CHAPTER 728: CHAPTER 728: DETERRENCE

At the headquarters of the Blood Rose Organization, the panic and rage from the destruction of the three major bases had not dissipated in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to be growing more intense. This was because they had not been able to track down the identity of the culprits, nor had they found any trace of their whereabouts.

This left the Blood Rose leadership feeling extremely helpless and quite dissatisfied.

A prestigious underworld force, an enormous organization that once dominated Asia, had suffered such great losses, yet they couldn’t even capture the culprit’s trail. What an irony.

It’s not that the Blood Rose Organization was incompetent. The truth is, Ye Fan and his team were so secretive in their movements that they left no useful clues.

Plus, the attack was so sudden and came without warning, leaving them in a passive situation at every turn due to various factors.

Of course, the Japanese government had managed to trace some information about Ye Fan and his team, something the Blood Rose Organization could not match in this regard.

Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi personally oversaw operations, directing every effort to find the culprits.

Yet, the results were minimal and ineffective.

This left the two powerhouses in a constant state of rage, causing the officers under them to tremble with fear, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Useless, you’re all a bunch of idiots. The enemy’s blade is already at our throats, and you can’t even find a trace of them," Kumagaya Taro scolded with a sinister tone.

"Lord Kumagaya, it’s not that we aren’t trying, nor are we incompetent. The enemy’s methods are just too advanced; they left no useful clues," one leader explained in a low voice, head bowed. "If we are given enough time, we’ll surely find the culprit and wipe out the enemy completely."

"By the time you confirm the information on the culprits, they’ll have already disappeared without a trace," Okamura Toshimi rebuked unsatisfactorily.

"No, that won’t happen. I promise on my life that we’ll track the culprit’s whereabouts and identity before they have a chance to escape," someone vowed confidently.

"Compared to the challenges facing the Blood Rose, your life is dispensable," Kumagaya Taro barked sharply. "When being reprimanded, just shut up and listen. You dare argue back, not knowing your place."

At these words, everyone around Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi bowed their heads in shame, with no one daring to speak again.

"What, have you all turned mute?" Okamura Toshimi questioned.

For Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi, the people under them were too useless to not incite anger. They didn’t care about anything else; if their subordinates failed to do their job, it was a crime.

Everyone understood this reasoning, so they all hung their heads, listening to Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi vent.

Just then, someone joyfully rushed in, shouting, "We’ve found it! We’ve found the identity of the culprits!"

The information the Japanese government wanted to pass onto the Blood Rose Organization had finally reached their ears.

"Who did this?" Kumagaya Taro asked coldly.

"The Chu Group has sent assassins; the leaders are Ye Fan and Chu Mengyao," the person reported excitedly.

"What?"

"Is the information confirmed?"

"This is bad. That jinx has made his move."

"Our Blood Rose Organization is doomed."

"No wonder we were powerless; it turns out he was the one who struck. The top rank on the Heaven List, truly living up to his name."

Everyone was shocked, their faces showing unprecedented seriousness.

Before knowing the identity of the culprits, they had been loudly clamoring to fight.

But upon learning who the culprit was, they immediately grew timid.

This was all because of the deterrence exerted by Ye Fan’s reputation, the number one on the Heaven List, the man who had inflicted wound upon wound on the Blood Rose Organization—he was their nightmare.

"How can it be him? How can it be him?" Everyone asked themselves, a heavy weight settling in their hearts.

Unlike the bearer of the news who had come eagerly to claim credit, he hadn’t expected that after delivering the news, he would witness such a scene, and his expression suddenly stiffened.

At this moment, no one cared how the information was obtained or through what channels it was received.

The fact that they now knew the identity of the invading enemy was a stark reality they had to process.

"In the past, starting from Nagatani Meiaki, to K’s members, then Li Qianru, and onto the Ghost Squad and finally Sato Miko, these individuals were considered the cornerstone of our Blood Rose Organization. Time and again, this man named Ye Fan has thwarted our operations, so naturally, we considered eliminating Ye Fan a top priority,"

"Unfortunately, every attempt to kill him failed."

"Instead, we’ve witnessed Ye Fan rise to fame, from being unknown to now becoming a renowned figure in the Underworld."

"The mere title of number one on the Heaven List is a reputation so terrifying that it leaves people breathless."

Kumagaya Taro said gloomily, "I never imagined, I absolutely never imagined, that the one who struck would be him."

Initially, the Blood Rose underestimated Ye Fan, but after suffering severe losses at his hands, they began to take him seriously, even fearing him and regarding him as an untouchable taboo within the organization.

Sadly, the enmity had already been sown.

Blood Rose had no opportunity to turn hostilities into friendship.

Regret came too late.

Facing Ye Fan’s retaliation, Blood Rose felt powerless and helpless.

"We’re forced to fight for our lives. Since he has taken action, he will not flee. He will surely stay to the bitter end," Kumagaya Taro said, forcing himself to stay resolute. "War means survival, retreat means death. This is the only path before us."

He knew all too well that begging for mercy would be pointless, and besides, he couldn’t bear the humiliation—how could he possibly plead for mercy?

"When it comes down to it, only Ye Fan is a threat to us. One person challenges our Blood Rose, truly overestimating himself," Okamura Toshimi sneered. "This time, let’s annihilate Ye Fan and his team completely, once and for all settling all past grievances."

Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi having declared as much, the others naturally bristled with murderous intent.

If they were fighting for their lives, then so be it—let them fight. Who’s afraid?

The Blood Rose had faced numerous trials and survived one crisis after another; it wasn’t mere luck.

Meanwhile.

Ye Fan, leading the ten women including Han Bihong, along with Shen Yaqing, stormed into the headquarters.

This time, there was no attempt to conceal their tracks; they charged in with great fanfare.

"Enemy attack?"

"Enemy attack!!"

The alarm sounded throughout every corner of the headquarters.

"Enemy attack?"

"Could it be him advancing?"

"Hmph, so arrogant, so full of himself. This time, we must kill him."

Kumagaya Taro and Okamura Toshimi exchanged a glance, then led the headquarters’ strongest forces to confront them.