CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 91: THE CARMEN FAMILY MUST DIE!_1

"EH?"

A surprised, dubious voice came from above.

Dean’s ears twitched. Silently, he extended his pistol from his hiding spot toward the sound above, and with a gentle shake, pulled the trigger.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Seven consecutive bullets covered the area overhead. The fierce muzzle flash roared like exploding bamboo, the sound echoing endlessly in the underground parking lot.

Above, a figure wearing a white mask that revealed only a mouth touched their scorched scalp, their back drenched in cold sweat. If I hadn’t ducked so quickly, I would’ve been headshot! That bastard below... his hearing is incredibly sharp, and he’s ruthless, emptying the magazine in an instant. He’s more like a hitman than I am!

Hearing the impact of the bullets, Dean knew he hadn’t hit his target. He immediately loaded a new magazine, a stealthily retained stun grenade appearing in his left hand. Just as he was about to pull the safety pin and give the other party a surprise, a mechanical voice came from above. "I am Annan’s brother, Annorth. I’m only seeking you to propose a collaboration. The steel needles I fired earlier were aimed at your ’Fasting’ only; I meant no harm."

Just as Dean was about to attack in the direction of the voice, he sensed something was off. The direction was wrong. The previous noise had originated from above and to his right. Now, the voice seemed to be slightly to his left. The ceiling of the parking lot was made of a light steel material, similar to ductwork. Any movement would cause a faint creaking sound. So, the current voice likely originated from a pre-planted electronic device.

Annan or Annorth, who cares! You dared to attack me, so you’re not leaving today! Thinking this, Dean calculated the time it would take for security to arrive and, stalling, said, "Annan’s brother? You mean the forger who was killed recently?"

"Yes," Annorth paused, glanced at the recording device in his hand, and quickened his pace. "Someone is coming. I know you’re puzzled, but rest assured, I..."

He failed to notice a small, inconspicuous blade extending from behind the support pillar where Dean was hiding.

The next moment, Annorth, who was about to suggest a time for their next meeting, was mid-sentence when he saw a round object flying toward him. This thing... why does it look so much like a stun grenade?

Just as this thought crossed his mind—

BANG!

Light and sound exploded violently...

With a click, Dean uncovered his ears. He used the blade as a makeshift mirror to look out and saw a slender figure sprawled motionless on the ground. At this distance, and with no protection, even if a stun grenade lacked the lethality of a concussion grenade, it was still more than a human body could withstand.

Before the Los Angeles Police Department guards could arrive, drawn by the noise, Dean holstered his pistol, rushed to Annorth, and cuffed his hands behind his back. After frisking him and confiscating a handful of miscellaneous tools, Dean bundled him into the car’s trunk. Finally, he cleaned up the spent casings and the remnants of the stun grenade.

With all this done, Dean went to the trunk and tore the mask from Annorth’s face. Beneath it was a rather delicate countenance, somewhat resembling the Annan he had seen before, but his eyes were narrower, lending him a colder look.

Dean was quite surprised by Annorth’s appearance. He hadn’t expected Annorth to inexplicably seek him out after visiting Harry. Just as well, Dean thought. He was also curious whether the Carmen Family, who backed Snetter, were truly the masterminds behind the events in Las Vegas. This concerned his safety and that of his family. Annorth might provide some useful information. It wouldn’t be too late to deal with him after the interrogation.

As Dean was pondering how to explain the gunfire to the guards, he closed and locked the trunk.

The next moment, a notification flashed in his mind: [Lincoln Farm assault case solved. Experience Points +3,000, L7→L9, Attribute Points +2, Skill Points +2]

Dean: ???

He’d thought today’s drenching rain had been for nothing. After all, those mercenaries hadn’t even entered the farm. Who knew how many had fled upon sensing danger, not to mention the elusive Annorth. But the surprise had come so suddenly.

Once Annorth was captured, the case was instantly solved. This meant the mercenaries who had escaped had also been dealt with...

CLICK.

The sound of approaching, hurried footsteps interrupted Dean’s thoughts. He quickly raised his hands and looked toward the entrance. "Guys, don’t panic! I’m Detective Dean from the Homicide and Robbery Division!"

As he finished speaking, four heavily armed men came into view. Because Dean had identified himself, the four security officers confirmed no one else was in the parking lot and relaxed considerably. "We heard gunshots, including a loud bang," one said, pointing to the bullet holes in the ceiling. "Can you explain what happened, Detective Dean?"

Dean put on a苦涩 expression. "Sorry, I was involved in a rather intense fight today. When I got back, my nerves were shot. When I opened the car door, I heard a noise, thought someone was behind me, and just...subconsciously opened fire. I don’t know how to describe it; my mind’s a mess."

With this explanation, even if someone discovered the contraptions and electronic devices Annorth had set up overhead, he had a plausible excuse. Moreover, this underground parking lot was within the detective bureau, with security cameras only at some entry and exit points. So, even if they were suspicious, they couldn’t know what had truly transpired.

