On the other hand, Simona was not that bright. Panicked, the woman cried and looked at Everett, begging, “Mr. Techman, please save me. I helped you a lot…” “Bump!” Suddenly, Zach broke free from the suited men behind him and headbutted Simona in the chin. Simona cried in agony as Zach landed on her. The man and woman twisted and twirled on the floor, looking absolutely miserable. “Ouch! It hurts! It hurts!” Zach also cried in pain as he hugged his head. Everett, whose gaze turned sharp when Simona spoke, returned to normal after Zach interrupted her. Kent’s expression darkened. He knew Zach was simply acting but he could not do anything. He raised his hand and said, “Embarrassing fools. Take them away!” Zach and Simona were taken away by the suited men. Their absence ended the little interlude. “Mr. Techman, you are a man of many solutions. I bet it’s because you’ve been here in Riverbank long enough,” Kent said with a darkened expression. Even as the mayor, he
Everett’s grudging eyes fixated on Kent. He never thought Kaze was that important to Kent, to the point that Kent would go to such an extent to protect him. He initially thought of pressuring Kent, hoping that it could scare him off. Yet he was forced to admit that he once again underestimated Kaze and his value to Kent. His expression shifted multiple times and ultimately gave in to the thought. He nodded at Kent and said, “Mr. Mayor, you are just and fair, why would I question your methods? “If you said Kaze Lee is innocent, then he is. Well then, I guess luck is not on my side today. As for my son, I will take him back and give him a proper lecture so that he won’t be a terrible bully and a menace to society in the future.” Upon hearing Everett’s words, most of the people in Herbal Spring breathed a sigh of relief. One of them was a gangster boss who reigned the underworld for decades; the other was the mayor who governed over the city. The confrontation between the
As he regained his composure, Kent spoke with Albert normally. He already saw Ryken, the commander of the Flying Dragons standing up for Kaze before, so Albert was not much of a surprise this time. As for Kaze’s true identity, he had a lot of guesses lately and he just did not want to make it verbal. “Kaze, Everett Techman is more than meets the eye.” Kent looked at Kaze and said, “When I became mayor, I tried to go after the gangster bosses and kingpins of the underworld to prove myself, so I did some research on that man before. “However, among all the gangster bosses and kingpins that I’ve researched, Everett Techman is the only one I cannot figure out. “I know you are focusing on dealing with the affairs of the Viper’s Den, so I don’t want the conflict to escalate between you and him, at least not now and not directly.” His expression looked serious. As the mayor of Riverbank, he must at least have an idea about the power distribution of the underworld. Kent had h
“I’ll go.” When Albert saw Kaze’s eyes, he quickly volunteered himself. “I haven’t been in action for a while now and I’m actually here in Riverbank for some excitement.” Judging from his frivolous reaction, Kaze knew the young man did not take tonight’s match, or rather the opponent, seriously. Kaze said, “If you are volunteering, then I have to remind you that you shouldn’t underestimate your opponent. Jude Gwake has a lot of hidden tricks under his sleeve. Don’t be careless, or else your reputation will go kaput.” “Got it.” Albert trusted Kaze unconditionally. It was Kaze’s advice that made him take the matter seriously. Miru saw the little interaction between them and it surprised her. She knew how proud her cousin could be. He was deployed to the foreign battlefield when he was young and achieved many great deeds. He was promoted to chief commander of the South River Strategic Department in his early thirties. Such achievement was something to boast about for lif
Kaze followed the guide to the boxing ring, where the match was held. The boxing ring was huge, located in a spacious room that resembled an indoor stadium. The audience seats were almost full already. Hundreds of supporters from both sides took up the audience seats, adding up to over a thousand. The atmosphere was loud and noisy as they cursed and shouted at each other. Both sides hoped that the opposite would just surrender or drop dead. The tension in the air built up rapidly, turning the indoor stadium into a powder keg. People who were not used to loud noises might be overwhelmed by the sheer volume. The fiery tension could pull one’s nerve, bringing out all the negative emotions in one. The floor of the boxing ring was covered with blood already. The match started at 7.30 P.M. and a few rounds had already gone by. Two men were fighting each other in the ring at the moment. One of them only had a brass knuckle equipped on his fist, while the other wielded a sw
