“Argh!” Collier let out a harrowing cry. He shook his head violently and contorted at the excruciating pain. No one expected Kaze to assault Collier. He was brutal at it. The butter knife cut through Collier’s hand. The crowd empathized with Collier’s pain. “Why do this to yourself, Mr. Ettinger? “You could have agreed to my terms and walked out here without a hitch. Why must you make me hurt you? “You suffered for nothing,” Kaze said with a faint smile while slapping Collier’s face. “I-I…” Collier trembled and looked at Kaze in fear. His arrogance and insolence disappeared there and then. The fact that he was the young heir of the Ettingers and the deputy chief of the South River branch did not matter. He knew that his life was in Kaze’s hands. Besides, Kaze did not see him as a threat. Kaze’s brutality said enough. He was nonchalant throughout and attacked without warning. Kaze was vicious. “Let Mr. Ettinger go.” “Unhand boss!” Coming back to
Kaze whacked Collier multiple times on the face without holding back. Soon, Collier’s cheeks were bruised and battered. Collier was seeing stars at this point. The worst part was the unbearable humiliation. For the thirty years of his life, Collier had never been so insulted. “Have you considered the consequences for what you have done to me, bastard?” Collier shouted angrily, his eyes red-rimmed. “Ugh.” Kaze’s response was to stab Collier’s hand with another butter knife. The blood spilling from Collier’s palms stained the table. The surrounding tough-looking men gritted their teeth in a panic. However, Collier was at the mercy of Kaze. Conan stayed close with a stolen gun aimed at Collier. The burly men knew better than to open fire. Collier’s sidekicks, both men and women, were stunned. The women put their hands over their luscious lips, stopping themselves from shrieking. Losing their attitudes, they looked at Kaze in horror. Kaze was a mean killing mach
Without looking at Hux who was yelling his lungs out, Kaze said indifferently, “Don’t you people ever learn?” He plunged the butter knives into Collier’s hands once more. “Argh!” Collier lifted his head and screamed harrowingly. As his hands were pinned to the table, Collier could not break free. “What’s that again? If anything happens to Mr. Ettinger, what are you going to do to me?” Kaze dug his ear and asked. Collier struggled desperately while Kaze remained nonchalant. The stark contrast was striking. The anger on Hux and the others’ faces turned into fear. It dawned on them that Kaze, a harmless-looking guy from out of town, was ruthless. Collier’s life mattered more than anything else. Yet, Kaze did not care. If the group carried on clamoring, Kaze might just torture Collier to death. “Why did you stop shouting? Weren’t you making a fuss about doing stuff to me?” Kaze grinned and looked at Collier, wincing on the ground. He tapped Collier’s forehead with t
Kaze removed the four butter knives lodged in Collier’s hands and carried him out. “W-Where are you taking Mr. Ettinger?” Hux asked with a grimace. He kept his voice low, fearing Kaze might harm Collier further. Kaze replied indifferently, “Mr. Ettinger is taking us for a ride. I’ll drop him back two hours later. “All of you must wait here.“If any one of you sneak out, I will break one of Collier’s limbs. One limb for each person.” Kaze then carried Collier out of the restaurant as the crowd watched on. Collier knew he met his match when his eyes fell on the Rolls Royce. The Rolls Royce was nothing special to someone of his caliber. Heck, Collier’s family owned several Rolls Royces. However, the vehicle proved that Kaze was not the country bumpkin Collier thought he was. Without time to care what was on Collier’s mind, Kaze dumped him in the trunk. Conan kept the firearm and followed Kaze into the car. Soon, the Rolls Royce turned around and drove off. Hux and
“Did you take me here just to humiliate me, Kaze?” Hannah felt her hot cheek and said curtly, “You can kill me, but you can’t insult me.” Kaze? Playing dead on the ground, Collier found the name familiar. “Insult you? Do you think you’re worth my time?” Kaze sat down opposite Hannah and wiped his hand with a wet wipe. Hannah raised a brow and took a deep breath to fight back the rage. She quickly let out a wry smile. “That’s true. You defeated Magnus and crippled me with one hand after all. “I don’t qualify to fight you. Now that I am nothing, I don’t even deserve any humiliation from you. “You can kill me easily.” Hannah glanced at Collier before meeting Kaze’s gaze. “I heard that you killed Newell’s family. Is that true?” “What? Are you planning to avenge Newell’s family?” Kaze smiled amusedly, not denying that fact. He had no reason to hide anyway. “Uh…” Collier went through a range of emotions. Kaze!Collier’s memory was coming back now. Kaze was th
Kaze shook his head. Even now, Hannah was so full of herself. “Why don’t you tell me how you plan to repay me?” Kaze said amusedly. Hannah grimaced and said coldly, “Why must you insult me, Kaze? “I am just a loser. What can I even do for you? “Power? I’m just the deputy chief by name. No one takes me seriously. Even Collier can corner me.” Collier shuddered and replied, “I was blind, Hannah. I really respect you.” Hannah snapped at him with an angry look and brushed him off. “Money? That’s something I don’t have. “You just want to see a high and mighty woman standing humbly before you. “Maybe you’re after my body just like Collier. “Do as you please. I can’t fight back anyway. “But we’re even after tonight.” With a pale face, Hannah closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate. Hannah could be a virgin for all Kaze knew. Kaze pursed his lips. “Forget it. I prefer the romantic type, not the unwilling ones like you. You just lie there and play dead.“Besides,
“It’s the least I can do.” Hannah narrowed her eyes at Kaze, her body shaking. She never fully appreciated what she had until she lost it all.Hannah experienced the harshness of the world when she lost her combat prowess. The companions, who used to be all over her, now behaved like strangers. The executives at the Viper’s Den West State branch, who protected and adored her, turned their backs and reassigned her to be the deputy chief at the South River State branch. Hannah was constantly picked on at the South River State branch. She dared not imagine what would happen to her if she fell into Collier’s hands today. “What are your terms?” Hannah asked with a struggle. “You work for me willingly. You’ll be my lapdog. “You take orders from me. “When I tell you to bite, you bite,” Kaze said curtly. He wanted to trample on Hannah’s ego. It was the only way to keep her under his thumb. Kaze was not a saint. He was happy to restore Hannah’s powers for his own benefit,
The Nether Viper Sword was Autumn’s weapon, a sacred blade that symbolized the Viper’s Den’s supreme authority. The blade in Kaze’s possession was a replica. Even so, only the Viper’s Den branch leader had the right to possess the sword. Hannah, one of the most promising members out of the 36 Viper’s Den branches, was given one by the Viper Queen. Previously, Hannah arrived at Lilyrose, armed with the Nether Viper Sword. She thought the weapon alone was enough to crush her godfather’s killer. To her dismay, Kaze crippled her and took the Nether Viper Sword away. Later, the blade triggered a series of tumultuous events. Seeing the blade she once possessed stirred a complex mix of emotions in Hannah.More shockingly, Hannah wondered how the Nether Viper Sword ended up with Kaze. There had been a rumor going around the organization. The person who could kill Kaze would become the Viper’s Den West State branch leader. Magnus, Sirius, and Newell’s family were killed and c
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