"I didn't expect it either. I only learned it over at old Chace's place!" Yang Ce spread his hands to show he hadn't known either. "At this rate, within a year we could charge into the top ten!"

"Really!" Wang Yanqiu was startled, and delight immediately spread across her face. The assassin group's ranking had always been a weight on Wang Yanqiu's mind. Though since being with Yang Ce she had grown full of confidence in the Black Butterfly's future, whether she could make the group strong and great within the time her father demanded—that she could not be sure of.

After all, the groups ahead of them were no pushovers, and moreover the king of assassins, first in the world, held the top spot firmly in his grip. For her to become number one in the world was truly no easy thing.

But at this moment, Yang Yanzhou's words showed her hope! Complete one mission of this difficulty and one gained a great many points; complete a few more, and entering the world's top ten really would not be much of a problem!

"But there's no need to wait a year now," Yang Heng said with a wild grin.

"What do you mean?" Wang Yanqiu asked, taken aback.

"Old Charles means to hand the assassin squad under the Charles family over to us to manage, taking only a share of the profits each year," Yang Yanzhou said. "That way, if we consolidate our operations, we could even advance another step in the near term and overtake the Butterfly Family, ranked number one in the world."

"Ah!" Wang Yanqiu was utterly stunned this time. She looked at Yang Ce, puzzled. "Old Charles? Handing the assassin squad to us? Are you serious?"

Indeed, the news was simply too shocking. How could the world's number-three assassin squad be handed over to a squad that had only just been established? Wasn't that a joke?

No wonder Wang Yanqiu refused to believe it—the whole affair was truly too incredible.

"I didn't believe it at first either, but the facts are the facts," Yang Heng said. "You know what young Charles is like—racing all day long, paying no attention to the family business. That's why old Charles is anxious. He's getting on in years and can't hold on much longer; he's been thinking of retiring. He happened to meet me, and so he brought the matter up."

Yang Minlan and Wang Yanqiu naturally could not speak of his identity as the King of Assassins, so that was all the explanation he could give.

"No way—such a coincidence?" Wang Yanqiu marveled at how lucky they were, coming just when old Charles needed help. Of course, she did not know that old Charles's decision to hand the squad to Yang Ce had also taken Yang Juehuan's identity fully into account, and that the final cooperation could only proceed after he had verified matters with Fang Tian afterward.

"Sometimes that's just how things work out!" Yang Heng said. "This is an opportunity. If you truly want to make the Black Butterfly assassin organization number one in the world, then we have to seize this chance. Once we're back, let's plan it out properly!"

"Mm." Wang Yanqiu nodded excitedly. "I know. We absolutely can't let this opportunity slip away."

Though he said this to Wang Yanqiu, in truth Yang Juehuan knew perfectly well that this cooperation was all but certain, because old Charles was even more eager than he was. Even if the deal fell through, it could only be because their side refused; there would be no problem on old Charles's end.

As the two were speaking, a knock came at the door outside the room. Yang Ce looked through the door panel and saw that it was old Buffon.

"What is it?" Yang Yanchuan asked.

"Master, Miss Alice has arrived. She says she wishes to see you," old Buffon said respectfully.

"Oh? Here so soon?" Yang Ce was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to have everything arranged on her end in less than two days after he agreed.

"What should we do now? Shall I say you're not in, or—" Old Buffon, seeing that Yang Ce hadn't said whether to receive her or not, trailed off. So he asked.

"I'll go over," Yang Yanzhou said. With that he walked to the door, opened it, and saw old Buffon standing there. "In the future, if anything comes up, just send a servant. You don't need to come yourself."

"How could I do that? You are my master!" old Buffon said stubbornly.

"All right then, suit yourself." Seeing old Buffon like this, Yang Ce did not insist further. After all, Yang Shuoxuan wouldn't be staying many more days; if old Buffon wanted to do things his way, let him.

He left the villa with old Buffon and headed toward old Buffon's main villa. Taking advantage of the walk, Yang Yanchuan asked, "By the way, what's Alice's background?" "I'm not entirely clear on Miss Alice's exact background myself. It was the head of State One who introduced us. She has always called me Uncle Buffon—she's quite a lovable child," old Buffon said. "Because of her connection to the head of State One, many people in high society show her respect. But she has now built up her own power base."

"Is she really only fifteen?" Yang Mo was somewhat surprised. It seemed the rumors were true—there really was a nation's power standing behind Alice! But just what was her relationship with State One? That, Yang Ce could not say. "Is the head of State One well connected over here?"

State One was a country in Africa, not too far from Country X, and not large in territory. It had once been like Country X, a nation locked in long years of war—except that five years ago the fighting had suddenly ended and a small country with a relatively stable political situation had been founded.

But how could the head of such a small African nation command such respect in European high society? Even if Africa and Europe were relatively close, his status was what it was—General Kars probably didn't know a single soul in Europe, did he?

"Alice is fifteen, that's true—though by this year she should be sixteen," old Buffon said. "As for State One, I'm not too clear on that either. But I've heard that five years ago, State One, then torn by war, suddenly received support from a mysterious force and swiftly quelled its internal strife. The man behind that mysterious force is someone of considerable influence, though I don't know exactly who, since I haven't paid much attention to matters in Africa." "I see." Yang Xu was relieved by old Buffon's explanation. How similar State One was to Country X today! Country X had risen on support—presumably State One had been the same back then!

"However, Master, if you're interested in State One, I'll have someone gather whatever material I can on the subject," old Buffon said.

"All right, I'd be obliged," Yang Yuting said with a nod. He had indeed developed some interest in the history of State One.

"No trouble at all," old Buffon said, shaking his head with a chuckle. Being able to do something for Yang Ce made old Buffon very happy; his one fear was that Yang Ce would never ask anything of him, which would have left him restless. The two reached the entrance of the main villa, and Yang Shuoxuan dropped the previous topic. "Don't let Alice know what we discussed earlier."

"Rest assured, Master," old Buffon said with a nod.

Entering the main villa, they saw Alice sitting on the living-room sofa chatting with old Buffon's wife. Only when she saw Yang Ce approach did Alice raise her head. "I thought you'd gone back on your word and were hiding from me!"

At this moment Alice was like a spoiled little girl, with no trace of the shrewdness she showed in the business world. But one cannot judge by appearances, and the sea cannot be measured by the bucket—Yang Ce knew this well, so he was hardly moved by Alice's world-stopping smile. "Before it's put into motion, I can back out at any time. Isn't that so?"