Ms. Farley?
As Luca and the others stared at the unexpected visitor, Darnell picked up the last hot dog from the table.
He munched on it while watching the group of women approach them.
Meanwhile, his mind began to sift through information about Ms. Farley. Julie Farley, one of the Seven Wolves, was codenamed Direwolf.
The intelligence indicated that Julie excelled in disguise and sniping, making her a crucial member of the Seven Wolves.
She could transform into a young girl or an old woman, even a man, making her targets difficult to guard against.
Since joining the Seven Wolves at fourteen, she had killed over a hundred people.
And none of them were insignificant.
Because she had made many enemies through her killings, Julie had stayed in the Seven Wolves’s headquarters for the past two years, rarely venturing out for missions.
She was called Direwolf not only for her beauty and fondness for white clothing but also because her skin was exceptionally pale.
Standing amidst snowy landscapes, it was hard to distinguish whether she was snow or human. Even now, surrounded by people as she walked over, there was an unreal sense of illusion about her.
At this moment, Martin turned to introduce her to everyone. “This is Ms. Farley, our leader for this mission.”
While introducing her, Martin maintained a polite demeanor tinged with inexplicable fear.
Julie’s presence added intrigue for Darnell. It seemed the Seven Wolves were after more than just Rex’s head.
Whiteville was likely in for another stormy upheaval.
As Darnell took a bite of his hot dog, Luca flashed a bright and humble smile. He extended his right hand towards Julie.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Farley. I’ve heard so much about you. I apologize for not welcoming you properly.”
“I’m Luca, leader of the Apex.”
Callum and Gisselle felt dissatisfied with Luca’s submissive attitude, especially after Julie’s assertive entrance.
They glanced at Darnell but did not follow Luca to greet her.
Darnell remained seated casually, munching on his hot dog while admiring Julie’s curvy body.
Although the eating sounds were faint, Julie heard them and glanced sideways at Darnell.
With just one glance, she extinguished Darnell’s enthusiasm for beauty.
Cold!
It was unbearably cold!
He wondered what experiences Julie had gone through. Her gaze felt like a thin cold blade that sent shivers down one’s spine.
Darnell finally understood why Martin was so apprehensive. This woman was undoubtedly difficult to deal with.
Even Darnell wanted to distance himself from her, but Julie didn’t give him the chance. She bypassed Luca’s outstretched hand.
She approached Darnell with a cold demeanor. The closer she got, the more alluring she became and the stronger the chilling aura grew.
Luca awkwardly chuckled twice and slowly withdrew his hand. “Please have a seat.”
“What’s your name again? Darnell?”
Julie sat across from Darnell, her eyes sharp as she stared at the carefree man.
“You are quite arrogant. Even Luca stood up to greet me. Yet you, a minion, remain seated like you’re some big shot. Do you even know what you’re doing?”
No one had ever ignored her like this. Wherever she went, people either treated her with utmost respect or overwhelming enthusiasm.
Yet, this man didn’t even spare a glance for her. Displeased by this treatment, Julie demanded: “Do you know what hospitality is?”
“Ms. Farley.”
Darnell replied with a calm smile, “Firstly, I’m not part of the Apex. I’m Luca’s friend.”
“In other words, I’m a guest here. I don’t think I have to greet you respectfully.”
“Secondly, I always know my place as a minor character.”
“Didn’t you see me sitting patiently in this corner without making any sound? Didn’t you hear me speaking softly?”
“This shows I have self-awareness, unlike some people who demand a hundred million in compensation the moment they show up.”
“Besides, Ms. Farley is a guest. Shouldn’t you greet your host first?”
Julie’s face subtly changed. “Are you lecturing me?”
Darnell sighed, “I’m talking some sense into you.”
Julie slammed her palm onto the table, her eyebrows furrowed fiercely. “Darnell! Stop being sarcastic! If you’re truly a man, fight me!”
“Martin said you’re unbelievably skilled. I want to see what you’re capable of! If you defeat me, I’ll protect you unconditionally from today on. But if you can’t beat me, get lost as far away as possible. I don’t want to see your face,” she said.
Martin wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say, afraid that he would get beaten by Julie if he spoke up.
Feeling Julie’s fierce aura made Callum and Gisselle tense up, but Darnell remained unfazed.
“Ms. Farley, your words are contradictory. If I beat you, why would I need your protection? If I can’t win, I might as well kill myself,” Darnell retorted.
Julie pointed a finger at Darnell. “Enough with the nonsense. If you’re a man, step up and show me your skills.”
Ever since Martin returned from his encounter, he had been singing Darnell’s praises non-stop. Julie didn’t believe it, thinking Martin was exaggerating.
Seeing Darnell now, with his delicate skin and carefree demeanor, she was even less convinced of his prowess.
So she wanted to personally teach Darnell a lesson and trampled on his dignity.
But Darnell merely stretched and smiled nonchalantly, “I don’t like fighting, especially not with women.”
“And whether I’m a man or not is none of your business. As long as my woman knows, that’s all that matters.”
His words caught Julie off guard for a moment, and then her pretty face flushed with anger. “You jerk, are you looking for trouble?”
The few followers with her also blushed in fury, casting sideways glances at Darnell. This guy really knew how to hit below the belt.
“Calm down, both of you. Let’s keep the peace. We’re all allies here,” Luca interjected, rushing to play peacemaker. “Let’s remember, we’re in this together against Rex, not against each other,” he continued earnestly. “Mr. Halford, Ms. Farley, let’s stay focused on the bigger picture.”
He looked at Julie and added, “You came to Whiteville for something important as a leader, not to argue with Mr. Halford. Can we set aside these squabbles and discuss our next steps?”
Martin also stepped in to smooth things over. “Ms. Farley, let’s prioritize what’s important.”
“The next step is simple,” Julie replied, her expression softening slightly. After shooting Darnell a fierce glare, she turned to Luca and the others. “The Apex needs to give us one hundred million, and we also need fifty skilled fighters. We’ll handle Rex ourselves in ten days.”
“We lost seventeen brothers, and Rex walked away unscathed because you let Kimberly escape.”
“And since there’s a traitor within the Apex, we’ll handle the specifics ourselves. The Apex can do whatever it wants.”
Callum’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Ms. Farley, that seems unreasonable. You use our money and our people but won’t let us be involved.”
He cautioned, “Besides, you’re not a local here. Without the Apex’s help, it’ll be tough to take down Rex.”
“Help? What help are you offering?” Julie shot back, unflinchingly criticizing Callum. “Should I give you another chance to tip off the enemy again? Until you find out who the traitor is within the Apex, you’re not fit for joint operations.”
“I don’t want to see my brothers lose their lives for nothing again,” she continued, her eyes glinting with a hint of mockery. “I wonder if Kimberly really escaped or if you all helped her get away.”
“How could the headquarters of the Apex, with guards everywhere, allow Kimberly to escape so easily?”
Callum was left speechless by her words.
Luca sighed. “We’re investigating, and we will give you an explanation.”
“Then take your time,” Julie said coldly. “Until the investigation is complete, no unnecessary actions.”
She fixed her gaze on Darnell. “Especially ensure that irrelevant people don’t get involved.”