Chapter 526
Bruno stared at Count Oskar, frozen in disbelief. His mind went blank, like a circuit had been burned out.
Count Oskar Winterhagen.
The underground overlord of Winchester.
Bruno was nothing more than a local leader, a small-time figure ruling a narrow slice of territory. But Count Oskar? He ruled this entire area.
No-he ruled the city’s shadows themselves. Every man in Winchester’s underworld knew his name. He was absolute power.
Bruno never imagined he would cross paths with someone like that—especially over something so trivial.
All of this, just because Matthias had asked him to deal with a minor nuisance.
Matthias, completely unaware of who Count Oskar was, had just been struck down by Oskar’s men.
Dazed and furious, he leaned close to Bruno and whispered through clenched teeth, “Bruno, what the hell is going on? Who is this old man? Can’t you handle him? I’ll give you another hundred thousand dollars p>
The moment those words left his mouth, Bruno started shaking.
The next second, he exploded.
Bruno grabbed Matthias by the hair and slammed his face into the ground. A sickening crack rang out as Matthias’s nose shattered on impact.
Blood poured out instantly.
Bruno’s eyes were red with terror and rage as he roared, “If you’re looking to die, bastard, don’t drag me down with you! This is Count Oskar p>
“What?!” Matthias and Jess shouted at the same time, their faces draining of color.
Count Oskar?
The underground overlord of Winchester?
Why was someone like that here?
Bruno looked up and met Count Oskar’s cold gaze. In that instant, everything clicked. His heart dropped straight into his stomach.
He scrambled forward, rushed to Alex, and fell to his knees.
“Sir, I’m sorry!” Bruno cried out. “Please forgive me! I truly regret what I did p>
He began slapping his own face-hard. The first two strikes left his nose bleeding. The third split his lips open. Blood dripped down his chin, but he didn’t stop.
He meant every slap.
Count Oskar walked over calmly, then suddenly kicked Bruno square in the face. White-hot pain exploded through Bruno’s skull. He crashed to the ground-but the moment he hit the floor, he forced himself back up, kneeling again, and kept slapping himself.
He knew the truth better than anyone.
If he stopped, he would die here.
Alex watched silently. He remembered sending a message to Count Oskar, asking
him to send people to clean up after he’d beaten these men.
He hadn’t expected Count Oskar to come in person.
Then Count Oskar turned toward Alex Saint-Claire.
In front of everyone, he bowed deeply, his posture filled with absolute respect.
“I apologize for being late, Mr. Saint-Claire,” Count Oskar said solemnly. “I will take care of everything p>
The moment everyone saw Count Oskar treating Alex with such deep respect, the room went dead silent.
Jaws dropped.
Matthias finally understood what kind of monster he had provoked. The realization hit him like ice water. His legs went weak, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Alex Saint-Claire glanced at Bruno and spoke calmly, his voice flat and cold.
“You know this man p>
Count Oskar answered without a pause.
“Yes. He’s nothing more than a minor leader in this area. But he dared to offend you, Mr. Saint-Claire.” His gaze turned icy. “I’ll make sure he dies right here p>
Bruno felt his soul leave his body.
He didn’t want to die.
He stayed kneeling, scrambling forward on his knees until he reached Alex. Tears streamed down his face as he slammed his forehead to the floor.
“Mr. Saint-Claire! This is my fault! All of it! Please-please give me another chance! I swear I will never offend you again p>
Alex looked down at him, “How about this,” he said slowly. “I remember you were ordered to cripple me. To cut off my penis p>
He paused, letting the words sink in.
“So show me how you plan to regret that p>
Bruno’s eyes turned bloodshot with panic.
“Yes, sir! Yes! This was all because of that bastard Matthias! He ordered me to do everything! I’ll cripple him! I’ll cut his penis off right now p>
He jumped to his feet and started walking toward Matthias.
Matthias’s face drained of all color. He collapsed to his knees, crawling backward in terror.
“Alex—no, Mr. Saint-Claire! I was wrong! I really was! I shouldn’t have let my mouth run wild! Please forgive me p>
Jess was shaking so hard she could barely stand.
The moment Matthias began begging, she dropped to her knees as well, bowing repeatedly.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please forgive us p>
Alex let out a cold scoff.
