Zach Ashford. That name echoed incessantly in his mind. Theo couldn't forget his name after learning who the real leader of the Bloodhound Cartel was. The man's name seemed to stick in his mind, making it easy for Theo to remember. Every time he recalled that name, Theo got furious. He was genuinely angry whenever he thought of him.
As soon as that name crossed his mind, Theo was immediately reminded of the incident when he caught Lizzy sleeping with Zach on the night he broke up with her.
To hell with Zach! How can I keep remembering that incident? Theo cursed in frustration as the image replayed in his mind.
The system screen always appeared whenever he felt his emotions were unstable due to recalling the names Zach and Lizzy.
Once he knew Zach's name, one thing Theo couldn't understand was how he could be unaware that this man was the son of one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in Sciencetopia. The Ashford family was no ordinary family. They ranked among the top five renowned entrepreneurs frequently featured in the news.
Ashford held the fourth position among the most influential entrepreneur families in Sciencetopia. Theo had often seen the face of John Ashford—the man who happened to be Zach's father. However, he had never once known Zach's face as the heir to the family fortune. Theo only realized this after conducting his investigation. He sought every piece of information related to Zach, and it turned out there was quite a bit he could gather from social media and the internet.
However, all the information he gathered on the internet was merely basic information, the accuracy of which was highly questionable. In this advanced age, every piece of information needed to be sifted through repeatedly to ensure its accuracy. Since Theo didn't know which articles were truthful and which ones were exaggerations.
Moreover, from all the news that surfaced, not a single one revealed that the Ashford family was also a mafia with a significant role in all the illegal activities happening in their country. The name Ashford seemed like a mask to conceal their darkness as a cold-blooded mafia involved in numerous murders.
"Sigh~" Theo let out a long sigh. Berta, who happened to pass by, unintentionally overheard, causing her to stop spontaneously.
"Are you okay? You don't seem enthusiastic."
"I'm fine," replied Theo, then walked away, leaving her behind.
It's the second day since Kate left Sciencetopia. Since the incident where he killed Dante, Theo had been contemplating what would happen the next day. Initially, he thought he would face issues with the police due to the events of that night, but it turned out that none of that happened.
Theo didn't understand why all this was unfolding. He wondered why the police didn't notice the incident, and there wasn't a single news report covering it. When he asked all these questions to Alessio, the man explained that the area where the incident occurred was in a police-free zone. It was rarely patrolled because it was quiet, with no residents around. Moreover, the road leading to that place had been closed for a long time and was no longer in use due to the risk of accidents.
Therefore, the road leading to that place was more frequently traversed by mafia members and gangsters, making it a lawless, outskirts area. Every accident and murder that happened there had become quite common, since the public never passed through.
With Alessio's explanation, Theo understood why Kate didn't hesitate to commit murder there. He also understood how the Bloodhound Cartel could freely launch attacks in that area.
Splash!
Theo fell silent, staring at himself through the reflection in the mirror. He was currently in the restroom, washing his face in an attempt to clear his mind. Theo truly wanted to stop thinking about Zach so that he could focus on work. However, it seemed futile because Zach's name continued to echo, causing him frustration.
"All the information I got from the internet is not enough to help me execute my revenge plan. It seems like I need Alessio. He must have a lot of information about the Bloodhound Cartel that could be useful for me," Theo fell silent, his hands clenched tightly.
"But why haven't Alessio and Infero Ravens shown up tonight? Are they busy?" Theo shifted his attention, taking out his phone and glancing at the time displayed on the lock screen.
*
The taxi Theo was in came to a stop in front of a luxurious building. After paying the fare with several Dӱ bills, Theo stepped out of the taxi. Arriving there, he fell silent while observing Zayn's house, which looked magnificent and beautiful from the outside.
The house was so luxurious that no one would believe that the person living there was just an old man living with his subordinates.
After standing still for a moment, Theo walked through the front yard and entered. Last night, Theo tried to contact Alessio to talk with him, but he couldn't reach him at all. Theo could only get in touch with him this morning when he intended to try again. Once successfully connected, Alessio asked Theo to come to Zayn's house if he truly wanted to talk to him.
"What is he doing here? And why didn't he invite me to meet at the headquarters? Is he doing something important to Zayn?" Theo muttered softly as he continued walking until he reached the front door.
