The Lyfes’ cries of surprise caught everybody’s attention. The top eligible bachelors of Geranium City were the cream of the crop, handpicked by the city’s elites to be the next generation of tycoons. Though young, these bachelors ranked higher in status than Mason and Fanny. While Mason and Fanny were born into privilege, they were no core members with access to full resources. It was a different story with the top bachelors. Their influence extended throughout Geranium City elites, allowing them to mobilize resources at will.Even a fraction of these resources could unleash a formidable amount of power.Even Mason perked up. He did not expect Sieg to show up. Mason had invited Sieg to attend the event together, but the latter declined. Assuming that Sieg did not see Kaze as a threat enough to attend, Mason did not push on the matter. Now it seemed that Kaze’s supporters finally alarmed the ever-unruffled young man. Anyway, Sieg’s presence would determine their v
Sieg’s gaze finally fell on Kaze, and he said with a smile, “I intend to pay Professor Whiteman a visit, Mr. Lee. You don’t have to take things far.“Are you scared to let me meet with them?” Knowing it was one of Sieg’s mind games, Kaze replied indifferently, “Hit me with your best shot, Sieg. I can do this all day long.“Let him through.” Though reluctant, the staff of Perfect World Group abided by Kaze’s words and stepped aside. “We shall see.” Sieg uttered before stepping into the lounge. Many followed Sieg. Kaze entered the lounge with Perfect World Group staff, intrigued to see what Sieg was up to. It was quiet in the lounge area. Sam rushed to the event right after surgery, so he needed rest. Hence, Fanny, Zephyr, and many more knew better than to bother Sam. They observed the stock market on the LED screen mounted to the wall. “I am Sieg of the Geranium Lyfes, Professor Whiteman.” Sieg went straight to Sam and introduced himself the moment he entered the l
Sam scoffed. “Since Mr. Bridge doesn’t know what’s going on, I have no reason to accept the invitation. I’m here to stay. I’ll explain to Mr. Bridge when I have a chance to travel to Geranium City.“A great man like Mr. Bridge wouldn’t take such a trivial matter to heart.” Sieg frowned at Sam’s little fit. It did not occur to him that despite the mention of Terry, Sam still stood firm on Kaze’s side. Sieg was taken aback by Sam and Kaze’s close ties. Kaze said, “You’ve been operating all night, and the long journey here must have taken a toll on you. Why don’t you go back and have a rest? “I’ll handle things here. “Snow, take Sam to rest.” Sam had done his part. Besides, Terry posed a challenge to Sam. Kaze did not want to put Sam in the spot over a tiny issue. He was also curious to see what Sieg had up his sleeve. “Alright then.” After much hesitation, Sam got up and took off. Subsequently, Sieg turned to Zephyr. “You must be Mr. Farland.” “Yes?” Zephyr s
Miru knew who was on the other end of the line. It was her stepmother, who had control over the Hidens’ business.Fanny put down the phone with an awful look on her face. “Miru, Isabelle wants me back in Harrowdale.” Fanny spoke to Miru, but her eyes were fixed on Kaze. Jared made a face as well. However, he could not defy Isabelle’s command. It was Fanny’s way of explaining to Kaze. Kaze responded with a smile, “I owe you one for making the trip to Lilyrose. “Miru, you should see your aunt and uncle off for me.” Fanny glanced at Kaze in surprise. She did not expect Kaze to keep his cool, and that changed her view of him. Her previous two encounters with Kaze were not pleasant. Heck, Kaze left quite a bad impression. In the end, Fanny and Jared left. …“At least, the place isn’t so cramped anymore.” Sieg clapped his hands nonchalantly and walked out of the lounge. Back in the hall, the crowd looked dazed. Sam, the top-notch physician; Zephyr, the son of
Kaze was an outstanding man. However, he had nothing on Sieg. Kaze still had a fighting chance in the face of the Quints and the Lyfes’ overthrow. However, when Sieg was on the job, Kaze was doomed. He could only wallow in defeat. The crowd was there for the drama at first, but now they took pity on Kaze. Only the weak deserved sympathy. Despite the sympathetic looks, Kaze remained unfazed. He looked up, meeting the condescending gaze of Sieg, and responded aloofly, “Is that all you got, Sieg?” “Ha!” The room broke out in sneers. The sympathy turned into taunting. Faced with Sieg’s aggression, even the most headstrong would yield by now. To everybody’s surprise, Kaze still hung in there. He had a backbone, but there was a time and place for everything. The crowd believed Kaze should do a better job at reading the room. “You have proved yourself enough today, Kaze, but you don’t have to take things far.” “At least you don’t have to feel bad since you’re
