What Happened to the Promised Delta Force? Why Did It Turn into Arknights?

Besides, the loot rate this round was obviously high. The Texas Family really had good stuff—an Iron-Wrist Capo could casually hand over a Small Gold, while Cellinia had given him Champagne outright. Han Fei was reluctant to slink away when his bag was not even full.

Siracusans? How many divisions do the Siracusans have? If they got in the way of him earning Haf Coins, he would kick their balaclavas right off!

After staring at Han Fei for a while, Texas shook her head. "Since you insist, I won't stop you. Keep being my guard. Listen to me, and don't run around."

"Got it."

Han Fei agreed. "Whoever you tell me to fight, I'll fight. I guarantee I'll get the job done, all right?"

Since Texas had given him a bottle of Champagne, Han Fei truly did not mind working for her for the time being.

That was a treasure worth over three hundred thousand for two slots. If Han Fei had to search for it himself, how much fashionable junk would he have to pack away to earn that much?

After all, at Trading Bridge, even a one-slot Small Red was enough to buy someone two lives.

—Revive them, then kill them again. Exactly two lives.

Texas neither agreed nor disagreed. "Let's head out first."

Han Fei shrugged and left with Texas.

Once outside, they had not gone far before they ran into the old butler, who had come looking for them.

Without showing it, the old butler gave Han Fei a once-over. His gaze then passed over Han Fei's shoulder and settled on the oak door not far behind him.

Clearly, the old butler had a good idea where the two of them had been.

Yet he said nothing further, merely speaking respectfully. "Miss, Mr. Han Fei."

"What is it?" Cellinia asked softly.

"The master instructed me to arrange a room for Mr. Han Fei," the old butler said. "I came to inform you, Mr. Han Fei, that your room has been prepared."

Texas said, "Then lead the way."

"Please follow me."

The old butler led the way through the corridors of the old estate.

Han Fei had been doing his best to memorize the layout, but the Texas estate was far more complicated than the core area of Space City and Babel in Brakkesh. With all its twists and turns, it nearly made his head spin.

Even after racking his brains, Han Fei only managed to remember a rough outline.

After several minutes of walking, the old butler stopped outside a room. "Mr. Han Fei, this is the room arranged for you. Incidentally, the young miss's room is next to yours. If anything happens, you can protect her at once."

Han Fei casually said, "Is that really necessary? Isn't this the family's core territory?"

At that, the old butler turned to look at Han Fei. After several seconds of silence, he said, "Mr. Han Fei, you are an intelligent man. There are some things I should not need to spell out."

The old butler left it at that, changing the subject. "All right, Mr. Han Fei. Go in and have a look at your room. If there is anything you are dissatisfied with, tell me, and I will do my best to accommodate your requests."

Storm Clouds Gather

Han Fei pushed open the door and entered.

This room was considerably more spacious than the one in the side residence. It was fully furnished, just as ready to move into with a suitcase in hand.

"How is it, Mr. Han Fei?" the old butler asked.

"It's quite good. Nothing needs changing. This is fine," Han Fei said.

To Han Fei, this place was merely a temporary place to stay. As long as he could sleep here, he had no other requirements.

"As long as you are satisfied."

The old butler gave a slight bow. "Then I shall not disturb you any longer. If you need anything, you may find me or tell the servants. They will pass it on to me."

Texas added, "There should be nothing else today. Get some proper rest."

Han Fei nodded slightly and watched the two leave.

When the old butler reached the door and was about to close it, he suddenly paused. As though mentioning it casually, he said, "If Mr. Han requires a change of clothes, you may instruct the servants. With your build, you should look quite good in the family's suits."

Han Fei narrowed his eyes. "No need. This tactical outfit suits me just fine."

"As you wish."

The old butler closed the door.

After the old butler left, Han Fei walked to the window.

Perhaps because his room was right beside the young miss's, Han Fei had an excellent view. Standing at the window, he could overlook the entire estate through the broad floor-to-ceiling glass.

