Now that Max kneeled before Kaze, Yuri no longer wanted to get into it with Kaze. However, Kaze walked ahead without looking at Yuri. Standing still, Kaze stared at Bernard, Jack, Peter, and the members who withdrew their membership from Lilyrose Commerce Guild. “Mr. Lee.” Close to a hundred members acknowledged Kaze’s presence. Darcy’s eyes welled up. Once upon a time, the public saw Kaze as the loser who mooched off his wife. Now, Lilyrose’s finest entrepreneurs showed respect to Kaze. “You are so badass today, babe,” Darcy murmured while covering her mouth. Not catching his wife’s remark, Kaze said with a smile, “Thank you for the honor. I have met many friends in Lilyrose’s business scene.”“We’re just doing our part,” the group answered. Kaze waved his arm, and the chatter quieted down. Kaze said, “I humbly seek a favor to rejoin Lilyrose Commerce Guild.” Huh? Everybody was taken aback by Kaze’s request. The members including Bernard, Peter, and Jack dec
“Huh?” Yuri slumped to the ground, his eyes losing luster. It never occurred to him that Kaze would forcefully boot him out of the commerce guild. Yuri did not know what he was supposed to do now. All members of Lilyrose Commerce Guild looked at Kaze as their leader. Max, the representative of Four Ocean Commerce Guild, kneeled near the sofa and kept slapping himself. Yuri fell into despair. Kaze had decided his fate. Yuri did not even have a chance to retaliate. “Take your niece and students and leave.” Without looking at Yuri, Kaze said his piece and went to Max. With his back facing the crowd, Max whipped his face to the point of bleeding.However, Max dared not stop until Kaze said so. “That’s enough.” Kaze’s voice from the back was a godsend. Max put down his sore arm and turned to face Kaze with a swollen face. He said, “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Lee?” “How’s the vehicle ownership transfer coming along?” Kaze asked while taking a
With Darcy setting the scene, others followed suit in pledging donations. The group was born and bred in Lilyrose. Not to mention, they had assets and businesses in the city too. Putting the city back on track would do everybody good, so they were on the same page and united as a group. To Darcy’s surprise, Hart Lyfe, the CEO of Rove, pledged to donate 50 million dollars. Darcy tried to talk him out of it. “Mr. Lyfe, don’t go above your means. We all know Rove is struggling at the moment. It’s okay to donate a smaller amount. The donation comes from the heart.” Compared to Yuri, Hart was a discreet and pragmatic old man who had earned Darcy’s respect. The others persuaded Hart because he was known as an all-around great guy. “Don’t convince me to donate less.” Hart said with a wry smile, “Truth be told, things might not work out for Rove soon enough. I have buyers getting in touch and expressing interest in taking over. You might read on the news soon about Rove changi
The rescue workers were livid. However, the administrator did not care and even rolled his eyes. “No one is forcing you to do volunteer work. It’s not as if you’re working for me.” That was true. If it were not to provide emergency relief, the rescue crew would not take the abuse. They simply took off their red vests and walked away. Kaze observed from a short distance away, but he could not bite his tongue anymore. He drew close and told the administrator curtly, “You have three minutes to distribute lunchboxes to the relief workers. I will slap you for each missing meal.” “Oh? Why are you back, Kaze?” “Did you come back to help with the rescue?” “Oh, my god. I knew you’d be okay, Kaze.” The rescue workers were happy to see Kaze again. Although they had not spent a lot of time together, they had formed a beautiful friendship. Recognizing Kaze, the administrator of Red Star Charity grimaced. It was hard to forget the guy who beat Desmond and scared him off. Wi
The Red Star Charity committee withheld the boxed lunches to starve rescue workers. If giving the rescue workers food was not a priority, Kaze would have notified Don to arrest the Red Star Charity committee. “What? Keeping the food from us?” “The bastards are trying to get even with us by starving us.” “Why would you do that? Even if you don’t want to help, don’t add to the trouble.”Livid, the nearby emergency responders encircled the administrators of Red Star Charity. Several women teared up angrily. Things were about to get out of hand. Grabbing Bobby by the collar, Kaze stared at him. “Are you going to distribute the food, or should I do it for you?” “W-We’ll do it.” As tensions ran high, Bobby grew scared and said with an ashen face, “Let me go. We honestly didn’t withhold the food. “The food truck arrived a few minutes ago. The staff is still tallying up how much food we have.” “Just distribute the food now.” Not interested in hearing another word from
“I have already eaten. Why should I have more?” Bobby snapped back. Bobby would not fear Kaze when his uncle was to arrive later. “Oh, you ate, but the emergency responders who did all the hard work hadn’t had anything to eat yet. “You starved them for an hour and fed them stale food. Aren’t you ashamed to call yourself a charity organization?” Kaze dragged Bobby over by the collar and said chillingly, “I don’t care if we have to force-feed you, but you are going to finish every bit of the boxed lunches.” He threw Bobby aside and pulled out his phone to call Jack. “Get the nearest hotel to the rescue tents to deliver packed food to the rescue workers here as soon as possible, Jack.” It was not the end of the stale food incident, but the emergency responders needed immediate sustenance to go on. The Joestars owned hotels across the city, so Kaze could count on him to deliver quickly. “Got it. I’ll inform my people.” Jack was on board right away. Kaze put away his
