Chapter 343
When Lea said this, both Spitfire and Quicksilver took notice. They stared in shock at the guns in his drawer.
Spitfire, in particular, replayed the attack from tonight in her mind.
Just yesterday, a news story about an exchange student in Crefan who had been kidnapped went viral. The police had searched for over ten hours without success, so she and Quicksilver, driven by their compassion, used their hacking skills to help find the student in the middle of the night.
The three of them lived in the apartment upstairs. When Brian saw that they hadn’t returned, he decided to stay as well.
In the dead of night, after they had sent the location they had found to the foreign police, a loud bang resonated through the building.
Bang!
The door was smashed open, and three armed men stormed in, aiming their guns at the two of them.
Brian, who had been asleep with his head resting on the desk, suddenly grabbed a baseball bat and knocked the guns out of the intruders‘ hands. He blocked them, telling the two, “Run!”
Realizing the urgency, they fled in a panic.
To throw off the attackers and avoid being caught, she and Quicksilver split up. However, as she ran down the hallway, her mood disorder flared up, and despairing, violent thoughts overwhelmed her. She no longer wanted to escape. She felt like giving up and dying.
Then she saw him swiftly take down the three intruders, leaving them badly wounded, before starting the interrogation.
Looking back now, Spitfire thought he was like a super–agent from an action film.
Quicksilver had the same impression. After escaping the building, he was pursued by those stationed outside. When he returned and saw the scene, he immediately thought of how Brian had acted at the beginning.
The three men, all armed and well–trained, had been disarmed by Brian in an instant.
The guns were dismantled and tossed into the trash can under Brian’s desk, hidden away in a corner.
Brian glanced at the two of them, nervously touching his forehead, knowing he couldn’t hide the truth any longer.
Without Lea mentioning it, they might not have noticed. But once she did, they knew right away, because they were exceptionally intelligent.
“Well,” Brian said, straightening up and putting his hands on his hips, fully revealing himself and facing them honestly. “Since you’ve discovered it, I won’t hide it anymore. I’m not an ordinary person. I’m quite skilled and have been dealing with weapons since I was young.”
“Are you a special forces operative?” Spitfire asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
No matter who he was or what identity he was hiding, he was a colleague she had worked with for nearly a year and had protected her tonight.
Brian hesitated. An agent?” Quicksilver guessed.
When they didn’t hit the mark, they continued guessing. “A detective? A death squad member? An elite bodyguard…”
Brian wore a mysterious expression as if to say, “You won’t be able to guess it.
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He then looked at Lea
The two of them looked at him, thinking, Lea is smart. She should be able to figure it out.
But Lea simply watched him calmly. His straightforwardness surprised her, but she wasn’t inclined to guess. She preferred to let him reveal it himself.
In the Union, they usually didn’t ask about each other’s backgrounds, but now that she had seen this side of him, and with the Union just recently established and everyone still unfamiliar with each other, everything was still uncertain.
If someone like him turned out to be hostile, it would be terrifying.
Before her crossing over, Lea had witnessed and experienced various conspiracies.
Thus, she needed to understand the situation clearly.
I’m in the arms trade, Brian admitted, exhaling and relaxing a bit.
For someone like him, who was a big shot, the opinions of others didn’t matter much. However, the people present were different for him.
Lea, in particular, exerted significant pressure on him.
Spitfire and Quicksilver’s eyes widened again, and even Lea’s pupils dilated slightly, her gaze trembling with shock.
“Don’t worry. We won’t leak this,” Quicksilver said, looking at both Lea and Spitfire. “Right?”
It was illegal in their country, and they had no intention of turning him in.
“Besides, if we take on more jobs and make money, you won’t need to deal with this anymore. Dealing in arms doesn’t earn much and is dangerous,” he added. “If you get caught, you’d basically spend the rest of your life in prison.”
Quicksilver believed that Brian was involved in small–time arms dealing. Otherwise, with the level of regulation, he would have been caught long ago.
Spitfire nodded in agreement.
With their current approach, they could earn a lot of money. She was even willing to share her earnings with him since she didn’t spend much anyway.
Brian was momentarily stunned. These two colleagues are a bit adorably naive.
He turned to Lea and saw her calmly observing him, her gaze growing more intense. Clearly, she didn’t share their view,
He sighed silently. “Well, you don’t have to worry. My business is mostly in Crefan, Igrea, and other foreign countries…” Both of them were startled again. It seemed his business was much larger than they had thought.
Lea’s eyes darkened, sharp and vigilant. “I’m sorry, but I’d like to know what exactly you’re involved in. Could you disclose more details?”
