"Such strong killing intent."
Campbell Watson, who had spent years walking the edge of death, keenly sensed that there were at least ten bodyguards hidden around the villa.
These weren't ordinary bodyguards either; they were likely soldiers who had seen combat and bloodshed.
Campbell could feel their cold gazes fixed on him, ready to take him out at the slightest misstep.
With a quick sweep of his peripheral vision, he noted the villa was surrounded by surveillance cameras, leaving no blind spots.
Even he wasn't confident he could silently infiltrate the villa.
Especially concerning was the top floor, where a faint but deeply unsettling aura emanated.
A martial arts grandmaster!
There was actually a grandmaster of the highest level here!
"Damn, that old man tricked me again..."
Campbell instantly regretted his decision.
The villa's formidable security made it clear that this place was far from simple and could very well be life-threatening.
The old man had assured him there was no danger, saying it would be like a vacation, and he had actually believed it...
"Please, have a seat... How is the old gentleman doing?"
Magnus Nelson led Campbell to a redwood sofa in the living room, poured him a cup of green tea, and asked politely.
The old gentleman referred to was Campbell's master.
"Hmm, that old guy is doing well. He eats and sleeps like a champ. He might just live for another thousand years," Campbell Watson said casually, taking a sip of his tea.
Uh...
A thousand years? Only Campbell would dare to say something like that about the old master.
"Haha, you sure know how to joke, my dear nephew," Magnus Nelson laughed heartily, playing along.
Years ago, by a stroke of luck, Magnus had an encounter with that old master. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been able to invite the master's only disciple, Campbell Watson.
Thinking about the old master's almost magical abilities, Magnus felt a wave of admiration and respect wash over him.
"Back to the point, this is my daughter, Promise Nelson. You've met her before.
Honestly, what do you think of her?"
"She's as beautiful as an angel," Campbell replied, glancing at the stunningly cold and beautiful Promise. His assessment was honest.
Although this mission had no payment and was quite risky, at least the person he had to protect was a breathtaking beauty. That was some consolation for Campbell.
"Haha... good, a great first impression. As long as you two spend more time together, I'm sure your feelings for each other will grow," Magnus said with a smile.
"Dad, what are you talking about?" Promise interrupted, unable to hold back any longer.
What did he mean by spending more time together and growing feelings? This sounded like a matchmaking session!
Campbell Watson also looked at Magnus Nelson with a puzzled expression.
"Ahem... What I mean is, since you two will be living together, you should communicate more..."
"Living together? Dad, what do you mean by that?" Promise Nelson quickly caught the key phrase in her father's words.
"Promise, now that you're the CEO of SkyRise Corporation, your status is different. I went through a lot of trouble to get Campbell Watson here. From now on, he'll be your 24/7 personal bodyguard," Magnus explained earnestly.
"What? A 24/7 personal bodyguard? That means I won't have any freedom! Absolutely not!" Promise immediately rejected the idea.
She couldn't stand the thought of having a big guy in black following her everywhere, let alone having no privacy at all.
"Promise, you saw what happened today. If it weren't for your luck, who knows what could have happened? With Campbell by your side, this kind of thing will never happen again. Do you want your dad to worry about you all the time?" Magnus looked at her with a face full of worry and concern, making it hard for anyone to refuse.
Promise's lips moved as if she wanted to argue, but seeing the gray hairs at her father's temples and the worry etched on his face, she sighed and said nothing, reluctantly agreeing.
"That's the spirit. Nephew, I'm entrusting my daughter to you. Take good care of her," Magnus said, turning to Campbell. However, the way he said it sounded a bit odd.
Meanwhile, Berloff Nelson drove his transformed Audi RS7 away from Violet Residence No. 1, feeling increasingly furious.
"Damn it, Magnus Nelson, that old man, yelling at me for the sake of an outsider. It makes me so mad," he grumbled.
"One day, everything the Nelson family owns will be mine!" Berloff Nelson gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination.
"Blue Wolf, that useless idiot, what kind of people does he hire? He can't even handle a simple task like kidnapping a woman. Damn it..."
Berloff pulled out his iPhone and dialed a number saved under 'Blue Wolf.'
"Hello? Blue Wolf... You owe me an explanation for last time, don't you?"
"Mr. Berloff, please rest assured. Last time was a slip-up. I'll hire some better hitmen next time. I promise it won't happen again," a gruff voice responded on the other end.
"Next time? Are you brainless? This failed kidnapping will make Magnus Nelson even more cautious. It'll be even harder to get him next time..." Berloff snapped angrily.
"Yes, Mr. Berloff, you're right. I have some things to take care of, so let's leave it at that for now. Maybe you can come to the bar later, and I'll apologize properly," Blue Wolf replied nonchalantly before hanging up.
"What the hell? That bastard hung up on me?" Berloff fumed. He tried calling back, but the phone was already turned off, making him so angry he nearly smashed his phone.