“This is where I stand.” Kaze looked at Sieg from above and asked with a faint smile, “Happy, Mr. Lyfe?” “Ugh.” Sieg struggled to get up when Kaze’s sarcastic remark rubbed him the wrong way. He coughed out blood. “Mr. Lyfe!” “Are you alright?” With reality sinking in, Sieg’s sidekicks rushed over to help him up. “Get lost!” Sieg rose to his feet and shook off his sidekicks, his face grimacing. Known as a gentleman, Sieg was not one to express his feelings openly. Yet, he saw red. Sieg wiped the blood off his lips, his eyes fixating on Kaze murderously. “How dare you hit me, Kaze! You asked for it!” Sieg said, his broken voice filled with rage. Sieg had to admit that he was proved wrong. He assumed that Kaze would submit to his power. He misjudged Kaze’s unpredictable lunacy.Kaze knocked him to the ground in public. “Hit you? “Didn’t I hit you at the auction?” Kaze fearlessly stared at Sieg’s menacing face and sneered. “I guess I didn’t go hard enoug
“Anyone who sides with Kaze will be dealt with accordingly.” Tension rose to an all-time high following Sirius’ remark. The Ridgesouth Quints and the Geranium Lyfes did not hit home so badly. The wealthy families were established far in the south, so they would be limited to economic means of revenge. The most they would do was hurt everybody’s wallet. The Viper’s Den was a different story. The special institution could take lives. Established in the West State, the Viper’s Den could find any reason under the sun to destroy anyone on their turf. Anyone would fear for their lives. “Hahaha!” Mason burst out laughing. “I want to see who would go against us!” He was utterly humiliated by Kaze. Sieg’s presence turned the tables. Surely, everybody would bow down to the threats of the Ridgesouth Quints, the Geranium Lyfes, and the Viper’s Den.With the crowd succumbing to submission, Sieg gave Kaze an eerie look and glanced up at the huge screen. As the share price in
“Go and inject the 10 billion dollars into the market. Let’s hope Kaze enjoys wealth in his afterlife too.” Sieg clapped his hands, and his sidekick went to make the phone call. The trading market went into a frenzy in no time. The market was still reeling from the influx of the first seven billion, and now it faced another massive injection of 10 billion dollars. The Geranium Lyfes stepped in to short Rove. The shares stood no chance against the influx of funds. The Geranium Lyfes’ clout in the stock exchange contributed to the sharp decline of Rove’s shares. 10 points. That was right. Rove’s shares were only worth 10 Geranium dollars. Those who kept an eye on the trading market were dumbfounded. Rove’s share price experienced unprecedented volatility, soaring and plummeting like a roller coaster.The share price hit rock bottom and plummeted even further, basically making the shares worthless. The investors, who jumped the bandwagon and bought Rove’s shares at
As they arrived, they saw a dozen expensive cars parked outside. The customer base was relatively stable as the establishment was targeted at the upper class. The people lining up at the club were young men and women of ordinary background. All were allowed inside Absolute Zero with an entrance fee. Since this would be a chance for ordinary people to meet and interact with the upper-class elites, they cherished it and tried their best to look good. Even movie producers and scriptwriters came to the club, seeking investments or a role in movie production. It was a shortcut to reach out to the upper crust after all. Yet they were just a bunch of fresh graduates with no resources and connections, so the club was their only chance at achieving something great. Dwight would never understand how rare the opportunity was, as he was narrow-sighted. He had never experienced power and wealth before, so he lacked the understanding of how things worked in society. “I never thought
