled.

But this minor external pain was nothing compared to the sensation magnified a hundred times by the drug.

Five minutes later.

Adder's screams gradually turned into desperate whimpers.

His entire body went limp on the ground, soaked in cold sweat.

"I'll talk... I'll talk..."

He squeezed out a few words with all his remaining strength.

"Please... make it stop..."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke. "Talk."

"I... I do have connections with the Nightfall organization..."

"But I... I'm just an outside contact..."

"Continue."

Leo's voice showed no emotion.

"Nightfall has a base in South America... on the South American border..."

Adder gritted his teeth, tears streaming down. "They enter the US from South America. I just provide help... cover and transportation..."

"Where's the South American base?"

Leo asked.

"I... I don't know..."

Seeing the cold flash in Leo's eyes, Adder immediately panicked.

"I really don't know! Someone... someone contacts me..."

"Who contacts you?"

"Someone called... called Stinger..."

Adder said with difficulty.

"He's a small boss in Nightfall... He always contacts me first... I've never met him..."

"Phone number."

Leo said flatly.

Adder gritted his teeth. "No number. He uses a different phone every time he contacts me."

"Your phone?"

"In... in the inside pocket of my jacket..."

Olivia immediately stepped forward and pulled out an encrypted phone from Adder's jacket.

"Boss."

She handed the phone to Leo.

Leo took the phone and glanced at the call history.

The most recent contact was three days ago.

"Password."

"3859."

Adder obediently gave the password.

Leo unlocked the phone and quickly browsed through the contacts and chat records.

The chat records were brief, just some meeting codes and simple instructions.

But it was enough.

Leo tossed the phone to Olivia.

"Copy all the data, then track the location."

"Yes."

Olivia immediately started working.

Leo looked back at Adder.

"Anything else to say?"

"No... nothing..."

Adder weakly shook his head. "I've told you everything I know... please... just end it..."

"Take him away."

Leo stood up, brushing off non-existent dust from his pants.

Two Shadow team members emerged from the shadows, lifted Adder, and headed toward the van parked at the alley entrance.

Half an hour later.

Lone Wolf's oceanfront villa.

In the living room, Lone Wolf paced anxiously by the pool.

He had just received a call from his men.

Venom Bar... completely wiped out.

Over thirty mercenaries, plus Adder's personal bodyguards, did not survive.

And Adder himself... his fate unknown.

"Damn it... damn it..."

Cold sweat beaded on Lone Wolf's forehead.

He knew Leo was strong.

But he didn't expect him to be this strong.

Adder was a former chief instructor of Colombian special forces!

His mercenaries were all battle-hardened killers!

And yet...

In less than an hour, they were all eliminated.

"Boss."

Carlos walked over nervously.

His neck was still wrapped in bandages, a "souvenir" Leo had left at the airport.

"Mr. Ashford... has come back..."

"What?"

Lone Wolf's whole body trembled.

He spun around sharply, looking toward the villa entrance.

Leo and Serafina walked inside by side.

Leo wore a black suit, still spotless.

Serafina's deep-V red dress, however, had a few drops of blood on it.

But she didn't care at all. If anything, it added to her seductive allure.

Lone Wolf's legs went weak.

He dropped to his knees, his forehead pressed against the cold marble floor.

"Mr. Ashford..."

Lone Wolf's voice trembled, his whole body prostrate on the ground.

"I... I know I was wrong..."

"Is that so?"

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

Serafina elegantly sat beside him, taking out a lady's cigarette from her purse and slowly lighting it.

"What were you wrong about?"

Leo's voice was soft, yet it made Lone Wolf's whole body shake.

"I... I shouldn't have let Adder grow so powerful in Miami..."

Lone Wolf kowtowed repeatedly. "I shouldn't have allowed the Nightfall organization to operate here..."

"I'm willing to offer all my Miami properties and men to Mr. Ashford!"

"Please spare my life!"

