“Why are you standing there? Hurry up and apologize to Wesley!” Looking at Kaze’s unresponsive face, Ryna demanded he apologize. “Wesley isn’t someone you can afford to mess with, let alone Golden Scale Corporation. “Since Wesley is giving you a chance as a courtesy to us, you should hurry up and kneel! Apologize for what you said. Otherwise, not even the mayor of Riverbank could save you!” Ryna said whatever was on her mind in order to aggrandize Wesley. Wesley simply demanded Kaze apologize, yet Ryna instructed Kaze to be on his knees while at it. The other guests did not intervene and simply watched the show with a smirk. Kaze, a poor loser who came to Riverbank to seek help from his teacher, somehow got the nerves to insult Wesley. He basically was asking for humiliation. Kaze was the perfect embodiment of “play with fire and you’ll get burned.”Despite being under different gazes, Kaze remained unfazed. He did not care about Ryna, who looked askance at him. He l
“What’s wrong, Wesley? You don’t look okay.” Ryna saw Wesley’s face turning pale, his forehead glistening with sweat. She quickly went up to him and held him. However, Wesley instinctively shook her hand off. “How?! How did you know our branch chief died in Lilyrose?” Wesley stared at Kaze as he shouted. People saw his lips and legs trembling. He was afraid. Terrified. Wesley was scared of Kaze? Everyone felt unreal. They widened their eyes in disbelief, no one dared to make a noise. “You noticed something was wrong based on my words? It seems like you are not beyond redeemable.” Kaze raised his brows surprisingly for a moment before resuming normalcy. He said, “Not only did I know that your branch chief died in Lilyrose, I even knew his name. “Newell Ettinger. His son, Brad. His sister, Malova. I know all of them. How? It’s simple. They died in my hands. As for me, I am the branch leader of West State Viper’s Den. “So, do you think your uncle should kneel befor
Wesley almost buried his face on the floor, and his arrogance was nowhere to be found. Everyone was shocked. Wesley did not only kneel, he prostrated. He hammered his head on the floor and apologized to Kaze.Since when did Kaze become the branch leader of West State Viper’s Den? Lock and Ryna were stunned, and so was Cyan. Cyan almost lost her mind as she watched the scene unfold before her. A moment ago, she admired Wesley because she believed only a person with his status was worthy of her. Now, Wesley was on his knees like a humble slave in front of Kaze. The sudden twist felt so surreal that Cyan could not react in time. Ryna was the first to compose herself, but when the truth settled in her mind, she turned pale. She went up to Wesley and tried to help him up. “Wesley, what are you doing? Why are you kneeling to this bumpkin here? Are you mistaken? How could he be the branch leader of West State Viper’s Den? “I knew he was the chairman of Perfect World Gro
Noticing no argument coming from Kaze, Wesley wiped his tears and snot off with his sleeves. He quickly got up from his knees and shouted at Kaze, “Kaze Lee, how dare you impersonate the branch leader? I knew you were faking it! The branch leader is a prominent figure, even my uncle has to bow to him in person. What makes you, a live-in husband who got kicked out, the branch leader? “You are just a fucking loser who lies and play tricks on people!” Ryna shouted at Kaze, “Get down on your knees and apologize a hundred times, or don’t even think about getting up!” Kaze ignored Ryna and looked at Wesley with a faint smile. “Mr. Gwake, I like you better now, all arrogant and stuff. But aren’t you curious how a loser like me gets to know confidential information about the Viper’s Den? Isn’t the information limited to the top brass only? Yet I got to know such details.” Wesley was burning in rage when he heard Kaze yet what Kaze said next made him hold his anger back. “How did yo
“Lock, let’s catch up another day!” The guests came up with different excuses and left. When they walked out of the VIP room, they would have a good look at Kaze as if they were trying to imprint his face onto their minds. Their eyes at him carried a mix of emotions, between admiration and contempt. They admired him because the young man from Lilyrose seemed more capable than they thought. With just a few words, he was able to scare Wesley down to his knees, crying and begging for mercy before scuttling away. Any other ordinary man having such capabilities would have been a big shot. Unfortunately, Kaze was not familiar with the rules of survival in a big city like Riverbank. Playing tricks and relying on quick wits might work in a small city like Lilyrose but Riverbank was a big playing field with more powerful and elite players; background, resources, and connections were everything. Therefore, based on what Kaze had said, he would never make it in Riverbank. He m
Lock’s words surprised Kaze. With his brows raised, Kaze asked, “Mr. Yemen, who is the benefactor you are talking about?” Lock took a moment to quench his thirst with water and catch a breath. He continued, “I don’t know. I just know that she was a beautiful woman and somehow resembles you. I think she’s your true family.” He referred to the woman as Kaze’s true family because he knew the Lee family was not Kaze’s real family. More precisely, Kaze was an orphan who was trafficked to South River State many years ago and taken in by the Lee family, hence the unfair treatment. The moment Lock mentioned the woman, Ryna got even more agitated. “How dare you mention that again, you jerk! If not because of your stupid compassion, the Lee family won’t even bother to frame you. You shouldn’t call that woman our benefactor. She should help because it’s their family who framed you! “Because of that, our family was almost ruined. And now you are still protecting Kaze? Have you forgot
Cyan felt disgusted when she heard her father saying he wanted her to marry Kaze. Her parents were a loving couple yet her mother threatened to divorce her father because of Kaze. It only amplified her disgust for Kaze. “Please leave. You are not welcome here,” Cyan said coldly as she pointed at the door with her slender and fair fingers. Lock grunted and bellowed, “Cyan, where are your manners? Apologize to Kaze now!” “Mr. Yemen, it’s not Cyan’s fault. It’s mine. I shouldn’t be here in the first place. Thank you for everything, but I don’t think I need it now,” Kaze said. He explained, “Actually, I came to Riverbank to deal with some matters and I already have a place to stay. I don’t want to trouble you guys. If I have the time, I will visit again.” He then glanced at Ryna sitting on the chair, recovering from her anger. He might not have a good impression of her but for Lock’s sake, he said, “Mr. Yemen, the herbal ingredients I brought are all precious stuff that are
The server’s response left Lock’s family stunned. “The bill has been paid for?” Ryna looked at her daughter. “Cyan, give Wesley a call. He must have paid for us.“Wesley is such a nice guy. Even though Kaze pissed him off, he still paid the bill before leaving. We feel bad about it.” Cyan immediately dialed Wesley’s number. “Thank you for footing the bill, Mr. Gwake. My mom told me to apologize to you. I’m sorry about today.” “Huh? Foot the bill? Oh, don’t mention it.” Wesley was confused, not knowing who paid since he left. However, he did not bother to correct Cyan when her family credited him for paying. He said with a smile, “Tell Mrs. Yemen that Bourbon isn’t that big of a deal. I’ll treat your family at a better restaurant.“And one more thing. You might want to suggest to your family to stop hanging out with Kaze. Though I won’t talk about today, word might still get out, and trouble can come knowing.” Wesley could tell that Lock was interested in giving Kaze h
“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