Everyone in the living hall gasped when they heard Cosmo’s introduction. Even Bernard, who had experienced the ups and downs of life, stared with widened eyes, his expression cloudy. Niko and Sonny were not the reason they were afraid but the family behind them and the powerful Gunter Powell. The Vikroms had already gotten news about Gunter Powell’s arrival in Arcadia, seeking vengeance for Gareth. Following his arrival, the history of the Powell family and Gunter was known by everyone in Lilyrose. The Powells were a noble family of Arcadian descent in Glowmoss. Gunter served as a high-ranking officer in the Glowmoss military and fought on the foreign battlefield. Be it the Powells or Gunter himself, a small family like the Vikroms would not dare to defy them. Bernard was surprised that the Powells would visit his place as the first stop in Lilyrose. It was anything but good. It was no secret that the Vikroms served Kaze as his loyal followers. If the Powells came k
Bernard continued to stray from the topic. He tried his best not to answer Niko’s question and lowered himself so humbly that Niko would not give him any trouble. Niko grunted and then shot a glance at Sonny. Sonny had been staring at Vicky the moment he sat down. When he got the gaze, he got up and went over to Vicky, scrutinizing her from top to bottom. “I bet you are Mr. Vikrom’s daughter.” The invasive gaze made Vicky uncomfortable. However, she saw her father’s signal, so she took a deep breath and said, “You can call me Vicky.” Sonny nodded. “I heard you are one of the most beautiful girls in Lilyrose. It seems like you are more beautiful than rumored. “How about I make you a proposition? I followed my master to Arcadia but I am short of a woman to serve me. From now on, you can be my woman.” Sonny sounded tyrannical and condescending as if his request was sympathy to a beggar. He also made it sound like it was Vicky’s honor to be able to serve him. However, i
Vane twitched and twirled after he fell, blood spewed from his mouth and nose. In just a few moments, he bled a puddle and had lost consciousness. Seeing this, Sonny frowned. “Gus, I told you not to kill, why didn’t you hold back?” “I didn’t kill the monkey, I just knocked him out. Probably comatose,” Gustav said in a muffled voice. Sonny clicked his tongue and pursed his lips. “I didn’t ask you to make a mess. Look at the blood. Tsk.” The entire Vikrom family heard the conversation between the two and it made them gasp in fear. Based on their conversation, it was clear that Sonny and the gang showed no respect for human lives. Killing a man would be as casual as squashing an ant. The reason why Vane was not killed on the spot was because Sonny did not want to make a mess. Despite this, Vane was probably comatose and might have to spend the rest of his life bedridden, which would be as good as dead. “Vane!” Vane’s father, Baxter, was shocked. Eyes bloodshot, he
Following Sonny’s hysterical laugh, the Vikroms were silenced by fear and shock. Vicky was frustrated. She clenched her teeth tightly and said coldly, “I'd rather die than…” “Vicky!” Bernard quickly stopped his daughter before she could finish. He knew that a person like Sonny, who was not afraid of the law, could never be threatened by mere words. If Vicky continued to provoke him, he would only hit back harder. Sonny had countless methods to force Vicky to comply, such as threatening her with the lives of her family. Bernard went up to Sonny and timidly said, “Young Master Sonny, my daughter has been terribly spoiled since young. Not only does she not know how to serve, but she’s also not gentle or caring. She can’t possibly fit the role. “I have another idea. Since our family has a media company that focuses on livestream, we have some connections. We can arrange for a beautiful streamer to accompany you!” The other family members nodded. “Exactly! Young Master Son
In less than a minute, all the bodyguards were knocked out with broken arms and legs. Sonny frowned. He grunted and said, “Tsk. Stop ruining my mood. If you don’t want to die, get the hell out. You have one minute.” The bodyguards nodded in fear. They all crawled out of the mansion except for one. “Sorry, I can't control it. He died.” Antovan shrugged as he looked at the dissatisfied Sonny. The Vikroms were shocked. None of them dare to make a noise or move. Their bodyguards could not even take down one of them. If Sonny wanted them dead, it would be a piece of cake. With a delighted face, Sonny went close to Bernard and tapped on his aged face. “Mr. Vikrom, if you still want to test my men, you can call whoever you want, but I have limited patience. “Back when I was training in Blackdale, I had my eyes on a woman of a major family. The family acted the same as you are now, but I ended up wiping them all. No one was left.” The words made Bernard shudder, his hands and
Bernard knew only Kaze could save Vicky from the clutches of Sonny and gang. After Bernard’s son left, Niko and Cosmo came out together. They were not interested in watching Sonny ‘play’ with Vicky. “Young Master Niko, Young Master Sonny already got his entertainment for the night, why don’t you find someone yourself? How about the other Four Beauties of Lilyrose? What do you think of them?” Niko gave a meaningful stare when he heard Cosmo. He said, “Cosmo, I can tell you really have some deep-seated hatred for Kaze Lee.”’ “Hahaha! The enemy’s enemy is my friend. Kaze foiled my plans several times and put me in shame. If Young Master Niko can assist me with my vengeance, I will be in your debt.” Cosmo did not mind revealing his intention to Niko. Niko smirked. He said, “I am interested in the Four Beauties of Lilyrose, but who should I go for? Do you have any recommendations?” Cosmo said, “Ever since Darcy Quint was abducted, Kaze increased the security around her. Base
“The Lee family from Sunrise?!” Winnie’s expression ashened. She knew the conflict between Kaze and the Lee family. Since she was a loyal supporter of Kaze, she had nothing to talk to any member of the Lee family. “What are you doing here, Cosmo Lee?” she bellowed. Cosmo chuckled and said, “A friend of mine wanted to meet you, so can you please come with us?” Niko waited at home while Cosmo brought his men to Winnie’s office to threaten her. It felt like he was being a lapdog or a pimp, but he did not care. As long as it would ultimately lead to Kaze’s defeat or death, he would be glad to do it. In fact, he even volunteered for the job. “I don’t want to meet your friend. You barged into my office without any notice, this is trespassing. I am calling the police!” Winnie picked up her desk phone to call the police. She knew her security guards were no longer available since Cosmo and his men reached her office. “What are you doing?!” Suddenly, the executives cried
