“Deputy Chief Gwake!” As Jude swaggered in with his hands behind his back, other than a few, most of the people were surprised. The identity of deputy chief of the South River Branch still carried weight in Riverbank. Behind him was an expressionless Alfonso, the ex-branch chief of the Butterworth Branch. The two of them must be up to something. “So this is Deputy Chief Gwake?” Before Jude could speak, Draig stepped up and peered down at the man. “I am Draig Tenby from Uleania. My father is Birch Tenby, the grandmaster of the Uleania Martial Arts Society.” “Oh? You’re Grandmaster Tenby’s son?” Jude had heard of the name and was willing to step down out of respect for the man. He nodded politely. “I see you know who you are dealing with.” Draig’s arrogance soared as he said, “Cyan is my friend. No one can take her away today. Since Deputy Chief Gwake has stepped in, I’ll let your chauffeur go for the disrespectful things he said earlier.” He then lifted his hand to
“Yeah!” Rafael grinned. He attentively stepped up and bowed to Jude, saying, “Deputy Chief Gwake, it’s that woman! Her name is Cyan Yemen! She’s a bold one! Given your identity…” “Slap!” Before he could finish, Jude slapped him in the face. “What identity? What identity could a normal old man have? So what if this young lady disrespects me? There are a lot of people in this world who disrespect me, should I go after them one by one? “You, on the other hand, used my name and bullied others, causing me problems and tarnishing my reputation. I just asked you to drive me around, I don’t even know you that well! “You bastard! Apologize to the young lady right now!” Jude slapped Rafael in the face back and forth as he scolded him, even kicking him to the floor. He was indeed an old fox, knowing when to put his dignity away. He disregarded his image and indirectly surrendered. He might look agitated but he was able to cut ties with Rafael with just a few words, hence shiftin
“Thank you, Draig! If not for you, I’ll be in danger!” Cyan breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes at Draig showed brazen admiration. She believed only a man like Draig was worthy of her attention. On the other hand, Kaze was not even worthy to be a slave to Draig and he refused to give up, persistently trying to get her attention. Then, Cyan looked at Snow and asked, “Snow, you saw how amazing Draig was. Who else in Riverbank can make the deputy chief of the South River Branch apologize to me with just a few words? Even the Riverbank Seven can’t do it. “For your own safety, I think you should let Draig protect you. Don’t just get some random John Doe from the streets! You are putting yourself at risk!” She had a frivolous glance at Kaze when she spoke to Snow. Draig helped her and saved her face, so she wanted to return the favor by matchmaking him with Snow. Snow’s expression turned ashen. She disliked how Cyan belittled Kaze and aggrandized Draig. “Cyan, I told you Ka
Unfortunately, the influencers knew that a man like Draig would never be interested in them, the common ones. “Only a man like Draig is worthy of our love! Some men aren’t even men!” “Yeah. He didn’t even speak a word, what a coward! I don’t even know what Ms. Frost sees in him.” “What a coward. He doesn’t even dare to speak up in front of Draig. Is he even capable of protecting Ms. Frost?” The influencers belittled Kaze once more to flatter Draig. They looked at Kaze with contempt, like he was the slug in a drain. As for Kaze, he simply ignored all of them, refusing to waste his time on some random women. Cyan noticed Draig had stepped down, so she, too, did not want to force Snow. She said, “Stop it, you guys. Since Draig has decided, we should respect his decision.” Her contempt for Kaze was similar to her friends. However, since Snow had chosen Kaze, Cyan felt it was inappropriate to dwell on the topic. Cyan strongly believed Kaze was a troublemaker. She even pl
Kaze shook his head and then walked off alone. “Branch Leader!” “Branch Leader!” As soon as Kaze came out, Jude and Alfonso, who had been waiting for him, came over immediately. The two of them were prominent figures in Riverbank and Butterworth, yet they stood before Kaze like a humble servant, looking scared and cautious. What Cyan and the others did not notice earlier were the faint palm prints on their faces. Though not as obvious after some treatment, a closer look at it would be frightening. Kaze glanced at them and frivolously asked, “What’s the matter? Coming back for revenge so soon? Not happy about what happened last night? I’m alone now and you guys set an ambush for me?” His words left the two old men stunned, their smiles frozen. The air suddenly felt awkward. Jude quickly said, “Branch Leader, please don’t joke with us. I accepted my fate wholeheartedly since last night and I don’t have any complaints, let alone setting up an ambush for you.” “Really?”
As Kaze expected, Alfonso was indeed afraid of being abandoned after he served his purpose of cleansing the Butterworth Branch. He was afraid that once he completed his task, Kaze would kick him away to calm the raging agents down. If Kaze had such intention, given Alfonso’s current situation, he could not do anything but accept it. Fortunately, Kaze did not have such plans. “Fine. Let’s go to Juan.” Kaze nodded and gestured at them to lead the way. “This way, Branch Leader!” Jude and Alfonso bowed respectfully, then adopted a gesture of invitation before leading the way forward. It was then that Natalie, Cyan’s assistant, who was sent to fetch wine from the car, stepped out and saw the shocking scene, leaving her speechless. Jude and Alfonso were frightened by Draig but the two of them remained prominent figures. Yet she saw them bowing and nodding in front of Kaze, acting like they were his loyal followers. Natalie was arrogant but not stupid. Connecting the s
“Branch Leader?!” Juan was also shocked, but he quickly regained his composure and said, “Master! Master Lee is not just my savior, he’s the benefactor of my entire lineage! He practically gave me a second life! He’s like my parents reincarnated!” He looked proud when he described Kaze as if calling a young man master was the proudest thing he could do. Little did others know, Kaze did help Juan expand The Oracle’s Codex of the 16 Cosmic Keys to 32 keys. Juan had been working on deciphering the keys for some time now. The more he studied, the more he realized his knowledge of The Oracle was ridiculous and a bunch of bullshit. Yet even with the bullshit, his lineage was extended for multiple generations. He was excited the more he learned because he knew that the new keys that he got from Kaze would only make his lineage stronger in the future. Alfonso barely reacted to Juan’s words but Jude was shocked and jealous. Something must have happened between Kaze and Juan be
Kaze had a wonderful meal at Emerald Bull Palace. The dishes prepared by the chef were amazing. “Branch Leader, with this cup of tea, I propose a toast.” Jude got up with a cup of tea in his hand and proposed a toast. Kaze did not drink alcohol, so the others dared not consume it either. He picked up the cup for a sip and then continued eating while waiting for Jude to speak his true intention. He knew Jude had something in his mind. Jude then bowed and said, “Branch Leader, Alfonso and I are here today at Emerald Bull Palace to discuss how we should apologize to you. “As for other ulterior motives, after yesterday, I have gotten rid of them. From today onward, I will serve you wholeheartedly. “As for Buffy, I have also apologized to her. I used my connection to transfer her mother to the best rehabilitation center in Westeros. Also, from today onward, Buffy will be the head of the Gwakes. She will have the power to decide every affair in the household. “Both my fat
“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