“I won’t decide that,” he said flatly. “I’ll ask Renata whether she’s willing to forgive you after what you did to her. If she says yes, you can consider yourself lucky p>
He turned his head toward Renata.
“What do
you
think p>
Renata stared at Matthias. Her eyes burned with anger, pain, and humiliation.
Before she could say a word, Matthias rushed to speak.
“Renata, I always loved you!” he pleaded desperately. “It was this woman-she poisoned me! I know you still love me! Please, I’ll change, I swear p>
Jess snapped instantly, her fear turning into rage.
“You liar! You were the one who said Renata was boring! Too conservative! You said
you were only using her for money! How dare you blame me now p>
“Shut up!” Matthias screamed, his face twisted with hatred. “You’re just a bitch! I never loved you-not even once p>
He turned back to Renata, eyes filled with panic.
“Renata, please forgive me. I promise you I’ll change p>
“You’ll change?” Renata asked quietly. “After what you did to me? It’s already too late p>
“Renata!” Matthias snapped, anger exploding through his fear. “Don’t forget-if my father finds out what you did to me, he will p>
Alex grabbed the glass off the table and hurled it straight at Matthias’s face.
Crash.
Glass shattered against skin. Blood streaked down Matthias’s cheek.
Alex’s voice was calm, lethal.
“Go on. Tell me what your father will do p>
Matthias touched his bleeding face, eyes blazing with fury and humiliation.
“My father,” he snarled, “will kill everyone here p>
At that moment, the door burst open.
A man rushed in, pale and frantic, his eyes sweeping the room.
“Which one of you is Mr. Alex Saint-Claire p>
“Father?” Matthias froze, his blood running cold.
Alex turned slowly, his expression calm and deadly.
“Baron Sturmfels thanks for coming,” he said evenly, “were you aware that your son
was cheating on Renata Winter p>
Baron Sturmfels’s legs nearly gave out.
He had been warned. He had been
told his son had caused
trouble-real trouble. Trouble so serious that if it wasn’t handled properly Eden Group would erase his entire business. And now standing right there, was Count Oskar.
In that instant, Baron Sturmfels understood everything.
His son hadn’t just made a mistake.
He had dragged the entire family into hell.
“I… I didn’t know,” Baron Sturmfels stammered, shaking his head desperately. “I
really didn’t know p>
Alex nodded slowly.
“Strange. Because I heard you’re quite famous in Winchester.” His eyes hardened.
“Your son even said you’d kill all of us p>
Count Oskar raised his hand slightly.
One of Count Oskar’s men stepped
forward and slammed a brutal punch into Baron Sturmfels’s stomach. The air burst from his lungs as he doubled over and collapsed
Then the man raised his gun and fired.
Bang.
The bullet ripped through Baron Sturmfels’s thigh. Blood sprayed across the floor as
he screamed and crashed down in agony.
Count Oskar’s voice was flat and merciless.
“Well then. Why don’t you try killing us now p>
Baron Sturmfels writhed on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Alex crouched slightly, his gaze unrelenting.
“I’ll ask you again,” he said calmly. “Were you aware that your son was cheating on
Renata p>
Baron Sturmfels broke.
He sobbed uncontrollably, clutching his wounded leg.
“I knew… I knew,” he cried. “It’s my fault! I’ll discipline him properly from now on, I
swear p>
Alex let out a cold breath.
“So you did know.” His voice turned
razor-sharp. Then why didn’t you stop him? You knew your son was causing trouble-cheating Renata out of thirty milo-and you die nothing. He even claimed you’d help him kill us p>
Alex straightened, disgust clear in his eyes. “What a great father you are. What a
fine Sturmfels family p>
He stepped closer, his shadow falling over Baron Sturmfels.
“Starting today, if Renata does not forgive you and your son, then the name
Sturmfels will disappear from Winchester p>
Count Oskar added calmly, as if reading a grocery list,
“We have received orders to kill every member of the Sturmfels family. No
exceptions. Not even the dogs p>
Baron Sturmfels and Matthias stood frozen, unable to process what they were
hearing.
They knew the truth.
With Count Oskar involved, their family could be erased—today.