Ye Lu stroked his chin: "Dad is already dead, so it’s impossible to find out anything from that side, but the enemies are still alive. So, of course, we should start collecting evidence from their side. Whatever they have done, they must be paying attention to it. If we reopen my father’s case and release some crucial gossip, I don’t believe they will remain inactive. As long as they take action, there will be traces left behind for us to follow like threads leading to the pattern on a melon."

Hua Lunxi’s eyes lit up with surprised delight as he looked at her.

"You’re right, how did I not think of that? With reverse reasoning, we don’t necessarily need to look for clues from my uncle’s side. If we can lure them out and find a way to catch them in their slip-ups, digging deeper little by little, we can certainly unveil layer by layer until we expose their leader."

Ye Lu nodded, leaving this task for Hua Lunxi to organize.

As for her, she also had important matters to attend to. In fact, her deeper purpose in inviting the godfather to the banquet was to lure him from Asia to North America. In Asia, his power was formidable; as long as he stayed within the Su Family’s sphere of influence, she could not touch him.

Once in North America, the situation would be different. Even if the godfather had vast reach, his power there would definitely not be as massive as in Asia. And with the secret in her hands, he would surely be unwilling to leave before obtaining it.

She intended to keep the godfather in North America and find a way to eliminate him, making sure he could never return to his stronghold in Asia.

First and foremost, she needed to take control of Yiren.

...

The godfather returned to his accommodations, sitting in a mahogany armchair, his face clouded over darkly, like the sky during a downpour on a stormy night. Although it appeared utterly calm and revealed nothing, it was hiding a tempest just about to erupt with a terrifying aura.

He had lived for so many years, weathered so many storms, yet he had been schemed against by a young girl, falling into the trap she devised. This feeling was truly unpleasant for him, a deep-seated rage provoked to the core.

He should have had full control of the situation, yet she had preempted him.

He, Su Feiman, had never been so constrained by others.

"Shadow—" His voice, deep and grinding like rough stone, was calm yet filled with profound disappointment.

The Shadow appeared soundlessly before him, kneeling at his feet, as if a sculpted figure devoid of any presence.

The Shadow’s face showed no emotion, and there was no fear of punishment after failure, only his voice, flat and without inflection, speaking.

"Godfather, I have failed."

"I know, because tonight at the Hua family’s banquet, I saw her. When I saw her, I could hardly believe it. I sent out my most formidable assassin to capture her, and if not, to kill her. Yet, you allowed her to appear before me in such a manner!"

The godfather’s voice was filled with biting sarcasm and an intimidating chill, his eyes mockingly looking at the Shadow’s expression.

"Does this prove that my trained killing machine is not as good as a pregnant woman, weak and unable to bind a chicken?"

"It’s Shadow’s fault, and I am willing to accept the punishment!" Shadow lowered his head even further.

The godfather, however, suddenly gripped his chin fiercely, forcing his head up; the Shadow’s pale, almost non-existing face met his sharp eyes.

"Tell me what has happened these past few days. I thought that if I gave you half the time, you would have been able to handle her. Unexpectedly, even with twice the time, you have not completed your mission. This is not your style. You have never been a disappointment. But this time, you have actually been bested by a woman, Shadow, you have disappointed me, truly disappointed!"