After conducting a thorough inspection of the scene, Kazuo Hattori couldn’t shake the feeling that this task might be a bit too straightforward.


    Reflecting on a previous mission where they assisted Ryoto Matsumoto in kidnapping Fitz and Zara, he recalled that it had been far moreplicated.


    Back then, the followers of the Banks family had been silently eliminated, and the siblings were extracted from multiple high-rise buildings. Overall, this current operation seemed much easier inparison.


    Kazuo Hattori had also been part of the operation against the Banks siblings, but after the sess of that mission, he didn’t transport the siblings to Kyoto.


    Thus, he perceived this task as not particrly challenging.


    After surveying the scene, Kazuo turned to Qiao Feiyun and asked, “Mr. Yun, could you share some information about the target for this mission?”


    Qiao Feiyun replied calmly, “There’s no need for you to know the target’s identity just yet. I will provide that information on the 11th.”


    ording to Qiao Feiyun’s n, the invitation for Stefanie Sun to the charity dinner was to be kept strictly confidential.


    Even inmunications with Stefanie, she was invited as a mysterious guest, which not only heightened the intrigue surrounding the charity event but also ensured that her presence would not be disrupted by the media or fans.


    Upon her arrival, designated staff would escort Stefanie and her entourage directly to the lounge through a specially arranged passage. Her motorcade would park in the back of the banquet hall, allowing for a discreet entrance from the rear.


    As a result, even the members of the New York Chinese Chamber of Commerce attending the charity dinner would remain unaware that the renowned Stefanie Sun would be there with them.


    Consequently, Qiao Feiyun was even less inclined to reveal the target of the kidnapping to Hattori Kazuo beforehand.


    What Qiao Feiyun didn’t know was that Kazuo Hattori was not only aware of Stefanie Sun but was also a fan of her work.


    In fact, Kazuo had seen Stefanie Sun alongside Charlie on Yeling Mountain in the past.


    Had he known that the kidnapping target was Stefanie Sun, he would have left the United States without hesitation, fully aware that while money is valuable, it must be spent wisely, especially when life is at stake.


    With Qiao Feiyun unwilling to divulge any details about the target, Kazuo decided to change the subject, asking, “By the way, Mr. Yun, what can you tell me about the target’s bodyguards? Are there any ninjas or Chinese martial arts masters involved?”


    “No,” Qiao Feiyun responded decisively. “Her bodyguards are all from American security firms, primarily retired U.S. military special forces and police.”


    Kazuo Hattori nodded slightly.


    As a member of the Iga n, he knew they were among the most formidable of Japan’s four major ninja families, but he was particrly wary of skilled martial artists from China.


    Previously, he had underestimated Chinese martial arts masters, but witnessing Charlie’s abilities on Yeling Mountain had changed his perspective, revealing that Japanese ninjutsu paled inparison.


    Now, with confirmation that no martial arts masters were near the target, Kazuo Hattori felt reassured.


    He believed he could easilyplete the mission and return home triumphantly.


    The day after Kazuo Hattori and the Iga ninjas arrived in New York, Stefanie Sun and her performance team of over 100 people touched down in the city via a chartered flight.


    The excitement among the Chinesemunity in the U.S. was palpable, and many fans in the country were thrilled.


    Uponnding at JFK Airport, thousands of fans gathered to greet her, causing a frenzy that disrupted traffic and order at the airport.


    The journey from JFK to the Shangri-La Hotel, where Stefanie was staying, typically took 40 minutes by car, but due to the fervor of her fans, it took her two and a half hours to arrive.


    Before she even reached the hotel, numerous local media outlets had reported on the chaos at the airport.


    However, these media representatives struggled toprehend the extent of the fan base that a Chinese female singer could have in the United States.


    They had always believed that American artists dominated the global pop music scene, leading them to dismiss the possibility that a Chinese artist could have such a significant following.


    Some local outlets even suggested that the fans at the airport were hired performers from Stefanie Sun’s management team.


    Yet, Stefanie Sun silenced the skeptics with her remarkable sess.


    Tickets for her concerts in New York and Boston went on sale just three hours after her arrival and were sold out in less than a minute, raking in over 100 million U.S. dors!


    While the performance market in the U.S. is highlypetitive, and it’s often challenging to sell out shows, her rapid ticket sales made headlines across all entertainment media in the country.


    Even her North American tour partner was taken aback by the impressive box office draw.


    Suddenly, Stefanie Sun became the hottest topic in the American entertainment industry.


    The day after her arrival, she participated in a press conference organized by her agency, marking her first public appearance in the U.S.


    The event was broadcast live by major media outlets, reaching tens of millions of viewers and showcasing the influence of this Chinese superstar.


    When Kazuo Hattori saw the news on television, his immediate thought was regret for not having the opportunity to stay in New York to witness Stefanie Sun’s concert firsthand. <fnb11f> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb11f>


    Her concert was scheduled for the 15th, but he would be leaving the U.S. the night of the 11th afterpleting his task.


    With this sense of regret, Kazuo Hattori and his seven subordinates proceeded to kidnap Weston, the general manager of the Pce Hotel banquet hall, along with his family of nine from their New York home.


    After transporting the nine individuals to the suburbs, Qiao Feiyun arranged for a container truck to load them all in, transporting them out of New York and into an abandoned freight yard.


    Upon returning home in his Mercedes-Benz after work, Weston was taken aback to find his usually bustling housepletely silent.


    His wife, four children, parents, and even the two Chinese nannies were all missing.


    The house was orderly, giving no indication of any mishap.


    Just as Weston reached for his cell phone to call his wife and inquire about the situation, he received a video call from her instead.


    Without hesitation, he pressed the answer button. The moment the screen activated, a wave of shock coursed through him, causing him to crumble to his knees.


    On the video call, he saw his family—parents, wife, children, and the two nannies—suspended in a container, their mouths covered with ck tape, only able to squirm and whimper in distress.


    At that moment, a ninja’s voice echoed through the video: “If you want your family to live, do not call the police or alert anyone. Follow our instructions, and I will ensure your family’s safety.”


    Then, the tone shifted coldly: “However, if you dare to contact the authorities or speak to anyone about this, this will be their fate!”


    As the words faded, a dagger shot out from the screen, striking one of the nannies in the forehead with lightning speed.


    In an instant, her struggles ceased, and terror distorted her expression as her lifeless body hung there…


    Ps: – Two chaptersbined into one.<h3 ss="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading" id="chapter-list"><strong></strong>