“That’s perfectly fine too. So long as you’re happy, you should have a say in the kind of life you want to live.” Kaze would not tell Leah what to do because it was her life. Leah was the master of her own destiny. “You’re the best. I feel relaxed around you. You won’t judge me.” Maybe Leah had lost her sense of self, being controlled by her mother. She would fall back to her usual habits when confronted with challenges. Eventually, she would lose her identity and the will to change everything. Every little thing would become an obstacle to her, but she would want to break free. “To be honest, we just met. I don’t have the right to tell you what to do. This is the way it should be. I’d be overstepping to ask more of you.” Kaze felt that Leah was being too strict with herself. “You’re right. My experiences shaped my personality.” Leah believed she should not be trivial. Kaze had a point about enjoying life. She should learn to say no. Leah was too afraid of hurt
“What do you want to eat?” Since Leah already understood the situation, explanation was no longer necessary. Kaze asked her another question instead. “I always had steak but I’ve grown tired of it. Why don’t we go somewhere else?” Leah was not a fan of the restaurant despite the menu frequently changing. She no longer enjoyed dining at the place because she had been eating there for as long as she could remember. “Then let’s go have a stroll. Maybe we can stumble upon a new restaurant or something.” Kaze liked strolling around the city. The dishes prepared by a grand restaurant were nothing short of delicious but they lacked sentimental value. Whenever he was away on a trip, he preferred to visit stalls or smaller restaurants operated by individual owners to enjoy the warmth and hospitality that one could never experience in a large establishment. The emotional value he felt when dining would certainly make the food taste better. “Sure. I have never really been outside
“Have you experienced something similar? Otherwise, why would you say something like that?” Leah was curious. Kaze always maintained a frosty demeanor that could push people away. However, his frosty demeanor was precisely what piqued her curiosity. She wondered what had happened in his past to shape him into the person he was today. “I’ve experienced my fair share of humanity and I can’t possibly put them all into words. It’s just some experience I gained from old times.” Kaze did not want to disclose his past. Whenever he thought of Riverbank, that woman would appear in his mind. Unfortunately, not everyone was reliable. Kaze did not want to dwell in the past but it was difficult to erase it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pick on your old scars. I’m just curious. I promise you I won’t ask again.” Leah apologized immediately when she noticed the changes in Kaze’s eyes. She wondered if it was something she said that made the air around him grow heavier. “It’s okay. It’
People who had the courage to travel were capable in their own way. However, not everyone could be a reliable figure. Kaze simply gave a piece of reminder but he did not want to terrorize her, so he had to make it clear so that the girl knew what she should do. “Sounds complicated. If I could travel, I would want to go on a solo adventure. Too bad my mother won’t let me do it. Besides, she has plans for me…” Leah was determined to break free from her mother’s control but she also knew that it would be difficult. The upcoming birthday party was a chance for her mother to showcase her to other families. Even if she ultimately did not marry someone from the Viper’s Den, she would marry into another powerful and wealthy family. In short, Katie would never spare her daughter, let alone allow her to travel the country alone. “Don’t think so much. Look, there’s still a stall open.” Kaze saw a well-lit signage at the alley, wondering if it was a place where they could get somet
The reason why the chief opened up a restaurant in a secluded alley was because he had stepped down from his previous position. To maintain the chance to practice his culinary skills, he set up the restaurant that targeted the wealthy and powerful. He might even meet customers who could appreciate his skills. The restaurant might not be well-known, but since it only served a selected audience, a reservation was mandatory. Walk-in customers were unlikely to get a seat at any time of the day. The signage in front of the alley served as a reminder but not many people knew it was actually a restaurant. Kaze walked inside because he saw the Viper’s Den symbol. Without the symbol, he would not walk into a secluded alley. Standing outside the opened wooden door, Kaze knocked on the brass knocker. Two knocks later, footsteps came rustling from within. He then took a step back; Leah did the same as well. The alley was secluded but the front of the restaurant was not exactl
“Here for dinner? What would you like to have?” The elderly man, Master Fuller, was surprised to see Kaze. He thought after stepping down from serving government officials, it would be difficult for him to meet powerful figures anymore. To his surprise, someone powerful arrived at his little establishment. “We’re hungry. We are just looking for something simple to eat,” Kaze said as he simply sat down at the table. The table was part of a big circular formation, surrounding a huge cooking space in the center, where hungry patrons could watch the chef cook. Kaze sat down at the outer ring of the table, granting him a clear view of the chef’s cooking station. Leah sat right beside him. The girl had been scanning the room from the moment she entered. The room was surrounded by many wooden sculptures coupled with old drawings. All the sculptures and drawings looked interesting. She wondered if they were all real. “This place feels great. I can visit whenever I have the ti
“I see. So that’s how this restaurant operates. It’s something new and interesting. I can bring my friends here next time,” Leah said specifically. She did not expect a small establishment would have such a unique way of serving customers and it was refreshing. “Just tell them what you want and they will prepare for you,” Kaze said. “I’m not particularly into anything right now. I don’t really have an appetite, so maybe something light?” Leah never had any favorite food. “If that’s the case, let’s just go with something casual,” Kaze said, with a hint of urgency as he was hungry. Master Fuller knew Kaze’s identity but he did not engage in a conversation because of Leah. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, appetizers were served. Kaze forked the cucumber and took a bite. A sweet taste filled his mouth with every crunch. “How is this cucumber made? It looks like it’s not seasoned but it's so sweet!” Leah was amazed by the taste. She got used to the exquisite cuisine
