“Hannah!” Despite bracing himself, Casius blurted out. The others were equally horrified. They had no idea when Hannah showed up. She just crept up on them. Hank grimaced. He was Casius’ bodyguard in the shadows, and his expertise was sweeping for threats. Yet, Hank did not sense Hannah at all. It appeared that Hannah might be stronger than him. However, Hank understood when he recalled who he was. The most promising member of the Viper’s Den West State Branch was once bestowed the Nether Viper Sword by the Viper Queen, and Hannah lived up to the name. It would not take outside forces to take Hannah out. Due to her talent, rivalry began within the organization. Many other young, promising members jumped out to bring her down. Besides, the recent events happening in the Viper’s Den South River State Branch were for all to see. Previously, there had been rumors that Hannah had been crippled and relegated to the South River State Branch to be a deputy chief by name
Casius was eager to disassociate herself from Madison. He was afraid that Hannah would use Madison’s assassination attempt against him. It was no secret that Hannah was strong. However, the extent of her strength caught him off guard. Hannah detected Madison’s little stunt and killed her with the throw of her sword. Madison had a gun in her hand but no time to pull the trigger.Hannah was terrifying. Casius was at a loss. First came Leron. Then came Hannah. All Casius wanted was to kill Kaze. Yet, it had proved a difficult feat. It was not a coincidence that Hannah showed up at the Gwakes’. Any fool could tell that she was on Kaze’s side. Casius was in distress. Yet, his tone was pressing. “But Ms. Delmore, your fight with Mr. Gwake is around the corner. “I doubt it’s appropriate for you to barge into Mr. Gwake’s home while he isn’t around.” The fight to become the leader of the South River State Branch had caused quite a stir in Riverbank. The fair and open
Hannah was powerful. However, Casius was not without resources. He was backed by the Weathers and the Ryokanians. Unless necessary, Casius did not want to expose his ties with the Ryokanians. “Back him up?” Taken aback at first, Hannah quickly burst into laughter. “You are highly mistaken, Mr. Weather. I’m not here to back Kaze up. I doubt I’m qualified.” “What do you mean?” Casius was shocked. Hank and the others were confused. They would rejoice over the fact Hannah did not come to support Kaze. However, she claimed that she did not deserve to back Kaze up. The most promising member of the Viper’s Den West State Branch, also the deputy chief of the South River State Branch, was not qualified to stand her ground for Kaze. “If I have to answer your question…” Hannah said indifferently, “Kaze is my backer. He’s the one to back me up.” What? Casius and the others widened their eyes skeptically. Hannah frowned and approached Kaze. She got down on one knee a
Casius’ eyes were filled with fear. He understood the meaning behind Kaze’s words. Kaze only took the time to humor Casius while waiting for the confirmation of Buffy’s safety. Now that Buffy was fine, Kaze could proceed to put an end between him and Casius. Buffy was now safe with Kaze, and Kaze was revealed to be the branch leader of the Viper’s Den West State Branch. So was Kaze planning to kill Casius now? Casius, being who he was, could not accept the notion of surrender even though he and his family could not possibly stand against Kaze. He took a deep breath and said, “Kaze, I mean, Mr. Lee. I was blind. It’s all my fault.“But I don’t see a reason why we can’t work our differences. “You have attacked me today, and boy, you went hard on me. “I crossed my boundaries with Buffy today, but I haven’t caused her any harm. “You have made your point across now. “Why are you harping on this? “You and I have reputations to live up to. “As people of our standing
Kaze narrowed his eyes. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Weather?” “No. I’m just stating a fact.” Casius shook his head and said with a smile, “So this is the reason why you have been secretive about who you are. “Power isn’t something you can claim just by having a title. It’s something you have to seize through your own efforts. Otherwise, the little title there will be nothing but trouble.“I think you are trying to gain this power by controlling the South River State Branch from behind the scenes. “By doing so, you will get an edge to compete with your rivals of the Viper’s Den West State Branch and become the real branch leader. “You still have a long way to go, though.” Casius spoke confidently, thinking that he had it all figured out. With that in mind, the tightness in his chest lifted. Kaze had bigger problems to worry about. He was just a branch leader by name. He had many eyes on him. There were a lot of people eager to take his place. Casius felt light
“I’ll cut to the chase then.” Casius asked, “Between Ms. Delmore and Mr. Gwake, who do you think has a higher chance of winning?” “Are you trying to say that Jude has a better chance of becoming the next branch chief?” Kaze replied nonchalantly. Casius nodded. “That’s right. Mr. Gwake’s chances are better because I’m helping him.” With Kaze keeping to himself, Casius said with a smile, “You might think I’m bluffing, but I’m not the type to say things I’m unsure of. “Like you, I am more than meets the eye. “I’m not just backed by the Weathers. I’m friends with a powerful force that can alter the fate of Riverbank. “With this entity’s help, I have the confidence to make this promise. “My support will decide who gets the win.” Casius spoke with a swagger, “I wonder if you know much about this entity that I’m talking about.” Kaze looked at Casius in contemplation. “Are you talking about Sanwell Finances?” The city council and most elite families would not be able to h
“Haha, that’s ridiculous, Mr. Lee. You’re the branch leader. You represent the Viper’s Den. With the Viper Queen around, no one will hurt you.” Casius brushed the whole thing off and said, “Like I said, we’re just working together. No one is anybody’s accessory. “It’s a win-win. There’s no need to fight. “Am I right?” Kaze smiled offhandedly. “Even if you have a point, I have a question to ask you.” “Hit me. I will tell you everything I know.” Casius waved his arm generously. Kaze said indifferently, “I ran into Mayor Synder and saved his life on my way to Riverbank. “I’ve gotten to know that the multiple assassinations on the mayor as well as the hex on him and his daughter are closely linked to Ryokan.“Since you represent Sanwell Finances, here’s my question to you.” Kaze looked Casius in the eye and asked aloofly, “Were you aware of these events?” Casius grimaced. Kaze just threw him a fatal question. Casius forced a smile. “You’re paranoid, Mr. Lee. I’m no
Tension ran high in the Gwakes’ living room once more. Casius fixed on Kaze, his gaze intense. He thought his clash with Kaze was a result of jealousy over Buffy. Now it appeared that there was more to the feud between them. Casius read Kaze’s bloodthirst from his tone. It seemed important to Kaze whether Casius was working for Sanwell Finances. The moment Casius was confirmed to be the traitor to the nation, Kaze would go for his kill. “Hahaha…” Casius burst out laughing, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Is it funny?” Kaze asked aloofly. “Hehe…” Casius stopped laughing and wiped a single teardrop from his eyes. “I was laughing because I didn’t expect you and Mr. Gwake to be patriotic. “The great deputy chief was hesitant to turn his back on the country by working with the Ryokanians.“When I told him I could make him the branch chief, tsk, tsk… “You're more precarious than Mr. Gwake.“At least he’s a long-standing deputy. The only thing he stands to lose is
“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