REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

What Can An Ex-Convict Like You Do, Huh?!

Late in the evening, just past ten o'clock...

Leon sat alone on the front porch, his eyes fixed on the street. He was waiting for Dimitri, who was coming to bring him a report document on the wealthiest people in Greystone Hollow. Dimitri needed a little extra time because he wanted to ensure every detail in the report was accurate. In addition, Leon also asked him to compile data on Harrington Enterprises' corruption onto a flash drive.

A taxi appeared and stopped in front of the gate. Rose got out of the taxi, approached the gate, and opened it. Leon frowned. Rose's shoulders looked slumped, and her steps were weary. From her expression, it was clear she had just had a very bad day.

"You always get home this late?" Leon asked after Rose stepped onto the porch.

"Yes. Why do you care?" Rose replied curtly.

"So you've been leaving Mom alone at home without anyone watching her all this time?"

Rose, who was about to enter the house, stopped walking. She took a deep breath, then looked at Leon with hatred.

"Shut your mouth, Leon! You think I like leaving Mom alone at home for hours? You think I don't worry about her getting hurt while I'm gone? Oh, fuck! If I had a choice, I'd choose another job I could do from home. But what can I do? I have no choice but to work outside until this late at night. At least with what I'm doing, I can buy Mom's medicine and pay for her therapy. What about you, huh? What have you done for Mom in these five years? Can you name one thing, huh?!"

Rose's face was flushed, and her eyes were bulging. Still sitting in the plastic chair, Leon looked at her coldly. He was actually quite offended by Rose cornering him like that, but he tried to understand the difficulties Rose had faced over the past five years.

"I'm not blaming you, Rose. I'm trying to help you," Leon said. "From now on, stay with Mom 24/7. You don't need to work at a place like that anymore."

"Don't be ridiculous, Leon. If I quit working, how are we supposed to live? Besides, do you even know where I work, huh?"

"I know. I know where you work."

"Where is it then? Tell me if you really know."

Leon sighed. His gaze toward Rose was now filled with pity.

"You work at a strip club called Lust & Ashes. Every night there, you gyrate on the stage, showing off your body to perverts who stare at you with drool dripping down."

Thump!

Rose's eyes widened. Her face instantly turned pale.

"You... how did you know I work there?" she asked.

Leon didn't answer. There was no way he could tell her he knew from Dimitri.

"For your own good, Rose, quit working there. I'll find a more suitable job for you, one you can do from home. And you don't need to worry about money. I'll handle it," Leon said.

Rose's expression returned to how it was before. Finding what Leon said made no sense, she grew even more hostile.

"What can an ex-convict like you do, huh? Can you earn as much money as I do every month? Can you?!" Rose attacked in a high-pitched tone.

Leon sighed. He didn't want to drag out the issue. He also understood that Rose was extremely tired, so this wasn't the right time for a long discussion.

So, he just stayed silent. Rose then opened the door and went inside. She slammed it slightly as she closed it from the inside.

Leon sighed again. He had to do something about Rose's job. But that could wait. For now, he wanted to focus on solving Evelyn's problem.

Moments later, a motorcycle rider appeared and stopped where the taxi that brought Rose was. Leon got off the porch and approached the gate. He knew the motorcycle rider in the all-black suit was Dimitri.

Dimitri turned off his motorcycle engine and got off, approaching the fence.

"Here are the documents you requested, sir. The data inside has been updated and its validity confirmed. Please check it," Dimitri said, handing a large brown envelope over the fence. "And here's the flash drive you asked for."

Leon took the flash drive first, putting it into his pocket, and only then did he take the envelope.

He opened the envelope and took out the report document inside. In silence, he quickly skimmed the document. At one point, his eyes narrowed. His expression turned serious.

"Sebastian Arkwell? Are you sure he's one of the tycoons in this city?" Leon asked, his eyes still fixed on the document he was reading.

"Yes, sir. Three years ago, his wealth skyrocketed thanks to his success in the crypto market. Since then, he's run several businesses, and almost all of them have shot up. He's now one of the richest people in Greystone Hollow," Dimitri explained.

Leon was still trying to process it. If everything Dimitri said was true—so far, his information had always been valid—then this could be very advantageous for him. Good news!

"Do you have a problem with this person, sir? Was he involved in the case that trapped you back then?" Dimitri asked.

"Oh, no. Not at all," Leon replied, closing the document and putting it back into the envelope. "Actually, we're good friends. He's my buddy from high school."

"Ah, I see."

Leon smiled. He had decided which Greystone Hollow tycoon he would try to make his ally.

...

The next morning, at the headquarters of Astral Nyx Group, a giant corporate group owned and led by Sebastian Arkwell...

Leon entered the office lobby, walking directly to the reception desk. He was only wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, a stark contrast to the luxurious and magnificent interior design of the building. The two receptionists on duty—one woman and one man—looked at each other in surprise. This was the first time they had seen someone with such ordinary attire in the Astral Nyx Group headquarters.

"Can we help you?" the female receptionist asked, standing up.

"I want to meet with Sebastian Arkwell. I heard he spends his working hours here often," Leon said.

The female receptionist looked at Leon critically. "Do you have an appointment to meet with him?"

"No," Leon shook his head. "But just tell him that Leonidas Vale has come to see him. I'm sure he'll make time to see me."

The female receptionist's forehead was furrowed. "I apologize, sir, but to meet with Mr. Arkwell, you must schedule an appointment first," she said.

Leon clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I told you, tell him that Leonidas Vale has come to see him. You'll understand later."

The female receptionist looked at Leon in confusion. She also looked irritated, restraining herself from blurting out harsh words.

At this point, the male receptionist also stood up, giving Leon a condescending look.

"Leave before I call security. Someone like you doesn't belong here!" he said.

Leon glared at him, his gaze sharp. The female receptionist also looked at the male receptionist, surprised that her colleague had suddenly acted so rudely. After all, they had SOPs to follow, didn't they?

"Hurry up and leave! Or do you want the security guards to drag you out, huh?!" the male receptionist snapped.

...