"Damn it!"
Berloff pounded the steering wheel in frustration, feeling incredibly annoyed and irritable.
He had originally planned to have the Blue Wolf Gang teach that pesky beggar a lesson, but now it seemed like that would have to wait...
****
Old Temple District, Royal Clubhouse, Blue Wolf Gang Headquarters.
The gang leader, Blue Wolf, sat in a leather chair, taking a deep drag from his cigar and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. His fierce, wolf-like eyes were hidden in the haze, flickering in and out of view.
"Damn it, who the hell does he think he is, talking to me like that? If it weren't for the fact that you're still useful to Mr. Finnegan, I'd have slapped you to death already..."
Blue Wolf glared at the phone on the table, his eyes filled with a murderous glint. He shouted towards the door, "Tyrell, get in here!"
A lean, dark-skinned young man pushed the door open and entered.
The young man had a cold expression, his eyes sharp as knives, exuding a wolfish aura.
"Boss, you called?" Tyrell's voice was like a knife scraping against metal, sending chills down one's spine.
"Within three days, find the leader of the West Hill Five Ghosts and take him out.
Make sure it's clean, no loose ends."
Blue Wolf leaned back in his chair, issuing his orders.
"Understood."
Tyrell nodded, asked no questions, and left the Royal Clubhouse with his mission...
Meanwhile, in the East Sea City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Team meeting room, the air was thick with smoke.
A dozen elite officers wore grave expressions as they silently flipped through the files in their hands. The atmosphere was heavy, like the calm before a storm.
Thud... Thud... Thud...
The stern-faced Captain of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Hartman, sat at the head of the table. His right index finger tapped lightly on the table while his left hand massaged his temples, his forehead furrowed deeply.
After a moment, he stopped tapping and spoke in a deep voice, "You've all read the case files. Every person listed here is notorious in the Western underworld, with countless murders to their names. Their sudden appearance in East Sea City must have a purpose."
"However, they entered legally under the guise of a business inspection. We can't forcibly expel them. Our orders are to keep a close watch on them and ensure they don't cause any trouble. Understood?"
Hartman stood up, leaning forward with his hands on the table, his authoritative and piercing gaze sweeping over the assembled officers.
"Understood!" The officers straightened up and shouted in unison.
"Good. You'll be divided into five teams. Each team will select their targets and begin surveillance. Remember, these individuals are extremely dangerous. Do not engage them directly. If you notice anything unusual, report to headquarters immediately. Is that clear?"
"Clear!" The officers responded loudly again.
Hartman nodded, instructing his subordinates to form teams and choose their targets. He then sat back in his chair, exhaling smoke, a hint of worry appearing on his resolute face.
These adversaries were not ordinary criminals. Given the capabilities of the Criminal Investigation Unit, a direct confrontation would likely result in significant casualties.
Hartman was actually quite dissatisfied with the city government's decision. For the sake of political achievements, they had ignored the dangerous identities of these individuals and allowed them entry, essentially inviting wolves into their midst.
If things got out of control, East Sea City could be plunged into chaos and bloodshed.
Therefore, he had already contacted the Armed Police Unit. The armed police and SWAT teams were on standby 24/7, ready to act at a moment's notice.
The officers quickly divided into groups and selected their surveillance targets. Captain Hartman gave a final reminder before letting everyone collect their gear and start the operation.
"Brooke, hold on a second."
As everyone left the office, Hartman called out to Brooke from the crowd.
Due to the recent incident, the criminal investigation team was short-handed, so Hartman temporarily reassigned Brooke back to the team.
"You're not going on surveillance. There's a kidnapping case today, right? I need you to handle it. We're short on people, so I can't assign anyone to help you. Can you manage on your own?"
Hartman handed Brooke the file on Promise Nelson and spoke in a serious tone.
"Really? Captain, you're really giving me this case?"
Brooke's eyes lit up with excitement. She preferred solving cases over the monotonous task of surveillance.
Hartman nodded, his expression stern.
"Brooke, the perpetrators this time are the notorious West Hill Five. Four of them are dead, but their leader is still alive and might be hiding somewhere in East Sea City, waiting for a chance to strike. Also, the person who killed the kidnappers is a formidable character. Be very careful while investigating. Don't take unnecessary risks.
If you need help, ask for backup immediately. Do you understand?"
"Don't worry, Captain. I'll be extremely careful."
Brooke picked up the file and saluted with a cheerful smile. "Captain, do you have any other instructions? If not, I'll get to work..."
"Go ahead, but be sure to stay safe..."
Hartman waved her off, though he couldn't help but give one last piece of advice.
"Captain, you can trust me completely... I'm heading out now."
Whether Brooke heard Hartman's warning was unclear, as her mind was already focused on the case.
Hartman sat alone in his office, his weathered and worried face barely visible through the swirling smoke. His heart was uneasy, a nagging feeling that something bad was about to happen.
It had been many years since he last felt this way...