Kaze smiled pretentiously. โAre you still trying to recruit me, Chief Hill?โRobin hung his head low in shame and replied, โI wouldnโt dare.โ It finally dawned on him why Kaze would not accept his offer. Kaze even kept things hush-hush to spare him the embarrassment. However, Robin mistook Kazeโs intention as arrogance. It was true. Robin was unfit to engage in a fight with Kaze. Kaze was more powerful in strength and rank. โRise,โ Kaze uttered indifferently, not putting the blame on Robin. Robin was taken aback, but he quickly responded, โThank you for overlooking my mistakes.โ He rose to his feet. The members of the execution hall stayed in position, their faces pale. They were scared. Just minutes ago, they taunted and mocked Kaze. They had insulted the branch leader. If only there was a hole in the ground they could sink into. โSlap yourselves ten times before you can get up.โ Kaze directed the comment at the execution hall members. He pointed at the
Robin fell into contemplation before uttering, โI know what to do. โBring me Ms. Delmoreโs trusty sword.โ A member retrieved Hannahโs sword and handed it to her respectfully. โCome on.โ Kaze turned on his heel and left River Watcher Inn together with Hannah and Collier. As Kaze disappeared from the building, Robin sighed. โI didnโt expect the Chief to appoint a moocher to be the branch leader.โ Robin knew that the revelation of Kazeโs identity would be a total shocker. Kaze took Hannah and Collier to Herbal Spring and wrote them a prescription. Hannah suffered internal injuries from Robinโs attack, and Collier sustained mental trauma from Robinโs music. Though the injuries were not serious, they were not in the best shape. Recovery would take time. Medicine could only do so much. While waiting for the medicine, Collier glanced at his phone and said, โThe story is out, Kaze. Siberian attempted to kill Robin, and the Roads died protecting him.โThere is nothing abou
โThe family of ingrates!โThey have some nerve to threaten and manipulate me.โPhoenix was livid. She, a senior member of the Ridgesouth Quints, had always been superior and the center of attention. No one would defy her. Phoenix believed Hectorโs family would not rebel against her. However, Kaze and Darcy had been nothing but a menace since her arrival in Riverbank. Kaze even put her behind bars for a few hours. Phoenix had never been so humiliated. She had had enough. The other family members in the South River State kept to themselves, not wanting to be at the firing end. Phoenix had dragged two family members out to the corridor to punish them for saying something she did not like. They could still hear the echoes of the slapping sound. Anxiety washed over the ward. Joan and her family were desperate. With Phoenixโs help, Joan finally seized Sky Ocean Corporation for her own, only to be blindsided by Perfect World Group and the Riverbank council. The corpora
Phoenix uttered indignantly, โThatโs fresh coming from Kent. โDidnโt you tell them that you were there on my behalf?โIโm a senior member of the Ridgesouth Quints. Canโt they just hand the rights to use the land to us?โ Dark said resentfully, โAccording to the Riverbank council, they only answer to Darcy, not the Ridgesouth Quints.โ โOh, brilliant. Just brilliant.โ Phoenix smirked furiously. โKent has no respect for me. The Westeros Synders will pay for this!โWhatโs the situation like in Lilyrose? What does Perfect World Group have to say about this? Donโt tell me only Darcy can handle the business deals?โ Dark grimaced hard. โMaโam, when I said that I was representing you, I wasnโt even allowed into the premises.โ โฆHumiliated, Phoenix froze. As tension rose, Phoenix jolted to her feet exasperatedly and slammed the table. โThatโs pushing it!โ With Phoenix seething in rage, some family members had ideas of their own. Phoenix had been acting high and mighty, looki
Though it was infuriating that Kaze cost Darcy her job at Sky Ocean Corporation, Hector was willing to give Kaze another chance for some reason. He was curious whether Kaze was telling the truth. Hector had been taking the calls since yesterday while keeping Agnes out of the loop. โKaze was right.โ Hector looked at Kaze with a mix of emotions, and there was one thing he did not understand. โI just donโt get how he got Perfect World Group and Mayor Synder to follow through with his instructions.โ It was a debt and project worth tens of billions.Even if Kaze had ties to Perfect World Group and Kent, it was a big personal favor to ask. Hector could not figure it out. Agnesโ jaw opened, and she glanced at Kaze before tugging at him. โHave a seat, Kaze. Have you had breakfast? Come. Do you want milk with your cereal?โ She was always quick to adapt to the situation. Her attitude toward Kaze took a 180 turn. Agnes was not one to reflect on herself. She did not care what Ka