“Uncle Chris!” Overjoyed, Bobby went up to Chris and whispered something while pointing at Kaze. Chris’ expression gradually turned glum. He looked up at Kaze and approached him. “Mr. Lee, Ms. Kosky dismissed you as a volunteer after you attacked Lil Dee and ruined our organization’s reputation.“It’s inappropriate of you to disrupt our relief efforts now.” Chris pinned an accusation on Kaze the moment he arrived. After leaving the commerce guild with Yuri, Yelena went to get treatment for her face and did not have time to notify her people. Chris had been out and about, unaware that Kaze had booted Yelena and Yuri out. “No need to point fingers at me, Mr. Hoot.” Kaze said with intrigue, “It’s undetermined who’s ruining Red Star Charity’s reputation.”Chris grimaced. The way he saw it, Kaze held a grudge and caused a scene because he was sacked as a volunteer.Unfortunately, Kaze also happened to witness Red Star Charity’s shady business. Although Yelena fired
Chris was visibly upset. The rescue workers all around grew angry. It was bad enough that Red Star Charity fed them spoiled food, but the organization tried to threaten Kaze and silence the rest of them. The stale food could be interpreted as negligence from either the delay on the road or the handling in sweltering weather. However, instead of resolving the matter, Red Star Charity opted to shush them. In other words, the stale food was no accident. “Do you even have a conscience, bastards?” “What’s the point of joining the relief efforts? Don’t you have any sense of right and wrong?” “We expect an explanation!” Hot with emotions, the rescue workers tore the Red Star Charity committee a new one. They could not put up with the committee’s exploits. Chris pulled a dirty face at Kaze and said grimacingly, “Do you think you can ruin Red Star Charity by rocking the boat? “You’re naïve to think you have public support. They can’t help you. “It only proves you’re guil
“Whoosh!” The swift swing of the dagger left a huge cut on Kaze’s shirt at the abdomen. The old man had switched his stance to kneeling on one knee. The pain in his eyes had been replaced by frosty murderous intent, with a hint of shock and resentment as if he did not expect Kaze to dodge the lethal blow. “Old man, you’re a wicked one.” Kaze was also shocked. He looked down at his collar T-shirt and the wide opening at his stomach. The chilling wind on his skin sent chills down his spine. A split second later he would be gutted on the spot. “Swoosh!” After missing the ambush, the old man jumped like a nimble fox for a follow-up attack. This time, he switched his target from Kaze to Darcy. The dagger in his hand glared coldly as it thrusted toward Kaze’s chest. He was shocked that Kaze was able to dodge his lethal blow. He also realized Kaze was a tough opponent, so he switched to an easier one—Darcy. He acted like a gambler who had lost everything. With nothing
“Huh?” Phoenix narrowed her eyes and shot a sharp gaze at Joan. “Thump!” Joan fell on her knees immediately, looking horrified. “I-Impossible! My family spent tens of millions to make this walking cane, how can it…” Her family members were also similarly horrified, all falling onto their knees after her and even prostrating on the ground. If they were charged with attempted murder on Phoenix’s life, she and her entire family would be uprooted completely. Phoenix’s expression darkened. With gritted teeth, she said, “Take all of them away and investigate what really happened!” Her men who followed her from Ridgesouth came up, dragging Joan and her family away despite them crying for help. Those who resisted were slapped and knocked out before being shoved into the car. “Kaze, how did you know about the walking cane?” Agnes asked, her voice trembling. She felt grateful for escaping what seemed to be a disaster. Kaze’s offensive behavior shocked her, but it was to expos
“Huh?! Y-You hit me?!” Joan screamed as she covered her face. “Madam Quint, do something about this monkey! He’s disrespecting you and slapped me in front of everyone!” “You wretched boy, on your knees!” Phoenix’s expression darkened, her eyes on Kaze resentful. “If your family failed to teach you manners, I’ll do it for them!” “Greedy, self-righteous, ignorant, use your age to pressure others…” Kaze was determined to teach Phoenix a lesson about shame and humility today, so there was no way he would show her any respect. “People like you don’t even know what you are doing even with age, what gives you the right to lecture me?” “Kaze, shut it! Are you trying to get yourself into more trouble?!” Agnes bellowed, almost passing out due to the anger. Kaze had offended Phoenix. “Me? Ignorant?!” Phoenix scoffed due to disbelief. Her eyes were burning with the flames of anger as she said, “You disrespectful little bastard, I will show you what ignorance is!” As the words
