“Hi Buffy. Dayton is worried about you when he knows that you are in trouble, so he contacted us and we came as soon as we could.” “Yeah, Dayton is fully focused on training and barely pays attention to anything else. He’s so uninterested in romance that we even thought he might like men. This is the first time we’ve seen him pay so much attention to a woman.”The five men and women looked up to Dayton. When they saw Buffy and realized how beautiful she was, they understood why Dayton urged them to come to Riverbank in a hurry. They became the best wingmen that one could ask for and made sure Buffy knew Dayton cared about her. Buffy nodded indifferently and said with a smile, “Thank you, Dayton. I appreciate your kind gesture.” “Buffy, we are beyond saying thank you.” Dayton waved his hand heartily. “Your mother is my master’s junior and they have been close since they were young. Once my master received your call for help, he sent me to protect you. “I bet you know my m
“Dayton! No!” Buffy took a step back and responded with anger. Dayton was left stunned on the spot. He looked awkward. He did not expect Buffy, who he thought liked him, would reject him without any consideration. “Buffy, what’s the matter? Dayton came here right after he heard about your situation. Do you know how much he cares about you?” “Dayton is young, handsome, and is the disciple of the ex-branch chief of Butterworth Branch. He’s one of the best there is. If you reject him, you’ll regret it.” “Do you know how many women are trying to chase him in Butterworth? Yet he only cares about you. Are you really going to turn him down just like that?” The men and women behind Dayton spoke up, supporting their friend. They described Dayton as the best man in the world and if Buffy rejected his proposal, then she would be labeled ungrateful. Buffy furrowed her brows. She looked angry and wanted to argue but since Dayton came on such short notice just to help her, she did no
Kaze had no good impression of Buffy’s senior, Dayton. The man was unreasonable and arrogant. He also seemed to take advantage of Buffy’s misfortune. If he was not concerned about Buffy's position, he would have kicked Dayton out of the door right away. Hmph! Dayton did not anticipate an argument from Kaze. His expression darkened as he strode over to glare at him. “Delivery Boy, I bet you’ve heard who I am. I ask you to leave with the tip because I respect Buffy. “If you don’t appreciate it, then don’t blame me for being rude! Believe me when I say my friends will break your limbs and throw you out, and you can’t even do anything about it.” Dayton raised his fists, seemingly trying to attack. Kaze’s expression turned frosty and was ready to retaliate. Buffy immediately stepped in between them to prevent the situation from going out of hand. She said, “Dayton, calm down. This is Kaze, the friend that I mentioned on the phone with your master. “He has helped me many
Kaze did not say a word and looked at Buffy. Buffy said, “It’s okay, Dayton. I don’t want to have a feast. Since Kaze brought food for me, I’ll just eat at home.” Dayton’s expression darkened. He turned around and glanced at his friends, signaling them to do something. One of the women, Linda, went over to the table and swept the food to the floor. Splatter! The food fell off the table and splattered all over the floor. Kaze’s gaze turned cold. Buffy was shocked. Annoyed, she looked at Dayton. “Dayton, what is this?” “Buffy, calm down.” Linda said with a smile, “Don’t you understand? Since Dayton is responsible for your daily needs now, then he has to consider whether it is safe to consume food brought by an outsider. He’s just concerned about you.” “Kaze is my friend! If he’s trying to hurt me, I would have been dead a long time ago!” Buffy argued. The anger on her face was brazen. She knew Dayton was trying to give Kaze a hard time. “Buffy, calm down. I’m no
“Is it funny?” Kaze asked with a soft grin. “Of course it is.” Linda scoffed. “Kaze, I’m trying to make things clear for you. I am looking down on you just because you have no money. You are poor! If you can fork out ten million, then you will have the right to talk to me. “If you have a hundred million, I’ll apologize; if you don’t have the money, then shut the hell up.” Kaze laughed. “One hundred million and you’ll apologize? Does it mean if I take out all my money, I make you kneel and clean the mess up like a dog?” His words made Dayton, Linda, and the others exchange glances before bursting into laughter. “Hahaha! You?” “You are full of yourself!” “If you are that rich, you wouldn’t buy roadside food in the first place!” They cackled loudly, looking at Kaze as if he was a clown. “Everyone can brag but do you have what it takes?” “Kaze, it’s not that we want to look down on you, and I’m not asking you to take out that much money.” Linda went up closer and sm
“Then let him explain what the hell is going on!” Dayton’s expression darkened and sounded cold. “Or else, don’t blame me for being rude.” If Kaze could not provide a satisfying answer, he would attack and break all his limbs. Kaze stood still and said casually, “Nothing in particular. I just don’t like her.” “Aaaaah! Dayton! Beat him! I want him dead! Kill him!” Linda cried like a mad woman, especially with her hair covered with gravy and rice. Kaze’s words agitated her even more. Dayton looked gloomy. He rolled his sleeves up. “Buffy, you heard him. Don’t blame me for not showing any respect!” Buffy got even more anxious. She turned around and said to Kaze, “Kaze, hurry up and apologize! I ask Dayton to be here not just to protect me but also to protect you! “Casius is influential, powerful, and has a lot of men. Leron is just one of them! “Leron failed to hurt you the other day and he will come back. No matter how strong you are, you are alone and you can’t possi