The mysterious fighter named Al in the right, albeit already winning a few rounds and boosting the morale of Hannah’s supporters, did not frighten Jude at all. Jude knew this was but the start of a long battle. He still had a powerful trump card waiting to be revealed. As for his opponent, Hannah and Collier, only Hannah was worth his time to take her seriously. Collier might be the son of the late chief, Newell Ettinger, and also a powerful one, but he was not a threat. Now that Hannah was hurt and could no longer fight, the match was as good as over! Suddenly, something happened in the ring. Albert, who had been fooling around for the past few rounds, dashed forward and appeared behind his opponent. He threw a punch with the brass knuckle at the man’s back, landing a powerful blow. The man spat blood when the punch landed. Seeing the scene, the audience erupted once again with curses and shouts. The female agents on both sides were deeply infatuated with Albert af
The afternoon was probably Buffy’s most tormented time in her entire life. There was no news from Kaze and Jude was already celebrating his pre-victory. She felt despair, helpless, and did not know what to do. Even being in a noisy place, her thoughts drifted away. Fortunately, when she finally saw Kaze, she returned to normal as her concerns vanished. She thought Kaze had perished after getting no updates from him. Now that Kaze came back to her in one piece, she felt like she regained an important part of herself. Kaze roughly understood what she had been through. With a hint of guilt, he said, “Sorry, I forgot to call you earlier. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Are you hurt? How did you get away from them?” Buffy checked Kaze from top to bottom and realized he was unscathed. Feeling happy and unbelievable at the same time, she asked, “What happened to Casius?” “Casius?” Kaze chuckled and mysteriously said, “You will find out soon.” Buffy had no idea about Cas
“Nevermind. I got used to it anyway. I shouldn’t have unrealistic expectations for a bumpkin like you.” Hope grunted at Kaze’s words, trying to save face. She feared that Kaze might expose the recording of her admitting she wanted Jude dead.Kaze was a wild card and he would do anything as he saw fit. “What’s the matter, Kaze?” Buffy sharply caught the unusual reaction on Hope’s face when she faced Kaze and she asked him what happened. Kaze chuckled. “It’s nothing. If she makes you do whatever thing you don’t like and tries to be the evil stepmother to you, just tell me. A villain needs to be punished by another villain. I am the stronger villain in this instance.” “Kaze, you!” Hope pointed at Kaze, her teeth clenched in frustration. However, under his frosty gaze, she forced herself to swallow her words and slowly withdrew her hand. Seeing the scene, Buffy was more surprised than ever. Hope was an arrogant woman who could even drive Jude mad, yet she behaved like a
“Just make yourself at home here. Let me know if you need anything. Dwight will be there for you.” Edmund could tell that Kaze and Dwight were tight. He could play this to his advantage. Though Kaze refused to disclose his motives, Edmund kept him under surveillance. Nothing escaped his eyes. With that in mind, Edmund felt his worries melting away. “Thank you, Mr. Witterson. I was sent here at the last minute. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so lucky to have met you.” Kaze seemed intent on bonding with Edmund. He sucked up to Edmund. Most importantly, Edmund no longer suspected him, and that was the reason Kaze accepted the invitation to stay. All Kaze had to do now was reassure Edmund. Some things were not worth stressing over. Dwight quietly enjoyed his drink, oblivious to the state of things. Sparks were flying earlier, and everything seemed fine again. Maybe it was all in his head. “You need to take good care of Kaze, Dwight. He’s our guest,” Edmund stressed. “Do
