“The new mayor of Lilyrose will show the old guy the utmost respect?” Kaze looked at Trent with a pretentious smile. “Oh, really? Who is he? I know nothing about him.” He found Pete’s statement hilarious because he was the new mayor. “You’re cocky, young man. Who are you?” Trent grimaced. Pierce called Trent for two reasons. In a way, this was his way of apologizing to the Glitters and making up for walking away when Kaze scared him. He also wanted Trent to find out who Kaze was. Hence, Pierce left out the information that Kaze might be the new mayor. Heck, he did not even let Trent know anything about Kaze. Trent knew nothing about Kaze. Lyon said angrily, “You’re the son-in-law of the Quints, Kaze. You were lucky to be the chairman of Shangrila Group thanks to your wife’s help. “I don’t know how you managed to seek Johnson’s favor. So you have a friend in high places. “Do you think you’re untouchable? “I’ll be honest with you. Your connections and social stat
Everybody there was stunned. Um… It was bad enough that Kaze kept testing Trent’s patience. Now, he was reprimanding Trent as if he stood on higher ground. The young man, who was no more than 30 years old, was just a boy before Trent’s presence. The nerve of Kaze. Where did he find the courage to take jabs at the former mayor? The crowd was speechless. It was clear to them that Kaze did not know how to read the room. Trent smirked in rage. “I have walked this earth longer than you, young man. Who are you to tell me off?“I was the mayor of the city for twenty years, and the people love me. “The only thing I heard about you is your reputation as a mooching son-in-law of the Quints.“I don’t know why you think it’s appropriate for you to give me a dressing down.” Trent’s tone was flat. He had never met such an arrogant prick. Kaze smiled callously. “It’s just a nice reminder. “It’s your business whether you want to take my advice. “Don’t keep bringing up the
Apart from Kaze and Draco, everybody else in the villa pricked up their ears. They wanted to know Johnson’s response. Maybe Trent’s stern tone pressured Johnson for an answer. The latter did not keep the crowd waiting for long. Johnson replied eagerly, “Why do you ask, Trent?“No, I’m not his friend in high places.” The urgency in his tone gave the impression of his keenness to dissociate from Kaze. Mocking gazes fell on Kaze. “Yesterday’s news?” “Now you know the extent of Mr. Fuller’s influence. Your friend dropped you without hesitation.”“Who do you think you are to be rude to Mr. Fuller? You’re asking for it.” “Mr. Fuller can crush you without lifting a finger.” Lyon and members of the Four Ocean Commerce Guild were left frustrated since Kaze’s arrival. Finally, Trent broke the cycle. They attacked Kaze with taunts and jeers to blow off steam. Trent turned to Kaze and said callously, “What do you have to say for yourself?” He expected to see Kaze turnin
“What? You can’t?” Johnson’s response stirred an uproar. “Why? Kaze is just the son-in-law of the Quints. Yet, Mayor Brooks defied his teacher for him. Did I hear that right?” “Johnson didn’t punish Kaze for upsetting Mr. Glitter in his name and disrespecting Mr. Fuller. What is he thinking?” No one could figure out why Johnson would do such a thing. Kaze was just a loser who took his wife’s last name. Given Johnson’s steady rise in politics, he could just say the word to make Kaze pay. Even Trent could not wrap his head around it. No one expected Johnson’s shocking response. After reeling in from the shock, Trent blew up. “What’s the meaning of this, Johnson? “You can’t even handle a trivial matter. I can’t believe you were the mayor.” On the other end of the line, Johnson said patiently, “Anything to do with Mr. Lee is out of my hands, Trent. “I’d advise you to stay out of it too. “If you are not deeply involved, you can apologize to Mr. Lee. I believe Mr. L
“Johnson just hung up on you. Shouldn’t you learn your lesson by now, old man?” Kaze shook his head. Despite his age, Trent was stubborn and refused to admit he was wrong. “Hmph! Do you think I care about Johnson?” Trent said curtly, “He was only the mayor for a couple of years. He didn’t even get the hang of the job yet. “I’ll show you whose voice carries weight on the council.” Trent stubbornly thought Johnson was Kaze’s friend in high places. Johnson’s statement about not getting in Kaze’s business was just his way of washing his hands of the matter and humiliating Trent. Kaze was not powerful and well-connected as Johnson hinted. Otherwise, Kaze would not marry into an upper-middle-class family and take his wife’s last name. “I can say the word and make the Quints the public enemy, boy,” Trent threatened grimacingly. He would not let the matter go until Kaze yielded to him. Kaze furrowed his brows. He was disinterested in going around in circles with Trent.
