Chapter 5 Bounty

"Mommy!"

"Ivan!"

Sophia rushed out of the car and pulled both children into her arms.

The two kids burst into tears, holding Sophia tight.

Victor walked over, and all three immediately threw their arms around him.

"Daddy! I thought I'd never see you again, never see Mommy again."

"That won't happen. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."

Sophia said through her tears, "Promise me, Victor, that our family will never be separated again, okay?"

Victor nodded seriously, his voice firm and resolute, "I promise you all, no one will ever separate our family again!"

"Useless!"

Duke Gregory grabbed the wine glass from the table and hurled it at Albert.

Albert quickly dodged to the side as the glass smashed against the wall, shattering into pieces.

The Duke had gray hair and plenty of wrinkles on his face.

But as someone who had long held power, he carried an intimidating presence that made it hard to breathe.

Albert and several high-ranking officials all stood in the hall with their heads lowered, like children who had done something wrong.

"Albert! You brought so many people and still let Victor escape? What the hell are you good for?"

Albert's face darkened as he tried to defend himself.

"Dad, I didn't expect Victor to be so sneaky and cunning, to actually plant explosives on top of the church..."

"Shut up!"

The Duke cut him off sharply.

"You're useless! Don't make so many excuses!"

"Do you know what you did today? You lost all dignity and made the Gregory family a laughingstock to everyone!"

"Compared to your brother, you're not even close!"

Hearing the Duke compare him to his brother again, Albert's heart filled with resentment and jealous frustration.

He said in a low voice, "Dad! Give me ten days... no! Three days. Within three days, I'll bring Victor's body back to you!"

An old man also spoke up for Albert.

"Duke, you can't really blame Albert for this. After all, the opponent is Victor, that legendary man. If he could be killed so easily, he wouldn't deserve to be called a legend!"

Hearing this, the Duke's expression softened somewhat.

"You're right! After all, it is Victor! But so what? If I could kill him once, I can kill him a second time!"

Albert immediately offered his strategy. "Dad! Victor must still be in L City! As long as we lock down the entire city, he can't possibly escape! He'll be a sitting duck!"

The Duke nodded, finally showing a hint of approval in his eyes.

"You're right! Ronnie Ford!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Pass the order down--lock down and search the entire city. I want this legend to die in L City. I want everyone in the city to know that no one can withstand the Gregory family's wrath!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Gregory family held the power in L City!

Within three minutes of his order, L City entered a complete lockdown.

At Victor's home.

He cooked a hearty dinner for Sophia and the children himself.

Sophia's injuries hadn't fully healed, and her face was still a bit pale. She looked at Victor tenderly--in seven years, this was the first time their family of four had gathered together for a meal.

If only time could stop at this moment forever!

"Thank you, Victor! I wish our family could always be together like this."

Victor smiled. "We will be!"

Ivan was also carefully studying Victor, whom he hadn't seen in so long.

Victor was now more handsome and more muscular than he remembered.

"I want to be someone like Dad when I grow up!"

Anna chimed in, "Then I want to be someone like Mommy!"

Victor and Sophia looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

Just then, Zack walked in.

The smell of blood that clung to him shattered the warmth of Victor's family.

"General Jennings!"

"What is it?"

"The Duke has locked down L City."

Sophia's heart sank, and the hand holding her knife and fork trembled slightly.

She knew the Duke's power very well, as did everyone in the city.

Anyone who went against the Gregory family ended up dead.

Hearing this, Victor just laughed it off. "Just a desperate move!"

Sophia was worried. "Honey, what if... I take Anna and Ivan..."

She understood the Gregory family, but she also knew Victor's capabilities.

Things had reached this point--neither side had a way out.

Victor interrupted her. "I said we won't be separated again!"

"But..."

"No buts! Sophia, Ivan, Anna--it's safe here. For the next few days, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but don't leave this place."

Sophia asked anxiously, "What about you?"

Victor's eyes flashed with determination. "Me? If he wants to play, I'll play along to the end! But don't worry, I'll come back every day. As I said, we won't be separated!"

Sophia nodded gently, gripping Victor's hand. "You have to be okay!"

At a karaoke bar!

The crowd was dancing wildly on the stage.

Suddenly, the lights came on, and a group of soldiers rushed in, controlling everyone and checking them one by one.

"What are you doing?" The bar manager walked up, confused.

The lead officer shoved a stack of photos of Victor and Zack into the manager's arms.

"Put these photos on the wall. If anyone has seen the people in these photos, call the tip line immediately. Reward: 500,000 dollars!"

"Oh, my God! 500,000 dollars?"

Everyone crowded around.

At a karaoke bar!

The Duke's men searched from bottom to top, checking every private room and verifying every customer's identity.

Then they left photos of Victor, Zack, and others at the front desk, posting the reward.

On the streets, at clubs, at sports fields...

The same scene was playing out all over L City.

Even on the highways, multiple checkpoints had been set up.

It was nearly impossible for Victor's people to leave L City!

But a whole day passed, and the Gregory family received no information about Victor.

The Duke realized that finding Victor through ordinary means was too difficult.

"Albert!"

"Father!"

"The Iron Gauntlet still has remaining forces, right?"

"Yes, Father!"

"Gather the remaining forces of The Iron Gauntlet and have them search for Victor in the underground world. I don't believe Victor can just vanish into thin air! Even if we have to dig up the ground, I'll find him!"

Albert bowed his head. "Yes! Father, rest assured, I'll take care of it right away!"