Soon, Reeve arrived at an expensive mansion on the outskirts of the city. Based on the information provided by the chief commanderโs office, this would be the Tigerโs den. Inside one of the buildings, a buffed and tall middle-aged man sat on a chair covered with a tiger's pelt, crossing his legs as he smoked a cigar. The tigerโs pelt was an authentic one. The ferocious-looking tigerโs head was hanging above the man. Its vicious gaze looked like it was choosing its prey. It also granted the man a mighty and ferocious aura. The man there was the one who monopolized the entire funeral industry of LilyroseโLightning Tiger. Among all the gangster bosses in the underworld, Lightning Tiger was a strange one because he made money out of the dead. He was one of the most notorious figures and most of the mob bosses disliked him. His influence in the funeral industry fueled his arrogance. He looked down on those who refused to deal with him and he rarely participated in any ot
โCaptain Carter, please! Help me! Iโll give you all my money if you can just help me!โ Lightning Tiger knelt on the floor, begging. His men were also on their knees, shaking as they had messed with someone they could not afford toโthe God of War. Lightning Tiger had scattered the ashes of the God of War's good friend! He was bold enough to disregard the other gangster bosses in the underworld, even Alan Cummingham and Cronus could not threaten him. He had always maintained minimal respect for them but never allowed them to trespass into his territory and seize his business. However, when he realized what he had done, he felt chills running down his spineโan unprecedented fear! He messed with the youngest God of War in the countryโs history! One word from the man himself would get Tiger and his men executed on the spot! Reeve was unfazed no matter how Lightning Tiger begged. He said coldly, โThis is a direct order from the God of War. No one is allowed to alter or diso
โA guy in uniform and you think heโs from the chief commanderโs office? I can give you and your men a uniform each, does that make you soldiers?โ Frank laughed so hard that he teared up. After he wiped off his tears, he scoffed, โTiger, you are really a fool. Itโs just a little trick and it scares your soul out. Do you know who that man is? Heโs the stupid son-in-law of the Quint family.โ โItโs him?โ Lightning Tiger was surprised. โI have a picture of him. You can verify it if you want.โ Frank sent Lightning Tiger a picture of Kaze. Lightning Tiger then verified it with the workers at the funeral home. A while later, he got a reply. They were the same person! โFuck! He tricked me!โ Lightning Tiger was furious. Frank grinned and said, โSo, are you still going to him and kneel?โ โKneel his ass! I am Lightning Tiger, why would I kneel to a useless piece of shit!โ He almost became the laughingstock if he actually knelt before the useless son-in-law of a second-tier
โG-Grim Reaper?!โ Lightning Tiger was surprised to see the man. Chills ran down his spine instantly. Jeremiah Reaper, the man who killed Gabriel Black, Cronusโ strongest fighter. Lightning Tiger was horrified. His legs turned weak and he almost fell on his knees. Jeremiah extended his broken sword to Lightning Tigerโs neck and lifted his chin. It was just the tip yet it managed to stop Lightning Tiger from kneeling. โDonโt kneel here. Go kneel at the hospital. You still have half an hour left.โ Then, Jeremiah left. โI thought Frank said that guy is just some useless shit? But the Grim Reaper is here to deliver his message?!โ Lightning Tiger was confused. โBoss, you still have half an hour left.โ It was his manโs reminder that brought him back from his shock. โQuick! I have to go to the hospital now!โ Lightning Tiger darted out of his office and drove to the hospital like a madman. He managed to reach the hospital within the time limit. โHuh! Huh! M-Master
Lighting Tiger was shocked by Kazeโs words. โBut the Chapmans would never agree.โ The Chapman family had more than a hundred people living in Jade Estate, yet someone they hated wanted to erect a cenotaph next to where they lived. They would never allow it. โThen make the Chapman family move. Since the Jade Estate is ready, I just need to prepare my brotherโs cenotaph, and no need to waste time building another tomb for him.โ Jamesโ death anniversary was around the corner. Lightning Tiger was completely stunned by Kazeโs self-righteousness. He did not expect Kaze to be this tyrannical. Kaze planned to move the Chapmans away from the estate that they had been living in for generations so that he could use the place to erect Jamesโ cenotaph. It would be a huge humiliation to the Chapman family! Kaze then glanced at him and said, โBring some people over there to inspect the place and deliver my message to the top three familiesโฆโ โฆBelarus, Edward, and Flint, the he
โCenotaph!? You want to erect a cenotaph in Jade Estate, where hundreds of my family live?! What the hell is this, Lightning Tiger?! I dare you to say it one more time in my face and I will kill you right now!โ Even with his wealth of experience, Belarus was seething with anger. If a cenotaph was erected in the estate, then the Chapman familyโs ancestors would probably jump out from their graves to hold him responsible. โMaster Chapman, you are right. It is exactly what that person meant. I am not going to repeat myself,โ Lightning Tiger said. โOh and since all three of you are here, that person wants me to deliver a message.โ The three heads of families frowned and glared at Lightning Tiger. โThe message reads: Three days later will be James Whiteโs death anniversary. The Chapman family is to move out of the Jade Estate by then. On the day of the anniversary, all family members of the top three families, men and women, old and young, shall visit James Whiteโs grave and kne
Edward later gave another suggestion. Their hands were tied when it came to Jesse, but they could stir problems for Shangrila Group. Conflict could start from within. Even though they could not do anything to Jesse, the least they could do was give him something to think about. โSir, Lightning Tiger has conveyed your message to the top three families. โHe has surrendered all his personal and company assets. He even volunteered to lead his men to mourn for James on the anniversary of his death.โ Reeve updated Kaze at the hospital. โI see. Since he knows his place, I can spare his life for now.โ Kaze waved his arm and said, โIt doesnโt just stop with the top three families and Lightning Tiger. I want those who were involved in Shangrila Groupโs downfall to be there for Jamesโ death anniversary.โ โOf course. I will get Shane to uncover them all.โ Reeve had been with Kaze to Melrose, so he knew that Shane was one of Kazeโs minions now. It was time for the minion to do h
โItโs understood that your concert is held on the same day as the death anniversary of Mr. James White, the former chairman of Shangrila Group.โWe received word that Shangrila Group will organize a remembrance for James to celebrate him. โAre you holding the concert as part of the event, Taylor?โ The interview went on. Taylor responded, โMy concert is unrelated to that event. Itโs just a coincidence.โ It was far too much of a coincidence to be written off as chance.โCan I be blunt and ask you about the alleged abuse James committed on you that rocked the community two years ago?โ โI have nothing to say about that. I want to leave the past behind. Itโs time I move on.โ Taylor added with grace, โI have come back to the city where my nightmare first began because I have put the incident behind me.โ โShangrila Group faced public criticism two years ago and finally bankrupted, but the company has been restructured recently.โ The journalist asked, โDo you have anything
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