Seven ships, some on the surface and some submerged, slowly headed in the same direction.
The wreckage of the Street family’s warships still floated on the surface, drifting with the currents, pushed aside by Ryan’s ships as they sped forward.
Echo listened to the conversation, lifting her head from Ryan’s embrace. He didn’t stop her. She glanced at the calm water and recalled how she had almost lost her life out there last time.
How could this be so easy?
Just as she was about to say something, a chaotic wave appeared on the communication screen, indicating a signal intrusion.
She furrowed her brow and said, “Let me handle this.”
She adjusted her position while sitting on Ryan’s lap and began to engage with the invading signal.
“The other side is requesting to talk,” Echo said, raising an eyebrow.
This was just an intrusion wanting to have a conversation, not an attack. She turned to Ryan.
Ryan’s expression remained cold as he replied, “Connect.”
In an instant, Echo moved her fingers, and the captain’s screen suddenly flickered. A figure appeared, a man with striking features and a face that was unbelievably handsome, almost dazzling. He sat on a leather sofa, casually swirling a glass of red wine, and wore a charming smile as he addressed Ryan, saying, “Do you like what I sent you?”
Echo looked up and raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t that the charming guy from Cecily’s car in Italy?
Ryan wrapped his arm around Echo as he leaned back in the captain’s chair, his gaze coldly fixed on the man on the screen. He said in a deep voice, “What do you think?”
The charming man immediately flashed a smile, exuding an air of elegance and delight as he took a sip of his red wine.
With a wicked grin, he swirled the deep red liquid in his glass and looked at Ryan, saying, “I almost forgot my opponent was you, Mr. Ryan. This little trick must not be worth your attention, huh? Heh.” He leaned back casually on the leather sofa, as if he didn’t care at all about the gear that had just been destroyed.
Ryan continued to stare coldly at the charming man, gently stroking Echo’s hair as his expression remained neutral. There was an undeniable aura of authority and power in his icy demeanor, and he didn’t bother to respond to the man’s taunt-his eyes just grew darker.
The charming man seemed to realize Ryan wouldn’t engage in small talk with him. He turned his gaze to Michael, grinning as he said, “So, the young master of the Brown family is here too. Mr. Michael, no wonder you have the guts to enter this territory so boldly. Looks like you found the Dark family as your backer. You really think highly of me.”
He laughed as if Ryan and the Brown family teaming up against him only highlighted his own power.
Michael raised an eyebrow and, after a moment of thought, replied with a charming smile, “Oh, I didn’t recognize you at first. So, it’s you’re the boss of the Street family. Mr. Kevin, it’s rare to see you so relaxed.”
The charming man’s expression shifted, his playful demeanor suddenly turning sharp. He glared at Michael and said coldly, “Kid, I don’t like what you just said. You really think your little power can do anything to me? What a joke. When I was making my mark, you were not born. Don’t overestimate yourself; you’re not even on the same level as me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his menacing look transformed back into an alluring charm. With an air of nobility, he smiled at Michael and said, “But I do appreciate capable people. If you ever find yourself struggling, you’re welcome to come to me.”
His words clearly dismissed Michael.
Michael didn’t get angry; he kept his cool smile and replied, “Sure, I’m not particularly remarkable myself, but I do have a bit of tolerance. If you ever find yourself in a bind, you’re welcome to join the Brown family.”
Mr. Kevin burst into laughter, his words dripping with arrogance and swagger.
Echo noticed that his demeanor and charm were almost on par with Ryan’s-equally proud and brazen, but with a touch of coldness and wickedness that Ryan lacked.
Amid his laughter, Mr. Kevin looked down at them and said, “Still just a kid, huh?”
“Alright,” a cold voice interrupted Mr. Kevin’s mocking smile. Ryan said icily, “Kevin, I don’t have the time to play games with you. If you’ve got nothing to say, just get lost.”
Kevin, the charming man, stopped laughing and changed his posture, raising an eyebrow as he smiled at Ryan. With a mix of elegance and a hint of bloodlust, he said softly, “How rude.”
He smiled lightly, neither flippant nor arrogant.
Echo noticed the sudden shift in Kevin’s demeanor; his charming facade vanished, replaced by a cold, menacing air that seemed to seep out of the screen, creating an invisible pressure.
It felt intimidating, even though it was different from Ryan’s presence.
Echo raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t been scared of Ryan before, so why would she be intimidated by the boss of the Street family?
But she was definitely curious about his claim that “When I was making my mark, you were not born.” How old was this Kevin, anyway? He looked to be in his thirties, but his attitude was off the charts.
Kevin noticed Echo sitting on Ryan’s lap and gave her an exaggerated look up and down. He smiled elegantly and said, “Echo, we meet again.”
Echo glanced at Kevin and replied coolly, “Hi, Mr. Kevin.”
Kevin grinned mischievously, saying, “I really didn’t expect you to have such charm. Had I known, I would have invited you to my castle much sooner.”
Catching the implication in Kevin’s words, Echo raised an eyebrow and shot back, “As long as you have the means, I wouldn’t mind being a guest.”
Kevin chuckled lightly, genuinely amused. After a moment, he nodded and said, “Maybe you’ll get that chance to visit my castle, but only if Ryan doesn’t let me down.”
At that, Ryan’s expression darkened slightly. Kevin was definitely no small fry. He looked all charming and delicate, but he was ruthless and capable-there was a reason he had become the boss of the Street family in his twenties. Over the years, they had been fierce rivals; there were wins and losses on both sides, but neither could truly dominate the other. His words weren’t just empty talk.
Seeing the cold glint in Ryan’s eyes, Kevin smirked and leaned back on the sofa, raising his glass towards Ryan. He said with a wicked smile, “Using someone else’s strength to disrupt our balance of power? Ryan, you’ve really got me riled up. Go ahead, make your move; I’ll definitely keep up with you. I’m curious to see who the true king of this world is. I hope this vast ocean isn’t your final resting place because I’d like to see you again. Otherwise, this world will lose a lot of its fun.” He then downed his drink, his eyes gleaming with arrogance and determination.
Suddenly, the screen flickered, and Kevin cut off the connection.
Ryan stayed silent, his expression icy.
Michael asked in a low voice, “What kind of game is he playing?”
“Boss, the signal came from Washington, D. C. It was sent from the Street family headquarters,” Bill reported, his brow furrowed as the dark screen showed movement.
“There are no signs of tracking or attack signals, and there are no special directives,” Cobra added.
Hawk’s image also appeared at the same time, saying, “No unusual activity in the waters, and the radar shows no signs of enemy movement. Everything is calm.”
Listening to the quick reports from the three, Ryan nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, “Check all the ships.”
Kevin wasn’t the type to waste time. If he came to deliver such pointless chatter, there was definitely something wrong. The cleaner it seemed, the bigger the hidden issue.
“There are no problems; all signals are normal.”
“All equipment is functioning properly.”
“All personnel are accounted for.”
In just two minutes, the rapid reports piled up.
Ryan coldly replied, “Full speed ahead.”