โYouโre finally getting brighter,โ Hector said with a soft sigh. When Darcy became the branch head of the Quints, Agnes was the happiest because she thought the family had hit the jackpot. She foolishly thought her familyโs status would surge, which fueled her arrogance along the way. Now, after what had happened, she finally woke up and saw the truth. โWhat else do you know other than mocking me in my face?โ Agnes glared at her husband. Hector said helplessly, โI just want you to see things clearer and if your demands are too much, Madam Phoenix might not agree to them. She might even forfeit the negotiation. โAfter all, Sky Ocean Corporation belongs to Darcy and itโs her blood and sweat, not Madam Quintโs. So, even if the company goes bankrupt, she has nothing to lose.โ Agnes pondered for a moment and realized her husbandโs words made sense. Fear caught up to her immediately. She quickly said, โKaze, then letโs not make so many demands. Letโs just appoint Darcy as the
The group of five strode into the living room. Looking at Dark, who exuded the same ominous aura as her daughter, Shadow, Agnes, who had been advising Kaze on how to negotiate with Phoenix, shuddered and shrank back in fear. The anger on her face was quickly replaced by a timid and flattering smile. โMadam Dark? What brings you here? Welcome to our humble abode!โ Dark served Phoenix, so every member of the Quints in the South River State showed her the same respect as the elder of the family. After showing a flattering smile at Dark, Agnes turned around to her husband with furrowed brows and bellowed, โHector, what are you doing there? Go prepare tea for our guests! โMadam Dark basically grew up with Madam Quint, they are as close as sisters! If we donโt serve her properly, we might not be able to make a stand in Riverbank anymore!โ She then turned back to Dark and said respectfully, โMadam Dark, ladies, this way, please. Have a seat and weโll prepare the best tea we have
The other three experts of the Quints scoffed as they stared at Darcy. Darcy might be more beautiful than them but she would have to lose one of her legs. A beautiful cripple would be an interesting scene for them to enjoy. โWhat?! One of Darcyโs legs?!โ Hector and Agnes were shocked by Darkโs words. Sky stepped up to express his dissatisfaction, saying, โWhat did Darcy do wrong? Why are you people punishing her? โEven if Darcy did something wrong, breaking one of her legs is too much! Are you people savages? How can you set up such an inhuman punishment in the familyโโ โSlap!โ Before he could finish, Dark darted forward and slapped Sky in the face. โIgnorant boy! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? Are you deaf? I have already announced Darcy Quintโs punishment! Do you not understand English? โSavage? Who are you calling savage? As the branch head of the Quints, Darcy colluded with outsiders to harm the head of the family. Breaking one of her legs i
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a cafรฉ. 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
โAlright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.โ Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. โYou need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. โYou need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. Youโve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. โYou need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Donโt be led around by the nose.โ Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. โDonโt worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,โ Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. โWhat have become of you? Did they do something to you? โDid you really betray Kaze?โ 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 Kazeโs 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. โWhy did you send me an address?โ Leah went straight to the question. She had been equipping herself with knowledge before
Snow could not believe her eyes. Katie suddenly went quiet and behaved like the CEO she was.However, Katie did not look like she was right in the mind earlier. โWhatโs going on? She seems to have gone insane.โ Snow turned to the warden, still digesting the change. Katie had lost touch with reality before the Viperโs Den did anything to her. โHow did this happen? She has been taking her meals. Just days earlier, she nagged about getting out because she was worried about her daughter. As usual, we didnโt respond to her requests.โ The warden found the whole thing peculiar too. Just a few days ago, Katie demanded her release. Now, she kept to herself and abided by the rules. Out of the blue, Katie went nuts. Things had gotten complicated. Snow wanted to keep Katie behind bars due to her betrayal. However, Kaze decided against pursuing the matter for Leahโs sake. Katie would be let go soon enough, but she would lose her job at the Northborn Group. Katieโs presence woul
