Two minutes later, Glang and his men were forced to kneel before Kaze. They were barely conscious. If not for Conan’s men holding them by the hair, they could not even kneel upright. “K-Kaze, w-we are sorry, s-spare us…” Glang managed to open one of his eyes and begged for mercy. His eyelids were fluttering throughout his muffled speech. “What did you do wrong?” Kaze asked emotionlessly as he had a cup of yogurt to counter the alcohol. “I… We should not challenge Ms. Quint, w-we should not drink with you,” Glang said feebly. Kaze shot a glance at Conan. Conan then swung a slap at Glang’s face. “You better come clean if you don’t want to die!” Glang’s face was swollen and numb. He could not even feel the slap, but the fierce look on Conan scared him. “It’s Cosmo, Cosmo Lee!” Conan instinctively looked at Kaze. Kaze raised his brow and asked, “What did he tell you to do? I want the details.” “Cosmo Lee wants us to disguise ourselves as executives of Vista Educatio
“T-Then after we are done, can you send us out of Lilyrose? We want to go to a place where no one knows us!” Glang begged. Kaze looked at the man coldly. “You are in no position to bargain with me.” It was already merciful of him for not killing them on the spot. “Alright, w-we’ll do it…” Glang sat down, his face ashened. If he agreed to do it, at least he and his friends had a chance to escape. Kaze got up and gestured at Conan. “You make the arrangements.” “Aight!” Kaze then left the place. He was not interested in watching the disgusting scene. That night, Kaze received a video sent by Conan. All he saw was Cosmo’s painful expression on the thumbnail. He was not interested in playing it. “Kaze, what are you looking at?” Darcy asked. Kaze shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just a prank.” “Oh… I wonder who is after me. Can you really settle this?” Darcy switched her attention back to the matter. Worry lingered on her face. Kaze smiled and said, “Don’t worry.
Heck, Cosmo could not stand letting Glang and his crew live another day, much less a few. His subordinate said, “Zion Mercenaries operate in Arcadia too. I have a veteran friend called Christian. He’s been active in South River lately and contacted me for a drink once his business was finished.” “Get in touch with him,” Cosmo said impatiently. Christian was not just in South River State. He was in Lilyrose. Hence, both parties quickly reached a deal when Cosmo’s people contacted Christian. “Got it. Tell Christian’s men to interrogate the bastards and find out who they were working for,” still lying in bed, Cosmo said grimacingly. By now, Cosmo had cooled off and gotten his head in the game. Glang and the others were street thugs without major connections. They would not have the nerve to go against Cosmo unless they were threatened. Hence, all Cosmo wanted to know was the name they were working for. Cosmo wanted to sniff the bastard out and kill him. That night, Cos
Cheryl had to admit that Christian had a point. Even if Kaze had no intentions of going after her, Cheryl did not plan to let bygones be bygones. The only thing on her mind was to kill Kaze. Skipping the topic, Cheryl asked, “How was your talk with Zion’s management team, Christian?” After Magnus and the Viper’s Den failed to defeat Kaze, Cheryl put her hope on Zion Mercenaries. She nagged Christian about contacting his superiors in hopes the latter would send even stronger backup. “Headquarters have been doing an evaluation on Kaze’s competence. I just got a reply today, and they are sending someone stronger, ma’am.” Christian nodded and said, “But you should know that the price is higher if the reinforcement comes from the headquarters.” He failed to mention to Cheryl that even without the request, Zion headquarters would still assign backup. Zion was pushed to that decision when Kaze demanded Zion Mercenaries leave Arcadia and threatened them to do so within days.