“Tell me, what do you think I added inside the tofu?” Master Fully asked confidently, assuming that the girl would never know the answer. When he made the tofu, he did not know what to add yet and simply wanted an original taste of the soybeans. Suddenly when he was grinding the soybeans, he had a spark of a thought and believed he should add something to enhance the flavor. It would save him the work to cook it when the tofu was formed. “It’s simple. Other than some salt, you also added some sauce. I believe you made the sauce yourself. It’s the sauce that makes the tofu so silky smooth. It feels like I’m eating a piece of cloud. It also has a unique fragrance when bitten.” Leah expressed her thoughts and then looked at Master Fuller with anticipation. Master Fuller was slightly surprised but on second thought, it only made sense. “You are quite a bright child. You did your homework,” he said. “When I was younger, I always messed around with the ingredients in the kitche
As they arrived, they saw a dozen expensive cars parked outside. The customer base was relatively stable as the establishment was targeted at the upper class. The people lining up at the club were young men and women of ordinary background. All were allowed inside Absolute Zero with an entrance fee. Since this would be a chance for ordinary people to meet and interact with the upper-class elites, they cherished it and tried their best to look good. Even movie producers and scriptwriters came to the club, seeking investments or a role in movie production. It was a shortcut to reach out to the upper crust after all. Yet they were just a bunch of fresh graduates with no resources and connections, so the club was their only chance at achieving something great. Dwight would never understand how rare the opportunity was, as he was narrow-sighted. He had never experienced power and wealth before, so he lacked the understanding of how things worked in society. “I never thought
With that in mind, Dwight checked his outfit. His black leather jacket brought out his height and wild side. He then observed Kaze. The latter was dressed casually. Dwight was worried that they would not be allowed into Absolute Zero because of their attire. Nevertheless, he could not let slip that he had never been to Absolute Zero. Without a word, Dwight led Kaze down the apartment building. Kaze could pick up on Dwight’s nerves. While in the elevator, Dwight could not stop straightening out his clothes. It was clear that he was nervous. Even so, Kaze said nothing and pretended not to notice. They got into the car and drove to an alley. The area was not huge, but there were stands selling street food. “The food is great here. Since it’s early, we can grab a bite.” Dwight was not being tight with money. As their destination was a bar, there was no need to get a proper meal. “I’ll get a skewer then.” Kaze did not have much of an appetite anyway. “Okay. I’ll or
“You’re the guest. I should be hosting you, but I don’t seem to be doing a good job.” Dwight knew he had to do better. “It’s okay. I don’t have much to do. It’s just a delivery anyway.” Kaze bought a lot of stuff online. All they had to do was wait for the delivery. Once the items arrived, they could head out. Dwight talked about taking him to a bar under the Viper’s Den’s umbrella. It was a great opportunity for Kaze to check out the scene. He had heard that the Wittersons were tied to all the Viper’s Den’s business operations.Kaze would not meet Edmund and Morris in person, but he would grasp all information related to them. Then, Kaze would stir things up between them and sit back while reaping the benefits. Kaze had it all planned out. He simply had to take his time in playing the long game. Nevertheless, it was important for him to remain discreet. At the very least, he should not show them what he was made of. It was easy to execute his plan when everybody
Kaze rose to his feet and took something out of his bag. Putting on his jacket, he was on his way out. Dwight was out of his room, too. He left his room for a glass of water and waited for Kaze to get out of the room after his nap. Dwight had a drink in the kitchen. He took an apple and chomped on it. Looking at the fruit on the table, Dwight grabbed a plate to arrange it neatly.He took out his phone to pass the time while waiting for Kaze. Kaze emerged from the room and saw Dwight. “You’re up at last. You’ve slept half the day away. Are you still tired? I can wait if you need to catch some sleep.” Dwight kept Herman’s memo to look after Kaze. “A little. I didn’t get any sleep last night. I was waiting to get on the plane.” Kaze took the red-eye flight yesterday. Dwight allowed time for Kaze to rest, knowing his travel schedule. “I know. Did you manage to get some good sleep? If you haven’t, you can go back to bed. I can grab some food for you.” Dwight’s plan
“Your main responsibility is to entertain Kaze. You will be rewarded for good work,” Herman said. Dwight nodded incessantly. “Thank you for thinking of me, Herman. I won’t forget this.” “I’d be grateful so long as you stay out of trouble. “Just focus on what you should do and take good care of Kaze.” Herman worried that Dwight might get ahead of himself and forget his primary duties. Dwight’s priority was Kaze’s well-being. The whole thing would be over if Dwight kept to himself and served Kaze until he was gone. There would be a problem if something were to happen. Without Edmund’s instructions, Herman would never have assigned a job to Dwight. It could be a good thing, though. At least, a job might keep him on the straight and narrow. “Relax. You can count on me,” Dwight said with glee.That was a nice surprise. Dwight did not see it coming. It was just incredible. Herman still could not shake off his worry. However, he had said his piece. It was pointless t
Herman’s smile vanished. His red, irritated skin was playing up. Due to alcohol in his system, Herman could not see straight. He had to grit his teeth to hold back the urge to retch. Herman was not one to drink. Yet, he would have to go through Edmund’s loyalty test every time, and he was reaching a boiling point. However, he understood that he needed to suck it up to gain Edmund’s trust. “You must be Herman. Mr. Witterson. Should I take the things to your car, or should I deliver them to your home?” asked a uniformed server who approached. “Put them in the car and get me a designated driver,” Herman replied. He headed to the lobby while propping himself against the wall. “Okay. There will be a driver out front, ready for your service.” The server tried to help Herman up, but was declined. Herman saw the cartons of alcohol and cigarettes in the lobby. Edmund had always been generous in giving out stuff like this. “These are from Mr. Witterson. You’re lucky to work for
“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