North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws

"Dean, this is the mark of Danates, South America's number one killer. But many prefer to call him the 'God of Night'!"

"Danates:

Nationality: Unknown.

Gender: Unknown.

Operations: Ostensibly works alone but is suspected to have a dedicated support team. Primarily active in North and South America.

First Appearance: 1994.

Known Completed Missions: 121, with a 100% success rate.

Noteworthy Feat: He once infiltrated a military base in Bear Country, assassinating a high-ranking general in his office. He is suspected of possessing exceptional covert and disguise techniques.

Signature: After every kill, he leaves a sandless hourglass at the scene, symbolizing the end of the victim's lifespan.

Special Incidents: ..."

At the end of Massa's email, there was a web address. It led to Danates' message board on the dark web, where one had to pay a minimum of one hundred thousand US Dollars to leave a message and await contact.

Ross, who had just been feigning death, was now pale with terror after reading the email. Generals from Bear Country, assassinated within their own military bases! The so-called safe house suddenly felt anything but safe.

"Dean, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this," Ross stammered, "but I really can't ask my family for help. If it comes to it, you hide here. I'll go upstairs and wait for him!"

With that, Ross, his face set with the grim determination of 'a warrior who marches forth, never to return,' started towards the exit.

Dean grabbed him and hauled him back. "Buddy, I seriously don't get your logic. If you're not afraid to die, why the hell are you scared of a little embarrassment? And do you honestly think your parents are that high and mighty? Killing someone wouldn't even make them bat an eye!"

Dean saw right through Ross's feeble attempt at courage.

Ross hung his head. "I'm not worried about them finding out I hired an assassin. I'm worried that if my father finds out I bungled a simple killing so badly that I brought this kind of trouble on myself, he'll kill me with his own hands and disown me. If that's the case, I'd rather die by the assassin's hand."

Dean was speechless. So you do have some self-awareness! Damn it! I guess I owe you one.

Dean's eyes glinted fiercely. Amidst Ross's startled yelp, he picked him up like a child and practically threw him in front of the bank of surveillance monitors. "You sit your ass down right here and watch those damn cameras! If you see anyone make a move, you call me, got it?"

Terrified by Dean's intensity, Ross nodded subconsciously. Dean had successfully cowed his idiotic teammate.

Dean sat back down at the computer, logged into Ross's dark web account, and seeing there were still Virtual Coins, he accessed Danates' message board:

"I have no intention of provoking the esteemed Danates! The mission can proceed. As compensation for my disrespect, I am willing to pay double the original fee!"

Each message cost one hundred thousand US Dollars. Two hundred thousand US Dollars, gone just like that.

Dean turned back. "Oh, right. Ross, what's your full name? And your friend, Harry—what's his real identity? I mean, his actual background!"

Indeed, Ross's friend, the one who had gifted Dean the car, was also named Harry.

"Harry Siri," Ross mumbled. "His family's into car smuggling, and they control a lot of car dealership channels. His net worth is around five hundred million US Dollars, I think. His family has some ties to the Italian Mafia."

Only that much? Dean thought it was odd, but considering Ross's knack for befriending certain types, he couldn't be bothered to comment. Seeing Ross dawdle after speaking, Dean fought the urge to slap him. "Your name!"

Ross lowered his head and sighed. "Alright. I have two surnames. The one I use now is Ross Colton, but my birth name is Ross Campbell."

"Campbell?" Dean frowned. That surname sounds vaguely familiar.

BEEP BEEP.

Just then, a blood-red reply appeared on the website: "Apologies. Had it been last night, perhaps. But Lord Danates has already readied his butcher's knife; he refuses to halt the reaping!"

"Fuck! He really thinks he's a god!" Dean's eyes became bloodshot. For a moment, he desperately wanted to confront this Danates. But then, thoughts of his family in this life surfaced.

Dean forcibly suppressed his rage and typed another message: "My birth name is Ross Campbell! Kill me, and you will face my family's retaliation!"

He swore to himself, If that bastard still refuses, I'll let him experience having his mouth stuffed with over twenty bullets in 0.1 seconds!

Time trickled by in silence. There were no more replies.

Suddenly, Ross cried out, "Dean, all the cameras are black!"

Dean looked up. Sure enough, all the surveillance feeds from around the villa had gone dark, except for the few on a dedicated circuit for the safe house.

He breathed a small sigh of relief. Looks like they don't know about the safe house.

Dean glanced at the time: 18:00. Precisely the deadline Danates had set in his death warning.

But as he turned his head, the few remaining camera feeds from outside the safe house dissolved into static, like an old TV losing its signal.

They found this place!