The last light of the setting sun spilled across the neatly trimmed lawn, dyeing the courtyard gold and crimson. Droplets from the fountain glittered beneath the sunlight, while several family soldiers patrolled back and forth along the distant garden paths. Their suits fluttered gently in the breeze, and the hand crossbows at their waists appeared and vanished from sight.

Farther away, several crossbowmen stood atop elevated watchtowers, their sharp gazes sweeping every corner of the estate. Their silhouettes stretched long beneath the setting sun, like silent lines of warning.

And those were only the visible guards. In the unseen shadows, who knew how many private soldiers raised by the family stood watch in secret?

Han Fei narrowed his eyes. There seem to be more guards than when I first arrived. Old John's death must have hit Giuseppe hard.

As he spoke, Han Fei also found himself curious about what Giuseppe would do next.

A Iron-Wrist Capo like Old John was no cheap thug. He was a legitimate member of the family's upper ranks. For him to die miserably in the street like that was undoubtedly a hard slap across Giuseppe's face.

Han Fei still remembered that Giuseppe had gathered everyone to retaliate. But because of the incident involving Cellinia, the planned retaliation had been temporarily changed into a rescue operation.

Thinking of this, Han Fei muttered to himself, "Could something happen tonight?"

What Han Fei did not know was that, at that very moment, the Texas Family's branch office was already in complete chaos.

Lappland rested her long blade on her shoulder, its edge gleaming with a grim, icy light beneath the setting sun. She tilted her head slightly, silver-white hair falling over half of her crimson eye, while an almost delighted curve touched the corner of her lips.

"Is this all there is?"

Her voice drifted lightly, carrying a hint of disappointment, yet also concealing an indescribable excitement.

The Texas Family members kneeling on the ground were silent as cicadas in winter. Cold sweat beaded across the forehead of the Iron-Wrist Capo at their head. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he did not dare raise his eyes to meet those soul-piercing ones.

An assassin from the Saluzzo Family stepped forward respectfully and asked in a low voice, "Young miss, these are the only ones left at this branch. How should we deal with them?"

"How should we deal with them?"

An excited curve suddenly appeared on Lappland's face. Her fingertips lightly tapped the spine of her blade, producing crisp, ringing dings.

"Of course, leave no one alive!"

The moment her words fell, her wrist turned, and the blade flashed past like a silver moon.

Splat!

The Iron-Wrist Capo's head flew high into the air, blood spraying like a fountain and splattering across Lappland's pale cheeks.

At Lappland's command, the Saluzzo Family assassins raised their hand crossbows in unison.

In an instant, crossbow bolts poured down like a torrential storm. Their sharp tips tore through the air with piercing whistles.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The dense barrage of bolts rained down like a storm, instantly piercing the bodies of the Texas Family members.

Before their wails could leave their throats, a second volley had already arrived.

The dull thuds of bolts punching through suits mingled with the sharp cracks of shattering bones. The family enforcers who had once strutted about so arrogantly now fell in swathes like stalks of wheat. Blood wound along the veins of the marble floor, dyeing the wolf-head family crest a savage dark red.

The blood pooled into spreading puddles, reaching Lappland's feet and staining the soles of her shoes crimson.

Lappland bent down, casually cut off a piece of suit fabric, wiped the long blade in her hand, and tossed the cloth into the pool of blood.

The faint metallic sound of her blade sliding back into its sheath was especially clear in the deathly silent room. Lappland turned and walked toward the main doors. When her heels stepped through the pools of blood, a few scarlet droplets splashed up, leaving a trail of footprints behind her that gradually faded.

"It's time for the next place."

Lappland's voice carried a lazy air, as though she were discussing tonight's walking route rather than the next slaughter.

The next day.

When the first rays of dawn streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window and fell upon Han Fei's face, the young, handsome man slowly opened his eyes.

He sat up, stretched lazily, then swung himself straight out of bed.

After a quick wash, Han Fei put on his Level Four armor but left off his helmet.

