The sound of his alarm pulled Ethan out of his deep sleep. After getting up and freshening up, he stepped out into the hallway, adjusting his coat.
Now, let's see what John Levi actually wants, Ethan thought, his mind sharpening for the confrontation ahead.
"Ethan? Are you heading out somewhere?" Selena called out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
Ethan offered a reassuring nod. "Yeah, Mom. Just heading out to meet a friend."
"Alright, stay safe," Selena said softly.
Ethan smiled and walked over to the front door and pulled it open, almost colliding with Daisy as she stepped onto the welcome mat.
"Woah—Daisy!" Ethan said, catching his balance.
"Oh! Hey, Ethan. Are you going out?" Daisy asked, her eyes darting slightly.
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, I've got something to take care of."
Daisy gave a quiet nod, stepping aside to let him pass into the hallway.
A few moments after Ethan reached the ground floor, his phone buzzed in his palm with a text from Daisy.
Daisy: Ethan, when you get some free time, let me know. There's something really important I need to tell you.
Ethan: Got it. I'll let you know as soon as I'm done.
Slipping his phone into his pocket, Ethan walked out to the main street and hailed a passing taxi. Before long, the cab pulled up along the curb in front of the Lakeview Restaurant.
Ethan stepped out onto the busy pavement. The venue was bustling with high-end crowds, roaring sports cars, and flash valet parking. Navigating through the entrance, Ethan approached the front desk.
"Excuse me. Is John Levi here?" Ethan asked neutrally.
The receptionist looked up, offering a professional smile. "Yes, sir. Are you his expected guest?"
Ethan gave a quick nod.
"Follow him, please. He'll take you to Mr. John's private room," the receptionist instructed a nearby waiter.
Ethan followed the staff member down a quiet, carpeted hallway away from the main dining room. The decor was extravagant, radiating wealth and privacy. The waiter stopped outside a heavy wooden door, knocking twice.
"Mr. John, your guest has arrived."
"Send him in," a calm voice resonated from inside.
The waiter opened the door, and Ethan stepped into the private dining room.
John Levi was seated at the far end of an immaculate dining table, flanked by a towering bodyguard standing at his right shoulder. Ethan stopped a few paces in, staring straight at the leader of Loop.
"What do you want?" Ethan asked bluntly.
John smiled, making a relaxed gesture toward the chair across from him. "Why don't you take a seat first?"
Ethan pulled out the chair, sat down, and folded his arms. "Speak."
John leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Ethan's face. "Fair enough. Tell me... why did you attack two of my syndicate's branches?"
Ethan kept his expression entirely blank, remaining silent.
"Are you planning on hitting my other branches as well?" John asked, smoothly rising from his seat.
He slowly walked around the long table, stopping right behind Ethan's chair. "Tell me, Ethan... who is pulling your strings?"
"I can't tell you that," Ethan said calmly.
John paused, taken aback by the blunt refusal. His hand hovered near his coat lining for a fraction of a second. Sensing the subtle shift, Ethan immediately stood up, turning around to face John head-on.
"I can't reveal that, but I can tell you one thing: I am not working with Murphy," Ethan stated firmly.
John locked eyes with Ethan, assessing his body language. "And why should I believe that? Murphy is easily one of the most brilliant, calculating men in the world. Even the Legend himself recognized his intellect."
John walked back to his seat, a cold, calculated smile gracing his features. "Words are cheap in our line of work, kid."
"I don't know how else to prove it to you, but believe what you want," Ethan replied, his tone hardening. "I don't join forces with a monster who slaughters innocent people for gain."
John leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table. "Actually... there is a way you can prove it to me."
"How?"
John stood up again, his voice dropping into a authoritative tone. "Join us. Join Loop, Ethan. Do that, and I'll accept that you're telling the truth."
Ethan stared back, completely unreadable.
"If you truly aren't aligned with Murphy, then swearing loyalty to Loop shouldn't pose any problem for you, right?" John reasoned smoothly.
"I decline," Ethan answered without hesitation.
John's smile faded slightly. He raised his hand, making a small gesture toward his bodyguard on the right.
Seeing the subtle signal, Ethan spoke up before the man could move. "I've already received a better offer from someone else."
John paused, his eyes narrowing. "From whom?"
"From Uncle Beast," Ethan declared.
John gave a slow, deliberate nod, the tension in the room shifting instantly.
"That really is a shame," John murmured softly.
He stepped toward the doorway, passing right by Ethan. As he brushed past his shoulder, John leaned in slightly, whispering in a low tone:
"If you had accepted my offer... I would have told you about your elder brother."
Ethan froze, a surge of shock hitting him, though he forced his physical posture to stay rigid. "What are you talking about?"
John paused near the threshold, a faint smirk touching his lips. "So you really don't know? How strange. I heard Nemesis encountered you right before he fought the other two..."
"What does Nemesis have to do with any of this?" Ethan demanded.
"I am almost certain Nemesis mistook you for your elder brother when he first laid eyes on you," John said casually.
Ethan's mind raced, connecting the dots in an instant. When Nemesis saw me in the alley, he looked like he was staring at a literal ghost... until I stepped out of the shadows into the light and he realized his mistake! That means Loop knows something about my brother. But Mom specifically warned me not to get entangle with him...
Ethan turned his head slightly toward John Levi, who stood with his back to him, hands buried deep in his trousers.
"Make your choice, Ethan. You don't have much time," John said, his voice cold and final. "Either join Loop... or forget you ever had a brother."
Ethan stood motionless in the quiet room, his mind locked in a fierce battle.
What should I do?