“Be a man. Don’t play games, Brad,” Conan hissed through clenched teeth. He flipped out. It never occurred to Conan that the son of the Viper’s Den South River Branch Leader would pull such a tacky stunt. However, Brad turned a deaf ear to Conan and threw himself deeper into his acting. Livid, Conan wanted to pull Brad to his feet, but Kaze said indifferently, “Ignore him, Conan. Let him put on a show.“The son of the Viper’s Den South River Branch Leader is rolling on the ground. You can’t even pay to see a show like this. “It’s the chance of a lifetime. Enjoy the show.” Kaze watched Brad in intrigue, his eyes bearing mockery and sarcasm. He did not count on Brad to pull a fast one on him. Nevertheless, it was all child’s play and a joke to Kaze. The commotion outside startled the people in the chalet. Another group of Viper’s Den agents surged into the yard. Dressed in fine clothes, these people exuded an air of superiority, their noses hung up in arrogance as
Brad knew that Malova set up the meeting between his father, Newell, and the Viper Queens’ direct successor, Scarlet, before Kaze. Grimacing at the sound of Brad’s cries, Malova elbowed her way through the crowd. She scowled when she saw Brad in a state of blood and grime. “What happened to you, Brad? “Who hit you? “Who has the audacity to hit my family?” Malova exploded in rage. Brad was the sole heir to the Ettinger lineage. Hence, Malova doted on her nephew, giving him whatever he wanted. She would not stand by to see her nephew wounded. “Who hit you, Brad? “Identify the person, so I can kill them for you,” Malova said heart-wrenchingly, her expression menacing. Brad pointed at Kaze with a quick smirk. “Lee attacked me, Aunt Malova. “He was the one who broke my leg yesterday too. “He hurled insults at me and threatened to break another of my legs when he arrived. “You can ask Mr. Mangold, Griffin, and the others if you don’t believe me.“Lee is an a
However, Malova and her people read Brad’s performance differently. Malova made a face. Her loyal subordinates glared at Kaze murderously. Kaze was asking for it. The Ettingers had always been a dominant player in Riverbank City. Yet, the sole heir of the Ettingers had just been humiliated. The insult would follow the Ettingers and mar their leadership unless they killed Kaze.“Get him, ma’am!” “Kaze Lee is too cocky. We must make him pay!” “How dare he challenge the Ettingers! We’ll show him!” “Even if we kill him right under the chief delegate’s nose, she won’t say anything.” Malova’s confidantes clamored aggressively. They would not hesitate to kill at Malova’s order. Sitting on the ground, Brad let out a smug and wicked grin. That was the end of his performance. The next thing to do was wait and see who would strike Kaze. Brad had it in the bag. There was no way he could lose. “You…” With everybody going against Kaze, Conan needed to say something.
“Don’t just stand there, Lee. Kneel!” “Why don’t you take a good look at yourself? What makes you think you can go against the Ettingers?” “He doesn’t know his place.” The Ettingers’ minions mocked Kaze. To them, Kaze was a sitting duck. There was no escape for Kaze. He wanted to humiliate Kaze and strip him of his pride. Malova let out an assertive smirk. “This is what you get for hurting Brad, bastard.“Maybe you should stop messing with the wrong people in your next life if there is one.” “In my next life?” Kaze grinned. “Is this what you’re after, Malova? Your nephew put on a show by crying, rolling on the ground, and throwing a fit. “Is it all to give you an excuse to kill me?” Malova sneered in disdain. “Say whatever you want, bastard. Nothing will change the outcome today. “What good will it do you to explain? When you’re dead, no one will stick up for you.” Kaze shook his head. “No, you got the wrong idea. “All I’m trying to say is you didn’t have to
“Kaze is up to his old tricks again. He’s holding me hostage to get away. He won’t do anything to me. “The incident last night won’t happen again. “Don’t hesitate, Aunt Malova. Just open fire.” Conan’s blood ran cold. He did not expect Brad to risk it all. “What makes you think I won’t do anything to you?” Kaze suddenly spoke. His voice bore a chilling aloofness. Brad smirked. “Try me—” Kaze lifted his foot and landed it on Brad’s throat. “Crack!” Brad’s defiant face went stiff. His eyes flickered in disbelief, confusion, resentment, and bitterness until the lights finally went out. Brad died in disbelief that Kaze would murder him in front of his aunt and family.He belonged to the Ettinger family. His father was the Viper’s Den South River Branch Leader, his uncle was the Viper’s Den West State Branch Deputy, and his aunt rubbed shoulders with many highly ranked members. Brad’s family held sway in the South River State. Yet, Kaze killed him with a si
Malova shook at Kaze’s offhanded remark. Her eyes burned with rage. “You’re asking for it, bastard! You’re asking for it! Ah!” Malova looked up, her vicious eyes meeting Kaze’s as she let out a deranged scream. Brad’s death propelled her into a breakdown. “Kill him!“Cut him to pieces!“I don’t care how you do it. I want him dead in a minute.” Malova screamed manically while pointing at Kaze. Gun was not the choice of weapon since Malova wanted Kaze chopped up. Malova’s confidantes pulled out their blades and charged toward Kaze. “Swish!” A flurry of deadly swords rained down on Kaze. The blades sliced through the air. The Ettingers’ minions backed away, the horror evident in their pale faces. Even they had to keep their distance from the conflict, let alone Kaze and Conan who were in the thick of it.“Watch out, Kaze!” Conan reminded Kaze, nearly falling to the ground on his bottom. However, Kaze kept a blank face. Instead of moving back, he advanced
“Argh! Ah!”The Ettingers’ followers, who stood in defense of Malova, let out terrified cries and collapsed to the ground. The door to the chalet was so near in sight when the commotion in the back caught Malova’s attention. She looked back, only to shriek in horror. “You’re a monster!“Help me, Newell!” Malova picked up the pace to get inside the chalet. A towering figure showed up at the door. “Newell!” Malova had one foot through the door when Newell came in the nick of time. The terror dissipated in her face. Newell narrowed his eyes at Kaze, who was in pursuit of Malova, and yelled angrily, “Stop, asshole! You have no business here.” “Kill him, Newell! He killed Brad!” now that she was safe, Newell shouted in relief. Furious, Newell glared at Kaze. “How dare you kill my son. I’m going to get you!” Kaze eyed Newell with a blank face and hurled the sword. “Urgh!” The sword pierced through the air and plunged into Malova’s back as she tried to turn around.
“Newell Ettinger, your son and your sister had it coming, you have no one to blame for their deaths. So who are you trying to fool by crying and acting like the victim? “If it’s Scarlet, then you might be disappointed. Not only her, but even if the Viper Queen is here, your family will perish today. By family, I mean you as well!” Kaze finally revealed his murderous intent at the end of his sentence. Brad and Malova died because of him and there was no way to dissolve the conflict between him and the Ettingers anymore. Therefore, Kaze did not plan to let Newell live as well. Newell’s eyelid twitched when he heard Kaze. The sorrow on his face faded and was replaced by a frighteningly calm look. Too calm, actually. “Kaze Lee, you are much smarter than I thought.” His voice sounded frosty and could send chills down one’s spine. Even the other family members were surprised, their jaws dropped. The branch leader calmed down a little too quickly. Was the sorrow all an act?
“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