That enclosed helmet was really uncomfortable to wear. He was in the Texas estate for the moment, where it was safe. There was no need to stay fully equipped at all times. He could toss the helmet into his bag for now and put it on when needed.

Once he was done, Han Fei pushed open the door and walked out.

Texas's room was next door, but Han Fei did not rashly go knock on her door.

At this hour, he had no idea whether Texas was awake yet.

If she was still asleep, would that not make him a nuisance?

With so many eyes and ears in the old estate, he could not wander around searching either. So Han Fei simply stood at the door and waited for Texas to get up.

Unexpectedly, after waiting for a while, Texas had yet to appear, but the old butler arrived instead.

The elderly man in a tailcoat walked slowly up to Han Fei. "Mr. Han Fei, you are already awake. The master sent me to find you and the young miss."

"I'm awake, but I don't know about her," Han Fei said.

"The master has urgent business."

As he spoke, the old butler walked to Texas's door and knocked.

Not long afterward, the door opened from within, and Cellinia appeared in the gap. Her silver-gray hair still bore the marks of sleep, with one unruly lock sticking up from the top of her head.

Her narrowed eyes made her look like a wolf cub startled awake by harsh light, but her voice was as cold as a frozen lake. "What is it?"

The old butler bent his waist even lower. "The master has urgent matters to discuss. Last night, Siracusans attacked many of our branch offices. Many people died. The master is very angry now."

"I understand."

With that, Cellinia slammed the door shut.

A short while later, when the door opened again, the girl was already fully dressed and had returned to being the capable Texas.

Bait

When Han Fei stepped into Giuseppe's study once more, cigar smoke rushed at him like a gray-white veil, blanketing the entire room.

Through the swirling smoke, Han Fei saw the Texas Family's upper ranks standing on either side like statues. The taut jawlines of the Iron-Wrist Capos formed sharp contours in the shadows, while the private-soldier captains in suits stood silently in the corners like a pack of wolves, uneasy savagery glinting in their eyes.

"You're here."

Giuseppe Texas sat deeply sunk into his leather chair, the cigar between his fingers already burned down by a third.

Through the smoke, Han Fei noticed that the man's gaze was gloomy, and none of yesterday's elegant bearing remained.

Cellinia walked to the side expressionlessly, seemingly not even in the mood to respond.

Han Fei silently followed beside her, likewise saying nothing.

In a situation like this, as an outsider, there was no need for him to speak carelessly.

Giuseppe raised the cigar to his mouth, drew deeply, then exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Last night, a total of six branch offices were attacked. Not one person survived. These Siracusans are challenging the family's authority. The countless blood debts they have incurred must be repaid in blood."

No one spoke. In the vast room, only Giuseppe's voice echoed.

Suddenly, Giuseppe's gaze settled on Cellinia. "Cellinia, my proudest daughter, the time has come for you to contribute to the family."

"What do you want me to do?"

Cellinia's voice was clear and cold, as though she were discussing something that had nothing to do with her.

"We have already learned of their movements." Giuseppe's voice was low and slow, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. "Their next target is the warehouse district in the eastern part of the city. I want you to take men there and set an ambush in advance."

"I understand."

Cellinia replied without expression, "I'll go."

Giuseppe's gaze scraped across his daughter's face like a blade, trying to find even the slightest hesitation in that face which resembled his by seventy percent.

"Cellinia." His tone suddenly softened as he lightly ground the end of his cigar against the edge of the ashtray. "You are my proudest daughter. Don't disappoint me."

Texas raised her eyes. Giuseppe's blurred outline reflected in her blue-to-yellow gradient irises. She did not answer, merely nodded faintly. As she turned, the hem of her uniform cut a sharp arc through the air.

In the courtyard, the Texas Family convoy was already prepared.

Han Fei followed Texas to a car. Just as he was about to get into the back seat, Texas knocked on the driver's door. "Get out."

Though puzzled, the family driver obediently got out and respectfully asked, "What are your orders, young miss?"

"I'm driving."

With that, Texas got directly into the driver's seat.