Dean’s only impression of Ross was, by and large, that he was moneybags.
Take his modified sports car, for example. Dean had asked the forensics department; the President’s car, in terms of bulletproofing, was probably at a similar level—perhaps even inferior. This was because the glass on Ross’s car wasn’t thick, implying the materials were more advanced and acquiring them through money and connections alone would be extremely difficult. So, even when Laura approached him several times to re-establish contact, Dean ruthlessly rejected her. He didn’t want to get into trouble.
Ross didn’t live in Laura’s villa; that was just a birthday gift he had casually given her. Given Ross’s character, he probably wouldn’t take back what he’d given away, even if he knew he had been cuckolded.
Honestly, Dean had known many women and considered himself well-versed in psychology by now, yet he often still couldn’t fathom the way some women thought. Laura, for instance. She and Ross had only been together for a year. Even if she was destined never to be Ross’s actual wife, being his mistress, or accumulating enough capital before leaving—how much better would that have been? But no, she had to cheat. Now, he reckoned, after Ross’s friends were done with her, she’d be kicked to the curb.
「Half an hour later.」
Dean arrived in the top-tier wealthy district where Ross lived. He was in a rather good mood because Massa had transferred the bounty for killing the Skinning Brothers. It wasn’t two million US dollars, but two and a half million. This greatly improved Dean’s impression of Massa; this was a man with a sense of proportion. So Dean sent him a text, saying they could collaborate again if another opportunity arose.
Putting away his phone, Dean began to survey his surroundings. It was a professional habit. This area consisted of detached villas, spaced far apart, with abundant greenery. They were equipped with comprehensive entertainment and living facilities and constantly patrolled by armed guards with fierce hounds. For the wealthy residents here, local patrol officers were only deemed fit to patrol outside the community. The main security was merely to prevent outsiders from entering; most residents had their own private security teams.
After a brief observation, Dean realized the security here was very tight.
Perhaps he lingered too long. Two sharp-eyed, lean guards approached. "Buddy, this is a private area. If you’re not a resident, you’re not allowed near!"
Dean frowned and pulled out his detective badge. "Sorry, my friend invited me over. Besides, I’m a Los Angeles detective, not a bad guy!"
But the two didn’t even glance at Dean’s badge, their expressions becoming even more vigilant. "Outsiders need a pass applied for by the owner to enter! Otherwise, even if you are a detective, we can’t let you in!"
A faint prickling sensation spread across his chest. This made Dean realize that if he made any suspicious move, these two guards wouldn’t hesitate to draw their guns and catch him in a crossfire—even though he had identified himself as a detective!
"Alright, I’ll give him a call." Dean could only shrug helplessly and call Ross to have someone come and get him.
After a short wait, a very small, almost miniature, off-road vehicle sped to the entrance. Ross, his eyes somewhat swollen, poked his head out. "Thank God, Dean, you finally made it! I was about to lose my mind!"
Dean shrugged. "You’re putting a lot of pressure on me, Ross. I’m just an ordinary little detective."
The recent encounter gave him a clearer understanding of his own position, and his somewhat restless heart settled.
"But I don’t have anyone I can trust right now."
Ross seemed about to say more, but then he glanced at the guards stationed nearby. Realizing this wasn’t the place to talk, he immediately opened the car door. "Let’s go, we’ll talk inside."
Courtesy of Ross, Dean got a glimpse of what true wealth looked like. The opulence of the architecture itself was beyond description. According to Ross’s personal explanation, this villa, where he rarely stayed, had three full subterranean levels. These housed a complete armory, resource stockpiles, backup generators, and underground communication equipment. Even if some disaster struck, he could take emergency shelter here and live quite comfortably.
Besides that, inside the villa estate, there were over twenty male and female servants, more than ten elite armed guards, and a helicopter on standby on the rooftop. Dean even spotted some concealed positions where formidable heavy fixed weaponry was emplaced. If needed, this place could instantly be transformed into a temporary fortress.
This made him realize all the more keenly that he was still just a common mutt. The only reason he’d been able to associate with someone of Ross’s caliber was simply because this rich heir was rather eccentric.
However, Ross seemed unaware of the gap between their statuses. Not only did he enthusiastically show Dean around many parts of the estate, but he also introduced him to all the servants, the butler, and even the bodyguards. This way, it wouldn’t be such a hassle next time Dean wanted to visit.
To be fair, Ross, that moneybags, was actually a really decent guy. Just a bit naive, like a child sheltered from the world. He wondered how his family had raised him. With that kind of personality, Ross was clearly not a suitable heir.
「In Ross’s private study.」
Dean enjoyed the desserts and drinks served by a maid. Watching the incredibly conflicted Ross, he was somewhat speechless. "Buddy," he said, "to be honest, it’s only now that I realize just how obscenely wealthy you are. I really don’t think I’m capable of helping you with problems that even you find this tricky."