“Dayton, beat him up! This clown sucker slapped me! Let him have a taste of true power!” Dayton’s friends cheered on him at the side. To them, Kaze was able to slap Linda because it was an ambush, or else there was no way she would fall to the floor. They might not be as powerful as Dayton but they were considered some of the strongest among their peers. Kaze ignored the noise and focused on moving nimbly to dodge the attacks. Although his movements were subtle, he was able to dodge every slap with the slightest movement. Then, he countered with a slap. Slap! The loud slap silenced the air. Kaze swung his hand casually as he stood still on the spot. Dayton was sent staggering backward, leaving several footprints on his trail before he regained his balance. He managed to stand still on his feet but his face had a clear slap mark. “W-What?! What the hell happened?!” Dayton’s friends were shocked. Dayton had always been unbeatable, at least to them. However, no
“I know Casius Weather. He’s one of the Riverbank Seven and he’s also a well-known figure in Butterworth. “He’s ambitious. He has been using Bronze Sparrow as a base to gather people with different talents, mostly criminals. “His man, Leron, also known as Hydro Dragon, roamed the waters freely. All shipping companies were forced to pay him to get their goods to their destination. “He’s also known as the Sharpshooter, possessing unmatched accuracy when wielding a gun. No one knows where he will show up next. “Kaze, you might be good but you are no match for Leron.” Dayton looked at Kaze as if he was already shot in the head. To him, Kaze was just all brawn and no brains. He wanted to be the hero to save the damsel in distress but going up against Casius and his men was suicidal. He could be the hero but he had to know his place and limitations. Dayton viewed Kaze as a dumb moron who was overconfident. Kaze was unfazed and simply ignored what Dayton said about Leron.
Dwight approached with a smile. He looked at Edmund earnestly. “I am Dwight McCorney. I have heard good things about you. I finally got to meet the man of the hour. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Witterson.” Dwight was starstruck. Edmund was embarrassed by Dwight’s behavior. He could not believe that Dwight was a member of the Viper’s Den. Nevertheless, Dwight seemed genuine in expressing his thrill. Edmund became curious about him. He turned around to look at Kaze, who was the polar opposite of Dwight. Kaze stood there, holding his ground. He stood up to greet Edmund and nothing else. He appeared to be refined, unlike Dwight, who was brash. Dwight had no idea that his behavior had upset Edmund. Edmund looked at Dwight in disdain. However, Dwight was a member of the Viper’s Den. It was best for Edmund to keep his comments to himself. Without a word, Edmund stared at the pair. Ryan stepped in to smooth things over. “What are you doing? We have a guest here.
Since Kaze would not change these people’s minds, he was better off doing what he wanted to do. “This vase must be valuable. I got to give it to Mr. Witterson. A display in the living room is worth so much.” Dwight had never seen so much luxury in one room. He had been to the museum, but the displays were nothing like he had ever seen before. The rich had the means to splurge. “Do you think this is pure gold?” Dwight turned to a gold statue. The design was to die for. The purity of color made it hard to doubt its authenticity. “I’m not too sure, but I guess most of the ornaments here are real.”Kaze watched as Dwight gasped in awe. Nevertheless, his behavior would clear any suspicion on Kaze. It could be a good thing. “I knew Mr. Witterson was rich. His businesses are doing well. “But I didn’t expect this sort of lifestyle. The gold must be worth a million dollars. “If I were this wealthy, I would not spend it on decoration.” Dwight rambled on, his eyes stuck t
“I’m not familiar with the area. We’ll have to look around,” Dwight said behind the wheel. He looked for restaurants while driving. It was early, and many restaurants were not open for business. They circled the block and finally uncovered a small breakfast bar. They ordered some food, filled their bellies, and got back into the car. “Mr. Witterson said that he wouldn’t meet you. Why does he want to see you now?” Dwight was curious. Something must have happened last night. Otherwise, Edmund would not suddenly grant an audience to Kaze. “I don’t know. I had some drinks last night, and now he probably made time.” Kaze felt better after breakfast. He did not think much of the situation. Things would carry on as planned regardless of what the Wittersons or the Siegfrieds had to say.This was exactly what Kaze hoped for. Dwight remained in the dark. He drove to the city’s most exclusive area for the rich. It was all greenery in this part of town. The road was wider, an
After a brief hesitation, Kaze followed Rosie. The room turned out to be Rosie’s. Though not a big room, it was crammed with all kinds of junk. The place looked cluttered. Rosie approached the vanity table and grabbed the comb to comb her hair. She turned to look at Kaze. “You said a lot of stuff last night. Do you remember any of it?” Rosie spoke like they had been friends for years. It was just small talk. “What did I say? I don’t really remember. You made a lovely drink, but man, it really kicked in.” Kaze put a cigarette to his lips, but he did not light it. Instead, he spotted a chair to sit down on. “Well, it’s pointless to talk about it if you can’t remember.” Rosie was pleased to hear that. At least, Kaze had no idea that she had gotten him drunk. “Don’t leave me hanging.” Kaze looked peeved. “Are you off the clock?” Kaze asked. “Yes. I work odd hours. It’s time for me to sleep now.” Rosie stared at Kaze. “I shouldn’t keep you from resting.”
