What is a Killer?
A Killer is a group of people who provide themselves with superior treatment and a distorted sense of satisfaction by taking other people's lives.
No.
They shouldn't even be called people.
Killers are creatures that live under the Sun, unable to see the light.
This view is, at the very least, the common understanding of law enforcement agencies.
But...
If the person who appeared on the scene last night was the so-called Killer King, then why did he not kill the two young girls who were wanted three hundred meters away, but instead had an internal conflict with another Killer?
"Uneven distribution of spoils?"
Arthur Stacy, who spoke, looked at the strange gazes from George and Bob, and was slightly startled: "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
George shook his head.
Bob said from the side: "Whether it's this Butcher or this King, according to the available information, both of these Killers are lone Killers. For these lone Killers, making them cooperate is no less difficult than making East Country and the island nation shake hands and make peace."
Killers are creatures full of suspicion, cruelty, heartlessness, and disloyalty. Making them cooperate would probably result in them being wiped out due to mutual suspicion before the operation even began.
Bob thought to himself.
George shook his head: "Alright, there's not much point in talking about this now. The most important thing is the bounty on Arthur and Gwen. Have you found a way to cancel it?"
"Not yet, but we are actively investigating."
"Can it be canceled?"
"If we find the source, it should be possible."
George nodded with a grim expression. After all, for so many years, this was the first time someone dared to issue such a Killer bounty on the family members of a New York City law enforcement agency within New York City's territory.
Just then.
The phone rang.
It was Bob's.
"...Mm, okay, I understand."
Bob, who had gone to the living room to answer the phone, turned around and looked at George and Arthur with a somewhat grave expression: "Someone has taken the order."
"What?"
"My informant just received news that someone has placed a bounty of 1.2 million U.S. dollars on you and Arthur. Just now, a Killer has taken the order. Guess who took the order."
...
George didn't speak, just frowned.
Arthur Stacy quickly said: "What? On me and George? Who?"
Bob looked at George and said in a deep voice: "King!"
George narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he seemed to have been mentally prepared for this answer.
To make two lone Killers attack each other, either one Killer stole the other Killer's wife, or the two Killers had a conflicting assignment.
The New York Police Department has very little information on Killer King, but they have a drawer full of information on Killer Butcher. However, looking at the several women mentioned in the Butcher's file, most people would find it difficult to even approach them, let alone Killer King.
So...
It was a conflicting assignment.
Because Killer King and Butcher both received the same bounty, and there was only one bounty, everything that happened last night was for the sake of one of them taking the entire bounty for himself.
This is the most plausible and reasonable explanation.
But...
Bob seemed to guess what George was thinking from the expression on George's face and immediately shook his head: "According to the intelligence from the informant, Killer King only took the assassination bounty for you and Arthur, while the assassination bounty for Jill and Gwen was released to Butcher through another channel."
George was stunned.
It wasn't a conflicting assignment?
Then...
Was it not because of a conflicting assignment, but truly because his wife was stolen? Was it because Butcher stole Killer King's wife, which is why Killer King appeared last night?
George was brainstorming.
The next second.
Bob continued: "And, George, guess who revealed this information."
George had no mood to guess at this moment.
"Just tell me directly."
"Thomson."
...Who is this?
"His other identity is the Head of Federal Security for Veranke Industries in France."
Veranke...
George was immediately stunned, and then, as if an electric current passed through his mind, he suddenly looked up at Bob and said in a deep voice: "Alex Wylanck."
A big fish he had just caught not long ago.
That's right.
That fits.
Why he and Arthur's entire family suddenly had Killer bounties placed on them was all because of this big fish he had just caught and brought ashore not long ago.
Alex Wylanck.
He was arrested by him, and prosecuted by Arthur.
Arthur Stacy, who was standing nearby, was also instantly stunned upon hearing this name. Immediately after, the expression on his face instantly revealed that he understood why all of this was happening.
Just then, Arthur Stacy's phone rang.
It was his assistant's.
"Officer, Alex Wylanck's lawyer just came over and said that his client wants to make a deal with you."
"I never make deals!"
Arthur Stacy didn't hesitate at all.
Since he joined the New York City District Attorney's Office, although he couldn't say that all District Attorneys in New York City were good people, he could guarantee that for every case that passed through his hands, he was worthy of his profession and integrity.
Just as Arthur Stacy finished speaking and was about to hang up, the assistant on the other end of the phone, seeing this, hurriedly said: "Officer, his lawyer said that given your current situation, you will definitely meet Alex Wylanck for this deal, if not for yourself, then for your family."
Arthur stood up from the sofa with a whoosh.
His expression changed.
George, sitting next to him, heard this and seemed to think of something. He looked at Bob next to him and asked: "How did your informant know the information just now?"
Bob, hearing this, also seemed to think of something and said to George: "Thomson said it publicly at that Killer bar, and my informant just happened to overhear it."
While speaking.
Bob looked at Arthur, who was standing on the floor with a changing expression, with a suspicious look, and then at George: "George, do you mean that this message was deliberately released by Alex Wylanck, just to let us know that he was the one who issued the Killer bounties on you and Gwen, as well as Arthur and Jill?"
George nodded: "It should be so."
Bob was speechless.
"Why?"
"A deal!"
George sneered and shook his head: "What else could it be for? To make a deal with the District Attorney's Office."
Bob: "..."