Chapter 136

"I don't drink tea." Jack's tone was flat as he looked at the woman.

The woman's lips curved upward slightly. Her seductive eyes settled on Jack as she let out a soft laugh. "Mr. Carter, are you afraid I've poisoned it?"

Jack said nothing, but his expression was telling enough.

Even though Jack believed no one in this world could harm him, he still needed to stay completely alert.

"You really are worthy of being Commander of the Armed Forces."

Seeing Jack unmoved, the amusement in the woman's eyes only deepened. She didn't seem embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, she looked at him the way one might appreciate an intriguing work of art, her gaze lingering on Jack like silk being drawn across skin.

"Mr. Carter, since you don't like tea, let's skip the formalities."

She let out a soft laugh, the sound dripping with allure. Then she extended her slender fingers and gently pushed the delicate teacup aside.

"Let me be direct. My name is Mira Lawson. You can also call me Yamashima Mako. I'm with the Igaru Faction," the woman said.

Jack's expression remained unchanged—he'd already guessed her identity.

"I'm also Seraphina's aunt."

"The purpose of this meeting is simple. I'm hoping you'll release Seraphina." Mira got straight to the point.

At the mention of that name, something flickered almost imperceptibly in Jack's eyes.

Seraphina.

Of course he remembered that name.

After all, this woman had once tried to kill him. Now she was locked up in his military compound in Viridis State.

"Release Seraphina?"

Jack rolled the words around in his mouth, a hint of amusement in his tone.

He didn't refuse immediately. Instead, he crossed his hands over his knee, leaned forward slightly, and fixed the stunningly attractive woman before him with an intensely commanding stare.

"Ms. Lawson," Jack's voice was low and steady, carrying the calm authority of someone used to power, "your niece tried to kill me."

"There's an old saying: 'Those who kill will be killed in turn.'"

"The fact that I didn't kill her already shows considerable respect to your Igaru Faction. And now you think a few words will make me just let her go?"

"That seems a bit... simplistic, don't you think?"

A glint of amusement showed in Mira's beautiful eyes.

She knew it was unrealistic to expect Jack to release Seraphina based on her word alone.

Besides, after capturing Seraphina, he hadn't killed her. Instead, he'd deliberately let them know she was alive.

He was clearly waiting for them to come negotiate.

This man wasn't just ruthless—he was a cunning fox who understood the art of leverage.

He'd kept Seraphina alive because he was waiting for the Igaru Faction to offer him something worth his while.

"Seraphina is the future heir of our Igaru Faction. If possible, I ask that you release her. Whatever terms you name, our Igaru Faction will... do everything in our power to meet them."

Mira delivered those final words softly, yet each syllable carried weight.

She tilted her head back slightly, meeting Jack's commanding gaze directly without the slightest hint of backing down.

"Is that so?"

Jack smiled faintly.

His eyes locked with Mira's.

"My condition is simple. I need to know who sent Seraphina to kill me. I need information on them."

"Tell me that, and I'll have her released immediately."

The moment those words left his mouth—

Mira's expression changed dramatically.

That seductive, composed face—the coy smile that had been playing on her lips—froze instantly.

The air in the room seemed to be sucked out in that moment, and even the glow from the paper lantern seemed to dim.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. That's the one thing we cannot give you," Mira said quietly.

"Cannot?"

"Or won't dare?" Jack asked seriously, his tone aggressive.

He was certain of it now.

The Igaru Faction was connected to The Illuminati. In fact, they might very well be members themselves.

Faced with Jack's penetrating stare, a flicker of barely concealed panic finally showed in the depths of Mira's eyes.

She knew all too well just how many cards this man held.

"Both cannot and won't dare," Mira took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her nerves. Her voice dropped low, carrying a hint of helplessness. "Mr. Carter, some things—it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's that if I do, our Igaru Faction will cease to exist."

"I hope you can understand that."

Cease to exist?

Jack mulled over Mira's words, his expression darkening.

In Jack's eyes, the Igaru Faction wasn't particularly powerful—just a ninja organization that had been around for a few hundred years.

After all, he commanded the entire armed forces of Marigoldia.

As far as he was concerned, there weren't many organizations or powers in this world that could truly make him wary.

But even if the Igaru Faction was relatively weak, it was still a family collective with centuries of history. Its foundations had to be incredibly deep—beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

From Mira's words, it wasn't hard to deduce that whoever was behind this could destroy the Igaru Faction without much difficulty.

Which meant—

The Illuminati's reach had already penetrated to a truly chilling degree.

They could not only easily control the life and death of an ancient assassin organization—they could treat it as a disposable pawn.

Jack studied Mira. From her expression, he could tell she wasn't lying.

But letting Seraphina go just like that? Impossible.

"Fine. Then I'll change my condition."

Jack's tone was casual as he looked at Mira.

"Go ahead."

Mira's eyes brightened with hope.

"I want Seraphina to work for me for five years. During those five years, she must follow my orders without question."

The moment those words left his mouth, the flicker of hope in Mira's eyes was instantly replaced by shock.

She stared at Jack as if she'd just heard something completely absurd.

"Five years?" Mira's brow furrowed slightly, her tone filled with disbelief. "Mr. Carter, Seraphina is the future heir of our Igaru Faction. You want her to serve under you for five years..."

"What?"

Jack's lips curved upward slightly as he looked at Mira. "You think my condition is too harsh?"

Mira fell silent.

She looked at Jack, her mind racing through the pros and cons.

Five years. Not exactly long, but not exactly short either.

But compared to completely antagonizing Jack, trading five years of freedom for Seraphina's life—this deal left her with no room to refuse.

After all, The Illuminati?

The Igaru Faction couldn't afford to offend them.

But Jack controlled Marigoldia's army, navy, and air force. They couldn't afford to offend him either.

"Alright." Mira took a deep breath and finally nodded. "Five years. I accept your terms."

"Seraphina will work for you for five years. During that time, she will follow your every command."