The afternoon sunlight filtered diagonally through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the living room of Colton Manor, spreading a warm patch of light across the dark wooden floor.
Vivian sat in the main seat, a cup of cooled black tea by her side, several reports spread out on the table before her; the numbers were dense, all representing losses from the past half-month.
She wasn't looking at those numbers; her gaze was fixed outside the window, watching the leaves of the old oak tree in the garden flipping in the wind, their silver-grey backs flashing.
Dean stood before her, clutching his phone, having just finished reading that text message.
He put the phone into his pocket and looked up.
"Mr. Leo has already left. He doesn't need us to see him off."
Vivian nodded, her gaze not shifting from the window.
"Mm, I see. Send someone to clean up."
"Understood."
Dean responded but didn't leave immediately.
He stood there, looking at Vivian.
She was wearing a dark suit, her hair pinned up meticulously, her makeup exquisite, concealing the dark circles under her eyes.
But her hand holding the teacup was tighter than usual, her fingertips turning slightly white.
Vivian noticed his gaze, turned her head, and looked at him.
"Is there something you want to say?"
Dean hesitated for a moment.
He had been following Vivian for over two years and had rarely seen her with this expression.
It wasn't exhaustion; it was the kind of restraint one shows when they've clearly sensed danger but cannot act yet.
"Why not ask Mr. Leo for help?"
He asked.
"Lately, we..."
"Even you think Colton has suffered a serious blow?"
Vivian interrupted him, her tone a bit harsher than usual.
Dean fell silent for a moment.
In his mind, he quickly went over recent events—
The supply of goods was being artificially inflated, money was being constantly won from the casinos, hotel occupancy rates were dropping, liquor supplies were being cut, and the Douglas Family was purchasing arms and recruiting personnel.
And in the last few days, friction had already occurred between the two sides on a small scale.
No single event was particularly severe, but all of them combined were like a net slowly tightening.
"Yes."
He nodded, his voice soft but certain.
"Right now, all the major industries of our Colton Family are being targeted by unknown parties, and the Douglas Family is also showing signs of movement, having already had small-scale friction with us. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid there will be danger."
He paused, looking into Vivian's eyes.
"Mr. Leo is powerful. If we have him step in to eliminate the Douglas Family, we'll have a chance to breathe."
Vivian didn't answer immediately.
She picked up the cooled black tea and took a sip, the bitterness of the tea spreading across the tip of her tongue.
She set the cup down and shook her head.
"You're quite right. But you've forgotten one thing."
She looked at Dean, her gaze calm yet sharp.
"If I were to directly wipe out the Douglas Family, Gavin's side would definitely suppress us."
Dean went silent.
Gavin Lowell, one of the Ten Dons, was the Colton Family's backer.
The mafia has mafia rules; the families below can fight, can seize territory, can kill, but they cannot break the balance.
If Colton suddenly displayed the power to crush Douglas, Gavin would not be pleased.
A subordinate gang that is too strong implies a threat.
"There's less than two months until the general mafia gathering in Yorknew City."
Vivian continued.
"If I keep too high a profile at this time, it will draw the targeting of many mafia groups. The opportunity I want to take a step further would also slip from my hands."
She stopped for a moment, her fingers tapping twice lightly on the tabletop.
"Besides, a favor from Mr. Leo isn't so easily used. Until the most critical moment, he shouldn't be lightly troubled."
Dean opened his mouth to say something but ultimately swallowed it back down.
He knew Vivian was right.
Favors are things that diminish each time they are used.
For a person like Leo, a favor you owe him isn't something that can be cleared just by paying money.
"However..."
Vivian's gaze drifted outside the window again, her voice lowering as if she were talking to herself.
She didn't finish her sentence, only waving her hand.
Dean nodded, asked no more, and turned to leave.
The door closed softly behind him with a very faint click.
Only Vivian remained in the room.
She stood up and walked to the window.
The fountain in the garden was still tirelessly spraying water, the sunlight hitting the water's surface and reflecting tiny glints of light.
She looked at those leaves, but her mind was on other things.
Leo's favor couldn't be used lightly.
But she needed manpower—manpower that could deal with the Douglas Family without triggering Gavin's vigilance.
Goreinu. When this name jumped into her mind.
She remembered the man who had rescued her; he was also Leo's friend.
If he acted and there was danger, Leo likely wouldn't stand by and watch.
Moreover, her impression of Goreinu... was quite good.
Vivian walked back to the table, picked up her phone, and opened her contacts.
Her finger paused on Goreinu's name for a moment, then she pressed the dial button.
The phone rang a few times before being picked up.
"This is Vivian. Is this Mr. Goreinu?"
Her voice regained its usual composure, carrying a perfectly measured hint of a smile.
It was a bit noisy on the other end; the clamor of a crowd and the sound of a broadcast could be faintly heard.
Goreinu's voice came through, full of vigor and carrying the breathlessness of someone who had just finished exercising.
"Yeah, it's me. Young Miss Vivian, is something the matter?"
"Yes, that's right."
Vivian's voice softened even more.
"I wonder if it's convenient for Mr. Goreinu right now?"
"It's convenient."
Things got a bit quieter on Goreinu's end, as if he were looking for a secluded corner.
"Go ahead, what do you need me for?"
Vivian didn't beat around the bush.
"Recently, our Colton Family has run into some trouble. I wonder if Mr. Goreinu could help us resolve the issue? The compensation won't be a problem."
"What kind of trouble specifically?"
Vivian briefly explained the recent events—industries being targeted, losses expanding, and the Douglas Family showing signs of movement.
She didn't mention Leo or Gavin; she simply said one mafia Family was facing a threat from another and needed help resolving it.
There was a long silence on the other end.
Goreinu was thinking; Vivian could tell.
She didn't rush him, just waited quietly.
"If you have suitable manpower to recommend, they can also take on this commission together," she added.
"We will provide ample compensation."
Goreinu still didn't answer immediately.
Vivian could imagine what he looked like now—brows slightly furrowed, weighing the pros and cons.
"As for the intelligence on the Douglas Family, send it to me via fax," Goreinu finally spoke.
"I'll decide whether to take this commission after I've seen it."
The corners of Vivian's mouth curled up slightly.
"Alright. I'll have someone fax it to you right away."
The call ended.
Vivian placed the phone on the table and turned back to the window.
She looked at the scenery outside and suddenly felt a bit more at ease.
Not all problems need to be solved in the most forceful way.
Sometimes, taking a detour allows one to go even further.
Goreinu would take this commission; she had an intuition.
Not because of the money, but because he had a good impression of Vivian.
This good impression was more effective than any compensation.
Vivian summoned Dean and told him to prepare all the intelligence regarding the Douglas Family.