Hanses was stunned.Kaze’s words about making Ryken send another carload of cigarettes and wine to the Otters still echoed in his ears. Now, the Flying Dragons loaded up a car and delivered it to the Otters? Was this a coincidence, or could Kaze really command Ryken like that?A chill ran through Hanses as his mind raced. His body began to tremble.“What are you standing around for? Move it! The commander’s welcome ceremony is about to start!”A Flying Dragons soldier gave Hanses a swift kick to the backside, snapping him out of his daze.Hanses did not mind. This was just the way superiors and subordinates interacted in the Flying Dragons. Their camaraderie was as strong as ever.Following the Flying Dragons’ soldier, Hanses nervously stepped onto the training grounds at Flying Dragons’ main camp. Hundreds of soldiers had already assembled and stood in formation at the center.Yes, the legendary Flying Dragons only numbered a few hundred. They might consider themselves
Meanwhile, accompanied by Ryken, Kaze strode directly to the command platform.Below the platform, every Flying Dragons soldier stood at attention. Their posture was as sharp as their steel rifles. Their gazes burned with admiration as they fixed on the figure standing on the platform.However, the rookies in Hanses’ formation were either confused or curious. Not everyone knew the identity of the visiting commander today.Seeing Ryken standing respectfully behind that figure, they were dying to know who could command such deference from the Flying Dragons’ leader.Just then, Ryken’s deputy, Elliot, jogged to the front of the platform. Snapping to attention, he saluted crisply and declared, “Reporting to the God of War! All Flying Dragons officers and soldiers who passed the preliminary selection have assembled. Awaiting your orders!”What?God of War?The Flying Dragons would only address that one person as the God of War.It was as if someone had dropped a bomb into the rookie
As Hanses simmered in anxiety and despair, the inspection finally ended.“Goodbye, sir!”“See you soon, sir!”Both the Flying Dragons’ soldiers and the hundred rookies fervently watched as Kaze departed. With Ryken and others, Kaze walked toward the office building. After recovering from her initial shock, Rose bounced happily beside Kaze.Though she had always suspected her brother-in-law was exceptional, she never imagined that he was her idol, the God of War.Back in Lilyrose, everyone had mocked him, accusing him of being a habitual impersonator of the God of War.Who could have guessed? He had not been impersonating anyone. He was the real deal.Meanwhile, Hanses felt as if he had just endured a severe illness, his body utterly drained.“Hanses, the commander wants to see you!” Jonas said, approaching Hanses.Hanses’ body jolted. The color that had just returned to his face drained once again.Ryken wanted to see him?That clearly meant Kaze wanted a word with him.R
In short, with Kaze revealed as the God of War, everything about him suddenly became a strength in Hanses’ eyes.What once seemed like cowardice now appeared to be composure and broad-mindedness. At this moment, Hanses felt immense gratitude toward Kaze.He had assumed this would be his final visit to the Flying Dragons’ base. He expected them to expel him in disgrace. To his surprise, Kaze chose to let bygones be bygones.He even complimented his mental fortitude, acknowledging his potential to join the Flying Dragons.Judging by how Ryken stood motionless at attention nearby, it was clear that even if Kaze decided to promote Hanses to the Flying Dragons’ deputy commander, Ryken would not even dare to object.Kaze sipped his tea leisurely before speaking in a composed tone, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Mental toughness is just one part of the final assessment for joining the Flying Dragons.“Even though you’re related to my mother-in-law, you won’t receive any special treat
“Sir, Aaron has gone too far.”Ryken continued with a trace of frustration in his tone, “As the chief commander of the South River Strategic Department, whatever he does in his territory is his business. But now he's trying to meddle with the Flying Dragons’ affairs.“My men have reported multiple times that Aaron is secretly attempting to win them over using various underhanded methods. “He’s trying to extend his influence into the Flying Dragons. How can I tolerate that?”Upon hearing that, Kaze’s brows furrowed slightly. “When did this happen? Is the situation bad?”“Just within the past few days.”Ryken added, “But the guys in the Flying Dragons are unwavering in their loyalty. They’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with me on the battlefield. There’s no need to question their loyalty.“Everyone will always stand by you, sir. They’ll remain loyal only to the God of War Palace.“If Aaron thinks he can sway them with a few petty favors, he's seriously overestimating himself.“B
“By the way, when I was in the courtyard some time ago, I heard Kaze boasting that he would send a carload of special supply cigarettes and wine. But now that the goods Hanses brought are here, where is his?” one of the Otters’ younger members suddenly asked with a sly smile.Max sneered. “Just let him boast all he wants. Ryken’s team definitely delivered those few boxes of cigarettes and wine at Aunt Agnes’ place to the wrong address.”“Haha! This guy has come to the Otters’ twice, and you still can't tell what kind of person he is? All he does is talk, get angry, and hit people. He's completely useless!”“To be honest, it’s really a shame that Darcy married such a man…”Maxine and others seized the opportunity and began to criticize Kaze.Hearing these words, Agnes felt deeply uncomfortable.However, she had no rebuttal. The previous few boxes of cigarettes and wine could only have been a mistake by the Flying Dragons. They must have mistakenly delivered the goods to Villa No
Some members of the Otters naturally agreed with Hanses and Bella’s proposal, but others were skeptical. Their internal biases would not disappear just from a few words.For instance, people like Max and Maxine genuinely despised and disliked Agnes’ family.Even though Darcy was from the prestigious Ridgesouth Quints with status far surpassed theirs, they still looked down on her. No matter how impressive Darcy was, she had still married a man like Kaze, whom they considered a useless failure.Just from her choice of husband, they believed that she would never have a happy future.As Maxine thought about this, she glanced at her boyfriend, Patrick, then looked at Darcy’s family again, her eyes full of superiority.“Master Otter! Madam Otter!”Just then, a member of the Otters rushed in, panting heavily. “I-I… The Golden Ray’s gangster boss, Buck Bob, is here. He demands to meet Master and Madam Otter!”Upon hearing that, the entire Otters fell silent. Fear appeared in many
Despite their reluctance, the Otters could not simply turn away a prominent figure from the underworld like Bob.“Alex, go and invite Mr. Damian in!” Madam Otter instructed his eldest son, Alex.Before long, Bob, a stocky, balding man in a suit with an unmistakable set of buck teeth, entered the hall, accompanied by several others. Among them was a particularly striking woman dressed as a wealthy socialite. Her presence drew shocked glances from some of the younger Otter family members who recognized her.“Haha! Greetings to the esteemed Master and Madam Otter! I’ve always wanted to come and pay my respects, but I just never found the opportunity. Finally, today I get to meet the two of you!”Bob beamed as he clasped his hands in a polite bow toward Caster and Bella. He then gestured to his men, who stepped forward with gifts in hand.Seeing Bob arrive not only empty of hostility but also bearing gifts, the Otters breathed a collective sigh of relief.Bella responded with a smi
“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