It was news to Kaze that Vicky had feelings for him. However, he did not care if it was real or just some excuse the Vikrom family used to ask him to save her. When he heard the names Niko and Cosmo, he already knew the Vikroms and Winnie got involved because of him. “Bro!” Conan arrived. He glanced at Wikan kneeling on the floor as he walked over to Kaze. “Any update from Miru? Where did Cosmo bring Winnie?” Kaze asked with a stern tone. He was more concerned about Winnie’s safety than Vicky’s. Conan said, “Miru just called and said that Cosmo Lee brought Winnie Souffle to the Vikrom family. They must have gone back to meet the others from the Powells.” Kaze gestured at Wikan to stand up. He then asked Conan, “I heard Niko Powell had two legati with him. Do you have anything about them?” Half the battle would be won by knowing his enemies. Kaze did not care about their identities but it would be better to understand his opponents before planning the rescue operat
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
Kaze observed as the jeep took off further off course, past the towering buildings to a run-down neighborhood. “This is where I usually reside. My home is not too far away, but I think you might have trouble adapting to this place.” Dwight did not forget to book Kaze a hotel. Kaze could not possibly stay with him. The hotel was around the area anyway. “Didn’t you say that you haven’t tried the local cuisine? I’ll take you out for a bite. “The barbecue ribs here are to die for. We’ve got the dry-rubbed and saucy kind.” Dwight parked the car and hopped out right away. Opposite the parking lot was not the cleanest food joint. Looking in from the outside, Kaze realized that the place was packed. Kaze understood that the restaurant must be known for some kind of dish. The customers were from all walks of life, so the food must be great. “There’s not much to see here, but the food is tasty. If you don’t mind, we can order something inside.” Kaze was not particularly con
Dwight was surprised and curious as to who Kaze really was. From what he gathered, Kaze was a confidante of the Butterworth Branch chief. The purpose of Kaze’s visit was to learn and share. Dwight worked on the fringes, so his access to information was limited. Nevertheless, he got the feeling that Kaze was just an ordinary guy just like him. The only difference was that Kaze was lucky to rub shoulders with important people. Dwight did not get chances like that. “Who are the most influential people in the Viper’s Den Westeros Branch?” Kaze asked in the car. Dwight was taken aback by the question. Still, he had an answer to that. “So you don’t know much about the situation?” Dwight suddenly felt important. “Well, I’m new to the city. I will be running into them soon, so I need to make sure I get my facts right,” Kaze said humbly. This was Dwight’s shot, and he needed to present his best. “Relax, Kaze. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Dwight would reveal some info
Kaze glanced at the flowers. There was a card for well-wishes too.Curious, Kaze reached out to read the card. It was written, “To my eternal lover and sweetheart.” Dwight grabbed Kaze’s bag. Since the sign in his hand was getting in the way, Dwight tossed the placard in the trash can. As Dwight turned his head back, he saw Kaze reading the card that came with the flowers. He tried to stop Kaze, but it was too late. Dwight had not attended to a guest of high importance before. The task was assigned to him at the last minute. In the past, Dwight was usually on the sidelines, never getting close to major matters. He would always get the small, insignificant jobs. Dwight often bought drinks for his superiors to build connections. However, he had always been kept out of the loop. Now that an opportunity had fallen onto his lap, Dwight was not about to let it slip. He wanted to show what he could do. When Dwight arrived at the airport for the pick-up, most people car
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a café. Kaze bought a cup of coffee. Cupping the drink between his hands, Kaze sipped slowly. Many passengers swarmed the arrival hall in the airport, dragging along their luggage or pulling out their phones to get a pick-up. They all had a destination, a place they had to be in a rush. Intrigued, Kaze followed the crowd out. Kaze turned on his phone, and a text message from his airport pick-up came in. He glanced at the message, curious about who the person was. Nevertheless, Kaze trusted that the Westeros Branch members would not set him up out in the open. At most, they would pull little stunts to mess with him. Kaze was not the type to sweat the small stuff. However, he would not tolerate any extreme behavior. He had been keeping a low profile back in Butterworth, keeping the limelight off him. The purpose was to handle Jet without unnecessary complicati
“Alright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.” Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. “You need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. “You need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. You’ve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. “You need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Don’t be led around by the nose.” Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. “Don’t worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,” Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. “What have become of you? Did they do something to you? “Did you really betray Kaze?” Leah whispered while leaning close
Leah kept working on her knowledge until late into the night. Just as she was about to hit the sack, she got a message from Snow. Learning was a hard enough process. The text message came out of the blue. Leah did not expect Snow to contact her at night. The message was strange as well. Leah could not understand why Snow would give her the address of a nursing home. Leah was determined to turn things around. She strived to become stronger instead of being a burden. She was grateful for Kaze’s help. At least, she had a job now. However, her gratitude was not extended to Snow. She believed Snow had gone too far. Snow left her feeling powerless. Leah did not think much about the message. She assumed that the text was not meant for her. Since Leah did not respond to the text, Snow put the matter aside and went to bed. Leah called Snow the next day. “Why did you send me an address?” Leah went straight to the question. She had been equipping herself with knowledge before