MTLNOVEL Chapter 124 Ross, You Are My Retribution!_2
"But I have nothing except money."
Ross gave Dean a look that suggested he didn't understand his predicament, then turned on the large LCD computer in his study. "That's why I called you here."
The screen lit up with a blood-red message: "We will bring blessings to you tonight, you ignorant fool!"
PFFT.
After Dean saw what was on the screen, he couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of his drink. He coughed a few times before complaining, "You accessed the dark web without any protection?"
This thing.
He was all too familiar with it.
It was a warning, a threat from some organizations on the dark web.
Mostly, they were triggered when ordinary people who didn't understand the rules stumbled into it and attracted warnings due to improper comments or actions.
In severe cases, these organizations would find their real-world IDs and brutally kill them to deter others.
Ross going in without hiding his ID was like streaking in that virtual space.
Anyone would know he was a newbie, which made it easy for malicious people to target and threaten him.
Relieved after Dean recognized what was on the screen, Ross said, "That's why I called you. Because of certain things, I angered some people in there. Even though I offered to settle with money, they weren't willing. They sent me a warning, and I couldn't tell my family, so I'm really concerned about my safety."
Dean rolled his eyes. Shouldn't *he* be worried about those fools? He knew the dark web might seem formidable, but many inside were minor figures, intimidating only because of the mysterious aura surrounding them that frightened newcomers.
If some truly oblivious lowlifes actually came looking for Ross.
Dean doubted whether that group of deadbeats could even penetrate the outermost security here.
The chaos in the United States never targets the wealthy!
Just a hint of trouble here.
Dean guaranteed that patrol officers within a ten-kilometer radius would swarm like mad hounds within minutes, all for a generous donation from the wealthy later on!
Unless...
Dean eyed Ross seriously and asked uncertainly, "What did you do in there?"
Ross hung his head. "The bastard who stole Laura away went too far. He sent me disgusting photos of Laura... helping him... I was furious. Plus, I saw online that you could find people to help deal with certain issues, so I bought some Virtual Coins last night and posted a bounty."
Dean's expression turned grave. "How much in Virtual Coins did you put up for the bounty?"
Inside the dark web, chaotic as it seems, there are rules. Different levels of bounties attract different tiers of hitmen who could access the corresponding information, and these were distributed through various channels.
If it's through an organization's channel, that's not so bad.
This means only hitmen and brokers within that organization have access to the bounty info, cutting off other hitmen.
If you've offended them.
As long as you're willing to pay the price.
These organizations can usually restrain their hitmen from causing trouble.
But if it's a public channel...
Seeing Dean's serious expression, Ross weakly held up one finger. "Not much, just this."
"A hundred thousand?"
Ross shook his head.
"A million?"
Ross shook his head again and said somewhat sheepishly, "It was ten million US Dollars. Three people contacted me at the time. I picked one who looked a bit intimidating, but then I reconsidered. After all, it involved killing someone, so I told him I wanted to cancel the request."
"Ten million!"
Dean stood up abruptly, pushing Ross aside to take a closer look at the pattern on the computer, then said gravely, "You posted the bounty to the public area!"
Ross, clueless, asked innocently, "What public area?"
Dean looked at him and spelled it out, "It means the top killers around the globe can see your bounty!"
Ten million US Dollars is the starting price for top-notch hitmen!
Even Anbei, the third-ranked hitman in North America, normally charges a starting price of a million US Dollars; he wouldn't even be qualified to see Ross's bounty information.
And those at the pinnacle of their profession...
Not to mention their quirks, but deep inside they're truly proud.
Ross posting a bounty and then canceling it? The assassin would absolutely not be able to stomach that!
Seeing Ross still looking clueless, Dean, speechless, drew his gun. "They issued you a death threat yesterday, and it's already afternoon. I suspect they're here now! Take me to the safe house immediately!"
"What?"
Ross finally realized the seriousness of the situation. He hesitated. "But there are many servants and bodyguards here, they..."
"Ross!" Dean interrupted, his expression dark. "Do you know about the Carmen Family? They were wiped out overnight by North America's third-ranked assassin, Joker V! And yet, Joker V isn't even qualified to see the bounty you posted! Are you still hesitating?"
If he didn't suspect the assassin had already infiltrated the premises, and if Ross hadn't introduced him to the servants and bodyguards, revealing his identity as a detective...
Dean would absolutely not give a damn about Ross and would leave immediately.
His situation was quite awkward now.
To any normal person, he would seem like a helper Ross had called... mainly because Dean didn't dare bet on whether he could leave safely right now.
Maybe this was the retribution for sleeping with Laura.
Every time he was with this shmuck, nothing good happened!
Last time, Ross dragged him into a crowd of gunmen.
This was even worse.
Because of some petty issue, Ross had directly provoked one of the world's top assassins and dragged him, an inconspicuous low-level detective, into the mess as well!!!
Damn it all to hell!!!
Hearing about the Carmen Family, Ross's face turned pale. At his level, he was clearly aware of the Carmen Family's existence and what had happened to them.
Ross dared not waste any more words. He pulled Dean and hurried to the elevator. After quickly entering a passcode, they stopped at the unlisted -3rd floor.
「At that moment.」
On the villa rooftop, a bodyguard twitched his ears as if sensing something. He glanced down at the tactical watch on his wrist, smiled faintly, leaned back against the wall in the corner, and continued to stand guard diligently. He had one principle. At fixed times, do fixed things.
「...」
「Inside the basement.」
Dean was sitting in front of a computer, sending the symbol Ross had received via email to Massa, then made a phone call to him.
Massa was evidently in a good mood. After picking up, he said cheerfully, "Dean, if you're calling about the extra money, you don't have to. I enjoyed our collaboration, and you deserved it."
"It's not about the money!" Dean cut to the chase. "I've sent an image to your email. I need to know who that symbol belongs to as soon as possible. If you have detailed information about them, that would be even better!"
Massa realized the urgency in Dean's voice and, without asking why, immediately agreed to help.
After hanging up the phone, Dean, while logging into the dark web through a virtual IP, said to a bewildered Ross, "Buddy, don't just stand there looking dumb! Contact your family immediately, tell them the truth, and seek help!"
Ross's family definitely held a high position.
They might have some under-the-table connections with major organizations on the dark web.
"No way!" Ross flatly refused. "I absolutely can't let my family know about this, or my father would definitely shoot me!"
Dean was speechless. "But we can't hide here forever, pal!"
Although his marksmanship was incredible and he wasn't afraid to face anyone head-on, he was still flesh and blood. He couldn't stop bullets, nor could he defend against all sorts of insidious assassination attempts by poison.
Dean didn't want to concern himself with Ross's life or death.
If it weren't for worrying about retaliation from Ross's family later...
He had even thought of having Ross leave in a helicopter with a bunch of bodyguards, then he himself would take the chance to escape.
But no matter how much Dean urged, Ross just held his head, stubbornly refusing to let his family know about his embarrassing situation.
Dean took a deep breath. Considering Ross's gullible and easily intimidated nature, he clenched his fist, ready to deliver a physical 'wake-up call.'
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
An email response from Massa sounded from the computer.