The military had always been an extraordinary existence in Arcadia. Even the most prominent families would put their attitude down a notch in the face of the army. Trent’s heart skipped a beat when Draco admitted he was serving. Even Lyon frowned and observed Draco in silence. “Which branch of the military do you serve him, buddy?” Trent asked, even taking a more amiable form of address. Draco kept the vile attitude. “I serve Lilyrose Strategic Department. Just cut the crap and get to the point.” Lilyrose Strategic Department! He was from Lilyrose Strategic Department. Trent and Lyon’s hearts sank. Lilyrose Strategic Department governed the military in five states. The local council answered to Lilyrose Strategic Department, not the other way around. Lilyrose Strategic Department was prominent in the South River State too. Trent stared intently at Draco’s arrogant face as some bad times came to mind. As the mayor of Lilyrose for twenty years, Trent often got
Lyon tried to find out more about Draco before he made any decisions about the next move, but Draco did not even answer him. “Who do you think you are, talking to me?” With that, Draco strutted back and stood behind Kaze. Lyon and the others were surprised by Draco’s reaction. The man from Lilyrose Strategic Department seemed to assume Kaze as his leader. Who exactly was the useless son-in-law of the Quints? Lyon was a smart man who could read the room. He knew that before he identified Draco’s identity, it would be better to patch things up with him. As for what would come after this, it would be a matter for a later date. He took a deep breath and went over to Kaze. He bowed and nodded, saying, “Brother, I’m sorry to have offended you in any way. How about we put this little misunderstanding aside?” When the words escaped his mouth, Lyon was drowning in his own grievance. Since he was one of the martial artist Gareth Hornberg’s best students, and also affiliated w
Slap! “Don’t you have the Glitter family’s support? Where are your balls now?” Slap! Slap after slap, Kaze humiliated Lyon in the worst way possible. Slap after slap, Kaze exerted more strength, which caused Lyon’s face to swell. Lyon’s eyes were burning with the flames of rage and they were on the verge of erupting, but he managed to keep his fists to himself. “So you're this coward even when you have the Glitters behind you? You don’t even dare to raise your fist at me? I won’t have the excuse to kill you. How boring.” Kaze grew tired of slapping Lyon. He turned around and kicked Leigh in the stomach again. “Mr. Glitter, let’s continue talking about how you sent your men to thrash my wife’s car. How do you plan to settle that?” Leigh never thought he would be beaten up so badly. He was barely alive after all the torture and it grinded his intention to resist to nothing. He just wanted to get this over with and escape Kaze’s evil clutches. He weakly said, “Just t
Kaze’s move made Donovan’s intimidation and pressure seem excessive. His words left the three officers speechless, their eyes twitching. Kaze was right and they were trying to bait him into confessing. As for the evidence and testimony Donovan mentioned, nothing they had could actually pin Kaze or allow them to prosecute him. Donovan looked at Kaze for a moment and sighed. He said, “You know your way around the wall, which makes it worse after what you have committed. “I’m telling you now, Kaze Lee! Even if you call Jesus, he won’t save you for what you have done! You are done for!” Kaze chuckled and said, “Then can I get my phone call before I meet Jesus?” Donovan was left speechless once more as his eyes continued to twitch. No matter how much he tried to scare Kaze, it did not work. On top of that, Kaze insisted on making his phone call. Bam! Donovan slammed the table once more, shouting, “Kaze Lee, you are a suspect! Don’t even think about the phone call! You mi
“Great. Just great.” Kaze looked at Donovan with a hint of amazement and praise. “I have to say, you shouldn’t be a police captain and be a scriptwriter instead. The movies you scripted would sell like crazy. “However, since you’ve come up with your own deduction, can I also voice some of my questions?” Donovan looked at Kaze coldly without saying a word. Kaze did not care if he allowed, he said, “First, the same question, I have so many beautiful women around me, why would I be interested in an influencer who is a 3 or 2 to me, and would I even need to rape her? “Second, you said you’ve gotten a hold of all the witnesses and their testimonies, what about Snow Frost? Have you gotten hers? If you talked to her, you’d know that she was there and saw it when Mika tried to seduce me. She got upset, slapped her, and even canceled her on the spot. “I'd like to ask if the baseless claims you are using to press charges on me are the ones you believed to be true, or is this just how
“Not only that, Mika has PR in Ryokan and is a prominent figure in their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When her death made the news, Ryokan sent us inquiries about what happened. “You should know that as long as this case is ongoing, it will only snowball into a bigger mess and you will face a bigger disadvantage. I am giving you a chance to confess because of Draig. “If you don’t seize this chance, then you have no one to blame. When we get to the bottom of this, given the crimes that you have committed, you are likely to be executed right away. “Are you sure you want to throw the chance away?” Donovan got up, leaned forward slightly, and peered down at Kaze condescendingly. It was his usual interrogation method to pressure suspects. Usually, other than the stubborn suspects, the ordinary people would crumble under his intimidation. Kaze smiled. “You want me to confess? At least remind me what I have done. Why don’t you give me a little jolt? Maybe I can remember somethin