Leo said nothing.

Just watched him quietly.

After a long while.

"Lift your head."

Lone Wolf trembled as he raised his head.

His forehead was already bleeding from the kowtowing.

"Lone Wolf."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke. "I don't want your properties."

Lone Wolf was stunned.

"What I want..."

Leo's eyes were sharp as knives. "Is your loyalty. Like a dog's."

"From today on, you are my agent in Miami."

"The entire Miami underworld will be managed by you for me."

"Understand?"

Lone Wolf's eyes widened.

He hadn't expected Leo wouldn't kill him.

Instead... he was giving him such great power?

"I... I..."

He was too excited to speak.

"Bang."

Serafina grabbed a bottle of red wine from the bar and walked over to Lone Wolf in her high heels.

She poured the wine on the floor, the crimson liquid spreading across the marble, looking like blood in the moonlight.

"According to Miami underworld rules..."

She smiled seductively, exhaling smoke.

"Drink this on your knees, and it's your pledge of loyalty."

Lone Wolf didn't hesitate.

He got down on the floor and frantically licked up the wine from the ground, looking pathetic, but his eyes were full of excitement and gratitude.

"I swear!"

He raised his head, his face covered in wine and tears.

"From today on, my life belongs to Mr. Ashford!"

"Anyone who betrays you betrays me!"

"I'll tear them to pieces with my own hands!"

Leo nodded.

"Good."

He flicked his cigar. "Now, I'm giving you your first task."

"Sir, please give your orders!"

Lone Wolf immediately knelt up straight, his eyes full of fervor.

"The Nightfall organization will soon know about what happened to Adder tonight."

Leo said flatly. "They'll think Adder has been exposed, or is dead."

"But..."

He paused, a cold glint in his eyes.

"The Nightfall organization's base in South America needs Miami as a transit point."

"Sooner or later, they'll look for a new contact."

Lone Wolf immediately understood.

"Sir, you mean... You want me to take Adder's place?"

"Smart."

Leo's lips curved into a cold smile.

"Starting tomorrow, you're the new king of Miami's underworld."

"All of Adder's properties, all his forces, you'll take over everything."

"Publicly announce..."

Leo exhaled smoke.

"That Adder died due to internal betrayal. And you are the new ruler."

"As for the Nightfall organization..."

He looked at Lone Wolf, his eyes like an abyss.

"Wait for them to come to you."

"When they do, you'll continue cooperating with them just like Adder did."

"Provide the same help, nothing less."

"Take the same money."

"Understand?"

Lone Wolf's whole body shook.

What a ruthless plan!

Having him replace Adder and continue contact with the Nightfall organization.

This way...

The Nightfall organization would think they just changed partners.

They wouldn't suspect anything.

And Leo could track down Nightfall's real base in South America through him!

"I understand!"

Lone Wolf's eyes flashed with fervor.

"I won't let you down!"

"As soon as Nightfall contacts me, I'll report to you at once!"

"OK."

Leo stood up and walked toward the door.

"Do this well, and Miami is yours."

"Fail..."

He didn't look back, his voice ice cold.

"I'll let you experience what Adder went through for those three minutes."

"Yes! I understand!"

Lone Wolf kowtowed again, his forehead hitting the floor hard.

Serafina smiled seductively and followed Leo in her high heels.

After the two figures disappeared through the doorway.

Only then did Lone Wolf dare to get up from the floor.

He wiped the blood from his forehead and the wine from his face, taking a deep breath.

"Carlos."

"Yes!"

Carlos immediately stepped forward.

"Gather everyone."

Lone Wolf said in a deep voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"From today on, what happened at Venom Bar is that Adder's own men betrayed him."

"Adder is dead."

"All his properties, all his territory..."

Lone Wolf paused.

"All mine!"

"Yes!"

Carlos responded excitedly.

After following Lone Wolf for so many years, his chance to rise had finally come!