It was all clear to Edmund at this point. He stroked Clarice’s hair tenderly, feeling sorry for what she was going through. She should be getting better care. Yet, she was often neglected. Life at the Geofrey household had not been good for Clarice. Without Edmund’s pull, he would not be able to keep Clarice’s father in line. “You can be a bit of a handful, but you should do you. I’ll always have your back.” Edmund’s heart went out to Clarice. He was also worried about not raising her right. He could always look out for Clarice. However, there was always that fear that he could not be there for her in time. “I knew you’d help me. I don’t think I can go home just yet.” Clarice knew her father too well. It would take a while before her father calmed down. Besides, Edmund would stand by her through and through. Her father would not say a thing. Clarice understood that fact a long time ago. She would run to Edmund at any sign of trouble. “Go with the housekeeper. Feel
Everybody turned their attention to Dwight. Sensing danger, Dwight could feel chills creeping down his spine. “Slow down, tiger,” Kaze said. He grabbed a napkin for Dwight to wipe his mouth. Kaze’s behavior raised eyebrows. Despite Ryan’s outburst, Kaze carried on without a care. Kaze was more than he put out to be. Edmund looked at Kaze with admiration. He valued a talent like Kaze if the latter’s loyalty were with him. Kaze conducted himself with composure in the face of pressure. The underlying tension eased up due to Dwight’s little episode. Ryan looked at Dwight begrudgingly. Here he thought that Dwight would keep to himself, but he screwed up anyway. Dwight needed boundaries. Sure enough, Ryan could see why Dwight could never earn any respect. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” With all eyes on him, Dwight felt bad and explained himself. Edmund was not that upset anymore. He looked at Kaze to see what he had to say. There was something about Kaze. Howev
“Focus more on eating and less on talking at the dinner table.” Kaze was concerned that Dwight would get on Edmund’s nerves. It would be the end of Dwight. “What’s wrong? Have I done something wrong?” Dwight was still oblivious to his fault. “No. Mr. Witterson wanted us here to ask me some questions. If you answer them all, there really is no point in me being here.” Kaze knew how to handle Dwight. He could get Dwight to shut up without much explanation. “Oh, I get it. You’re the boss.” Dwight was on his best behavior. A white table runner was laid across the long table in the dining room. A variety of delicious food had been set out on the table. There was a beautiful centerpiece display, too. Edmund, Kaze, and the others approached the table and exchanged pleasantries before taking their seats. Seated at the head of the table, Edmund looked at Kaze on his left-hand side. “I hope the food is to your liking. The chef can prepare something else if you have a
Ryan could not shake off a strange feeling. If Kaze were the Butterworth Branch chief’s trusted aide, he would have settled down in the city. However, Kaze appeared to be a free man. Life did not seem to get him down. Since Kaze enjoyed staying in hotels, he was not a fan of being restrained. However, Kaze’s motives for being in Westeros were unknown. Word on the street was that the Butterworth Branch was going after the Westeros Branch. Not knowing how the Butterworth Branch operated, Ryan believed he should not ask too many questions. He could only keep watch over Kaze. Dwight played a mobile game until his phone battery was out. He then chose to head outside. Seeing that Kaze and Ryan were taking a stroll, Dwight approached them. “What are you guys talking about?” Dwight asked out of curiosity. Unbeknownst to him, his participation interrupted the probing. The grin on Kaze’s face widened when Dwight came closer. “We were just chatting. “Since Dwight is
Edmund was curious enough about Kaze to make him stay. Kaze’s plan worked pretty well. Dwight was glad. He assumed that his flattery pleased Edmund enough to score a free dinner with the big man. Edmund took Ryan with him. Kaze turned to Dwight, his eyes reflecting gratitude. Sure enough, Dwight was the perfect sidekick. “Why are you staring at me?” Dwight was oblivious that he had upset Edmund, though it was not a bad offense. Edmund thought nothing of Dwight. The latter was just an expendable minion. He could just transfer Dwight out and make him leave the Viper’s Den if he was too much of an eyesore. All Edmund had to do was say the word. Ryan left the living room with Edmund and ascended the stairs. He spoke in hushed tones to gauge Edmund’s intentions. “Should I get Dwight out? He’s rude.” Ryan did not expect Herman to put Dwight on airport pick-up duty. Alas, Kaze responded well to Dwight, and they hit it off. Ryan was baffled as to why Kaze and Dwig
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