Chapter 5: The Kidnapper

After leaving the internet café, the sky had already darkened. Leo had spent three hours there, getting a sense of the current situation in the Dark World through the Black Butterfly Network.  Compared to a year ago, the Dark World seemed much calmer now. The once-contending forces had been behaving more obediently since his 'death.' Yet, he knew this was merely the calm before the storm. As long as there were numerous forces and interests, peace was an impossibility in the Dark World. Feeling a bit hungry, he stopped by a street stall for a late-night snack and some drinks. After paying, he realized he had less than thirty dollars left.  Ian had decreed that the Felton family would not sponsor him a cent for three months. Now, living incognito in the city, his aim was to stay away from the Dark World, and naturally, he couldn't risk exposure by withdrawing money from Swins Bank.  Leo chuckled bitterly, never imagining that he, the former leader of the Wolf Organization, once worth billions, would find himself so strapped for cash. Thankfully, the Felton family provided food and shelter; otherwise, he would have had to find a job. He chose to walk home instead of taking a taxi. The street stall was at the foot of Red Mountain, and it would only take an hour to walk back.  Being at the Half-Step to Transcendence, his core had already produced a faint true energy. He could return in mere minutes if he used his skill to speed up. However, with so many people around and surveillance cameras everywhere, using such a skill could cause quite a stir. ***** Not long after leaving the street stall, an old van screeched to a halt right beside Leo, stopping just inches from him.  He frowned and glanced at the van's window, trying to see which reckless driver was behind the wheel. However, the tinted windows and drawn curtains prevented him from seeing inside. Bang!  The van door suddenly opened, and two young men, tattooed and clad in vests with buzz cuts, appeared before Leo.  As the leader of the 'Wolf', Leo had faced countless life-and-death situations and had blood on his hands. He was extremely sensitive to the scent of blood and malice. One glance told him these youths likely had blood on their hands. They were up to no good. Leo's gaze turned cold as he stood motionless, watching the two men, curious about their intentions.  In the past, he would have swiftly dealt with them. But now, having temporarily withdrawn from the underworld, he didn't want to break the law by killing in a bustling city and attracting law enforcement's attention. "Hey man, give us a hand!" A man in a yellow vest inside the van seemed to ask Leo for help, but even as he spoke, he and another man grabbed Leo's arms, attempting to drag him into the van. Despite their efforts, Leo remained unmoved.  Seeing his resistance, another young man in a black vest pulled out a dagger from his waist and threatened, "Kid, if you resist, I'll cut you open. Don't be afraid, as long as you cooperate, not only will I spare your life, but you'll also make a lot of money." Realizing that if he kept resisting, these two idiots might use their knives, causing a scene and drawing a crowd, Leo decided to comply and got into the van.  Seeing Leo go along with it, the two young men smirked with satisfaction. However, they didn't notice the glint of cold light in Leo's eyes, hidden from their view. Once inside, Leo discovered that apart from the two men and the driver, two more men in the back held a young woman hostage.  The woman looked terrified, her mouth sealed with tape. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with fair skin and delicate features, surpassing even those of famous actresses. So, this was a group of kidnappers!  Leo's lips curled into a cold smile. Though he didn't know why these kidnappers had targeted the young woman, kidnappings typically boiled down to two motives: money or revenge.  The woman's beautiful face and luxurious attire indicated that money seemed the more likely motive. However, Leo couldn't fathom why they had forced him into the van. Dressed plainly, he clearly wasn't wealthy, so what could these kidnappers possibly want from him? "What do you want from me? I don't have any money!" Leo scanned the kidnappers before focusing on the bald man in the back. His sharp instincts told him that this bald man was the leader. Ignoring Leo's question, the bald kidnapper casually lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and blew out a ghostly swirl of smoke that lingered in the van.  The atmosphere inside was tense and stifling. "Kid, we didn't snatch you for money!" The black-vested man beside Leo sneered. "If not for money, then what?" Leo asked, puzzled. "You'll find out when we get there!" The black-vested man glanced at Leo. "You have your uses, and once it's done, we'll pay you handsomely."  With that, a mocking grin spread across his face. Leo easily deciphered the sinister undertone in the man's words as the leader of the Wolf Organization and King of Assassins. ***** Gene Good sat sternly on his grand chair, his expression icy as he looked at his family in the Gene Manor. The younger generation was equally tense, not daring to meet the old man's gaze. Just an hour ago, Bree Good, the third generation of the Good family, had been kidnapped by a group of thugs in a parking lot not far from the manor.  