“10 million for Alfonso just to show up? That’s some easy money.” Kaze raised his brows. He did not expect Alfonso to make money using his status as ex-branch chief of the Viper’s Den Butterworth Branch. It somehow felt cheap. “You know nothing!” Miya scoffed. “10 million is a discounted price. You really think 10 million is enough to bring him here? Without connections, he won’t even look at you if you give him one hundred million! “Now that you’ve known better, your wife might seem rich but she’s just a nouveau riche. You are nothing to us!” She peered down at Kaze proudly, speaking with superiority. To her, Kaze gained the courage to speak arrogantly and loudly because of his connections with the Viper’s Den. Now that she invited Alfonso, would Kaze’s connections still be useful? In short, she believed Kaze’s days were numbered. “Sir, someone claiming to be Alfonso Longwind from the Viper’s Den Butterworth Branch is outside, requesting a meeting,” said a servant
“Kaze, shut the hell up!” Caster bellowed angrily, “How dare you speak like that in front of Chief Longwind?! Dayton here asks you to kneel and you kneel! What are you doing standing there?” The other family members glared at Kaze as well. “K-Kaze? Kaze Lee?!” Dayton cried in shock, his expression horrified. Even Alfonso’s expression darkened. A bad feeling erupted in his heart. “They are not worthy of that.” Kaze sauntered out from the crowd and then looked at Dayton. “Am I right, Dayton?” Dayton stared at Kaze blankly, and under everyone's disbelieving gazes, he stepped forward and fell to his knees. “What?!” “Chief Longwind’s disciple knelt before Kaze?!” “What is going on?” The entire Otter family was shocked when they saw Dayton kneel before Kaze with a horrified look. Even Darcy and her parents were stunned. Miya was also taken aback by the sudden twist. She could not wrap her head around the situation. “K-Kaze! Y-Yes! I am not worthy to make you kneel
Alfonso chose to remain quiet. Dayton getting slapped was better than he himself getting slapped. Even after Miya questioned him, Alfonso remained unfazed and refused to act. It stunned everyone. Alfonso was the ex-branch chief of the Viper’s Den Butterworth Branch, a prominent figure even in the South River State. Yet someone as powerful as him refused to act when his disciple was being slapped by Kaze. What happened? Was he afraid of Kaze? Impossible! “Since you are so obedient, let’s call it a day for now. Get up.” Kaze finally stopped and took another piece of tissue to wipe his hand. “Thank you, Kaze! Thank you!” Dayton got up from the floor, bowed, and thanked Kaze for his mercy. “Kaze, my master and I had no idea that you were here. We wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Everyone was baffled. Dayton bowed obediently to Kaze as if Kaze was his master instead of Alfonso. Kaze glanced at Alfonso and said with a smile, “10 million just to be here. You really k
Miya’s expression darkened. She bellowed, “You bastard! You called the police? You shameless bastard! You really think you can have me arrested? I can come out whenever I want!” “Tell that to the police,” Kaze said. Soon, the police officers arrived and took Miya and her men away. After going through multiple procedures, she was released because it was merely a financial conflict. Kaze, the self-proclaimed victim, did not suffer any financial losses, so Miya was only detained for two hours before she was released. However, she was a well-known figure online and always appeared on entertainment news with her son. When the paparazzi found out that she was detained for two hours, it sparked a huge discussion online. Countless media outlets swarmed over the topic, making it trending for the day. Due to her detention, be it St. Mary’s or the Geranium Heartanos, their businesses were affected. What happened to Miya caused a chain reaction, eventually snowballing into a huge i
Hunter’s brows furrowed but quickly eased out. “He saw it and then tore it. I think I know why Alfonso is afraid of him.” “Why is that?” Miya asked out of curiosity. Hunter glanced at the woman and said, “When I write the name on the paper, I infuse it with my anger, and usually, any ordinary person will be overwhelmed by its power with just a glance, causing the person to bleed. “Even the powerful ones would suffer internal injuries. “Kaze saw it but did not react to it. It means he’s powerful and it also explains why Alfonso is afraid of him. “Alfonso must have crossed paths with him in the past and know that he was no match.” Miya was shocked by Hunter’s explanation. Alfonso was a well-known expert within the Viper’s Den, yet even he was no match for Kaze. She never thought of it before. Compared to Miya’s astonishment, Hunter was relatively calm. With an interested look, he said, “Interesting. I didn’t expect to meet someone so interesting in Riverbank.” “Mr. Ya
“Mrs. Heartano, I am telling you this because I want you to know that you should not be afraid of people like him just because he has some mysterious support. “You brought the paper to the Otters and it represented me to a certain extent.” Hunter stood with his hands behind his back, slightly bent over to stare at Miya with a frosty look. He was displeased by Miya’s cowardness. “I’m sorry, Mr. Yaphet. I should have done better.” Miya felt guilty and lowered her head lower. “But if Kaze tore the paper in front of a crowd, then he’s disrespecting me.” Hunter sat down on the chair and started to make tea. “I’ve come to Riverbank for just a short while and rarely goes out, unlike the others who lived a high-profile life. “Ever since I took care of the two useless ones in the Riverbank Seven, no one in Riverbank dared to disrespect me. Even if I did not show up in person, my words represented me and people would kneel before it, showing utmost respect! “Who would have th
“That’s why Kaze made friends with Mayor Synder’s secretary, Hamlin, and then broke Cole’s arms. He did all of those to capture the mayor’s attention. “The mayor then supported him, helping him to bridge connections with Hannah Delmore and the others. “Hannah Delmore is up against Jude, and the Gwakes had always been trying to unite with the Weathers through marriage, who are also close with Sanwell Finances. “That is the reason why Kaze was able to be close with the mayor, Hannah Delmore, and the others despite coming to Riverbank for just a short time. “I also heard that Kaze is intimately close with Jude’s daughter, Buffy. Jude has been trying to get Kaze to his side, hoping that he could fight on his behalf. “I have to admit that the little bastard is quite capable. I underestimated him. But like you said, there’s nothing to be afraid about. His foundation here in Riverbank is weak and all he has now can be taken away with ease.” Miya’s analysis sounded flawless and rea
Miya was delighted by Hunter’s words. “So Kaze Lee is just a dog to the mayor, a disposable cannon fodder?” She was afraid to stand against Kent either because her family had plans to expand into the city and the mayor was someone she could not avoid. She was eager to crush Kaze but she never gained enough courage to do it. The bastard insulted her again and again. Her only wish now was his death. “As for what the mayor is trying to achieve, it has nothing to do with us. Even if we find out, we can just turn a blind eye. “He wants to help Hannah to be the chief or fight back against Sanwell Finances, I don’t care, but if he steps on my tail, then I can’t just let him go like that.” Hunter put the cup down and then pulled his phone out to call someone. “Director Weather? I’m Hunter. I need a favor. After this, we’re equal.” …Meanwhile in Refined Blade Dojo, a street away from Drake Gym, Casius was enjoying tea and listening to Ryokan songs. He looked indifferent bu
“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