It was quiet in the office. Snow sorted the last bit of paperwork before picking her head up in exhaustion. Her initial plan was to delegate the tasks. However, Katie was controlling. Previously, she personally oversaw many matters. Snow could not distribute the responsibilities because the employees had no experience in handling them. They came to Snow for every tiny, little thing, and Snow really got her hands full. Despite her frustration, Snow could let things go as Katie was locked up. โI should pay her visit.โ Snow decided to see Katie. Some things should not be left unsaid. Leah would be working for the Northborn Group soon, and the mother and daughter should meet to tie up loose ends. The truth would put Leah to shame, and her guilt would stop her from ever betraying Kaze. After a quick bite, Snow drove to the prison. Katie was furious when she was imprisoned. She was one step away from victory. She was so close to leaving Butterworth to head to Westeros
โWhy do you want to sell the properties? Do you need money? Donโt you have some saved?โ Joey had a good understanding of Leahโs finances since she ran all the paperwork. โMy mother is being held, and I need money to ask favors. Maybe I can get her out.โ Leah was not thinking much. Money could always be replaced, but not her motherโs freedom. โDonโt be silly. This is not the way to go.โ Though Joey did not have the details, she observed that things were not as simple as Leah thought. Kaze was safe now, but the fact that Katie had betrayed Kaze and revealed his whereabouts remained unchanged. Katie had broken the Viperโs Denโs rules. Even if she got out, she would be a wreck. With Snow running the Northborn Group, Katie would remain a failure. Either way, Katie would not get away with it. Even if Leah offered all her assets, Katieโs situation would not change. It was a waste of money and resources for Leah to save her mother. Nothing would come out of it. โBut I
โGive me an answer. Are you taking the job? If you are, you should sort out your affairs. Donโt bring your personal feelings to work.โ Snow was not the type to go easy on fragile women. If Leah did not have what it took, she could be forced to leave the company. Nevertheless, Katie had left a lot of assets to Leah. Even without work, Leah could very well survive. The girl would have trouble keeping the wealth, seeing that she was without power or connections. If Leah had a job, she would have the resources to hold onto her assets. Leah had seen the best and worst of mankind. She was once the center of attention, and now, everybody avoided her. It dawned on Leah that it was over for Katie. If Leah could not even keep a job, she would lose everything. โI didnโt know things would happen.โ Leah never thought that Katie was capable of stabbing Kaze and her in the back. The thought of betrayal put Leah in distress. Kaze was a great guy who helped Leah a lot. Feeling ete
Leah got dressed and was ready to leave, but she did not know who to turn to. She thought about going to her wealthy friends to see if they could uncover anything through their connections. However, Leah could not get a hold of them. It dawned on Leah that loyalty would fade when power was gone. Even though Katie was just missing, intel spread around Butterworth very quickly. These people must have found out and have chosen to stay away. Leah had always been treated like royalty. Nobody had ever avoided her like the plague. Nevertheless, she had not been in touch with these friends since her injury. Now, in her attempt to contact them, she could not reach them. โWhy is this happening? My good friends have gone MIA, and Iโm getting silence from those who have been trying to connect.โ Sitting on the couch, Leah looked out the window in despair. She tried to seek help with her motherโs search, but her efforts were futile. She could do nothing for her mother. All al
โI have to work hard starting today. But before that, I have to get some sleep.โ Snow remembered that Kaze punished her to get some sleep. He said her face looked tired and pale, signs of how hard she had been working. It felt great being cared for. It was because of his kindness, Snow fell for Kaze uncontrollably. Yet she understood not all things were meant to be. After she returned home, she went to sleep immediately without talking to anyone. She only woke up in the afternoon after a comfortable and easy sleep. Next, she would have to work on many things, first being taking over Northborn Group. Katieโs disappearance had the company shaken, but it gave many others a chance. They tried to calm their subordinates down and contact the higher-ups for more information, hoping that they could replace Katie as the new CEO. Little did they know, their preparations would eventually fall short. Snow and her secretary arrived at Northborn Group in the afternoon, and her a