Chapter 9: Gary's Fury

The next morning, Mary prepared breakfast and set it on the table.  After Franklin came out of his room, he didn't eat but looked resentfully at Leo and strode out of the house. After breakfast, as Leo was about to head out, Dustin asked curiously, "Leo, where are you headed so early?" "To find an old acquaintance," Leo answered. "An acquaintance?" Dustin was puzzled. "You have acquaintances in Welton City?" It was normal for Dustin to react this way. After all, Leo had said he lived in a small village in another province, so how could he have acquaintances in Welton City? Leo nodded. He planned to visit Dillon's family today, something he couldn't explain to Dustin, so he vaguely mentioned searching for an acquaintance. Since joining the "Wolf," Dillon had never contacted his family to avoid putting them in danger due to his identity as an assassin. It had been seven years. Originally, Dillon had intended to retire after earning enough money, but an unexpected twist in a mission led to his death while saving Leo. Leo, short on cash, had planned to visit Dillion's family after saving some money. However, the kidnappers unexpectedly handed him sixty to seventy grand yesterday, so he decided to move up his plans. Dustin didn't press further. He merely nodded and advised, "Keep my advice in mind while you're out. It's a sensitive time, so stay away from isolated spots. By the way, do you have a phone number?" "I don't have a phone at the moment," Leo confessed. His previous phone had been discarded abroad after his last failed mission, as bringing it back would have exposed his assassin identity. Dustin was a bit surprised that Leo didn't even have a phone. "I'll have my secretary take you to the mall later to buy a phone and a few outfits." The clothes Leo was wearing consisted of old clothes given by villagers while he recuperated in the mountains. They appeared shabby and outdated, not fitting for a bustling metropolis. "No need, I'll buy it myself later," Leo said before leaving the Felton Manor and heading directly to the mall. His visit was not for clothes but for a phone. To him, clothes were just for covering up, their elegance irrelevant. Once at the mall, he browsed around and stopped at a counter. "Sir, which phone caught your eye?" A girl in a business suit with a round face asked with a smile. Leo pointed at a simple phone. "This one." "If it's for your parents, I recommend a smartphone to alleviate their loneliness," she suggested with a smile. "They can video call you while you are not home. Older folks are quite adept at learning, so there's no need to worry." Leo glanced at the girl and replied, "It's for me." He had chosen this counter specifically for the simple phone. He wasn't looking for something cheap but something durable with a long battery life. The innovative features were not only unnecessary but also unsafe for him. The girl was briefly surprised but quickly understood. Leo's worn attire suggested financial difficulty, which was likely why he chose the simple phone.  She nodded, retrieved a new simple phone from the cabinet, and placed it before Leo. "One hundred and ninety-eight dollars, please." Leo pulled out a wad of cash, extracted three hundred-dollar bills, and placed them in front of her. "And get me a phone number," he added, placing his ID on the counter. Assassin identities were strictly confidential, even among organizations. If identity information was needed for missions, it was borrowed from others. Leo's current identity was clean and could withstand any organizational scrutiny. The girl initially thought Leo was financially strapped, hence the simple phone. But seeing him pull out a thick stack of cash—quite a huge sum by her estimate—surprised her. She'd be even more astonished if she knew Leo had fifty or sixty grand in his pocket. After leaving the mall, Leo hailed an illegal cab, heading directly to Dillon's family residence. He avoided official taxis because their in-car cameras and GPS could expose his identity.  