Chapter 719
Leonardo, rocking a black trench coat, came down from the second floor, radiating authority.
Quillan's face hardened as he watched Leonardo approach.
Back when August was in charge, Quillan's words carried weight at meetings. But ever since Leonardo took over, his input was ignored.
No matter how crucial his suggestions were, Leonardo never responded.
Take today, for instance. Quillan's proposal on economic development was rejected by Leonardo.
Quillan, the elder member of the gang, felt increasingly disrespected by Leonardo.
As Leonardo neared, Quillan leaned on his cane and said coldly, "This woman has ulterior motives. I was just trying to help eliminate potential threats. Was I wrong?"
Leonardo shot back. "Is it her with ulterior motives, or you? Do I need to spell it out?"
Publicly rebuked, Quillan felt humiliated.
Frustrated, he shook his sleeves and declared, "I conquered the Hinterlands with August. Every area bears my sweat and toil. I can't watch it be destroyed by a woman. Leonardo, blame me or expel me, but today, I must get rid of her!"
"Guards, seize her!" Quillan ordered.
Haley stayed silent.
She'd been here less than a week and had only been to the core area a few times. What did the survival of the Hinterlands have to do with her?
Quillan was just making excuses to fulfill his own shady desires.
Haley frowned, keeping an eye on the approaching guards.
Before she could act, Leonardo, standing beside her, pulled something from his sleeve and threw it.
The four guards Quillan brought instantly hit the ground.
Quillan's face darkened even more.
He finally realized Leonardo's rise to power wasn't luck—it was skill.
Quillan had a long way to go if he wanted to kill Leonardo and take his place.
"Well, very well!"
Too angry to speak, Quillan stormed off.
His fellow elders followed, leaving the villa in sudden silence.
Haley, lips pursed, softly said, "Thanks for that."
Leonardo replied indifferently, "If it weren't for me, Quillan wouldn't be targeting you. Come on, let's go to the study."
He turned and walked upstairs.
Haley watched him, slightly tilting her head to see his whole figure. His walk and the way he swung his arms were so familiar.
Ivan's image flashed in her mind.
She chuckled to herself.
Was she so desperate to see Ivan that she saw him in anyone who resembled him?
Suppressing her emotions, Haley followed him up to the spacious study, lined with shelves of old foreign language books.
"I agree to the cooperation you proposed earlier."
Leonardo sat in the office chair, his deep eyes scanning her calmly.
"But I need to see your abilities first."
Haley stayed calm and asked, "How do you want me to prove myself?"
Leonardo unlocked a drawer and tossed a stack of ledgers on the desk. "These are last year's Black Gang accounts. There are many issues. If you can find ten problems, you win."
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