บท 233: Touching Brotherhood

Russell looked at the burly man in front of him, who resembled a Navy SEAL, with some bewilderment.

In this day and age, were the Continental Hotel's in-house assassins really so unaware of the situation? Even Winston, the head of the Continental Hotel in New York, didn't object. What was the meaning of a stranger like this intervening?

Russell remained silent, his gaze fixed on the burly man.

"She can't go up!"

The burly man repeated, his tone becoming somewhat impatient.

However, Russell still didn't pay him any attention. Although the burly man appeared intimidating, dealing with him would be no more trouble than dealing with an ant for Russell. Even a gentle breath or a slight use of his superhuman respiratory abilities could freeze this seemingly formidable man into an ice sculpture.

Although Russell appeared indifferent, Perkins, standing behind him, was fully alert, with her hands on the grip of her weapon, ready to draw and fire at a moment's notice.

Just as the burly man was about to issue his third warning to Russell, Charon from the front desk quickly arrived.

"Sir, I apologize. He's from headquarters and may not be aware of the situation. Please proceed."

Charon completely ignored the burly man and spoke respectfully to Russell.

Unlike the newcomer who had recently arrived in New York, Charon understood Russell's temperament very well. While Russell showed no intention of taking action, if provoked, no one in the lobby would survive.

Although there were many in-house assassins in the lobby, armed with various weapons, Charon knew that against Russell's body, capable of withstanding bullets, none of their firearms could penetrate.

Charon already held Russell's physical defense in high regard, but he didn't know that Russell was no longer the same as the one with extraordinary physique he had known initially. Unless this world had Kryptonite like in the DC universe, or a red sun from the Krypton star system, Russell's Kryptonian physique had no weaknesses.

After Charon intervened to defuse the situation, the burly man should have backed down. After all, Charon was Winston's trusted right-hand man, and even if the burly man didn't give Charon face, he should have given Winston face. However, for some reason, this burly man, who resembled a Navy SEAL, still had no intention of yielding.

"I said she can't go up!"

The burly man's tone grew cold.

Simultaneously, he drew his Glock 36 from his waist, aiming it at Perkins. At the same time, other in-house assassins in the lobby raised their weapons, pointing them at Russell and Perkins.

Seeing the in-house assassins' actions, Russell shook his head with an amused smile. It seemed he had been out of the assassin world for too long, and these people had forgotten why he was called the "Mad Traveler."

However, he didn't immediately attack. Instead, he looked intently at the burly man in front of him and said slowly, "You don't seem like someone with a simple mind. You should be well aware of the consequences of offending me."

"I'm curious about why you're willing to risk offending Winston just to stop me from bringing Perkins upstairs. What's the reason behind it?"

After hearing Russell's question, the burly man didn't answer, and he continued to keep his gun pointed at Perkins' head.

At this point, Perkins had also drawn her weapon, one aimed at the burly man and the other at Charon. Clearly, the burly man wasn't going to reveal his thoughts to Russell.

However, at this moment, Charon suddenly explained a few things to Russell. After Charon finished explaining, Russell finally understood why the burly man had acted in this seemingly unusual manner.

The reason was simple: the assassin sent to capture Perkins was his own brother.

Despite the grandeur of the Continental Hotel's operation, there weren't many assassins that needed to be captured. Including Perkins, there were only fifteen targets. Out of the fifteen, five were dead, and nine had been successfully captured.

Seeing Perkins accompanying Russell to the Continental Hotel, the burly man had immediately made up his mind to kill Perkins to avenge his brother.

However, he had controlled his emotions and didn't act immediately, instead waiting in the elevator area. When he saw Russell speak with Charon and then approach the elevator with Perkins, he knew his opportunity had come.

Winston's willingness to meet Russell was Winston's business. However, Perkins being on the capture list was a decision made by the High Table. Regardless of whether he killed Perkins immediately or brought her back to the High Table headquarters, Winston couldn't interfere.

Furthermore, another reason for his decision was that he now had temporary command of the in-house assassins in the lobby. The person originally commanding these in-house assassins was his brother, the ace assassin sent to capture Perkins. After his brother's death, he, as the deputy leader, had naturally become the leader. As long as he acted, the in-house assassins in the lobby would follow his lead.

He was well aware of Russell's strength, to the extent that even the High Table had given explicit orders not to provoke Russell. However, before witnessing Russell's power firsthand, some people might not believe it.

The burly man was a typical example of this.

"It turns out you want to avenge your brother. Touching brotherhood," Russell remarked. "But..."

Russell didn't continue his sentence, because even if he did, the burly man wouldn't hear it. In full view of everyone, Russell took action without hesitation, using his speed, beyond the limits of human vision, to snap the burly man's neck.

Neither Perkins nor Charon, who were right beside him, nor the in-house assassins in the lobby aiming their guns at him and Perkins, saw how Russell made his move. In their eyes, as soon as Russell stopped speaking, the burly man standing in front of him collapsed to the ground.

Thud!

As the burly man's lifeless body fell heavily to the ground, Charon and Perkins, among others, only then realized that the burly man's neck had been completely snapped.

"Let's go," Russell said calmly.

He then stepped over the corpse of the burly man and pressed the button for the elevator to go up.

Ding!

The sound of the elevator arriving rang out, and the metal doors slowly opened. In the presence of Charon, the in-house assassins, and others, Russell and Perkins walked into the elevator.

A little over a minute later, Russell and Perkins arrived at Winston's manager's office.

Just as before, Winston was dressed as an English gentleman.

However, upon entering the office, Russell's gaze first landed on the unfamiliar man sitting to the side. Although he didn't recognize this stranger, he sensed a unique assassin's aura about him—one with an ancient flavor.

Russell didn't waste time speculating on the stranger's identity but instead went straight to sit in front of Winston.

Perkins didn't sit down but stood by his side like a bodyguard.