Tote City, Colton Manor.
Everything looked as quiet and decent as usual, but today there were a few new faces in the manor.
Ashir walked out of the light door, followed by Sophia, Shizuku, and Kalluto.
He retracted his hands, and the light door slowly dissipated in the air.
As soon as Sophia landed, she walked quickly forward. Shizuku followed quietly behind, and Kalluto walked at the very end, his crimson eyes scanning the decorative paintings and antique vases on both sides of the room, his expression unchanged.
"Where is Nico?"
Sophia asked.
Ashir pointed outside the room.
"After going out, turn left and go up to the second floor, the third room on the left."
Sophia didn't say much and walked straight out of the room, then went upstairs.
Shizuku followed behind her, adjusting her glasses as she passed by Ashir without speaking.
Kalluto walked at the end with very light footsteps.
In the ward, Nico lay on the bed. His bandages had been removed, and his complexion was much better.
He was leaning against a pillow reading a book. Hearing the door, he looked up. Before he could speak, Sophia walked to the bedside, hands on her hips, looking angry.
"From now on, you must inform me if you accept any requests!"
Her voice was not loud, but her tone was heavy.
"I am your master! I only found out you accepted this request after receiving news that you were seriously injured. Do you know how serious this behavior is?"
Nico lowered his head, not daring to look at her.
His lips moved as if he wanted to explain something, but seeing Sophia's face, he swallowed his words back.
Shizuku stood to Sophia's left, nodding seriously, fully agreeing with what Sophia said.
Her expression remained calm, but her nod was wider than usual, clearly siding with Sophia on this matter.
Kalluto stood at the door, arms crossed, watching this scene quietly.
He didn't speak, but his eyes held curiosity—he grew up in the Zoldyck Family, and no one had ever spoken to him in this tone.
Sophia said a few more words, her voice gradually lowering.
Looking at Nico's pale face, she finally sighed.
"Rest well."
Nico looked up and squeezed out a smile.
"I know, Master."
Ten minutes later, in the room downstairs.
Leo, Goreinu, and Kastro also returned, with Ashir maintaining his ability on the side.
Goreinu and Kastro were escorting a blood-covered person—Owl. He was limping, his face covered in bruises, his eyes unfocused.
Ashir stepped forward.
"Sophia, Shizuku, and Kalluto have all arrived and are in Nico's ward. Vivian has already taken people to take over the Douglas Family's territory. Per your instructions, a full takeover."
Leo nodded and glanced at Owl.
"Take him down first, watch him, and don't let him run away."
Goreinu and Kastro nodded and escorted Owl toward the basement.
Owl's leg dragged on the ground, leaving a faint trail of blood.
Leo turned and walked toward Nico's room.
Pushing the door open, Sophia was still standing by the bed.
Seeing Leo walk in, she turned around, her anger still not dissipated.
"Master, the Doug—"
Leo raised his hand to interrupt her.
"No need to say anything. The Douglas Family has already been wiped out."
Sophia was stunned, swallowing the words that had reached her lips.
She looked at Leo, then at Nico, and finally sighed. That anger seemed like a balloon poked by someone, deflating all at once.
Leo smiled.
"Don't worry, the Ten Dons haven't been dealt with yet. I'll let you vent your anger."
Sophia's eyes lit up.
She nodded, clenching her fists.
"Daring to beat my disciple into serious injury, as a master, I must personally get even."
Nico smiled and nodded.
"Master, you go ahead. I'm fine."
Sophia gave a hum and turned to walk toward the door.
As she reached the door, she turned back to look at him.
"Rest well and recover. Master will be able to vent your anger for you soon."
That night, in the conference room on the second floor.
Several documents were spread on the long table, all intelligence on the Ten Dons confessed by Belloc and Owl.
Blake, Gavin, Nolan—three names were circled in red ink, with their stronghold locations, activity patterns, and security configurations written densely below.
Leo sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
Sophia, Shizuku, Goreinu, Kastro, Ashir, Kalluto, everyone was there.
"You've all finished reading the information on the documents, right?"
Everyone nodded.
Leo tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
"I will go find Blake myself."
He looked at Goreinu, Kastro, and Kalluto.
"Nolan, one of the Ten Dons, is left to the three of you."
"As for Ashir, stay here and be ready to provide transport support at any time."
Goreinu, Kastro, Kalluto, and Ashir nodded.
Leo turned to look at Sophia and Shizuku.
"You two will act with Dean, the captain of Vivian's guard. Gavin is left to you."
Sophia rubbed her hands together, her eyes flashing with brilliance. Shizuku adjusted her glasses and nodded.
Leo's gaze paused on each person's face for a moment.
"I only have one requirement—don't let them die too easily."
No one spoke.
But the same light shone in everyone's eyes.
"We leave tomorrow."
Everyone stood up, ready to leave.
Kastro paused and turned to look at Leo.
"Master, how should we deal with that Owl? Everything that needed to be asked has been asked. Should we kill him?"
Leo leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment.
Owl's ability is "Fun Fun Cloth," which can materialize a piece of cloth to wrap up enemies and shrink them for capture.
It is the same type of ability as Shizuku's blinky, but Shizuku's blinky cannot suck up living things, while Owl's cloth can.
If used well, this ability can play a big role.
"Keep him locked up for now. Wait until the matter of the Ten Dons is resolved before dealing with him."
Kastro nodded and turned to leave.
The conference room quieted down.
Leo leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
Outside the window, the night deepened, and the distant city was brightly lit.
Footsteps came from the end of the corridor, high heels stepping on the floor, the rhythm fast but not chaotic.
The door was pushed open.
Vivian walked in, her face showing the exhaustion of a long journey, but her eyes were very bright.
She walked to Leo and bowed her head slightly.
"Mr. Leo, everything of the Douglas Family has been fully taken over. Territory, industries, personnel are all being counted."
She paused.
"The specific numbers are still being tallied, but preliminary estimates show the asset scale is much larger than we expected."
Leo opened his eyes and looked at her.
"You handle it."
Vivian nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"Be prepared."
Leo's voice was calm.
"Once those three are dead, clear the connections above. Then find two other gangs that are on good terms with the Colton Family and join forces to take the position of the Ten Dons."
His gaze landed on Vivian's face.
"But I don't want to see two ungrateful wretches. Do you understand?"
Vivian lowered her head.
"I understand. Don't worry, I will have them come to the Colton Family. They will know who is supporting them behind the scenes."
Leo nodded.
"One more thing," he said.
"After you take the position of the Ten Dons, prepare a large amount of money. I want to build a transit base overseas. Don't ask about anything else."
Vivian did not hesitate or ask further.
She just nodded, her voice firm.
"Understood. I will arrange everything."
Leo waved his hand.
Vivian turned and left, her high heels stepping on the floor with a faster rhythm than when she arrived.
The door closed gently behind her.