Chapter 99: Blockade New York

Staten Island.

After calming down the frightened civilians, Leo turned to face Vance and Hayes.

"Generals, I'll leave this to you two."

His voice was calm, but his eyes flickered with a chilling coldness.

"The FBI and state police will be here soon. I'll trouble you both with the cleanup."

"You're going after those two bastards?"

Vance frowned. "Leo, that gray-haired man is no simple matter. And they've probably already gotten far away by now..."

"Run?"

A cold smile curved Leo's lips.

"Can they escape New York?"

With that, he pulled out an encrypted satellite phone and dialed a number.

The phone rang once and was immediately answered.

"Olivia."

Leo's voice was ice-cold, like a grim reaper from hell.

"Starting now, lock down New York."

"Sea, land, and air--all exit routes, seal them all."

"Not even a fly gets out."

On the other end, Olivia immediately responded, "Yes!"

Hanging up, Leo dialed a second number.

"Serafina."

"Reaper, missing me already?"

Serafina's seductive voice came through the phone.

But quickly, she sensed something off in Leo's tone.

"What happened?"

"New York. Activate every intelligence network you can mobilize."

Leo said flatly. "I need to find two people."

"One is a gray-haired European man, around fifty, wearing a gray suit."

"The other is a Nightfall operative, thirties, scar on his left cheek."

"Find their location and report to me immediately."

"Understood."

Serafina dropped her playful tone, her voice turning serious. "Give me half an hour."

The third call went to Sam, New York City's newly appointed mayor.

"Mr. Ashford..."

Sam's respectful voice came through the phone.

"Starting now, watch all the docks, airports, and train stations in New York."

Leo said coldly. "I'm looking for two people."

"If you spot them, don't alert them. Report to me immediately."

"Yes!"

He responded at once.

Hanging up, Leo made successive calls to the heads of the Vanderbilt family, the Adams family, the Chinese Merchants Association, and other power players.

Every call carried the same orders.

Lockdown, New York.

Find them.

In less than ten minutes.

New York's entire underworld and authorities sprang into action.

JFK International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport... security at all three major airports instantly tripled.

All departing flights were subject to the strictest inspections.

Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx... all the docks were being watched by the five families.

Not even a small smuggling speedboat could slip away unnoticed.

Subway stations, train stations, long-distance bus terminals... all transportation hubs were under "routine inspection" by state police and the FBI.

All of New York instantly became an impenetrable cage.

General Hayes watched Leo make call after call, shock flashing in his eyes.

"This is your power in New York?"

He said in disbelief. "Even the five families have to follow your orders?"

"It's not about following my orders."

Leo pocketed the satellite phone and said flatly. "They know that sticking with me means they'll do well."

"Betraying me means only one road--death."

General Vance took a deep breath. "Leo, you're about to turn all of New York upside down."

"They shouldn't have gone after civilians."

A cold killing intent flashed in Leo's eyes. "They crossed a line. Now they pay the price."

With that, he turned and walked toward the Maybach parked by the roadside.

...

Meanwhile.

Brooklyn, Red Hook.

A hidden underground private dock.

The gray-haired man and the scarred killer were hiding in a rundown warehouse.

"Damn it..."

The scarred killer clutched his right arm where he'd been shot, his face pale.

During their escape, Olivia had hit his right arm.

Though not fatal, the blood loss left him weak.

"Shut up."

The gray-haired man sat in a worn chair, elegantly crossing his legs.

Even in this moment of flight, he maintained his composure.

He pulled out a silver pocket watch and checked the time.

"Wait another half hour."

"In half an hour, Barlow will send a boat to pick us up."

"Barlow?"

The scarred killer paused. "The Red Hook gang boss?"

"Exactly."

The gray-haired man sneered. "That idiot will do anything for five million dollars."

Just then.

The warehouse door was kicked open.

A burly man in a floral shirt covered in tattoos walked in.

It was the Red Hook gang boss--Barlow Berlusconi.

"Count."

Barlow wore an ingratiating smile. "The boat's ready."

"In another half hour, the tide will be right."

"I'll personally escort you both out to sea."

The gray-haired man, also known as "the Count," a European assassin, nodded faintly.

"Well done."

"Of course!"

Barlow puffed out his chest, saying proudly, "In New York, especially Brooklyn, my word carries weight!"

"Even if the FBI comes snooping, they gotta show me some respect!"

"You two relax. Once you're on my boat, you're completely safe!"

"I guarantee I'll get you to international waters!"

Disdain flashed in the Count's eyes.

A small-time local gang boss dared to boast in front of him.

Still, he needed this fool for now.

Once they reached the open sea, international waters...

Just then.

The earth-shaking roar of engines came from outside the dock.

Barlow's face changed. "What's that sound?"

"BOOM!!"

The next second.

The metal gate surrounding the dock was smashed apart by several black armored vehicles!

Heavy steel fragments scattered everywhere, kicking up clouds of dust.

Then.

Dozens of black bulletproof Mercedes, Cadillacs, and Rolls-Royces poured into the dock like a steel flood.

Surrounding the entire dock!

"What's going on?"

Barlow's face went deathly pale.

He rushed out of the warehouse to see what was happening outside.

However.

When he saw the scene outside the dock, he froze completely.

At the dock entrance stood several figures he knew all too well.

Leandro, owner of New York's largest real estate group.

Damon, president of the New York Chinese Merchants Association.

And representatives from the Vanderbilt family, the Adams family...

These big shots who could make New York's underworld tremble with a stomp of their feet.

Were now standing respectfully to the side like subordinates.

And in front of them.

A young man in a black trench coat, hands in his pockets, a cigar in his mouth.

Was walking toward the dock, step by step.

Leo.

Behind him, Olivia wore black tactical gear, her eyes cold.

Shadow Squad members followed silently like death itself.

"Mr. Berlusconi..."

One of Barlow's men said in a trembling voice, "That... that's Leo..."

"New York's... underground emperor..."

"...What?!"

Barlow's whole body shook.

Of course, he'd heard Leo's name.

This was the Reaper who destroyed the Romano family, the Drake family, and made all five New York families bow down!

But he never imagined...

He'd meet this legendary figure under these circumstances!

And...

Was the reaper coming for him?

"Barlow."

Leo walked to the center of the dock and stopped.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes cold as he looked at the terrified gang boss.

"You've got some nerve."

"Daring to harbor Nightfall operatives?"

"...Mr. Ashford..."

Barlow's legs went weak, nearly collapsing to his knees.

"I didn't know... they didn't say they were from Nightfall..."

"They just said they wanted to rent my boat to go out to sea..."

"I really didn't know!"

"Didn't know?"

A cold smile curved Leo's lips. "If you didn't know, why did you charge them five million dollars?"

"I..."

Barlow opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

Just then.

From inside the warehouse, the Count walked out with a cold expression.

He looked at the young man before him, wariness flashing in his eyes.

But quickly, he regained his composure.

"Leo."

The Count straightened his suit and said flatly, "I've heard much about you."

"However..."

He paused, a confident smile curving his lips.

"Do you really think surrounding this dock means you can catch me?"

"Too naive."

With that, he pulled out a remote control from his coat.