The Ridgesouth Quints may be a prominent family, but their influence did not extend as far as the South River State. If that were not the case, the Ridgesouth Quints would not have waited until now to appoint Darcy as a proxy to expand their influence in the South River State. Kent came from a wealthy family, and he was the mayor of Riverbank. He had no reason to curry favor with the Quints by giving them a villa. The Ridgesouth Quints should be the ones showering Kent with gifts to do business in Riverbank. “What? How dare you say that we are unworthy!”“If we are unworthy, what about you? You’re just a moocher.”“Insolence!” Joan and the others flipped out. “Bam.” Phoenix slammed her cane to the floor and said chillingly, “You said that the Quints are unworthy, boy. What about you? Why would the mayor give you a villa? “You better give a convincing answer. If you don’t, ha!” “It’s none of your business,” Kaze replied bluntly.Silence hung heavy in the air. E
“Gone too far?” Phoenix said furiously, “Do you want to get it too, boy?” “Shut up, Kaze!” Not wanting the situation to escalate, Agnes charged over and said ingratiatingly, “I’m sorry, Madam Quint. We didn’t do a good job raising Sky. He simply didn’t think straight in the heat of the moment.”“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry!” Darcy apologized as well. “I’ll wipe the blood off you, Madam Quint. We don’t want to get your hands dirty.” Joan pulled out a tissue and cleaned Phoenix’s hands fawningly while uttering sarcastically, “You have no idea, Madam Quint. Some people have the money. They just don’t want to spend it.“As far as I know, our little leader is living in a villa worth several hundred million dollars in Riverbank. The villa was a gift from Mayor Synder too.“They didn’t give a bracelet that was only worth half a million because they have no money. They simply do not care enough for you, Madam Quint. “They’re just trying to fob you off since you’re only an old
“We from Chrysant City have given Madam Quint a bullet-proof Lincoln stretch from Uleania. The Lincoln will be Madam Quint’s ride in Riverbank,” a middle-aged man with glasses said smugly.Kaze glanced at the Lincoln stretch not too far away, understanding the value of the car. “Madam Quint can’t be staying in the hotel throughout her trip. We, the branch in Takeno City, are a family in politics, so we lack funding. Still, we borrowed a villa from a major corporation to accommodate Madam Quint,” a representative of the Takeno Quints said with a chuckle. The Takeno Quints talked about borrowing. Their primary focus was on politics, so they could not be honest about their net worth. However, every branch of the Quints presented Phoenix with expensive gifts. Each gift was worth at least five million dollars. The five-hundred-thousand-dollar bracelet from Darcy’s family seemed modest in comparison. Sure enough, Phoenix grew upset and raised her free arm to slap the gift box
Even Darcy did not think Phoenix would deny her. It was true that Darcy was supposed to gather all family branches in Riverbank. She would have to discipline the unruly and unite the rest. Her goal was to consolidate the family’s power and resources under her control. It was a clear and comprehensive strategy. Darcy had not anticipated such a response from her first meeting with Phoenix. It was harsh. Phoenix completely dismissed her. Darcy, though accepting fault, felt hurt. Agnes felt like her world was crumbling down. If Darcy was stripped of her leadership role, the family would go back to when things were bad. Ever since Darcy became the family head in the South River State, Agnes was treated like royalty everywhere she went. She was addicted to the privileges. Agnes never wanted to go back to those days when people would look down on her.“Darcy, where’s the gift you got for Madam Quint? Hurry up and apologize to her.” Agnes grabbed Darcy hastily. A
“You should know that Madam Quint loves flowers, and you came empty-handed. No flowers, no gifts.” “You talk about respect for Madam Quint. It’s all talk. What have you done for her?” “You are hicks from a small place like Lilyrose. Where are your manners? You’re lucky to become the head of the South River Quints, but you will always lack refinement.” “I’m starting to worry about this leader taking us to new heights. I guess we can consider ourselves lucky if she doesn’t bring us down.” “Yeah! She was late and came empty-handed. This tells us all we need to know about this family.” Taking Joan’s lead, the other family members lay into Darcy’s family thick and hard. “That’s enough!” Before Kaze said anything, Sky had a go at these people. “You tried to set my sister up, and now you’re putting the blame on us!“Only you had information of Madam Quint’s flight. You only let us know half an hour before the plane touched down. “Why didn’t we come earlier to wait in the airp
Kaze narrowed his eyes at the woman and drew close. “You’re a member of the South River Quints. Should you stand by your leader instead of stirring the pot and causing the scene? “Does family even mean anything to you? “Are you defying the family? “Who are you to disrespect Madam Quint and the family?” The woman staggered back with each question, her face draining of color.“I… You…” Flustered, she glared at Kaze. Still, she was at a loss in the face of Kaze’s questioning. “I assure you, Madam Quint. My daughter, Joan, doesn’t mean any disrespect.” A grizzled-haired middle-aged man with glasses came forward with an ashen face. “She was just trying to defend your honor, Madam Quint. She’s upset because someone disrespected you and arrived late.” This person was manipulative. While sticking up for his daughter, he also took the opportunity to belittle Darcy. “Doesn’t mean any disrespect?” Kaze snapped back, “Madam Quint hasn’t said a thing, but a nobody came out