Chapter 223
At the Laney villa, Phineas paced anxiously in the living room. Dawn broke, but he hadn't slept a wink since losing contact with Matt, who had left at midnight. Matt had vanished.
Phineas dispatched bodyguards to search, but there was still no news, confirming something was wrong. Suddenly, a car beeped outside. He saw a black SUV.
The car door opened, and a figure, wrapped in a burlap sack, was dumped out before the car sped away. Confused, Phineas nodded to the bodyguards, who quickly opened the sack to reveal a naked man with a swollen nose and bruised body.
"Dad" The young man opened his eyes and cried out hoarsely.
"Matt?" Phineas was flabbergasted. "What happened to you?"
"It was Dustin Rhys He" Matt burst into tears. No one knew what he'd endured. He'd considered suicide but couldn't bring himself to do it, unsure how he'd survived the agonizing pain.
"Don't cry. Tell me what happened. I'll take care of it!" Phineas ordered his men to bring Matt inside. Adrenaline shots kept Matt conscious despite his injuries. Under his father's questioning, he recounted everything from midnight onwards.
"That bastard! How dare he do that to you! He's gone too far!" Phineas slammed the table. He shuddered thinking of Matt's ordeal.
"Dad, I want you to tear him to pieces, no matter the cost!" Matt seethed.
"Matt, that ashole is protected by the Harmon and Brooks families. It'll be difficult," Phineas considered.
"Do you expect me to pretend nothing happened?" Matt scowled, his eyes bloodshot. "I want my revenge, no matter what!"
"Fine, I'll avenge you!" Phineas decided, seeing his son's misery. Hiring a killer, for a hefty sum, should be easy.
Suddenly, someone knocked. Phineas signaled the guards, and three men entered. One wore a dated suit and carried a cane with a dragon head. He was followed by Hunter and a burly man with an imposing presence.
"Who are you?" Phineas asked, puzzled.
"Dad!" Matt pointed at Hunter. "That's the guy who helped Rhys!" He remembered the man watching his torment.
Chapter 223 (Continued)
"So you're Dustin Rhys's men. Are you here to apologize?" Phineas growled.
"Apologies mean nothing. I won't forgive that punk!" Phineas's expression was murderous. Last night's events would haunt him, so he had to avenge Matt.
"Apologize?" The old man in the suit smiled faintly. "You're mistaken. I'm here to collect a debt."
"A debt? With just three of you? You're delusional!"
He clapped his hands. Dozens of men swarmed the villa. Phineas had prepared for Matt's disappearance, and it proved useful.
He chortled. "You didn't expect this, did you? You've fallen into my trap! None of you will leave alive."
"How dare you!"
The strong man lashed out, sending Matt flying.
"How dare you hit someone on my property! You're dead meat!" Phineas was enraged. As he was about to order his men to attack, a gold badge clinked near his feet.
He picked it up and froze, seeing the majestic five-clawed golden dragon emblem. "Rhys" was engraved on the back.
In Dragonmarsh, the five-clawed dragon signified ultimate power, and "Rhys" was the pinnacle. Many shared the surname, but only one family possessed the Drakon Emblem. That family inspired fear, and no one dared challenge them.
"The Rhys Drakon Emblem! Who are you?" Phineas trembled, sweat beading on his forehead.
"You must be blind! This is Sir Albert Horst!" the large man bellowed.
"Albert Horst?" Phineas paled. Few knew the name, but the man was nicknamed "The Executioner," a notorious killer.
Three great generals served the Rhys family: The Executioner, the Sword Whisperer, and the Drunken Maniac. Each could shake the country. The Executioner, Alfred Horst, was the strongest, terrifying even children. He'd reportedly slaughtered tens of thousands since his first battle at age eighteen. His cruelty earned him the title of Great Executioner. Working for the Rhys family, he remained unseen but his reputation was undiminished; he eliminated anyone who offended the Rhys family. Few knew what he looked like, as most who saw his face were already dead. His ruthlessness made him leader of the three generals, terrifying even Dragonmarsh officials. Everyone knew a visit from the Executioner meant the end for a family.
Still, Phineas couldn't understand why the Executioner was at his home.