“Stop the chatter!” Jude jolted back to reality as Holfman and Kaze chatted. He drew close eagerly. “Please examine Faith, Kaze. “She was sleeping fine from last night to an hour ago. Her vital signs were stable. “But she suddenly stiffened up after she woke up and had a brief conversation with me. The last time, she had control over half of her body, but she can barely speak now.“Strange enough, she had a seizure, and a smile remained plastered on her face. Her facial muscles seem paralyzed. “I’m worried that she would be brain-dead at this rate,” Jude said with bloodshot eyes.The deputy chief of the Viper’s Den South River State Branch had been through a lot. However, nothing drained him like Faith’s illness. His ex-wife, Tulip, was in a coma for over a decade. Her life was put on hold in a nursing home. Jude understood the ordeal too well. He did not want to see Faith in such a state. Most importantly, Jude would lose his tie to the Krads if Faith was brain-dea
“No, no, no. You got the wrong idea, Kaze.” Jude pulled Kaze back and groveled. “I trust you, Kaze. I trust you. Please save Faith. I’m begging you. “Buffy, help me to persuade Kaze too.” Jude turned to plead with his daughter. Nothing mattered more than saving Faith. His pride and ego were irrelevant at this point. “You don’t have to do much to save Faith.” Kaze said callously, “But like I said before, I only ask you of two things. “Buffy is to become Gwake Corporation’s president. “She deserves to know the truth behind her mother’s coma. It’s time to make things right by her mother.” Buffy clenched her fists nervously. Despite Jude’s assurance on the phone, Buffy was apprehensive about him changing his mind and turning against them. After much back and forth, Jude realized that he had no other choice but to accept Kaze’s terms. He had reconciled himself to Kaze’s demands. “You have my word.” Jude nodded solemnly. He extended his hand to Serene. “Bring it
Jude looked upset. Though Buffy was no longer a daughter to him, Jude was pissed that Kaze would put things so bluntly in front of him. However, Jude was at Kaze’s mercy, so he had to pretend he did not hear the comment. “What about the second term, Mr. Gwake?” Kaze turned to Jude and asked indifferently. Jude hid the malice in his eyes. “I am more than willing to comply with your second request, but you should know that incident happened years ago. I need proof to back some facts up.“I’d need time to sort through the evidence.” Kaze interrupted him. “How long do you need?” “I’d need ten days to two weeks,” Jude replied while suppressing his rage. “That won’t do. It’s too long.” Kaze said harshly, “Three days. That’s all you get. I want Buffy to know the truth. This is only fair to her mother. “If you can’t do it, I’ll be back after ten to fourteen days.By the time Kaze returned, Faith would be long gone.Kaze mentioned that Faith only had a day left. Jude gr
“Just do as Kaze says.”Jude gritted his teeth and told the surgeon. At this point, Jude had no other choice but to trust Kaze. With Holfman’s aid and Jude’s approval, the surgeon finally nodded and grabbed his surgical knife to cut along the acupoints as pointed out by Holfman. The blade sliced through Faith’s skin, and crimson crystals oozed out. These dark red crystals radiated an intense cold. The surgeon grabbed the crystals with his gloved hand, only to recoil from the chill. His entire arm was numb from the chilling sensation.“What are these? It’s freezing. How did these crystals end up in the human body?” the surgeon said, horrified. “It’s nothing more than her blood, or rather, the blood from her heart.” Kaze grabbed the surgeon’s wrist to place the crimson crystals into a glass vessel. The surgeon’s palm, where he had held the crystal, was covered in a thin layer of ice, over the rubber glove. “I didn’t know blood could be frozen into crystals.”The surgeon
“Great! This is good news.” Jude nodded with thrill. He felt rejuvenated and full of energy. Holfman and the team of experts were relieved. With Faith on the road to recovery, they would not be subject to any punishment. Moments later, the surgeon emerged wiping the sweat off his face. He said with a smile, “Mrs. Gwake’s vital signs are promising. You’re amazing, Dr. Lee!” The team of experts looked at Kaze in admiration. Despite their numbers, the team could not figure out what was wrong with Faith for days. Kaze tackled the issue right away, and Faith was all better now. “I’m not a doctor. I just happen to know a little more about this field. That’s all.” Kaze waved his arm, showing no sign of arrogance. “Geez, Kaze. You’re too modest. The recognition you’ve received from so many top medical professionals speaks volumes about your abilities. I want to apologize for any past disrespect on my part. I hope you can forgive me,” Jude said gleefully, his eyes sparkling
“You’ve seen how severe the chills can be, but the heat flush is even more deadly. She would be flushed with a raging fever that could reduce her into a coma.“Don’t try any treatment under the sun on her like before. Nothing will work. “As I said, just wait for me to fix the problem. “I can’t help it if you add any complications. “I’m not a full-fledged expert, you know,” Kaze said. Jude froze and stared at Kaze with his jaw dropped. His expression was grim, to say the least. It never occurred to him that Kaze had something else in store. He had not done everything to fix her yet. Moments later, Jude snapped out of his trance and breathed out. He said grimacingly, “You can’t achieve great things if you’re this petty, Kaze.” “If that’s how you see me, then so be it, Mr. Gwake.” Kaze did not take Jude’s snide remark to heart. He simply patted Jude’s shoulder. “I’ll be back in three days to take care of Faith’s problem. “As I’ve mentioned earlier, make sure Mrs. Gwak
Despite his frustration, Jude understood that he was at Kaze’s mercy. Holding back his rage, Jude chuckled drily and said, “Don’t worry, Kaze. I won’t harm you. I need to consider my wife and Buffy’s best interests too.“See you in three days. By then, I’ll make things right, and you’ll cure Faith.” “I hope that happens.” Kaze grinned nonchalantly before dragging Buffy out of there. As Kaze walked away, Jude narrowed his eyes into a scowl. “Thank you all for your help. You may leave. Serene, walk them out.” Jude waved his arm to dismiss Holfman and the others before pulling out his phone to dial a number. “What’s up, Jude?” A moment later, a gentle voice came on the phone. It was Casius, one of the Riverbank Seven. Jude cut to the chase and uttered, “I’ll be holding a family meeting in three days to make things right for Buffy and her mother. “I will also be announcing Buffy’s hand-in-marriage to you on that day.“I have one condition, though. You need to take car
Since Kaze produced the Nether Viper Sword and sold it to Jude for two billion dollars, Buffy had figured out the truth. Kaze was, in fact, the Viper’s Den West State Branch leader. Upon learning that Kaze intended to attack Jude, Buffy understood that Jude would never lead the Viper’s Den South River State Branch. “Can I ask you of one thing, Kaze?” As Kaze put down the phone, Buffy grabbed his hand and looked at him pleadingly. “What’s on your mind?” Kaze asked tenderly. Buffy was contemptuous toward Kaze when they first met. After several interactions, Kaze knew that Buffy was a kind soul. Otherwise, Kaze would not be helping her. He could already guess what Buffy had to say. Still, he lent an ear. Buffy said wryly, “I hope that you will let my dad live no matter how far he takes things.“He’s my dad. If anything were to happen to my mom, he’s the only family I have left. “Most importantly, I can’t be friends with someone who kills my family.“I don’t want t
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