“Cosmo!” Darcy grimaced. She knew who he was. The police force in Lilyrose put Cosmo behind bars for a while, and the Lees put pressure on Kaze to bail Cosmo out. The Lees even sent Adam to act as a mediator. Cosmo did make it back to Sunrise City in the end, but his legs were broken. Since then, the Lees’ presence disappeared from the city for a while. Even Lee Investment was on the down low. Cosmo’s appearance at Sky Ocean Corporation was not a good thing. Darcy quickly put two and two together. “You sent those people from Vista Group yesterday, Cosmo.” Darcy narrowed her eyes at Cosmo. “What do you want?” “You’re quick to pick up. I should get straight to the point.” As Cosmo’s lewd eyes violated Darcy, he said with a smile, “I don’t want a lot. I just want all your shares in Quartet Group and Sky Ocean Corporation.“Hear that? I want it all.” Cosmo carried himself with an air of domineering confidence, his determination unwavering. He had a clear unders
“I hope to see the papers signed by you to transfer the shares by this time tomorrow. “Clean yourself up when you see me tomorrow. You get what I mean. “Sure, your husband has connections to the government now, but I can show you what hell is.” Cosmo threatened Darcy recklessly. He assumed Darcy knew that Kaze was the mayor of Lilyrose. However, the message went over Darcy’s head. She simply took Cosmo’s words at face value. To be fair, the Lees were rich and powerful enough to overlook Lilyrose’s city council. “Give this woman something to think about.” Cosmo clapped his hands. Plop! A foreigner with Cosmo pulled out a gun from his holster. The foreigner took a step ahead and slammed the gun on the table in front of Cosmo. The employees of Sky Ocean Corporation were taken aback. Cosmo was so arrogant to flash a firearm in public. The veteran security officers stepped forward to protect Darcy and her employees while looking warily at the two foreigners behin
The senior executives talked among themselves in a panic. Darcy drew a deep breath and looked at the veteran security officers. She asked, “Are those foreigners mercenaries?” “Yes, Ms. Quint. They have served in the army. They have this presence about them.“They were outrageous enough to show their faces in Arcadia and flashed their guns. I’m sure there’s nothing they won’t do,” a security officer commented solemnly. The senior executives grew anxious. Some even wanted to hand in their resignation. The Lees had their eye on Sky Ocean Corporation and even hired foreign mercenaries. These mercenaries were cold-blooded murderers. The group felt chills down their spine. Fear washed over Darcy too. “You are all dismissed. I will figure out a way. I promise no one else will be dragged into this. Trust me.” She sent the senior executives home and locked herself in the office. Darcy did not expect Cosmo to take things far in the name of vengeance. However, the circumsta
“Darcy, we should talk inside where it’s more private,” Cosmo said with a smile while drawing puffs. He brought his men to block Darcy at the door in case there was a trap waiting for him inside the building. Cosmo could not be sure whether Darcy would fight back. Though he managed to instill fear in Darcy, he knew that Darcy and Kaze were notoriously stubborn. However, Cosmo had nothing to worry about if he entered the building with Darcy. With Darcy as his hostage, Kaze would not try anything foolish. “Alright.” Darcy got her act together and nodded. She could not refuse now that she fell into the hands of Cosmo. Cosmo’s people surrounded Darcy while Sky Ocean Corporation’s security team escorted Cosmo’s group. The crowd surged into the building. The group stepped into the lobby and took the lift to the floor where Darcy’s office was. Cosmo knew then that no ambush was set up in the building. “You have a night to think things through. What’s your answer?” L
“Kaze can pull the punches for sure. I mean, he has the Butterworth branch chief’s trust for a reason. “There has to be something for him to win the branch chief’s approval.” Edmund doubted there was depth to Kaze. After all, Edmund decided whether to take on a person based on their abilities. It made no sense to pay attention to losers, as he would hold them in contempt. Edmund had been impressed with Herman, who excelled in strategies and management. That was why Edmund bumped Herman up and made sure he stayed on top. “Got it.” Herman nodded and had one foot out the door. “Don’t be in a hurry to leave. There’s one more thing.” Edmund pointed at the table. Herman approached and stood on bent knees. Pleased with Herman’s submission, Edmund passed him a wine glass. Herman took the drink humbly before looking carefully at Edmund, awaiting his orders. “The wine was just airlifted from abroad. I can vouch for the taste. If you’re looking to sip on the finest, yo
Time went by, and a towering man in a suit showed up outside the door. Picking up on the noise inside the room, he knocked on the door. It was hard to tell whether the person inside could hear the knocking, so the man waited outside. The door was opened, and a woman, her face flawless with makeup, popped her head out and saw him. She cocked her head back at Edmund. “You have a guest, Mr. Witterson.” “Let him in,” Edmund instructed. He then leaned in to take the drink from the girl next to him with his mouth. The other girls cheered him on. The group was lost in their fun. The man, who entered the room, stood by the sofa respectfully. He kept his head down, his gaze staying low at the bottles of alcohol spread across the table. It was a bit of a wait before the man approached at Edmund’s order. “Tell me about Dwight.”While listening to the girls’ singing, Edmund turned to Herman. Herman rushed over as soon as Edmund called. He won a lot of money at poker toda
In this particular circumstance, Morris had to play it safe so that things would not get out of hand. The last thing he wanted was to be dragged into the mess. At least, he finally saw the Wittersons’ true colors. Morris’ friendly advice was met with disrespect and insult. However, the Wittersons were a force of nature, and Morris was not about to take them head-on. Despite his frustration, Morris had to walk away. Well, Edmund would soon face his downfall at the height of his power, and Morris would be there to enjoy the ride. Still, it did not sit well with Morris to have a young fella walk all over him. It had crossed his mind to keep the Wittersons in check, but there was only so much he could do. Morris had to be the one to back away as the Wittersons grew haughty. Morris believed there was more to Kaze’s visit to Westeros. Nothing major happened in Westeros recently. At least, there was nothing worth the other branch’s attention. However, a representative of the
