Carter, who had knocked on the door, was driven out by Councilor Wood's two bodyguards.
Raphael pushed the carriage door open hard and jumped out with an arrogant swagger. As he passed the gate of the townhouse, he casually snapped off a piece of wood and flung it at the two bodyguards by the entrance.
The two bodyguards reacted immediately, both reaching into their coats for their guns while raising their other hands to block the incoming piece of wood.
But how could two ordinary people withstand a Sequence 7's attack?
*Pfft*
The piece of wood Raphael threw actually embedded itself in one bodyguard's chest.
The bodyguard stared at the chunk of wood lodged in his chest in disbelief, then staggered back two steps and collapsed onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Carter had already lunged forward, stopping the other bodyguard from drawing his gun. However, he wasn't as strong as the bodyguard and was shoved aside.
That bought Raphael enough time. His eyes suddenly turned brown, and the index finger of his left hand elongated into a wolf claw.
*Slash!*
With a sharp ripping sound, he sliced open the bodyguard's abdomen, and the man's intestines and other organs spilled out.
Ever since cultivating the Wolf Fang Technique, he could perform a partial transformation, such as manifesting two or three wolf claws in a short period.
Amidst the maid's screams, Raphael strode through the front door, his eyes returning to normal as he wiped the blood from his fingertip and said to her, "Please take us to Mr. Wood. We have very important matters to discuss."
"Y-yes, sir!" The maid hurried upstairs in a fluster.
After ordering one of his subordinates to watch over the two severely wounded bodyguards, Raphael followed her upstairs.
Wagner, dressed like a Mafia henchman, followed behind with an appreciative smile on his face. Just a second before Raphael had acted, he had still been joking around. Yet the moment he opened the carriage door, his entire demeanor had seemed to change. Arrogant yet restrained, ruthless yet tranquil.
At the same time, Wagner could now be certain that Raphael was a Beyonder...
The maid led Raphael to the second floor. Wood had already heard the commotion downstairs and had put on a robe, sitting behind his desk.
Seeing Raphael, he gave a contemptuous smile, "Mr. Collins, are you planning to break my leg too?"
Raphael sat down across from Wood, took out a cigarette, and Carter immediately stepped forward to light it.
He took a slow drag before speaking flatly, "I hope Mr. Wood will stop targeting me and merely express his condolences over Holmes's death."
"Hahaha, you savages!" Wood sneered. "Don't think you can scare me with a few words. You're finished. The charge will be threatening a member of the Loen Parliament. Do you know what powers the Loen Constitution grants its parliamentarians? You sons of b¡tches can go flip through the Constitution and see for yourselves. You're all done for."
Raphael, however, showed no sign of anger. "Don't rush to refuse. Hear my terms first. I believe you won't be able to resist them. I hear you're very fond of spotted dogs, Dalmatians?"
"Do you really think this conversation still serves any purpose?" Wood said coldly.
Raphael smiled, saying, "Perhaps you should first take a look at the gift I've brought."
With that, he gestured to one of his men. A subordinate immediately handed over a large, exquisite gift box.
"Even if you filled that box with gold pounds, I still won't let you off!" Wood retorted.
"Oh, I don't have that kind of money," Raphael chuckled, "But this gift is far more interesting than gold pounds. I think you'll absolutely love it." He let out two hearty laughs, "I'm very much looking forward to seeing your expression when you see this gift."
Frowning, Wood opened the box with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Inside was the severed head of a spotted dog, and it was none other than his most beloved pet.
"Ahhhh!" Wood screamed... whether from shock, terror, or both, it was hard to tell.
"Hahaha!" Raphael laughed heartily as he savored Wood's expression.
The combined screaming and laughter sounded jarring and chilling.
Wagner applauded. He could tell that the man's spirit had already shattered...
After nearly a minute, Wood's screams finally stopped. Now, when he looked at Raphael, there was a hint of fear in his eyes.
Only then did Raphael speak, still smiling, "Councilor, I am a law-abiding citizen. Of course, I would never do anything to harm a Loen parliamentarian. But I recall that your parents, your wife, and your grown son all have heads. And it seems their heads aren't any harder than that Dalmatian's." He stood and added, "A Loen councilor belongs to Loen, but a life is one's own."
With that, he swiftly left with his men.
...
In the carriage, Wagner praised Raphael repeatedly, "I never imagined that breaking a man's spirit could be so satisfying."
Raphael simply grinned, saying, "If you like my style, it only proves that your organization is precisely the home I've been searching for."
...
Shortly after 4:00 PM, Raphael took Carter and Wagner to visit Isaacs. This was a formal visit at the Backlund Police Department, and he had an appointment.
Isaacs knew that Raphael was the Mafia boss. Or rather, he was very familiar with the gang leaders of Backlund's various districts. Such visits usually meant someone needed something from him or came to deliver money. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse...
After a few exchanges, Raphael stated his purpose, "I heard someone's trying to get back at me."
"Perhaps there is, perhaps there isn't." Isaacs replied coolly.
Raphael shook his head, "I really hate answers like that. But we're not familiar yet. I hope that once we get to know each other, you won't give me that kind of response again..."
Isaacs's expression darkened: 'This young man is far too arrogant.'
He was already considering teaching him a lesson, but he quickly abandoned that thought at Raphael's next words:
"...As far as I know, the Stinger Gang of the Bridge District is a gang backed by the Feysac embassy. They've been secretly gathering intelligence for Feysac." Raphael spread his hands, "With international tensions as they are right now, cracking a major spy case would certainly help with your current competition considerably."
Isaacs paused for a moment, then said seriously, "I need solid evidence. Preferably a few witnesses."
Raphael smiled, "No problem."
"What do you want in return?" Isaacs asked.
Raphael said, "I think certain deaths are purely accidents, unrelated to anyone in particular."
Isaacs pressed further, "For example, whose deaths?"
Raphael leaned back in his chair, "For instance, some merchants, some gang members..."
"Fine." That was a minor matter for Isaacs, "Pleasant cooperation."
"Pleasant cooperation." Raphael smiled.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that his Unwinged Angel potion had digested considerably.
His smile became more genuine: 'So this is what it means to associate with evil, to align with wicked desires...'