"Accept an apology?"
Mandel stared blankly, unable to comprehend what Jeff meant. He assumed the American was bringing a gift and would come in the next couple of days to apologize for killing his son.
Not just Mandel—Tiffany and the others also understood it that way.
It made sense. The American had killed the young master of the Regan family. He was obviously in the wrong. Naturally, he should be the one to apologize.
Besides, Jeff's stammering had only added to the misunderstanding. Terrified by Mandel's murderous aura, Jeff couldn't speak clearly, making things worse.
So, after a brief silence, Mandel sneered.
"An apology? He killed my son and thinks he can just apologize? When did Americans become this naïve?"
Tiffany echoed coldly, "We will not accept any apology. The only acceptable outcome is that American dies—for killing the young master!"
Jeff could only force a bitter smile.
They had misunderstood him completely.
But he didn't blame them.
When he first heard John's words, even he had been stunned. A murderer asking the victim's family for an apology? It was absurd. Unheard of.
And even if he wanted to explain, he didn't dare.
If Mandel learned what John had really said, he might lose control and kill Jeff on the spot just to vent his rage.
So Jeff composed himself and simply said, "Mr. Regan… in short, he's coming to see you personally."
Mandel's eyes flashed coldly. "If he dares come, then he'll never leave."
In truth, Mandel hoped the man would come.
That way, he could personally imprison him—torture him using all the methods perfected by the Australian Ninja League—before finally sending him to hell.
Tiffany frowned. "Mr. Regan, something feels off. What if this man is just buying time—stalling us while he flees to another country?"
"That's possible…" Mandel narrowed his eyes. "You'll still go to the U.S. with Jeff. See what he's really planning."
Tiffany nodded in response.
At that moment, a low-ranking ninja rushed in and reported urgently, "Mr. Regan! An American is outside. He says he has urgent business with you and requests an audience."
"An American?" Mandel's gaze turned ice-cold. "Let him in."
"Yes, sir!"
Moments later, the ninja returned, leading in a young man.
The moment Jeff laid eyes on him, his expression froze in shock.
"Y-You… Why are you here already?!"
It was John, of course.
John smiled casually. "I don't like to drag things out. Did you relay my message to the deputy leader, as I asked?"
Jeff's eyes darted nervously. "I… I told him…"
"What about the gift he was supposed to prepare?"
"Uh…"
Jeff faltered. But before he could answer, Mandel cut in coldly, "Jeff. Is this the American who killed my son?"
Jeff hesitated for a moment—then nodded.
Instantly, a terrifying killing intent erupted in the room.
Mandel glared at John like a beast about to strike. "You killed my son… and now you dare show up at my door to die?!"
John calmly shook his head. "Seems like your apology isn't very sincere."
"Apologize? Who the hell is apologizing?!" Mandel's fury was briefly overshadowed by confusion.
John sighed. "Didn't Jeff tell you? Your son deserved to die. And since you failed to raise him properly, you owe me an apology."
The room fell silent for a beat.
Then Mandel exploded. "You bastard! What kind of twisted nonsense is that?! You killed my son, and now you're asking me to apologize?!"
John frowned. "So Jeff didn't explain it properly."
Without warning, John stepped forward and slapped Jeff across the face.
SLAP!
Jeff's body spun a full 360 degrees in the air before crashing to the ground.
John looked at Mandel again, his voice calm but full of sharp disdain. "Since Jeff couldn't get the message across, I'll explain myself."
He stepped forward, eyes locking with Mandel's.
"Your son drugged my sister and tried to rape her. Then he used illusion techniques to try and force me to commit suicide by poison. Unfortunately for him, his illusions were weak, and I wasn't fooled."
He paused, then continued coldly.
"But once he made that decision… he had to die."
John tilted his head slightly.
"Don't you agree?"
"And more importantly—you let your son run wild in a foreign country, doing whatever he wanted without restraint. That makes you responsible. So again… don't you think you owe me an apology?"
He finished and fell silent, staring Mandel down.
Mandel's face darkened like a storm cloud.
Earlier, Jeff had only given him the barest summary—that his son made a mistake and was killed by an American. He hadn't said anything about rape… or poison… or illusions.
Now that he heard the full story from John, Mandel realized things were far more serious than he'd been led to believe.
But so what?
No matter what crimes his son committed—he was still his son.
And this man… this arrogant American… had not only killed him…
But now dared to show up in his home, demanding an apology?
How could Mandel accept that?
How could he possibly maintain his dignity if he bowed to the killer of his own child?