Brian was clearly not an ordinary arms dealer. The potential danger he posed was substantial, and he was undoubtedly a threat.
To interact with someone like him, she needed to understand his stance and the extent of his influence.
Locking eyes with him, Brian realized that if he didn’t clarify things, they wouldn’t be able to coexist.
He glanced at the door, from the closed door, he could gauge the situation outside. He might not even have a eh-
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Chains sis
trane Just hear how tops of me, mille voor me
spot and Qoukather pape widened even the expression turning to horrar Missiles! Rockets! So Brian is a major anifestes the who could drenge with a tingle blow the kind of villain wanted globally? Are we doomed?
The narrowed, bes poor sharps at a blade, scrutinizing him if she was deciding whether to keep him here permanently
Confronted with such a gare, Brian felt a shiver. What does Les Intend to do? I have a feeling she might want to eliminate ine How could he be an intimidating? What is the
Brian was taken aback. After a few seconds of calm, he said, “I operate legally. In my field, everything is above board and proper hcensed
Es not what you think, he nearly shouted in his mind, desperate for them to believe him.
Spitfire and Quicksilver were still visibly shocked and skeptical. Is there really such a place and business?”
They were young and had no prior knowledge of this realm, making them anxious about being deceived.
Lea, however, remained calm and composed. She believed in the existence of such legal domains and understood that arms trading could be sanctioned under certain conditions.
But her wariness toward him deepened, her eyes pressing for more answers. “Brian, with your level of responsibility, how do you find the time and energy to waste in a small place like ours?”
The moment she asked, Spitfire and Quicksilver’s expressions changed. They immediately became serious and cautious, unconsciously moving closer to Lea.
Brian felt a jolt and grew serious.
His tone was earnest. “I came to Iverton, Codren on a mission. I need to protect someone. Rest assured. This person is a good person, someone that several countries want to keep safe. And I have many powerful and dangerous enemies.”
He looked around the office again. “This is a good place to hide. Besides, you might even end up helping me in the future.”
His expression softened with sincerity and candor. “I can’t claim that everything I’ve done in my life has been good, but I can promise that here, I will do what’s right with you. So, do you want me to join you? Or would you like to join me?”
He was open and friendly, yet carried a commanding presence.
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0 NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.
Spitfire and Quicksilver both felt a surge of emotion, their hearts skipping a beat.
Brian had always been like a protective leader to them, and now that they knew more about his powerful background, they felt even more at case.
The idea of an arms dealer might have seemed negative to them at first, but knowing that Brian was here to protect someone so many countries wanted to keep safe, they saw him in a different light. In their eyes, he was a patriotic hero, someone working to maintain world peace.
Despite this, both of them instinctively moved closer to Lea, wanting her to make the final decision.
Brian found himself at a loss for words.
He looked at Lea again, waiting for her decision, feeling an unexpected tension in his chest, worried that she might refuse him.
To be honest, when they had helped her investigate the gene drugs incident, Brian had learned a lot about her. She was indeed exceptional and strong, especially for someone her age. There was no one else quite like her.
But she was still young.
And when she had just entered, Alfred was right behind her. Alfred not only had an overwhelmingly powerful background in Iyerton, but he was also someone who commanded respect and fear abroad.
A large part of Lea’s influence came from Alfred’s presence.
Still, Brian wanted her to agree to his proposal. He wanted her to be the leader.
Perhaps it was her yet–to–be–fully–revealed strength and charisma that drew him to her.
This was the only explanation Brian could find.
Lea took a breath, her eyes softening, and she offered a sincere expression. “Brian, you’re the senior here. We’ll need your guidance and protection in the future.”
Spitfire and Quicksilver were overjoyed. To them, this Union was like a big family, and of course, they didn’t want anyone to be left out.
Brian felt a thrill in his chest, and realizing his emotions, he paused.
Someone as powerful as him normally wouldn’t care about others‘ decisions, and his emotions rarely wavered. But in front of Lea, his emotions had shifted so easily, making him feel almost ordinary….
‘Lea really does have quite the charm, he thought to himself.
At the same time, Brian stared at her in slight surprise. He hadn’t expected her to agree so readily. And from the calm and clear look in her eyes, it was obvious that she had already seen right through him. She didn’t seem threatened by him at all, and she didn’t care that he might be a threat to her.
Lea’s really bold, he thought.
Brian was just about to ask Lea what her next steps were when she turned to Quicksilver. “You should remain the leader. You’ve done a great job so far, and I know you’ll continue to do well.”
There were no strict rules in the Union, but these extraordinary individuals had come together, completing many impossible missions with remarkable efficiency.
This was the art of Quicksilver’s leadership.