Morris suggested entertaining Kaze well. Things would not be good for the branch if Kaze got dirt on them. That was where Edmund disagreed with Morris. His idea was to send someone to sound Kaze out. Edmund was smug because Morris’ decision was wrong. “You shouldn’t do that. Kaze is here on behalf of the Butterworth branch. You don’t want tension between both branches.” Morris looked at things from a wider perspective. Edmund believed Kaze was just a doormat of little importance. “You just overthink things, and it’s not good for your age. You’re getting senile.” Edmund did not take Morris’ advice seriously. He believed he was right. “You’re not getting it. Kaze is from Butterworth. Even if he doesn’t hold a high position there, we were in the wrong. We did not keep our tracks clean either. “Now that he’s back, I’m worried that he’ll cause us harm.” Morris was only giving a heads-up because the whole branch was at stake. Edmund was young. Due to his lack of judgmen
“We should be generous to our guest from Butterworth. You can arrange as you see fit. Please don’t house him in a messy home. Hire cleaners to tidy up the place. “You can report back to me if you need more money, but it’s not a reason for you to misuse the funds.” Herman wanted to hang up. The money was now in Dwight’s bank account, so he was washing his hands off the matter. The plan was to keep Kaze happy. He was just an insignificant member of the Butterworth branch anyway. The whole thing would blow over soon enough, so long as Kaze kept to himself without taking things too far. Herman would figure out a way to get him out quickly anyway. Maybe Herman and his friends did not have to do anything to get rid of Kaze. “Got it. I’ll be a good host, Herman. I won’t let you down. I’ll keep you in the loop.” Dwight was over the moon to get the notification about the money transfer. “Just play by ear and arrange what you see best.” Herman hung up and continued playing pok
“It’s becoming a hassle now. Are you going to inform the Viper’s Den about the change of accommodation?” After much hesitation, Kaze nodded to take up the offer. Dwight was thrilled. It only hit Dwight that he had to communicate with the Viper’s Den. Kaze was booked for a hotel stay, and Dwight’s job was to take him to the destination. Yet now, Dwight took him to his home. “I’ll tell my superior and see what he has to say.” Dwight was not sure whether the change was appropriate. Nevertheless, he did not want to pass up on a great opportunity. He simply grabbed the bull by the horn. If Kaze stayed at his place, the Viper’s Den members had to respect Kaze’s request even if they had a problem with it. “But when they ask, you can say that you’re getting along well with me. Living together just makes work more convenient.” Feeling unsettled, Dwight tried to get their stories straight with Kaze. Hopefully, the Viper’s Den would not come after them. “Aren’t we friends? I k
Dwight gave some suggestions. “But I’m worried about being a nuisance to your family.” Kaze remained hesitant, torn between decisions. “No, you won’t. I usually live alone. They stay somewhere else. They barely visit. I’ll just let them know not to visit for now,” Dwight replied. Dwight figured out what was in it for him. He could not let Kaze leave. “I don’t want to put your family in an awkward position.”Kaze was still considering the matter. “Relax. They don’t live with me anyway. The room I have for you is tidy. No one has stayed there before.“I’ll hire some help to freshen up the place. I can guarantee you an experience no less than at the hotel.” Dwight spoke with great confidence. “We should finish our food and doggie-bag the rest. I’ll take you to my place.” Dwight was ready to get things going. Kaze took the offer and nodded. “I’ll be in your care then.” Kaze was glad that his plan went through. Dwight had no idea that he got played. Nevertheless,
“I’m new to the place, so I don’t know much. Can you show me around when you’re available?” “No problem, but I usually have some stuff to take care of. I can’t be there 24/7. “Why don’t you propose to the branch that you want me to be your guide and attendant?” Dwight suggested. There was no telling whether Kaze would accept his proposal, but it was an opportunity to prove himself. He was never involved in the core operation. Often enough, he was the branch members’ punching bag. Though Dwight was aware that he was not good enough for the big stuff, he still wanted to succeed. Kaze was the trusted aide of the Butterworth Branch chief. He was in Westeros for a reason. By joining Kaze, Dwight would come across the major players. Kaze saw through Dwight’s plans. “Sure. I’ll do that.” Kaze did not mind the request. “Great. I’ll let them know on your behalf. I’ll be responsible for your needs while in the city.” Dwight was overjoyed at the opportunity. “So you live
“You must be rich. I often see rich people picking tabs for everybody. Talk about extravagance.” The tension in the air was lifted when Kaze offered to pay for everything. “I’m not. Consider it an apology,” Kaze explained, not wanting to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. He did not see the point of continuing the conversation. Dwight’s angry screams came from outside. “What the hell is this? I only ordered a bunch of stuff. Why am I being charged an exorbitant amount?“What do you mean my friend is paying for everybody? That’s throwing money away,” Dwight said while storming his way over. “I know you have money, but you shouldn’t do this, Mr. Lee.” Dwight did not approve of this type of generosity. “You rubbed them the wrong way. It was only right to apologize. Besides, it’s not a lot of money.” Kaze looked at the bill and handed a bank card to Dwight. “It’s my treat.” The consumption was barely a dent in Kaze’s savings. The meal did not cost more than his us