With that in mind, Dwight checked his outfit. His black leather jacket brought out his height and wild side. He then observed Kaze. The latter was dressed casually. Dwight was worried that they would not be allowed into Absolute Zero because of their attire. Nevertheless, he could not let slip that he had never been to Absolute Zero. Without a word, Dwight led Kaze down the apartment building. Kaze could pick up on Dwight’s nerves. While in the elevator, Dwight could not stop straightening out his clothes. It was clear that he was nervous. Even so, Kaze said nothing and pretended not to notice. They got into the car and drove to an alley. The area was not huge, but there were stands selling street food. “The food is great here. Since it’s early, we can grab a bite.” Dwight was not being tight with money. As their destination was a bar, there was no need to get a proper meal. “I’ll get a skewer then.” Kaze did not have much of an appetite anyway. “Okay. I’ll or
“You’re the guest. I should be hosting you, but I don’t seem to be doing a good job.” Dwight knew he had to do better. “It’s okay. I don’t have much to do. It’s just a delivery anyway.” Kaze bought a lot of stuff online. All they had to do was wait for the delivery. Once the items arrived, they could head out. Dwight talked about taking him to a bar under the Viper’s Den’s umbrella. It was a great opportunity for Kaze to check out the scene. He had heard that the Wittersons were tied to all the Viper’s Den’s business operations.Kaze would not meet Edmund and Morris in person, but he would grasp all information related to them. Then, Kaze would stir things up between them and sit back while reaping the benefits. Kaze had it all planned out. He simply had to take his time in playing the long game. Nevertheless, it was important for him to remain discreet. At the very least, he should not show them what he was made of. It was easy to execute his plan when everybody
Kaze rose to his feet and took something out of his bag. Putting on his jacket, he was on his way out. Dwight was out of his room, too. He left his room for a glass of water and waited for Kaze to get out of the room after his nap. Dwight had a drink in the kitchen. He took an apple and chomped on it. Looking at the fruit on the table, Dwight grabbed a plate to arrange it neatly.He took out his phone to pass the time while waiting for Kaze. Kaze emerged from the room and saw Dwight. “You’re up at last. You’ve slept half the day away. Are you still tired? I can wait if you need to catch some sleep.” Dwight kept Herman’s memo to look after Kaze. “A little. I didn’t get any sleep last night. I was waiting to get on the plane.” Kaze took the red-eye flight yesterday. Dwight allowed time for Kaze to rest, knowing his travel schedule. “I know. Did you manage to get some good sleep? If you haven’t, you can go back to bed. I can grab some food for you.” Dwight’s plan
“Your main responsibility is to entertain Kaze. You will be rewarded for good work,” Herman said. Dwight nodded incessantly. “Thank you for thinking of me, Herman. I won’t forget this.” “I’d be grateful so long as you stay out of trouble. “Just focus on what you should do and take good care of Kaze.” Herman worried that Dwight might get ahead of himself and forget his primary duties. Dwight’s priority was Kaze’s well-being. The whole thing would be over if Dwight kept to himself and served Kaze until he was gone. There would be a problem if something were to happen. Without Edmund’s instructions, Herman would never have assigned a job to Dwight. It could be a good thing, though. At least, a job might keep him on the straight and narrow. “Relax. You can count on me,” Dwight said with glee.That was a nice surprise. Dwight did not see it coming. It was just incredible. Herman still could not shake off his worry. However, he had said his piece. It was pointless t
Herman’s smile vanished. His red, irritated skin was playing up. Due to alcohol in his system, Herman could not see straight. He had to grit his teeth to hold back the urge to retch. Herman was not one to drink. Yet, he would have to go through Edmund’s loyalty test every time, and he was reaching a boiling point. However, he understood that he needed to suck it up to gain Edmund’s trust. “You must be Herman. Mr. Witterson. Should I take the things to your car, or should I deliver them to your home?” asked a uniformed server who approached. “Put them in the car and get me a designated driver,” Herman replied. He headed to the lobby while propping himself against the wall. “Okay. There will be a driver out front, ready for your service.” The server tried to help Herman up, but was declined. Herman saw the cartons of alcohol and cigarettes in the lobby. Edmund had always been generous in giving out stuff like this. “These are from Mr. Witterson. You’re lucky to work for
“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