Debra froze. "The raw stone belongs to your family?"

    "I don''t need to lie to you," Fermin said casually. "If it weren''t for Liza, I''d have gone after you already. Catch you and force Drake to hand over the stone. Easy. But if I do that, Liza would be upset and nagging me."

    He paused and added, "If you don''t want me to go after Drake, there''s a way. You could trick the raw stone out of him, and then I''ll deal with you. I promise I won''t kill you. That would be better for everyone, wouldn''t it?"

    Debra frowned. "We''re not stupid enough to hand over something without knowing what it''s for."

    "So, no deal?" Fermin replied nonchntly.

    The bullet was removed from his shoulder, and he didn''t bat an eyelid. "I''m letting

    you go today as a favor to Liza. Next time, you won''t be so lucky."

    He raised a hand, and his bodyguards stepped aside to make way.

    Debra nced at Marion, who lit a cigarette and shook it. "It''s been a while since someone talked so big in front of me."

    He flicked the cigarette into the garden, and within moments, a small fire broke out in the bushes.

    Fermin''s men rushed to put it out, but they were quickly surrounded by a growing number of Marion''s men, who filled the entire courtyard.

    "You''re done talking? Now, it''s my turn," he said.

    Debra didn''t know what he was nning, but there was an uneasy feeling in her chest.

    Marion stood up. "Drake and Debra both have scores to settle with you. If I capture you, a core member of the Illuminati, your boss would definitely show up."

    "Marion..." Debra tried to stop him.

    She didn''t want to take advantage of Fermin''s vulnerable moment. He was Liza''s brother after all.

    The gunshot earlier had been enough. Most importantly, the whole meeting felt strange.

    Fermin invited them there, made two demands they could never agree to, and then let them go. It didn''t make sense.

    She felt like he had other tricks up his sleeve, and it was not wise to linger there.

    Marion raised his hand and fired a shot. The man who had been tending to Fermin''s wound copsed to the ground.

    Marion tucked his gun away and walked toward Fermin. The guards retreated in fear. No one dared to stop him.

    Marion''s voice was icy. "Debra is kind, but I am not."