WHOOSH. Dean let out a breath. It seems Ross's worthless family holds no sway over Danates.

A vicious glint flashed in Dean's eyes. Leaving a terrified and bewildered Ross behind, he melted into the shadows of the safe house, silently awaiting his opponent's arrival.

Since it's unavoidable, then I'll kill! Even if Danates knows I'm here, he shouldn't know my true strength. If I use Ross as bait, I might just be able to take down this top South American hitman. As for Ross... With my warning, he's already wearing the best bulletproof vest and helmet. If he keeps his head down, he might just survive.

「The oppressive atmosphere in the safe room went without saying.」

「Outside.」

An inconspicuous bodyguard, whistling softly, expertly snapped the neck of his unsuspecting 'colleague.' He then pulled out a thermal imager and scanned the surroundings. The property was patrolled 24/7 by security guards with hounds. These specially trained dogs had incredibly keen senses of smell, forcing him to use his bare hands to minimize bloodshed around the villa. This was quite irksome for him, as he was accustomed to blood spraying like a fountain.

But no matter. The real fun is in the basement.

Confirming the immediate area was clear, the bodyguard approached the elevator and affixed a small, palm-sized white packet to it.

CLICK.

An unknown powder and liquid mixture sprayed out, reacting with the elevator's metal. A large cloud of white smoke billowed as the sturdy elevator door began to corrode, a small pit forming on its surface.

"Safe room?" The bodyguard sneered. Anything built by humans has flaws. And as long as there are flaws, he could infiltrate and kill his target!

Just then, he touched his mouth, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. He bit down gently and whispered, "White Bird, you know I detest interruptions when I'm in the middle of a sacrificial slaughter!"

"Lord Danates, it's extremely urgent. This Ross..." a faint voice transmitted via bone conduction into the bodyguard's ear.

"Shut up! I don't care about that pittance! If you interrupt my sacrifice again, I'll wring your neck!" Danates decided internally, When I get back, I'll deal with this operator, White Bird! No one tells me what to do!

The poor handler, oblivious to his grimly decided fate, persisted despite sensing Danates' suppressed fury, "But he says his name is Ross Campbell."

"..."

Danates' eyes flickered with shocked disbelief. He hesitated. "The Campbell family?"

"Yes. We ran an urgent check on the Campbell family. It appears the Duke of Campbell's youngest son is currently in the United States. However, information on him is scarce, and we don't know his disguised identity."

Danates was stunned. FUCK! How could the Campbell family produce such an utter moron!

He looked at the elevator, now revealing the corroded entrance to the safe room passage, and let out a frustrated sigh. "White Bird, thank you for the warning. Convey my apologies... be very polite. And tell him this assassination is on the house!"

"Wait!" Danates was about to disconnect when he saw the grounds of the villa littered with bodies. He was rendered speechless. His lips moved, but the words felt as heavy as lead, refusing to emerge.

"Lord Danates?"

"Ah, forget it. Add another line: this was a misunderstanding. I'm willing to offer one hundred million US Dollars as compensation for dealing with his servants. If he's still not satisfied..." Danates' eyes flashed with a ruthless light, "then tell him I will personally come to atone!"

One hundred million US Dollars, that's my absolute limit! This is almost two years of work down the drain! Two years of my prime! If he still doesn't agree, then it's mutually assured destruction!

White Bird on the other end was silent for several seconds before replying, "The message has been conveyed, Lord Danates. Regardless, you should leave the premises immediately. I'm concerned for your safety. He is, after all, a member of the Campbell family."

"Understood!"

The slight vibration in his teeth ceased. The other end had already hung up.

Danates cast one last, cold glare at the elevator before turning to leave. He'd better actually be from the Campbell family, or I'll make him regret ever being born!

「Elsewhere.」

「The underground safe room.」

Dean remained perfectly still, ignoring Ross's panicked shouts as the reality of the situation sank in. He had no intention of revealing himself, simply waiting silently for South America's top assassin to arrive. Using the receivers outside the safe room, he had heard the strange noises coming from the elevator area moments ago. This meant the enemy was preparing to come down.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Several minutes passed, but aside from the earlier noise, the elevator remained utterly still.

The oppressive atmosphere had thoroughly terrified Ross. Realizing Dean had vanished, he scrambled behind a supply cabinet filled with food, crouching down. He was clearly terrible at hide-and-seek, as his rear end was sticking out comically.

Amidst this tense silence...

Suddenly.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

A notification chimed from the computer.

Dean didn't move a muscle.

Ross, however, foolishly scurried over to it. His voice then erupted in joyous surprise, "Dean, you can come out! He left! He even said he'd give me one hundred million US Dollars as compensation!"

Dean: ???