Code Name: Shinigami!

Code Name: Shinigami!

"My final request—considering everything I've done for the family, spare my wife and daughter. Let my brothers continue serving the family."

Having worked for the family for so many years, Leon knew that what Chebel said was not impossible.

His men had indeed always wanted him to become the head of the Chebel family. More than once, they had urged him to rename the Chebel family the Leon family.

So at this moment, he no longer complained. He merely knelt before Chebel, lowered his head, and pleaded.

Yet Chebel cruelly shook his head again.

"Leon, I once heard a saying from a Chinese man I killed. I've always thought it made a lot of sense.

It goes: Cut the grass but don't remove the roots, and when the spring breeze blows, it grows again.

If my son is to smoothly inherit the empire I built, there cannot be even the slightest potential threat.

You should understand a father's good intentions."

"I'll kill you!"

Leon gathered all his strength and suddenly lunged at Chebel, but before he could reach him, the burly man beside Chebel kicked him away.

Under normal circumstances, he would not have been so weak, but he was already covered in wounds.

"Leon, stop struggling and go peacefully. I'll personally take men to deal with your wife and daughter.

Perhaps you'll meet them in heaven. Oh, no—people like us are definitely going to hell after we die, so perhaps you won't be able to meet them again."

The burly man stepped forward, pinned Leon beneath his foot, and drew his pistol with a vicious grin, aiming it at Leon's head.

Lying on the ground, Leon roared furiously.

"Chebel, I regret not listening to my brothers! If hell truly exists, I will crawl out of it and drag you and your son down with me.

If there are demons in hell, I am willing to trade my soul to break out of hell and take my revenge!"

"Unfortunately, there is no hell in this world, nor are there any demons. Otherwise, I should have died countless times already, considering how much blood stains my hands.

Reality is this cruel. Only people like me get to enjoy wealth and glory, and my children will inherit that wealth and glory."

Chebel did not care in the slightest about Leon's curse. He had heard such words far too many times.

But at that moment, an intrigued voice suddenly rang out from above the rooftop water tank.

"I'm not a demon, and I don't want your soul. But if you are willing to cooperate with me, I would be happy to grant your wish."

Everyone turned toward the top of the water tank. At some point, a mysterious man wearing a Shinigami mask and a long robe had appeared there.

"Where did this guy come from? Kill him!"

Chebel narrowed his eyes and immediately gave the order.

The dozen or so men guarding him promptly drew their pistols and aimed them at the mysterious man, ready to shoot him dead on the spot.

Yet the instant they took aim, their pistols suddenly flew from their hands. As if controlled by an invisible force, they hovered in the air with their muzzles pressed to their owners' foreheads, their bullets automatically chambered.

"I suggest you don't move. Otherwise, I can't guarantee the guns won't go off."

George stepped down from the top of the water tank as though he were walking on air. Then he came to Leon, who lay on the ground too weak to rise, and looked down at him.

"What's your answer?"

That was right—Leon was the agent George currently considered fairly suitable.

Once he helped Leon take over the Chebel family, Leon would become one of the most powerful figures in the Bronx underworld, more than qualified to buy Stark's shares without arousing suspicion.

And if George wiped out the other twelve families, Leon could openly annex them as well.

By then, with such a vast territory under his control, Leon could not possibly run off with his wife and daughter. They could work together for the long term.

Later, Leon could help gather information and provide considerable assistance against Arclight Company's pursuit.

George had always felt that Professor X's approach had been far too unwise. Why separate mutants from humanity and specifically give them a new name?

Wasn't that just making trouble for all humanity?

Now that humans had already forgotten the term "mutant," they might as well forget it completely. They were simply humans with a few special abilities. Naturally, they could cooperate with humans to fight those evil scientists and terrorists.

Leon stared at the unbelievable sight before him on the rooftop. He froze for two seconds, then answered with firm resolve.

"As long as you can save my family and my brothers, then this life of mine is yours!"

"I don't want your life. I only need you to do a few things for me in the future."

George snapped his fingers. All the floating pistols fired at once, and Chebel's men fell onto the rooftop without any chance to resist.

"Sir, whatever you need done, I can do it for you. You don't need to cooperate with a loser."

The only surviving Chebel broke out in a cold sweat as he watched all his men get killed. Sitting in his wheelchair, he tried to persuade George to spare him.

But George merely smiled and shook his head.

"No. You're too old."

If he made someone like Chebel his agent, the man might kick the bucket in two or three years, forcing him to find another one. That would be too troublesome, and Chebel's character was not as reliable as Leon's.

"I'll leave him to you."

A blade as thin as a cicada's wing flew from George's pocket and effortlessly sliced through the rope binding Leon's hands.

Leon got up, picked up the pistol from the fallen burly man, and walked over to Chebel. Without giving him a chance to utter a single plea for mercy, Leon sent him on his way with one shot.

"Thank you. How should I address you?"

Leon looked at Chebel's body lying in a pool of blood, fell silent for five seconds, then turned and sincerely thanked George.

If George had not intervened, he would have died today. His wife, daughter, and brothers who had faced death alongside him would certainly not have survived either.

So his thanks came from the bottom of his heart.

"No need to thank me. I saved you for my own reasons. We are partners.

As for my name, it is not convenient for me to tell you."

George touched the mask on his face and waved a hand.

The story of the farmer and the snake, repaying kindness with betrayal—such things were not uncommon. He would not assume that saving someone once meant they would devote themselves to him wholeheartedly.

Besides, given Leon's upbringing and experiences, he could not possibly be some kind-hearted man.

"Then I'll call you Shinigami. What do you need me to do?"

Leon looked at the mask on George's face and asked.

He was a smart man and understood what George was trying to say.

In truth, he had plenty of questions about George's miraculous abilities and his identity-concealing attire.

"Call me whatever you like. I don't need anything right now. When I do, I'll naturally come find you."

George pointed toward the iron door at the rooftop entrance.

"Your boss's people should realize what's happening soon. We need to leave first."

"They're already here!"

Leon's expression changed. He heard a large number of footsteps coming from the rooftop stairwell.

His condition was terrible. Even with a gun in hand, there was no way he could deal with so many people.

So he could only turn to look at George.

Only George, with his miraculous abilities, could save him now.