Years of caution had become second nature. Upon reaching the address, 38 Yanston Road in Longinton District, Leo discovered that Dillon's family had sold the property a year ago and moved elsewhere. He inquired among the neighbors about their new location, but no one knew. Before leaving, a kind neighbor mentioned that a girl who rented an apartment upstairs was close to Dillon's sister and might know where they moved. However, the girl had recently started dating and usually returned only once every ten days or so. Leo couldn't wait around daily, so he left his phone number with a retired lady downstairs, offering three hundred as a service fee, asking her to inform him if the girl returned. On the way back, Leo pondered why Dillon's family would sell their lifelong home and move without neighbors knowing their new location. It seemed unusual and left him uneasy. ***** In Welton City, inside the presidential suite of the Fiver Hotel, Gary was sleeping with a blonde beauty. Knock! Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Who has the nerve to disturb my morning sleep?" Gary grumbled, irritated by the interruption. "Gary, it's me," a deep male voice replied from outside. Gary nudged the blonde beauty beside him. "I've got business here, you should go." He tossed a wad of cash from a nearby bag onto the bed. After the blonde left, the man outside entered the room. He was about twenty-five, bald, and had a dragon tattoo on his right arm. His narrow features exuded a menacing aura; clearly, he was not a good person. "Dante, have you found out about the guy engaged to Iris?" Gary eagerly asked as soon as the man entered. The bald man nodded. "I've mostly got it figured out." He lit a cigarette. "The guy's name is Leo Jauncy. He dropped out of high school. His father was a close comrade of Dustin but died of illness after saving him. His mother left, and the kid disappeared." "Rumor has it he went abroad illegally to do illegal work and now has suddenly appeared, likely due to hearing about your engagement with Iris and wanting to rush back." Upon hearing that Iris was to marry such a lowlife, Gary gritted his teeth in frustration. "This worthless scum is a loser!" His eyes bulged with fury, spittle flying as he spoke. "Gary, if you despise Leo that much, why not let me take care of him? Don't worry, I'll ensure it happens quietly, leaving no trace," Dante said, calm and collected as if used to such tasks. Seeing Gary silent, Dante assumed he had permission and was about to leave. "Wait!" Gary called him back, coldly saying, "Let's try diplomacy before resorting to force. I want to meet Iris first." ***** In a private room of a cafe, Gary and Iris sat across from each other. "Gary, why did you ask me here today?" Iris sipped her tea, trying to hide the sorrow on her face. She had a fondness for Gary. He was charming, well-educated like her, and heir to the Watson Group. Their union was a business arrangement, but they genuinely wished for it. Yet, just as they were about to be engaged, Leo's sudden appearance disrupted everything. "Iris, you know why I'm here," Gary said, gazing deeply into her eyes. "Are you really willing to obey your father's wishes and marry that stranger, a poor boy you know nothing about? Does he deserve you?" "I met Leo when we were kids. His father was my dad's closest comrade, sacrificing his life for him. I understand why my dad wants this marriage; it's our family's debt to the Jauncy family," Iris replied quietly. Gary tried to contain his anger. "Iris, we're not in a feudal society anymore. You studied abroad. How can you willingly follow your father's arrangements?" "Gary, let's accept reality. We weren't meant to be," Iris said, tears glistening in her eyes. "I refuse to accept it!" Gary's anger flared. "Your father is stuck in ancient times, using his daughter's marriage to repay a debt. He doesn't deserve to be a father." "You can't talk about my dad like that! No matter what, he's still my father." Iris stood up, her face flushed with anger. Though defending her father, Iris secretly agreed with Gary. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left home to stay at a hotel. Gary suppressed his frustration, softly suggesting, "Iris, let's elope. We can live where no one knows us and return when the time is right." He thought elopement was a way to force Iris into a situation that would make it impossible for Dustin to refuse them. Iris shook her head in anguish. "I can't do that. It would make things hard for my dad. His word is his bond. If I elope, it would kill him!" "Your father kept his promise to a comrade, but what about my family?" Gary fumed, "If everyone in Welton knows I was jilted by you, I'll be a laughingstock! Who will compensate me?" "I apologize on behalf of my father," Iris said, tears streaming down her face as she fled the room. Watching Iris leave, Gary's expression darkened as he took out his phone and called Dante. Once connected, Gary instructed, "Dante, proceed with the second plan."