Chapter 735 Unmasking
Day Seventy-Seven…
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"I will not be a hindrance to your great love story…" he swore solemnly as he conceded.
Jane was taken aback as Tatsumi wholeheartedly embraced this truth. His sincerity was evident in the way he looked at her while speaking those words. He even smiled at her faintly.
"I'll play the part of your fake boyfriend for a while as you mend the misunderstanding between your father and Nathan," Tatsumi volunteered, scratching his face. He even blushed at the notion of being Jane's boyfriend, even if it was just for show.
Jane: "..."
'Is he a masochist?' She thought to herself.
"I don't mind it at all," Tatsumi added, his cheerfulness returning as if he hadn't faced rejection earlier.
Jane let out a soft giggle and said, "Thank you. I appreciate that. It will be a great help to prevent my father from doing something to separate me from Nathan. At least, he will think that I'm an obedient daughter."
Tatsumi burst into a peal of laughter. "My Lady, I know how stubborn you are. You are very clever."
"So are we good now? No hurt feelings?" Jane sought affirmation, assessing Tatsumi's feelings.
Tatsumi bobbed his head frantically. "Of course, my Lady! I'm good as long as we stay friends. I will also serve you. I'm always at your disposal."
Hearing Tatsumi's willingness to be of service and support whenever called upon made Jane feel grateful toward him. "At least, let me give you a hug." Jane embraced Tatsumi to express her gratitude.
Tatsumi swooned when Jane's arms wrapped around his body. It was just a friendly hug but his heart kept beating so fast. "Thank you, my Lady. It's my honor." Tatsumi savored the moment because this opportunity won't last.
"Now, we should make a move. Our targets are waiting for us. Let's confront them," Jane said, breaking the hug.
"Okay, my Lady. Let's go and meet them."
Tatsumi and Jane made their way to the special room. Meanwhile, in the private room set aside for the two mafia leaders, Alexander experienced surprise when a familiar face appeared – none other than Hanabi. Alexander and Hanabi locked eyes for a prolonged moment.
"Gentlemen, are you enjoying your meal?" She asked them, greeting them.
"I'm a lady!" Speed butted in. Hanabi raised her eyebrow when she recognized Speed. She was the one who disguised as a nurse in the hospital, chasing after Tatsumi. 'I know her. She's a member of the King Stallion Mafia. So the man sitting next to her might be the King, their leader.'
Speed and Hanabi exchanged intense glares, casting a palpable tension into the atmosphere.
"You nearly killed Tatsumi back in Country R," Hanabi blurted out bluntly, not holding back as she confronted Speed. "You even followed him to Country M."
Speed sneered in response and retorted, "Of course. It's my duty to do so. Your comrade attacked our headquarters, searching for our King. But don't worry, we didn't come here to fight. We are here to negotiate with your clan leader."
Before Hanabi could say a word, two figures entered the room, catching everyone's attention.
"My father is busy. I am representing him," Jane's voice reverberated from the entrance door.
Jane's sudden arrival caught both Alexander and Vincent off guard. They never anticipated that she would be the one engaging in conversation with them tonight. Standing behind Jane was Tatsumi.
"Hola!" Tatsumi greeted them informally as he raised his hand. He even acknowledged Hanabi's presence, motioning for her to join them.
Hanabi gracefully stepped back, positioning herself closer to Jane and Tatsumi. The trio now confronted the four representatives from the King Stallion Mafia and the Red Dragon Mafia.
"My lady, this way," Tatsumi said, extending a courteous gesture as he guided Jane to the opposite side. With a smooth motion, he pulled out a chair for her, ensuring her comfort. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of formality and tension as the two parties prepared to engage in negotiations.
Vincent and Alexander shared meaningful glances, silently communicating with each other. Vincent then redirected his gaze toward Jane, fixing a steady and intent stare on her, a subtle curve forming on the corner of his lips.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Miss Jane. I'm King, the leader of King Stallion Mafia," Vincent spoke up, offering a courteous handshake by extending his right hand toward Jane.
However, Jane found herself staring at his palm, her mind flooded with memories of their past encounters. A wave of discomfort churned in her stomach as she recalled the unsettling moments with Vincent. Unable to shake off the feeling of disgust, she hesitated and chose not to accept his outstretched hand.
Jane's reaction didn't escape Vincent's keen observation. Disappointment flickered in his eyes as Jane deliberately chose to ignore his extended hand. Realizing the subtle rejection, Vincent promptly retracted his hand, concealing any embarrassment with a subtle, tight-lipped smile. The moment, though brief, added a layer of tension to the atmosphere, making it clear that the dynamics between Jane and the guests were far from amicable.
Meanwhile, Hanabi and Tatsumi exchanged knowing smiles, recognizing that Jane wouldn't be particularly approachable toward their guests.
"So since you are here, could you enlighten us, Miss Jane? What prompted Godfather to extend this invitation, and what is our agenda for tonight?" Alexander joined the conversation, his eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Hmm. Allow me to pose a question to both of you. Is forming an alliance with our clan a genuine desire of yours?" Jane inquired, a subtle smile gracing her face.
"Absolutely. That's precisely what I desire. With the combined strength of our forces, we can assert dominance in the underground world," Alexander replied promptly, expressing his enthusiasm for the proposed alliance.
"How about you, King?" Jane redirected the question to Vincent.
"I also love the idea of working with you," Vincent responded confidently, his eyes never left Jane's face.
Jane's lips curled up, staring at both men meaningfully. "Then show me your sincerity. Remove your masks and reveal your identity to me," she ordered them with her authoritative voice.
Both men fell into a contemplative silence, unaware that Jane had already discerned their identities. Jane saw this as an opportunity to test Vincent.
'Is he willing to reveal his true face, or is he concealing it behind another mask?' Jane pondered to herself.
Alexander, sensing no need for secrecy as Hanabi already knew his identity, was the first to unmask, revealing his face. In contrast, Vincent maintained his composed demeanor, seated without any intention of unveiling his features.
"Are you hesitant to reveal yourself, King?" Jane challenged him once again, wearing a taunting smile as she sought to provoke a response.
Meeting her gaze, Vincent slowly raised his hand. He reached for the edges of his mask, pulling it away from his face. As the mask separated from his features, his countenance was revealed—confident and enigmatic.
Jane was rendered speechless when Vincent revealed his true face. He went there as Vincent, not using another identity.
'He… reveals himself.' Jane murmured in disbelief.
Jane and Vincent locked eyes for a few lingering moments, an undercurrent of tension swirling between them.
"Miss Jane, I'm demonstrating my sincerity," Vincent mumbled with meaningful intent, a subtle gleam reflecting in his eyes.
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