Listened to Salvador's analysis.

Julio and Marcus exchanged glances and both felt that what he said made sense.

Fighting head-on is a dead end, and compromise is a chronic blood loss. So bypassing Kruen and contacting the highest decision-maker seems to be the only possible way out.

"You have to look at the owner before you beat the dog! You're right. If we want to deal with Kroon, the best way is to find Ribs," Marcus asked gruffly. "But the key question is, how do we contact Ribs? He's now the high-ranking Speaker of the House, and his office is harder to get into than the vault of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago."

"That's my worth." Salvador's lips curled up with a shrewd smile. "I may not have the privilege of meeting the Speaker directly, but I can find a way to contact his 'shadow'."

"Who?" Julio asked.

"Alfred." Salvador slowly uttered the name. "Liebs's butler, his absolute confidant and executive officer. Anyone who wants to get close to Chancellor Liebs cannot bypass Alfred. As long as the information can be accurately delivered to Alfred and is 'important' enough, he will naturally report it to his Chancellor. As long as we arouse the Chancellor's interest, we have a chance."

This proposal cheered up the two present. Bypassing Kruen's numerous obstacles and reaching Ribs' inner circle! If a new agreement could be reached with Ribs, Kruen's end would be here.

"How long will it take?" Julio's eyes sharpened.

"Three days. Give me three days, and we'll talk directly to Reeves." Salvador said, "When the time comes, prepare the account books and tell Reeves all the profits that dog Klune swallowed up. I believe he won't sit idly by."

Marcus's ferocious face finally showed a hint of a smile. "Don't worry! As long as we can get rid of that bastard Kruen, I'll have all the information ready!"

"Okay, no problem, let's do it!" Julio nodded, a predatory glimmer in his eyes. "Salvatore, it's up to you. If there's no movement from Alfred in three days..." He paused grimly. "Then don't blame me! I'll light a fire in Chicago that will be visible to the entire Midwest! Even if I die, I'll tear off a few pounds of Kruen's flesh!"

The wind suddenly grew stronger, blowing up snow powder all over the sky.

Salvador, Julio, and Marcus each got into their own carriages, and the engine roared as they drove into the vast snowy night.

…

It's midnight in Chicago, and raindrops patter against the windowsills of City Hall.

Alfred was still working overtime to organize the documents. As Ribbs's shadow, his work was always meticulous.

A slight but peculiar vibration sound came from deep inside his suit pocket.

The number of this mobile phone is only associated with a very small number of old ties that must be completely severed but have to be maintained.

Alfred's movements didn't pause until he had put the last document in its correct place. Then, like a precise machine, he silently took out the old satellite phone.

The screen lit up, and an encrypted number without a prefix flashed.

Alfred pressed the answer button and raised it to his ear in silence. He didn't speak first, as any kind of greeting would have risked being redundant.

"Mr. Alfred?" A familiar male voice came from the other end of the phone, trying hard to control his nervousness, with a barely perceptible Latin American accent. It was Salvador.

"I'm sorry to bother you at this hour. Do you... still remember the voice of my old friend?"

Alfred's icy eyes remained unchanged, his voice as steady as the surface of the Arctic Ocean. "I believe the final payment from the Salvador Dalyhertz family has already been settled."

As the former butler of the Daley family, he directly pointed out the old connection - the Daley family has become the dust of history, but the existence of this phone call itself proves that some pipes have never really run dry.

Salvador on the other end of the phone was visibly relieved. Alfred not only remembered him, but also used "code words" to confirm the security line of communication.

"Yes, yes, thank you very much for your help back then. You handled that account impeccably," he agreed quickly, then got down to business, his voice lowered. "Mr. Alfred, this interruption isn't about the past, but about some new, suffocating problems in Chicago right now. So serious are they that they threaten the continued operation of several major freight routes... and even threaten the port's safe investment environment."

He paused briefly to make sure Alfred was listening. "Whether it's the Daly family or the current Black Rabbit Group... small business owners like us just want to earn a hard-earned income in peace. But Mr. Kroon of Black Rabbit Security... his appetite is truly beyond our means. He drives down supply prices, raises street prices, and imposes tolls... His greed is unbearable! Not only is our Gulf Group struggling to survive, but Julio of Sinaloa and Marcus of the 'Northland Wolves' are all on the verge of collapse."

Alfred had long heard about Kroon's monopoly and embezzlement in Chicago. "Yes, I've heard about that too. But I'm just Lilibus's secretary now, so I can't control Kroon."

When Salvador heard Alfred didn't refuse, he struck while the iron was hot, saying, "Of course I know that. We... just want to explain our predicament to Speaker Ribbs in person. We're willing to make concessions and work out a new cooperation plan. It's better than continuing like this and being completely taken advantage of by Kron!"

Alfred listened quietly, his brain like a high-speed supercomputer, cross-checking the information with his memory bank.

Of course, money needs to be earned, but for Liebs' current status, stability comes first.

Kruen's greedy behavior would indeed affect the entire city of Chicago. If things got out of hand, it would be bad for Chicago's "peaceful scene" and the stability needed for the Blue Roof Project promoted by the Speaker...

"Okay, I understand. I'll report to the Speaker," Alfred said. "Where and when?"

"You decide the location! It will be kept completely confidential and I will absolutely follow your arrangements! The sooner the better!... Please!" Salvador heard hope, and his tone revealed a hint of urgency and gratitude.

"I'm aware of the situation." Alfred's tone remained calm. "Keep the line open. Specific arrangements will be announced later. Remember, it's best not to cause any trouble before then. Once the Speaker gets angry, there's no room for negotiation."

"I understand! Thank you very much, Mr. Alfred!" Salvador thanked him repeatedly.

"Beep...beep..." A busy tone sounded, and the phone was hung up. Silence returned to the study, leaving only the sound of rain.