?<strong>Chapter 1016:</strong>


    As her eyes scanned the pages, it became clear—the Mafia had been subtly manipting Shadow Nine as a puppet, using them for covert operations in the outside world.


    “So, Daniel is really on that deserted ind?” she asked, the wordsced with disbelief.


    “Yes,” Sherman confirmed, pulling out a set of photos from the pile and spreading them across the table. “These were taken by the drone team we hired. The Mafia was vignt and shot the drone down as soon as they spotted it, but we managed to get some clear shots.”


    Ken nodded in approval. “Good work.”


    Sherman, taken aback by the praise, managed a modest smile. It seemed that after spending time with Allison, Ken had be a bit more approachable.


    “It’s all thanks to the team’s efforts,” Sherman replied humbly.


    After speaking, Sherman spread out the photos. The images revealed andmass surrounded by vast ocean—the deserted ind. The ind’s terrain was t, with dense forests and thick vines creeping ind from the shore. At the heart of the forest stood a sprawling estate.


    “This is the Ghost Castle,” Sherman exined, pointing to the grand structure in the center of the ind. “ording to those who’ve been there, this is Daniel’s residence. But getting close is a nightmare due to poisonous snakes and insects in the forest.”


    “Outsiders rarely make it.” Allison studied the photos carefully, her gaze lingering on the tallest building. She recalled her past conversations with Daniel. It struck her—he had likely been holed up inside this very Ghost Castle during their talks.


    “Has he never left?” she asked, still focused on the images.


    Sherman shook his head gravely. “No. Based on the Mafia’s activities and Shadow Nine’s reports, Daniel’s too afraid to step out. He prefers letting others do the dirty work for him.”


    A coldugh escaped Allison. “No surprise there. He’s too afraid to die,” she remarked with a bitter edge.


    She flipped through the transaction records again, her fingers brushing over the pages as she searched for more clues. “What else has Shadow Nine done for him?”


    Sherman pointed to the WQ codes on the page. “These are weapon transactions. Arms trafficking seems to be the Mafia’s primary source of ie.”


    “Greedy, indeed,” Allison muttered under her breath.


    She continued to study the photos of the deserted ind, her expression turning thoughtful. “He must be even more cautioustely. Infiltrating that ind won’t be easy.”


    Her eyes narrowed as a n began to form. “I’ll need to find a way to lure him out.”


    Ken, understanding her intention, spoke up. “Are you nning to runch Hacker’s World?”


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