Lea trusted that Quicksilver wouldn’t manage things any worse an she would. She had far too many important matters to attend to and simply couldn’t spare the time to oversee everything.
When Brian heard this, he glanced at Quicksilver, reflecting on the past. It was true. Even Brian himself had come to respect and follow Quicksilver’s leadership.
At the same time, Brian looked at Lea with admiration.
To lead a team like this was a temptation few could resist, yet she had declined, demonstrating her broad–mindedness,
Spitfire, naturally, had no objections. She had spent the most time with Brian, and due to her illness, he had taken extra care of her. They were not just colleagues but also friends.
“If we’re lacking anything, we’ll just make up for it. As for bodyguards…” She looked at Brian.
“I can provide weapons and personnel,” Brian assured them, patting his chest confidently.
He had been preparing in Iverton for a long time, and it was time to bring in some top–tier experts.
“Weapons? The group’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Given that people had already started coming after them, their line of work was bound to get even more dangerous. They definitely needed weapons.
Lea smiled and nodded. “I can provide some weapons too. When the opportunity arises, I’ll also offer some smart protective
gear.
This kind of equipment wouldn’t fall under regulatory restrictions.
Brian’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Lea, now that we’re on the same team, do you think your artificial brain technology could be authorized for collaboration with me?”
In the arms trade, competition was even fiercer than in other industries. When a more advanced product hit the market, everything else quickly became obsolete.
Brian had been striving for a breakthrough, but what they’d developed so far was already cutting– edge. Their researchers couldn’t keep up with the technological advances in other fields, nor did
they have the massive funding needed to support such endeavors.
Artificial intelligence was the current focus of research and the future of the industry.
In this area, Lea was undeniably a leading genius.
Her hacking skills and the smart technologies at her hospital had caught Brian’s attention months ago.
Even if Lea hadn’t approached him today, he had been planning to find her.
“Sure. Let’s set aside some time to discuss the details.” Lea agreed without hesitation.
She recognized Brian’s capabilities and trusted him. One of her plans was to apply artificial brain technology across various industries to generate profits and capture markets, thereby strengthening her own power base.
The arms industry was highly profitable and could become a solid backup for her.
Now that Brian was part of Dark Union, she was more than willing to collaborate.
His eyes
lit
up, and he felt a surge of excitement. “Great…”
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In the upscale villa district of Iverton, where the newly rich reside, lay the Tanner Manor.
After finally dealing with the matters at the school and the hospital, Phillip returned to Tanner Manor. Although the manor was primarily occupied by his father, Anthony Tanner, Phillip had been given his own separate building for his study and bedroom.
The Tanner family had many descendants, but only those who were exceptionally capable and had made significant contributions to the family could maintain a place in Tanner Manor.
Phillip, apart from Anthony, held the highest position in the family.
The family had even openly declared that Phillip was the favored candidate to succeed as the next head of the family.
As the eastern sky began to lighten, the soft, pale light streamed in through the windows. Suddenly, Phillip jolted awake from a deep sleep. He sat up, threw off the covers, and prepared to get out of bed.
Just as his foot was about to touch the floor, he let out a terrified scream and quickly recoiled.
On the floor were three bodies, three men he had sent out the previous night.
They were dressed in black, their clothes soaked and dried with blood. Their heads had been brutally smashed, with their brains congealed. One of them had an eye that was nearly dislodged.
However, Phillip soon regained his composure. Such a scene wasn’t enough to completely shake his sanity.
He dressed himself, stepped out of bed, and took a closer look. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding with anxiety.
He knew the skills of these men and was fully aware of the security measures at Tanner Manor.
The estate was equipped with the most advanced intelligent security systems, and the guards were among the best in the field. ‘How did they manage to bring these bodies back without anyone noticing?‘ he wondered.
There was a knock on the door, an unmistakable sound. He knew exactly who it was.
“Come in,” he commanded in a low voice.
The person who entered was the leader of the death squad who had accompanied him on the mission the previous night. Upon seeing the bodies on the floor, the man was utterly horrified, his face filled with fear. “My failure in duty, please punish me, Mr. Tanner.”
Failing to complete a mission meant that people like him had no value. In the past, such situations often led to the executor atoning for their life.
If punishment could solve the problem, Phillip would have had him killed a hundred times over by now.
“Why did you take so long to get back?” Phillip asked, barely containing his anger.
“I got tangled up with some people. To lose them, I had to take a long detour,” the man replied, nearly having to go all the -way outside Iverton to shake them off.
Phillip glanced at the bodies on the floor, then back at the man in front of him, his fury flaring up even more.
“I deserve to die,” the man muttered. Their identities had already been exposed.
