Ryan didn’t push them or reprimand them because they hadn’t done anything wrong.
Echo’s current position as the sixth leader in the Dark family meant that even her own safety couldn’t be guaranteed. Who could they blame for that? They could help, but they certainly wouldn’t protect her.
However, Ryan’s deeper meaning was something they understood. In the Dark family, there was no forced submission or loyalty-such loyalty was empty, like a shell without substance. Ryan knew this, and so did they. But Ryan’s decision to not punish or scold them was even more effective than if he had. Echo was the Boss’s favorite, and protecting her meant protecting the Boss. This time, they had slapped themselves in the face.
Adolph, hearing this, immediately relaxed. Even when Ryan lost his composure, he was always rational. He quickly asked, “Do you have any leads on Echo?”
Ryan frowned slightly before answering coldly, “She’s in Kevin’s room.”
Hawk immediately gritted his teeth, “We searched thoroughly just now. We made sure there was no one there, and we didn’t find any hidden compartments.”
But Ryan and Echo’s connection was always spot-on, so this was a bit strange.
Ryan’s expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, “It’s the Japanese.”
Adolph, Hawk, and the others immediately understood. Adolph nodded and said, “That makes sense. If they’re involved, it’s not surprising.”
Kevin had a very mysterious person working for him-someone Ryan had only learned a little about after extensive inquiries. He knew that Kevin’s most trusted bodyguard was a Japanese ninja. This ninja came from Japan and had skills that seemed impossible, like invisibility.
Because ninjas were so rare and their skills so specialized, even someone as powerful as Ryan hadn’t been able to find one. So, he had no real understanding of their methods. What he did know was that although these ninjas were impressive in many ways, true assassinations still required them to reveal themselves. So there was no real need to be afraid.
Cobra, after hearing this, nodded seriously and said, “If Echo isn’t in immediate danger, what’s our next move?”
Seeing Ryan’s expression soften, Cobra understood that Echo’s situation was likely under control for now.
Adolph furrowed his brows and added, “The most likely culprits are the three guys locked up by the Street family. They’ve probably teamed up to try and swallow up both families. They’re the only ones with enough strength to pull this off without crashing, but… I don’t think it’s them. The more likely it seems, the less likely it is.”
Hawk picked up the thread, “I think the same. I’ve already had Panther from our side keep an eye on the situation. For now, we should hold off and not make a move.”
Hawk, Cobra, and the others had been with Ryan for years, so they knew exactly what to do without needing explicit orders. During Ryan’s brief unconsciousness, they had already taken care of everything that needed attention and given all the necessary instructions.
Now, they were asking Ryan for his opinion because they weren’t sure who was behind this. Whether in the legal or criminal world, no one came to mind who could have such an impact on them. Taking down one family was a huge deal, but attacking two at once? No one had the ability to pull that off. So, they were still hesitant.
Ryan’s expression was serious as he suddenly asked, “Are those people still here?”
Hawk and the others froze for a moment, their faces turning even darker than before. When Ryan mentioned “those people,” he was referring to the heads of the various countries.
Adolph, who wasn’t fully aware of what had just happened, saw Hawk and the others react. Cobra, the quickest thinker, immediately turned and rushed out of the room.
It was too much of a coincidence. They hadn’t thought much of it earlier, but now, with Ryan bringing it up, they all realized how suspicious it was.
Mice? In a castle?
Even though the place was old, the people living there weren’t ordinary, and if they couldn’t even get rid of mice, something didn’t add up.
And if it wasn’t that they couldn’t clean up, then the source of the problem had to be somewhere else. They had gone in and out so quickly-barely half a minute-and Echo was already in someone else’s hands. The timing was too precise, and the person who could pull that off was starting to become clear.
Boom!
Just as Cobra burst out of the room, a few explosive sounds echoed through the night. Even though they were a bit distant and muffled, the unmistakable sound of explosions couldn’t be missed by anyone with a background in weapons.
Adolph’s face immediately changed, and he quickly threw out, “I’m going to check it out,” before rushing out the door.
Ryan was likely badly injured, and it wasn’t the right time to reveal himself, especially with the current situation.
The night, which had been silent, suddenly erupted into chaos.
As leaders in the underworld, no one there was unfamiliar with the sound of explosions. At first, it seemed like just a few people had gone to check, but soon, the whole castle was in an uproar.
Ryan, Hawk, and Bill all heard the commotion from inside the room. The loud voices, mixed with curses, anger, and hesitation, turned what was supposed to be a quiet castle into a frenzy in no time.
Ryan, Hawk, and Bill remained silent. Ryan leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, seemingly calculating something, while Hawk and Bill stood facing opposite directions, blocking the windows and doors. They stayed completely still.
“The drawbridge was blown up,” Adolph came back less than fifteen minutes later, his face pale and grim.
Ryan opened his eyes and said in a low voice, “Details.”
Adolph’s face was serious as he explained, “The drawbridge was blown completely into the water. This castle is a medieval structure, and the drawbridge had always been rigged with explosives as a last-ditch defense. There wasn’t much dynamite, so it shouldn’t have had that kind of effect. But now, there’s not even a piece of the bridge left. It’s been completely destroyed.”
Old castles in Italy often had self-destruct mechanisms, relics from the chaotic times of war centuries ago. Though most castles were well-preserved by the government or private individuals, these devices were often more decorative than functional, and nobody used them anymore. Some had even been slightly altered. Adolph, being Italian, knew these things well.
“No way out?” Ryan asked, his voice low.
Adolph quickly replied, “None. This castle is surrounded by a dark river, and the drawbridge was the only way in or out. Now that it’s destroyed, the castle is completely cut off from the outside world. No one can get in or out.”
Ryan’s expression darkened, his eyes flashing with a cold, ruthless look as he said, “That’s some fast action.”
It had barely been over an hour since Echo was injured and went missing, and already, they were moving this quickly-one thing after another, no time to breathe. It was clear they had been planning this for a while.
“No one. All those people are gone,” Cobra suddenly rushed in, his voice tinged with urgency, making everyone’s expressions even darker.
“How bold of them, thinking they could take us down,” Ryan laughed out loud, but the sharp killing intent in his voice didn’t match the amusement.
Adolph immediately slammed his fist onto the table, sneering, “They really don’t know their place. Just because they’ve sat in that position for a few days doesn’t mean they can try to take over the world. They thought they could make a move on us?”
“Nice move, leading us into a trap,” Bill’s face couldn’t have gotten any darker.
Hawk didn’t say anything but immediately started contacting Panther. If it had been King George, Prince William, or Count Andy trying to take them down, they wouldn’t have needed to go this far. If they were after the Dark family and the Street family, even in their own territory, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to act.
But now, even though they couldn’t be sure if the heads of the countries were behind it, they had to be cautious and act fast.
Ryan said it like it was no big deal, but if those leaders were involved, their combined power was much more dangerous than that of King George and the others. They had entire countries backing them. That kind of force couldn’t be resisted by a single person or family. So, the best move now was to strike first. There was no way to go about it cleanly, so it would have to be a dirty play-if they were even capable of pulling it off.