Chapter 158: Collecting Debts
"Boss, where are we going now?" On the private jet, Milluki looked at Mord, his face full of excitement. "To the research institute?"
Since deciding to follow Mord, even his form of address had changed—the chubby boy was quite adaptable.
"The research institute hasn't been built yet."
"Ah? Then where are we going?" Milluki was taken aback.
"To get money and talent for you." Mord glanced toward another direction, where Canary stood obediently, ready to receive orders at any moment.
The girl had been sent by Milluki's mother to take care of his daily life.
It saved Mord a lot of trouble.
Two hours later, the plane landed in Yorknew City.
"Boss, you said we're here to get money?" Milluki stared at a skyscraper before them.
As part of an assassin family, intelligence gathering was a routine task. He knew this building served as the operational headquarters for one of the top ten underground mafia families—the Terrio Family.
"The Terrio Family owes me a debt. Since we're short on funds now, it's the perfect time to collect." Mord smiled.
The several black-clad guards at the building had long noticed these uninvited guests.
Hearing that they were indeed targeting their family, the lead guard coldly said, "Damn, coming here to collect a debt? They must have a death wish. Leave one alive, kill the rest."
A gunshot rang out before he finished speaking—his subordinate had fired at Mord.
But at the same moment, Canary, standing nearby, sprang into action.
She swiftly extended her cane, intercepting the bullet mid-air.
Canary bowed to Mord and said, "Mr. Mord, leave this place to me."
"Go ahead."
With Mord's permission, Canary immediately charged toward the group of gang members.
"Looking for death!"
Seeing that this young girl not only didn't flee but actually rushed toward them, the gang members directly drew their pistols and prepared to open fire.
Canary leaped high into the air, her butler's leather shoe landing squarely on the face of the first person. The man collapsed without even making a sound.
Before Canary even touched the ground, her left foot swept through the air, striking two other gang members in the head. Their 200-pound bodies were sent flying, crashing hard against the distant wall, their condition unknown.
In the blink of an eye, only the last minor leader remained.
The minor leader showed a panicked expression and shouted, "Don't come any closer! I'll shoot if you take another step!"
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots rang out.
Canary tilted her head slightly, actually dodging the bullets right in front of him.
The gang leader was completely dumbfounded. Was this even human?!
Facing so many guns empty-handed, she moved as casually as if strolling through a garden. It seemed less like a fight and more like a performance.
The next moment, two distinct "crack" sounds were heard.
The minor leader felt intense pain in his right wrist and left knee. His pistol clattered to the ground as he dropped to one knee.
Milluki glanced over and curled his lip, "Canary is perfect in every way, except she's too kind-hearted."
Canary used her cane to press the minor leader firmly to the ground, then looked up at Mord and said, "Mr. Mord, everything has been dealt with."
Mord nodded and strode inside.
The chubby Milluki hurried after him.
When they emerged again, Milluki was carrying three large bags of treasure piled up like small mountains, which he casually tossed into the prepared truck's trunk.
The three drove off into the distance.
...
Beggroth United Nations, Terrio Family Headquarters.
"This is too much!"
"This is simply too much!"
"Bastards! Damn them!"
In the spacious conference hall, Terrio III listened to the continuous stream of reports from his subordinates. In his fury, he crushed the wine glass in his hand, roaring angrily.
Facing their enraged patriarch, the Terrio Family executives in the hall fell into complete silence, none daring to provoke his wrath at this moment.
"In just five short days, we've already lost over ten branch offices. If this continues, will our Terrio Family be forced to hide within the Begerossé Union?" Terrio III gasped heavily, his voice hoarse.
Everyone looked at each other, rendered speechless.
The financial losses had already reached billions, but what mattered more to them was their reputation. The Terrio Family's status and prestige in the underworld were now critically endangered.
Generations of accumulation over hundreds of years, painstakingly built to its current level, now threatened to vanish into thin air because of this suddenly emerged man.
"The perpetrator has been confirmed to be Mord, a Two-Star Hunter from the Hunter Association..." One of the executives cleared his throat nervously, breaking the silence in the hall as he forced himself to speak. "Our family had previously issued a bounty on him. He's likely doing this for revenge."
"Are you suggesting my decision back then was wrong, leading our family to this predicament? At that time, Mord was merely a rookie who had just passed the hunter exam, yet he dared to wipe out the entire Mobley family. If we had done nothing in response, which subordinate family would still dare to follow us?" Terrio III slammed his palm heavily on the table and roared.
Everyone present knew Terrio III was right—this was how they had always operated. But times had changed.
Another executive smiled bitterly and said helplessly, "How could we have predicted that in just one year, he would transform from a novice hunter into a Two-Star Hunter? You must know there are only a handful of Two-Star Hunters in the entire world."
"How could our men possibly stand against a Two-Star Hunter?"
Upon hearing this, the others twitched at the corners of their eyes, unable to conceal their shock. Such a rapid promotion was unheard of—likely unprecedented since the Hunter Association's establishment.
"Are we just supposed to sit back and watch him exterminate our entire family?" Terrio III's face darkened as he lifted his head and scanned everyone present.
"Family Head, what do the other major families say?"
"Should we directly convene the Council of Ten Elders?"
Some executives suggested from below.
Hearing this, Terrio III's expression turned even uglier. His face pale with fury, he said, "The Council of Ten Elders is only convened for matters concerning the entire underworld and the interests of all ten mafia families."
"Right now, it's clear he's targeting only our Terrio Family. At a time like this, we should consider ourselves lucky if those guys don't take advantage of our misfortune."