Luckily, the guards weren’t overly suspicious; they knew a major incident had occurred that day. The Dean before them also looked quite young. Some post-battle trauma was to be expected.

The guard who had questioned him spoke with some pity. "Detective Dean, we understand your situation. If possible, you should see a psychologist soon to get your emotions sorted out."

"I’ve been thinking the same thing," Dean replied, pulling a wad of cash from his pocket. "Anyway, guys, I’m really sorry for the trouble. This is for drinks, my apologies."

As he spoke, he forcibly stuffed the few hundred US dollars into the lead guard’s hand.

"This..." The guard hesitated, looking at his companions.

Dean shrugged. "This is pretty embarrassing. If I weren’t feeling so off right now, I’d rather buy you all a drink in person. I just hope you can keep today’s incident quiet."

The men exchanged glances. The lead guard chuckled. "Everyone has their inexperienced moments. We’ll keep our mouths shut, Detective Dean. You should head home. If you’re really not up to it, I can have Amo drive you."

The Amo he mentioned was the only Asian among the four, a Vietnamese immigrant. Many from this community chose to become police officers in the United States.

Dean naturally refused. After a few more pleasantries, under their watchful eyes, he started his car and left the detective bureau.

「...」

November in Los Angeles was rainy and slightly cold. Under the heavy downpour, the streets were even more desolate than usual. Homeless people huddled in street corners, covered in extra layers of newspaper. The junkies, usually a common sight, were nowhere to be seen, having presumably found shelter elsewhere to get high. Their identities as homeless and junkies often blurred. Occasionally, patrol cars could be seen parked outside 24-hour convenience stores, the officers inside chatting and laughing with colleagues, slacking off with donuts. This was a rare moment of leisure for them.

Dean drove through the empty streets, circling again and again, regretting not having rented a place in advance. Now he couldn’t even find a suitable location to interrogate Annorth. Ah, the pitfalls of being a kept man.

"Too bad Niel is still in Las Vegas; otherwise, this wouldn’t be such a headache," Dean sighed inwardly, glancing at the motionless figure in the rearview mirror. A cold smirk touched his lips as he drove into a preselected alley. He had confirmed that the patrol officers in this jurisdiction were currently slacking off. It would be quiet here for a while.

He parked and cut the engine. Dean tapped on the window. "Stop pretending. You woke up two minutes ago."

The car seemed designed for those who enjoyed some... activity within it. The back seat connected to the rear compartment; with a light press of a button, the rear seats would fold down, transforming into a comfortable little bed.

Roused by Dean’s tap, Annorth squirmed awkwardly, leaning against the back of the car. He said coldly, "I never intended to harm you, not from start to finish. What do you want now?"

"Why did you target me?" Dean couldn’t understand. He’d had no interaction with Annan, so why had Annorth suddenly attacked him and then claimed he wanted to cooperate?

"Because I need help," Annorth said, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "I was actually dealing with the remaining mercenaries. When I saw you in action, I thought you had talent, so I wanted to test you and see if I could win you over."

Dealing with the remaining mercenaries? Dean had a sudden realization. No wonder the system panel had declared the case closed as soon as he’d captured Annorth. The Lincoln Farm assault case now had only Annorth left alive. This guy looked clean-cut and handsome, but his heart was black. After all, with everyone else dead, there was no need to pay the remaining balance. Even if that balance was only a third of a hundred million US dollars, it was still a considerable sum.

I’ll get the information I want, squeeze Annorth dry of any value, and then finish him off, Dean resolved.

Annorth was unaware that in Dean’s mind, he was already a dead man. He was still trying to persuade Dean. "If you help me, I can not only give you enough money to last a lifetime but also do three things for you."

"What do you need my help with?"

"Kill everyone in the Carmen Family!" Annorth’s eyes flashed with cold ruthlessness. "My family’s tradition is to repay kindness and exact revenge for wrongs! Since they’re obstructing my vengeance, I’ll destroy the Carmen Family—who are blocking my path—first, and then personally kill the bastards who murdered my brother!"

Dean scoffed. "The Carmen Family is one of Los Angeles’s hidden prominent families. You expect me to risk everything and help you based on your empty words? Are you worthy?"

"You have no choice!" Annorth wriggled his cuffed wrists. "I sought you out not just for your skills, but also for another very important reason."

"Let’s hear it."

"We have a common enemy!" With a slight flick of his wrists, Annorth freed his hands from the cuffs. Seeing Dean make no move, he miraculously pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his previously searched clothes and tossed it to Dean. "This is information I accidentally discovered while investigating the Carmen Family. If you still refuse to cooperate with me after reading it, I’ll accept my fate!"

Having said his piece, Annorth made no rash moves. He had witnessed Dean’s cheetah-like agility and knew that without a weapon, he was no match for this pretty boy.

Seeing Annorth remain still, Dean picked up the note and quickly read through it.

A moment later, he crushed the paper in his fist, his eyes filled with a chilling menace.

The Carmen Family... must die!