The kidnappers had called, demanding five hundred million dollars in three days as ransom, threatening to kill Bree if the police were involved or if there were any tricks. The abduction sent shockwaves through the Good family, particularly enraging Gene.  As one of the leading families in Welton City, the Good family wielded considerable influence in both Welton and the entire Hanos region. Bree's kidnapping was a blatant insult to the family. Yet, despite his fury, with his granddaughter in the kidnappers' hands, Gene dared not act rashly, such as involving the police or taking other actions. Bree was Gene's favorite granddaughter, beautiful and lively, always bringing him joy. A strapping young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a sturdy build and chiseled features, hurried into the hall. This young man was Jon Good, Gene's eldest son's son. He was currently serving as the general manager of a subsidiary under the family group, a standout among the third generation. "Jon, any leads on who kidnapped Bree?" Gene asked, his voice tinged with worry as he looked at his grandson. Jon was the most capable and well-connected among the third-generation grandsons, earning Gene's favor. Therefore, he became a general manager at a young age. A middle-aged man with square features and glasses also stood up anxiously. He was Zachariah Good, Bree's father and Gene's third son, serving as the group's vice president.  With his daughter kidnapped, no one was more anxious than the parents.  Bree was Zachariah's only child, and upon learning of her abduction, her mother fainted and was now hospitalized. Seeing the worried looks from his grandfather and uncle, Jon shook his head, feeling heavy-hearted. "I've asked all my contacts in both the underworld and legitimate circles, but no one knows who took Bree. Grandpa, Uncle Zachariah, don't worry. Even if I have to turn Welton upside down, I'll find those kidnappers!" "We must prepare for both outcomes. Find the kidnappers, but also prepare the money!" Gene stated firmly, then turned to a middle-aged man in a tracksuit, saying, "Theodore, start gathering the money." The middle-aged man, Theodore Good, was Gene's eldest son, the president of Good Group, and Jon's father. "Dad, the company is currently tied up with several major projects nearing completion, with all available funds allocated to them. We don't have the cash on hand to gather five hundred million. Unless we sell stock or secure a bank loan." "But you know selling stock and taking loans would significantly impact our group, and even then, it's uncertain if we can raise the funds in three days," Theodore replied, frowning at his father. In Theodore's mind, the company came first and the family second. He resisted sacrificing company interests for family. Of course, if the kidnapped were his son, his attitude might differ. Gene knew his son's thoughts and asked coldly, "So, do you propose we do nothing?" "Our family commands significant respect in both Welton and Hanos, from legal and illegal circles alike. Those kidnappers wouldn't dare harm a Good family member, no matter how bold," Theodore replied confidently. "And what do you suggest we do?" Gene pressed. "First, we should alert the authorities and use our resources to assist in the search," Theodore stated, "Second, we negotiate with the kidnappers to lower the ransom, ideally to below one hundred million. That way, we can cover it with our current cash reserves." Before Gene could respond, Zachariah interjected angrily, "Theodore, aren't you being irresponsible? Bree's not your child, so you don't care. If it were Jon, would you say the same?" "You're wrong, Zachariah. We're all worried about Bree, but we mustn't lose our heads. We need a sound strategy," Theodore countered, glancing at his son. Reluctantly, he added, "Even if Jon were kidnapped, I'd still... do the same." Just as Zachariah was about to retort, Gene raised a hand to silence him. "Enough, both of you." Seeing their father displeased, the two brothers, looking at him, fell silent. After a long pause, Gene spoke slowly. "For now, don't involve the police. Use all our resources to find Bree. Negotiate with the kidnappers to reduce the ransom." "What if they refuse?" Jon asked. "Then we'll find a way to gather the five hundred million," Gene declared firmly, "Money can be earned again, but a life lost is gone forever." Jon wanted to argue, but seeing his father's glance, he swallowed his words. ***** The van sped off, quickly leaving the bustling city streets for the old town. It navigated a bumpy, potholed road before stopping at an abandoned auto repair shop. As the shop's gate opened, the van drove inside. Once the gate closed, Leo and Bree were ushered out. The shop was brightly lit, with piles of discarded car parts and junked vehicles mixed with trash.  The kidnappers took off the tape from Bree's mouth but kept her hands tied. As soon as the tape was off, Bree cried out in fear, "Help, help, I've been kidnapped!" "Shut it, girl, or I'll strip you and have my way with you before killing you!" The black-vested kidnapper threatened, stepping closer to Bree with a lecherous grin. Terrified, Bree shrank back, "Stay away! If you touch me, I'll kill myself and ruin your ransom plan." "Do it, then!" the kidnapper sneered. I love a good challenge. Once you're gone, I can do whatever I want." Hearing this, Bree's courage faltered. She had only meant to scare them, not realizing they wouldn't be fazed. The thought of being violated after death made her shiver with fear.