“Did you find out who they were?” he asked.
Chapter 31s
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The death squad shook his head, his face turning even paler, barely daring to breathe.
The ones tracking him, including Luke, had worn clothes that asked their presence. They were experts at trailing and hnding, skillfully avoiding the kurveillance cameras at every turn. He was too busy trying to save his own life to have any chance of identifying them.
As for what had happened at the base, what these three men had gone through, or how they ended up here, he had no idea.
A sudden, explosive knock on the door interrupted them.
“Mr. Phillip Tanner, there’s an emergency. Mr. Anthony Tanner wants you in his study immediately,” Gabriel shouted from outside.
“Find out who sent these bodies here, and do it now,” he ordered,
This time, they had only delivered the corpses. ‘What if next time they come for my head? Will it be just as easy for them?‘ Phillip thought fearfully.
Giving his orders, Phillip hurried to the study.
Inside the study, five or six people had already gathered. There was seventy–eight–year–old Anthony, nearly sixty–year–old Jonathan, Jonathan’s wife Sarah, and their secretaries.
Sarah was kneeling before Anthony, nearly fainting from crying. “Dad, you have to save Calvin! He’s your grandson, your own grandson! He must have been framed…”
Yes, Dad, Jonathan added, also kneeling. “Calvin is the eldest grandson of the Tanner family, the one you’ve groomed as the hope of the family… Dad, you raised Calvin yourself. You know better than anyone what kind of person he is. There’s no way he’d do something that would cause someone’s death. He must have been set up.”
The Tanner family has recently…”
“Sarah, watch your words!” Phillip commanded sternly as he entered the room, cutting her off before she could say any
more.
“Enough!” Anthony barked, turning his gaze to Jonathan.
They all knew what Jonathan and Sarah were about to bring up, the troubles at Conrad University, Conrad Hospital, and the special institutions. Half of the Tanner family’s empire had been swept away, and their enemies were powerful. This had to be the work of their adversaries.
But such words must never be spoken aloud, especially not by anyone from the Tanner family.
As long as they kept silent, it wouldn’t implicate them.
“But Dad, Calvin…” Sarah broke down in tears, desperate to save her son immediately.
Her son, Calvin, was the eldest grandson, handpicked from a young age as the heir to the family. He had been raised by Anthony himself.
Now twenty–four, Calvin had graduated from college two years ago and had already joined the family business. He was just waiting to complete some essential tasks before taking over as the Chief Executive Officer.
Jonathan and Sarah, knowing they couldn’t rival Phillip’s capabilities, had pinned all their hopes on Calvin to secure their future standing and benefits within the family.
Anthony had always favored Calvin, and they were certain he would do whatever it took to rescue him.
After all, when the Tanner family wanted to save someone, no one could stop them.
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Chap 243
So their main goal was to get Anthony to act swiftly to save Calvin
“Shut any Ambony napped again, cutting off Sarah’s pleas.
Sarah, momentarily at a loss for words, fell silent.
Seeing that Anthony was genuinely angry, both Jonathan and Sarah remained kneeling, too stubborn to move.
“What happened, Dad Phillip finally asked.
“Mr. Phillip Tanner, it’s… Gabriel began, handing over a tablet.
Phillip took the tablet and saw several trending headlines about Calvin. The top one read, “The Prominent Tanner Family Grandson Tortures Woman to Death.
Below the headline were pictures and videos.
The Tanner Family’s Grandson Arrested for Torturing Woman to Death.”
“The Revered Tanner Family’s Grandson Exposed as a Sadistic Woman Torturer.”
“Women Who Died at the Hands of Tanner Family’s Grandson.
Phillip’s face turned pale as he read, and he staggered, nearly losing his balance.
The Tanner family, due to their close ties with the Erickson family, valued their reputation above all else.
Phillip himself was involved in the education sector, holding prominent positions at Conrad University and Conrad Hospital. He was currently both the hospital director and the vice principal.
The Tanner family had always prided themselves on their image as an honorable and respectable family. News like this would put them under intense public scrutiny. If their carefully maintained facade were to be torn down, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Calvin had been personally arrested by Dwayne, a figure known across the internet for his unwavering integrity and impartiality. It was widely believed that he had played a crucial role in the downfall of the Oliver family. This made the situation even more dire.
“Mr. Tanner. The death squad leader entered the room.
“What did you find?” Phillip asked urgently.
“Nothing,” the leader replied, lowering his head in fear.
Phillip felt his heart sink, a cold wave of dread washing over him
‘It’s them, the Dark Union. They killed my men and exposed Calvin’s actions. This is their revenge and a warning to us, Phillip thought, his mind racing with the realization.