Chapter 224 Dorian’s Investigation

Chapter 224: Chapter 224 Dorian’s Investigation

?The shipping docks were very quiet at this hour of the night.

?The cold water lapped gently against the pilings of the pier. The old fishing boats creaked softly back and forth with the gentle sway of the tide. Overhead, a few amber streetlights flickered against the damp air. A small distance away, a couple of local fishermen were still wide awake, sitting quietly near their stalls as they mended old nets and smoked cigarettes to pass the time.

?Dorian stood silently in the deep shadow cast by the side of a massive corrugated warehouse. Both of his hands were thrust deep inside his coat pockets, his shirt collar turned up against the breeze, and his expression completely unreadable.

?Kaelen stood right beside him, acting as a watchful guard. His sharp eyes scanned every inch of the surrounding area, and his hand rested close to his jacket where a weapon was hidden.

?"He should be here by now boss," Kaelen muttered under his breath.

?"He will be here," Dorian replied evenly, not shifting his gaze.

?A moment later, a lone figure emerged from the shadows near the end of the alley.

?The person was small and thin, with a face mostly hidden beneath a low-pulled baseball cap. He walked forward with his head tucked down toward the ground, his steps quick, hurried, and noticeably nervous.

?He came to a halt a few feet away from where they stood.

?"Mr. Thorne," the man greeted, his voice barely rising above a nervous whisper.

?Dorian gave a slow nod of acknowledgment. "I am glad you came."

?"I almost turned around and left because this is extremely dangerous," the informant admitted, glancing over his shoulder. "If they ever find out I talked to you—"

?"They will never find out," Dorian interrupted firmly.

?The man swallowed hard, taking a moment to calm his racing nerves before speaking again.

?"I managed to find the information you wanted."

?Dorian took a deliberate step closer to the nervous informant.

?"Tell me about the mercenaries."

?"Yes, I looked into them."

?"What did you find out?"

?The man took in a deep breath to steady himself.

?"The men who ambushed you three years ago, the same ones responsible for your brother’s death, were not working for some random foreign enemy like everyone assumed."

?Dorian felt a sharp chill run through him, and his jaw tightened instantly.

?"Who were they actually working for, then?"

?"Someone right here in Etland City," the man whispered. "Someone sitting high up in the local elite circles."

?Dorian’s blood ran ice cold in his veins at the revelation.

?"Do you have a name?"

?"I do not know the exact person’s name yet, but I managed to trace the money trail."

?The informant reached his trembling hand into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small, folded piece of paper and handed it across to Dorian.

?Dorian took the paper, unfolded it carefully, and let his eyes scan rapidly over the handwritten words, bank numbers, and specific dates written inside.

?"It was routed through a complex shell company," the man explained. "They used it specifically to pay the mercenaries off so they could keep their own hands entirely clean."

?Dorian kept his voice frighteningly quiet. "Who owns that shell company?"

?"It took me months of digging to figure it out, but I finally found the hidden connection."

?The informant paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

?"The entire money trail leads straight back to a shell company connected directly to the Zed family."