“Kaze Lee, after some investigation, we’ve already gotten to the bottom of this case. You threatened the victim at the Yemens’ party, claiming that you would cancel her entirely on the internet. “You said it yourself, right? Don’t deny it because we have at at least ten witnesses to prove that,” the officer said. Kaze pursed his lips. “So this is how the captain is planning to take ‘good care’ of me? If what I said can be used to press charges against me, Arcadia won’t even need that many officers. Anyone could do your job. We're no longer in ancient times, where mere words alone can convict someone of a crime.” The officer slightly pushed his glasses and asked, “So you are not confessing?” “Why should I confess?” Kaze chuckled and said, “I didn’t hurt anyone, or kill anyone. I live by my conscience, why should I confess? I am not guilty.” “Your conscience? How dare you say that?” Donovan bellowed. He slammed several documents on the table in front of Kaze and continued, “O
“Draig’s cousin?” Kaze looked at Donovan with interest. “I didn’t know he was such a guy with a big heart. I ruined his little plan and he still wants you to take good care of me? Are you sure it is what he asked of you, and not torment me, press charges on me, and make sure I get jailed for the rest of my life so that I won’t bother him anymore?” His tone was casual and flat. He was not affected by Donovan’s words. Donovan’s lips twitched helplessly. Kaze saw right through him and even echoed Draig's words, at least in terms of their meaning. When Draig found out Kaze was arrested, he called his cousin and instructed him to torment Kaze, even locking him up for life if possible. As for taking care of Kaze properly, not even an idiot would believe it. Donovan did not expect Kaze to remain calm even after being isolated for some time, cut off from all information and updates. He saw Kaze as an ordinary man, not a criminal who had experience in counter-interrogation. It
Kaze slowly opened his eyes, his mind already having calculated Aiden's next move. It was likely that Aiden would come to bail him and then “unintentionally” revealed that he was giving false testimony. Once it sparked a debate among the public and public opinion reached its peak, stirring up even more agitation, it would be even more difficult for the influential figures to intervene. Only then Aiden could easily crush Kaze like an ant and prevent him from making a comeback. Even Kaze approved of the skills and planning involved in this scheme against him. For someone who received an elite education from a young age, Aiden’s temperament and cunningness were beyond reach. “Creek.” Suddenly, the iron door of the interrogation room was opened from the outside. Three uniformed officers strode in. The leader of the three was the middle-aged man who brought Kaze in earlier. He went up to the table and glanced at the empty paper. He scoffed. “Kaze Lee, you’ve gotten time
Based on Kaze’s deduction, Mika’s death was planned on the day of the Yemens’ party. Ryna and Cyan were rude toward Kaze and when Mika saw him that night, conflict was inevitable. Given Kaze’s attitude, after Mika got under his skin, he would surely say something like cancel her online to threaten her. With that, the prerequisite for setting up this plan was fulfilled. Kaze got the motive and the power to do so. Therefore, in times of need, Mika could be pushed to the forefront as a sacrifice. Mika’s death pointed all the arrows at Kaze, making him a suspect or even the killer. In fact, the entire incident should be coordinated with another secret plan to make the chain of evidence more solid and clear. However, Aiden was offended and slapped by Kaze earlier, so he decided to retaliate as soon as possible. It was the reason why the seemingly flawless plan started to have cracks. Despite Aiden’s hasty nature in doing things, Kaze was actually impressed by the masterm
Lock instinctively took a step forward and said, “Ms. Quint, Ms. Frost, it’s a good deal. Given Mr. Krad’s power, he could easily get Kaze out. “One of you is Kaze’s wife; one of you is his assistant. You just can’t sit back and do nothing while Kaze gets sent to jail.” Worry consumed him and made him nervous. He lacked the power to save Kaze, but Aiden could and was willing to. The terms were not harsh and demanding either, but he neglected Darcy and Snow’s feelings. Noticing the ladies’ silence, Aiden continued, “Ladies, my terms are not harsh at all. It’s a good deal, for you and for Kaze. “Kaze can come back in one piece and we can sit down peacefully and talk over dinner. “For Ms. Quint, you and I might be able to reach an agreement regarding the land at Crown Tower; for Ms. Frost, consider it an explanation to the Frosts. Am I right?” The smile on his face looked sincere as if what he offered was purely to have dinner with the ladies without ulterior motives. Da
Aiden narrowed his eyes. He never thought Snow would still reject his brother after all that had happened. He shrugged and then said to Darcy and Snow with a smile, “I am proposing a trade for you ladies.” “A trade?” Darcy was slightly surprised. She asked, “What trade?” She knew Aiden was up to no good, but worrying too much would only slow her down. She wanted to find out what Aiden’s terms were for releasing Kaze.Snow did not speak but simply looked at Aiden. Aiden sensed the concerns from the ladies and it somehow aroused jealousy in him. What charms did Kaze possess to make these two ladies fall for him? Discarding the messing thoughts, Aiden said, “You two are aware of the current situation. Based on the current evidence, Mika took her own life. “However, she’s a PR in Ryokan and her death might cascade into some problematic issues. As for how big it will snowball depends on Ryokan’s reaction. “You should know that I am quite close with the Ryokanians. If I sp