“Can you give me something for the pain?” Clemont had a low tolerance for pain. Standing on the stairway, Morris heard his voice and sighed. Clemont could do no good in his eyes. “Keep an eye on him. He’s not allowed to leave the house for the time being.” Morris believed the incident was more than meets the eye. Yet, Clemont was tricked into going to Absolute Zero and starting shit. There was no telling whether the Wittersons or someone else was behind it. Morris let out a sigh and returned to the study. He sent the butler to the storage room to fetch a few valuable antiques. These items were collected years ago, and they cost a fortune. Morris’ intention was to be on good terms with the Wittersons. There was no need to be at war with them. He had to do it for the interest of the Viper’s Den and his family. Morris was all about looking at the bigger picture. Otherwise, he would not have put up with all the bullshit before. Edmund would not let him off the ho
“Are you trying to kill your son?” Clara intervened. “You’re ruining him by spoiling him. If you want things to continue as they were, you can kiss him goodbye forever,” Morris said. Clara was lost for words. She knew better, but she just could not stop herself. Clemont had her heart. Clara could not stand to see him hurt. She was distressed. However, she knew that Morris would not get over the matter without beating Clemont up. She had to step in. “Hit him!” Morris was too old to do anything laborious. However, the kid would not go anywhere in life without a good beating. Despite starting trouble, he sure was arrogant to admit that he was wrong. “I see the errors of my ways.” Clemont apologized in time to avoid the punishment. He managed to escape all repercussions by doing so. Plus, his mother would plead on his behalf. The whole thing would usually get brushed aside. Though it was more serious in this instance, Clemont still believed that Morris would not hur
Morris was in his study, wiping a plaque of commandments that was covered in dust. Due to his commitment to the Viper’s Den, he had neglected his family for years and left his son in his wife’s care. Morris regretted doing so. Unaware of the impending danger, Clemont enjoyed drinks with his friends. They were having fun, playing drinking games. Losing the game, Clemont downed a glass of liquor. Things could get far and exciting in a game. It was then that the door swung open. Clemont’s driver entered the room. “Young Master Siegfried, the master is waiting for you at home,” the driver said, noting the complexity of the situation. The only thing on his mind was to take Clemont away. Tipsy from the drinks, Clemont waved his arm. “Let him wait. What’s the rush to get home?” Clemont’s friends were shocked. Nothing scared Clemont like his father. However, Clemont toughened up for once. “Young Master Siegfried, why don’t you call it a night?” “Yeah. I’m sur
“What’s that supposed to mean? When have I ever made a mistake?” Morris heard nothing of that sort. It could only mean that his people had done nothing wrong. However, Edmund could not possibly get aggressive on the phone. Something must have happened, and he simply had no idea. Morris felt unsettled like something big was about to happen. “You seem to be lax when managing your people. You don’t seem to know what goes on around your house.“Is your age getting to you? Is that why you can’t handle most of the work? If you can’t get your own house in order, how will you ever manage the Viper’s Den Westeros Branch?” Edmund called to say his piece. It was his way to make Morris step down. Though it was likely that Morris would resign, Edmund could at least make things unpleasant for him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Morris was completely in the dark, but Edmund must hold some secret to act so cocky. Despite his troubled feelings, Morris kept his cool and calmly aske
Since it was a rare opportunity, Edmund had to settle the score with them properly. He knew opportunities like this were hard to come by so he had to seize them well. “I understand. I will take care of the guest,” Rosie said. She was glad that her information was useful to her boss. After Edmund hung up the phone, Rosie then looked at the unconscious Kaze. “You are indeed more useful than I thought. Hardly anyone has ever managed to impress Edmund.” She did not feel sorry for Kaze, believing that everything happened as it was meant to. She knew that to climb higher, she had to please her superior. With the Wittersons on the rise, now was the perfect time for her to pledge her loyalty to Edmund. When the Wittersons truly took over the Westeros Branch, she would become one of the most powerful people in the city, second only to them. She was looking forward to that day. Since Kaze was fast asleep and no arrangements could be made, Rosie went out to call her men and