'She doesn't know anything. It was a big-time waste. According to her words, no one in this neighborhood would know more about the Jackson Family other than what I already know,' Ryder thought as he sighed.
He took the last sip of his coffee before he stood up.
"Well, Mary. It was nice meeting you. I need to get going," Ryder let out, looking at Mary. "I'll pay the bill. You want to order anything else?"
"You're leaving? I'll escort you to the Jackson Estate," Mary said as she stood up, finding an excuse to stick with Ryder.
" It's fine. I know where it is. You stay here and finish your coffee," Ryder objected, shaking his head.
"Alright. How will we contact each other? You didn't even exchange numbers," Mari inquired as she pouted.
" Right. Give me your number." Ryder acknowledged her concern.
"0133-" Mary started giving the number, but she stopped as she realized that Ryder wasn't noting down the number.
"Why aren't you writing my number or saving it anywhere?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Don't worry. I have a photographic memory. It's saving in my head. Continue. I'll call you in the evening," Ryder replied.
"Alright…"
Mary started giving her number and told it to Ryder.
"Alright. I'm leaving now," Ryder let out before he went to pay the bill.
He left soon after.
****
"This is the Jackson Estate. Not bad. I guess assassinations pay pretty well," Ryder muttered as he stood in front of the Jackson Estate.
He walked over to the guarded gate.
" Excuse me. I'm here to meet Master Elias Jackson. Is he home?" Ryder asked the guard.
He had read the file given by Keia. From the file, he found out about the prominent members of the clan.
The name he gave was the name of the Head of the Jackson Family.
"What business do you have with the master?" The Guard inquired suspiciously.
"I'm from Necrosis Corporation. I have some urgent business with him. The Jackson Family has the specialty in what I want to be done," Ryder told the guards.
"Wait outside. I'll convey the message inside," the guard replied.
' I hope they don't ask me for identification. I had no choice, though. I can't give my real identity. I can't get Dream Corporation involved either. As for the other Organizations, I feel like Necrosis would have the least chance of being connected to them since their HQ is near the base of another Ancient Cultivation Family, and they rose too fast with their own invention,' Ryder thought as he walked back and forth in front of the gate.
"You can come inside. I'll escort you to Master," the guard called out to Ryder after a few minutes as he opened the door.
The guard escorted Ryder through the long Driveway of the Jackson Estate and brought him to a room where three people were already sitting on a round table.
A white-haired man was sitting in the whole two middle-aged men sat beside him.
"Greetings to everyone."
Ryder greeted everyone respectfully.
" Hmm. Tell me about yourself. Who are you, and why did you come here," the white-haired man asked Ryder.
"I am Jason Vorhees. I'm the Director of Development at Necrosis Corporation. I heard through a friend that you guys deal in assassination. I want you to assassinate someone," Ryder replied while giving false details.
" Fifty Million per head," the White Haired man declared without even asking who the target was.
'Interesting. I thought they charged depending on the position of the person. The price is constant, though. How did Bastion or his family offend these people? Or is it that someone v face them the assassination contract which they dumped on Mark, trying not to involve themselves directly unless they needed to?' Ryder wondered as he heard the price.
"Don't you want to know about the target, though?" Ryder inquired.
"We don't care who the target is. Give us a picture and their details. It shall be done," the middle-aged man, who sat on the left of the Family Head, chimed in.
"I can pay what you ask. As for the target, it's Bastion Barrel," Ryder replied while gazing at the faces of the three men to see a change in their expressions.
He didn't see any change in two of the three men. It was obvious that the two didn't know. These two were the men who sat beside the Family Head.
The only person who's expression suffered a change was the Family Head of the Jackson Family.
A stunned look appeared on the man's face, along with a frown, which he instantly hid.
"This, Bastion Barrel. Where does he live?" the White Haired man asked Ryder.
Ryder could see some murderous intent hidden on the face of the man.
"He has lived in Washington since his childhood. He's a software engineer there who intends to Sue us," Ryder lied.
The White Haired man seemed more relieved and calmer now.
' This guy is clearly involved in this. He must be the culprit. He was stunned after he said the name of the person who was already their target. He must be suspicious of me at that time, but he recovered after finding out that I was talking about someone else. The other two don't know it. It means that the Head of the family is directly dealing with it without the others knowing,' Ryder thought as he analyzed the information he received from the small test.
"Give us their picture and address along with half the money in advance. Your work shall be done in two weeks," the White Haired man said to Ryder.
"In advance? Fine. I'll send money in cash when I go back. My men will also come with the picture and image of the target. It's good to have this deal," Ryder said, smiling.
"I'll take my leave now," he continued as he turned back to leave.
"Stop. Show us your ID card. So we can find you if you don't show up with the money after wasting our time," the White Haired man asked Ryder, stopping him.
"My ID, ah, I don't have my ID with me at the moment. I came here straight without my wallet. Anyway, I already told you my name. You can inquire about me. I'm pretty famous in Necrosis," Ryder replied as he continued walking away, waving his hand.
"Call your men and ask them to bring the target's image, address, and your wallet. Since you're already here, you can't leave without finalizing things. This place is not the one where anyone can come and go," The White Haired man let out as his fingers tapped on the table.
"Sigh, fine. I'll call my personal assistant to bring the money. I came from the New Capital, though, so they will take at least a day to come here. Where will I stay if I don't leave?" Ryder asked, smiling wryly.
" We have a big estate. You can stay here until your men come. Our guest rooms aren't bad," the white-haired man said as he chuckled.
Ryder glanced at the old man before he ultimately sighed.
" Fine. I will do as you say since I really need that guy killed. Anyway, I need to get fresh. Show me the guest room," he said.
"Dray!" The White Haired Man called out. The door of the room opened as a young man entered.
" Take Mr. Jason Vorhees to the guest room and place a few… servants outside his room to help him if he needs something," the White Haired Man said with an amused smile on his face.
' This idiot. Does he really think I don't know? They aren't keeping me as guests, but I'm under house arrest until they get proof of my identity. As for the servants, he's clearly talking about guards to keep an eye on me,' Ryder thought, understanding the intentions of the White-Haired man.
"Yes, Grandpa," the young man nodded his head.
He glanced towards Ryder and said, "Come."
Ryder followed after the young man and left the room.
"Old man, you really think you're clever, but you have no idea. You didn't stop me. You stopped your death. Today shall be your last day in this world. No one can harm Bastion as long as I stand before him to save him. Not Mark, not you, and definitely not anyone else," Ryder muttered as he glanced back.
"Are you the Grandson of Master Elias?" Ryder asked the young man as they walked through the long corridor.
"Yes. He's my Grandfather," the Young Man said, nodding his head.
" He's amazing. I felt like I didn't breathe when his eyes fell on me. He's like a god to me. I really respect him," Ryder professed with a fawning look on his face.
"Hahaha, As you should, kid. My Grandfather is really strong. Everyone is scared of him," the young man laughed as he nodded. He seemed like he was really proud of his grandfather.
