"Because we made a move, caused such a massive scene, and suffered a loss, they'll surely assume that we're lying low to recover. They won't expect us to act again so soon, which means they will lower their guard. That is exactly when we proceed according to our original plan.
"However, let's modify it slightly. We only steal the family token, and we don't hurt anyone."
Besides, hurting them would be next to impossible anyway.
Tony finally understood why Laurence was so incredibly powerful now. As it turned out, he was Lilian's sole apprentice.
When Jane had mentioned before that someone had taken an interest in Laurence, she meant that Lilian had recognized his potential. That was why Jane had sent her adopted son to Lilian to learn both medicine and self-defense.
Not only was Lilian a master of poisons, but her combat skills were unfathomable. According to the bodyguards from last night, her strikes were incredibly fast, precise, and ruthless. They were beaten to a pulp before they could even react.
In fact, it felt like Lilian's skills were even superior to Laurence's. Then again, she was the master, after all.
"Right now, getting our hands on that token is the absolute priority," Tony added. "The token must be in Laurence's home. He must be able to figure out that we'd want to steal it, so he might be carrying it on him, or it could be locked away in his safe."
Manny frowned and replied, "Pops, if he's carrying it with him, it won't be so easy to take it from him. An item so important will be heavily guarded. We can barely even infiltrate his estate, let alone steal something so valuable. It's going to be tough.
"How about this, Pops? Let's call off tonight's plan. If we want to take the token, we should hire someone with amazing thieving skills instead. I heard there used to be a thief of thieves. There was nothing he couldn't steal if he set his mind to it.
“Wouldn't it be much better if we paid a fortune to hire this legendary thief to steal the family token for us?"
Spending a little money to get the job done meant they would not have to risk doing it themselves.
Having faced Laurence countless times, Manny knew all too well that even if they sent their most ruthless assassins, they would not stand a chance against Laurence's bodyguards. Not to mention, both Laurence and Noelle were masters of poison, just like their mentor.
When they least expect it, Laurence and Noelle would suddenly dust them with toxic powder. Even if it did not kill them, they would be in for a world of pain.
Manny had seen firsthand how the bodyguards from last night had scratched themselves raw after being hit with that itching powder.
Tony looked up and glared at his son, snapping, "Now that you know Laurence is the very same boy Jane rescued all those years ago, are you still pinning your hopes on a thief?
"That thief is a legend from decades ago! When he went off the grid, I was still a young man, and he was already getting old. By now, he's probably dead. How are you going to hire him? Go down to hell and ask the Grim Reaper for him?
"The thief did have an apprentice who inherited his incredible skills, but do you know who that apprentice is? It's Suzy Stoll, the lady of the Lafayette family over in Meadspring! And who exactly is Suzy? She's Jane's sister-in-law!
"You didn't even bother to figure out their connection before suggesting we hire a thief. Even if you emptied our entire family fortune, you couldn't get Suzy to lift a finger for us!"
Manny was speechless. “The lady of the Lafayettes is the thief's apprentice?" He truly had no idea.
The Lafayettes were a prominent and distinguished family in Meadspring, and they had held sway over the city for over a century. How on earth did one of them end up marrying a thief?
"Suzy herself comes from a wealthy family, but her parents passed away when she was young, and her older sister raised her. Both sisters ended up marrying Jane's brothers. Her older sister, Casey, is the President of Stoll Corporation in Annenburg.
"Casey married Jane's adoptive brother, Jonathan Murphy, while Suzy married Jane's biological brother, Laurent Lafayette.
“Jane has an incredibly close relationship with both of her sisters-in-law. Tell me, why would they ever help us?"
Manny was left without a comeback.