Morin's net worth was, without a doubt, higher than Reyes's.
The term multi-millionaire was vague. It could mean someone with a hundred million dollars, or ten billion, or even more. Morin had never bothered to calculate his exact assets. There was no need-he knew one thing clearly: he could spend freely without worrying about consequences.
And even the hundred million dollars Hobbs had seized?
Not all of it belonged to Reyes.
"So," Gisele asked, tilting her head slightly, "how do we start?"
"It's not complicated," Morin replied calmly. "When is Reyes coming to the beach?"
"He's already here," Gisele answered. "He's staying at a beach hotel nearby, talking business with his clients."
"Perfect."
Morin casually waved toward a certain direction.
A man who had been lingering at a distance-close enough to observe, far enough to be unobtrusive-immediately walked over.
When you reached a certain level of status, you couldn't do everything yourself. Especially not when you were a wealthy man operating in a foreign city. Morin had long since hired people to handle errands, logistics, and information gathering. It wasn't luxury-it was necessity.
"What are your orders, sir?" the man asked respectfully.
"There's a businessman here named Hernan Reyes," Morin said. "Find him. Give him one of my business cards. Tell him I'd like to discuss a deal."
"Yes, sir."
The man didn't ask any unnecessary questions. He turned and left immediately.
Gisele blinked.
"That's it?" she asked. "Just like that?"
"What were you expecting?" Morin laughed lightly. "For me to send you to seduce him?"
He shook his head.
"When you have enough power, you don't need complicated methods. You solve problems directly."
Gisele hesitated. "But... can your people really find him that fast? You didn't even tell them where he was."
Morin smiled faintly.
"My people aren't useless ornaments," he said. "If they've been in Rio for days and still don't know the basics-like who the local kingpin is and how to contact him-then that would only mean I'm terrible at hiring."
He paused.
"So far, my hiring record has been flawless."
With wealth came danger. If Morin didn't have people to filter out trouble, he would have been targeted endlessly by criminals, scammers, and opportunists.
He enjoyed showing off strength when it mattered-but only to people worth remembering.
As for nameless flies?
They weren't worth his time.
That was why his subordinates existed: to gather information, handle nuisances, and keep small problems from ever reaching him.
If they couldn't even handle something as basic as Reyes, they would have been dismissed long ago.
Before long, the man returned.
"Sir," he reported, "we've contacted Mr. Reyes. Coincidentally, he's staying at the beach hotel not far from here. He said he'd be happy to speak with you immediately if you're available."
Gisele couldn't stop her eyes from widening.
That fast?
And Reyes was eager?
Was this really the infamous local snake of Rio-someone no one dared to offend?
What Gisele didn't realize was that sayings like a powerful dragon doesn't suppress a local snake only applied when the two were evenly matched.
Right now, Morin wasn't just a dragon.
He was something far worse.
Reyes, meanwhile, was already seething with frustration.
As Rio's underground king and a drug lord who treated the police station like his own backyard, when had he ever been pushed around by a handful of outsiders?
Yet those people had forced him to gather all his money and lock it away.
Safe, yes-but humiliating.
That humiliation burned worse than any financial loss.
Worse still, the situation had become public.
His men hadn't been able to find the culprits.
The wanted posters he'd distributed were nothing more than a joke.
Every passing hour felt like another slap to his face.
Still, Reyes had no choice but to suppress his anger and continue meeting his clients.
His power came from profit.
Without buyers and partners, he wouldn't collapse overnight-but the damage would be severe.
He knew this better than anyone.
That was why, when his subordinate informed him that a "businessman" wanted to meet, Reyes initially didn't care.
But then he saw the business card.
And the background information.
A true multi-millionaire.
A real one.
Reyes understood immediately: this was not someone he could afford to ignore.
How much of the hundred million in the vault actually belonged to him?
Very little.
Most of it belonged to others.
But this man-this Morin-was pure capital.
If he could close a deal with him, not only would he calm his nervous clients, he'd also secure a backup plan for himself.
Just in case.
It was a perfect opportunity.
And that was why Reyes had given such a prompt and eager reply.
~~~~~
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