Chapter 199: Speculation

At the same time, also in the East District, on the twenty-seventh floor of a luxury apartment building, Franks held a wine glass, his expression somewhat dazed as he stared at the ruins of what was once the Craig Building, four kilometers away.

It was hard to describe his feelings at the moment. Ten minutes ago, he had watched the building vanish before his eyes; ten minutes later, it returned to this world in a flattened state.

Before this, he had planned to watch the chaos unfolding on Blood Hand territory from this floor-to-ceiling window, with an air of amusement.

What he hadn't expected was that the disturbance would escalate to this extent.

“Looks like it succeeded. It's been a long time since I saw Antonio so furious. I bet he lost hundreds of millions of shields this time.”

After a long moment, Franks brought the glass to his lips again: “Phillip, who do you think did this?”

“It couldn't be the Nathan Sports Group. Ever since I learned of the conflict between Andre and Antonio, I've been monitoring the movements of Nathan's Hand.”

Standing on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling window, answering, was a handsome young man with brilliant golden hair, like a prince from a fairy tale.

This was Phillip Luxembourg, Franks's most trusted assistant in recent years.

“Franks, you already have the answer, don't you? It's unlikely to be the real robbers. Dwight Payton has the ability, but unless absolutely necessary, he would never take such radical action.”

So the answer was obvious—

“Andre, but that answer is even harder to believe. Do you know how I feel right now, Phillip?”

Franks's expression was complex: “I think I'm in the strangest mood I've been in all year.”

“Strange?”

Phillip Luxembourg hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “I can guess a little. You thought he was a kitten that needed your care, but what stood before you was a lion that could break the Blood Hand's teeth. Now you're gratified, but also regretful, aren't you? That you couldn't bring the blood of the Emperor and the Grand Commander into your fold, to lead this branch of the Teutonic Knights?”

Franks didn't answer, silently downing the red wine in his glass.

Phillip Luxembourg tentatively asked: “Then should I go to Ghost City? Or bring something along? I imagine they're now worried about the money and gold bullion on their hands. I feel we could make a good deal.”

Franks sank into deep thought, then said hesitantly after a long while: “You can bring something, but no need to get involved otherwise, and don't give him any discounts. I doubt he needs any extra help now. Phillip, go now, before others get wind of it.”

He knew that the storm stirred up by his close friend's son this time would not end so simply. So his Teutonic Cross must stay out of it as much as possible, maintaining a degree of neutrality, or else it might bring trouble upon itself.

But thinking of the commission he had just taken from Li Mochen, Franks felt a headache again. He felt his thoughts were too wishful.

…

The news of the Craig Community Bank robbery spread through Atlanta much faster than Franks had imagined.

Just ten minutes later, in a warehouse of the Rising Sun Company in the eastern part of the city, Sampson Brut was stunned after receiving a phone call.

“What's wrong, Sampson?”

Sampson's assistant, a tall, thin man in a denim vest and glasses, had just signed a contract and soul pact with an applicant when he keenly noticed his boss's abnormality.

“Did something happen? I guess it's important to both of us.”

Sampson Brut slowly came back to his senses: “The Craig Community Bank, the one in the eastern suburbs, was just attacked. The whole building was blown flat, and the money in the vault was taken.”

The warehouse fell silent; everyone was speechless, exchanging glances.

“Craig Community Bank? The Blood Hand's one? That's Antonio's money bag and drug warehouse—it got taken?”

The man in the vest and glasses sounded incredulous: “Who did it?”

But Sampson answered off-topic: “Raymond told me. He saw it with his own eyes, then ran two blocks away to call me from a public phone booth.”

The few present showed surprise, and the man in the vest and glasses pointed upward: “Was it our boss? Sampson, are you sure?”

He knew that Raymond had been assigned by Sampson to tail Gene Reddy and Inez Billton to prevent accidents. From this, he could guess the true culprit of the Craig Community Bank robbery—but the answer was even harder to believe.

“I said Raymond saw it himself. Any problem? I don't know who the robbers were, and I don't want to know.”

Sampson Brut retorted, then focused on another resume in front of him: “Next, Jack Andstein, let him in. Everyone, please concentrate, okay? In at most twenty hours, we'll face a war! No, this war has already begun.”

“Wow!”

The man in the vest and glasses couldn't immediately refocus on the recruitment work. He shook his head, dismissing the absurd thoughts: “Looks like our boss is more capable than we thought.”

“And very reliable—”

Another person spoke, a young man in denim overalls, looking like a cement worker: “It's clear he's not blindly or impulsively fighting Antonio; he has a meticulous plan.”

“More importantly, our boss indeed has the ability to destroy Antonio.”

The speaker stood behind Sampson Brut, his body as sturdy as an iron tower: “Everyone, please hurry up, okay? I can't wait to join in with my squad—”

…

Coincidentally, at Nathan's Gate, Dwight Payton and Carl Holton were also discussing the Craig Community Bank robbery.

“Are you sure this was done by Amo?”

“I'm sure!”

Carl Holton's expression was extremely certain: “The intelligence on Craig Community Bank was provided by me. Those twelve 'Dark Boundary Rune Stones' also came from Nathan Military Industries' inventory. The key is, I had people stationed near the bank in advance. They saw Gene Reddy and Inez Billton, and Howard Eisenhower, the Eye in the Sky.”

“I remember you mentioned this morning that those two were former Red Scorpion members who followed Sampson Brut into prison? That does pinpoint the culprit.”

Dwight was momentarily dazed: “He moves fast. Looks like he's serious.”

“Dead serious. He wants to take down Antonio with his own strength.”

Carl smiled bitterly: “I estimate he'll get hundreds of millions in war funds from Craig Community Bank. Then Sampson Brut and Zhang Wei are building an army for him. Especially the former—his reputation among veterans is astonishing, and many powerful magic professionals have heard his name. The recruitment for this combat force is going very smoothly.”