Just as he was about to open the door, Theo was suddenly startled by it swinging open. As the door opened, he could see Alessio standing there. It seemed like the man had been waiting for him.
"Finally, you've arrived," Alessio said, inviting Theo to come inside.
"Why did you want us to meet here? Why not at the headquarters?" Theo's question came out immediately as he walked alongside Alessio. He followed Alessio, unsure of where he was being led.
"I have important matters here, and there's something I need to show you."
"Is that so? What is it?"
"We'll discuss that later. For now, it's better if you follow me and explain why you wanted to meet me," Alessio ushered Theo into the elevator. Once inside, he immediately pressed the button for the floor where Zayn's private quarters were located. It seemed Alessio intended to take him to greet Zayn.
While waiting for the elevator doors to open on the designated floor, Theo explained his reason for contacting Alessio. "I wanted to meet you because I need to ask for information about Bloodhound Cartel from you. I need more details about their boss."
"You need information about Dante? But why? He's already dead," Alessio questioned.
"No. I meant Zach. You know their leader, right?"
"Oh! You mean him. Yes, of course. I have a lot of information about him. He's the person who caused our big boss to lose a lot in his life. Back then, our big boss was a highly successful businessman, quite famous for his influence. However, the revelation of our big boss's identity as a former mafia by the Ashford family instantly dismantled everything. Big boss lost everything—his thriving career crumbled due to false rumors circulating in society. There are people who spread untrue rumors as long as the big boss is still a mobster. It led to the loss of a portion of his wealth and his companies. After that incident, our big boss decided to quit the business world and focus more on finding peace by hiding. However, even so, there are still a few people who believe in our big boss and want to continue their cooperation with a different concept."
Theo fell silent upon hearing Alessio's recent explanation. It was the first time he learned about the actual events leading to Zayn's business downfall. "You mean, those few people are businessmen who eventually asked Zayn to send Infero Ravens to protect them?"
"Yup! Exactly right. But how did you know?" Alessio inquired.
"Kate explained it to me."
"By the way, when will you teach me Eclipsa Mastery?"
"Huh?"
Theo suddenly remembered that Alessio was stubborn, and he wouldn't give up on persuading him to teach him the Eclipsa Mastery martial art.
"Here's the deal: you teach me martial arts, and I'll provide you with all the information you need about Zach. If necessary, I'll even find out the information firsthand," Alessio tried to make an offer, taking advantage of the situation. Theo looked at him with a flat expression. He couldn't fathom how Alessio managed to exploit a situation that left him with no real choice.
"Okay," he reluctantly agreed. Negotiating seemed futile. Theo chose to stick with obtaining information, even if it meant teaching Alessio martial arts in the end.
Once they arrived at the upper floor, they quickly exited the elevator and headed towards Zayn's private room. Upon reaching the private space, Theo was surprised to see Zayn lying in bed with an IV drip attached to his body. Elio, his constant assistant, stood by the bedside.
Zayn's attention instantly shifted towards the sounds as they arrived. A smile appeared on his face upon seeing Theo there.
"What happened to you? Why are you on an IV?" The question immediately escaped her lips as they stood in front of him. Theo's face showed confusion. The last time he visited, Zayn was fine. But now, he had an IV in his hand, and his face looked pale.
"Big boss's health deteriorated as soon as he received news from the orphanage yesterday," explained Alessio, redirecting Theo's attention to him. Theo stared at Alessio with a curious expression, seeking a more specific explanation.
"One of the orphanages guarded by Infero Ravens was suddenly attacked, and most of the children there were kidnapped somewhere unknown. That's what caused my condition to worsen instantly," Zayn replied.
"What? But how could that happen?"
"I don't know what caused it. All I know is that it made me extremely anxious. But thankfully, you're here now, and I can feel relieved," Zayn smiled while looking at Theo. "Theo, can you go there and help me solve this issue? The orphanage means a lot to me because there are so many children there whom I've been trying to protect."
" Upon the throne, the big boss reflects, Puzzles of duty whispered by the wind. In a decline, he seeks your aid, Embark on the mission, rebuild the wounded realm." Category: Sub Difficulty Level: A Completion Requirements: Carry out the tasks given by Zayn to help his condition get better! Time Limit: 72 hours Reward: You will receive special coins as a reward once this quest is successfully completed!> ***