“What are you going to do, Kaze?” After a momentary daze, Desmond looked up and glared at Kaze. Things were not so bad yet. Since Kaze gave the materials of his tax evasion instead of handing them over to the relevant department, all hope was not lost yet. “What do you think I want to do, Desmond?” Kaze returned the question to Desmond with a smile. Desmond took a deep breath and propped his hands on the ground to rise to his feet. He stood before Kaze. “If you pass the file to me and forget about the whole thing, I promise not to go after you and your wife, Kaze. “I will even clarify to the press that we have reached an agreement.” Pulling himself together, Desmond said composedly, “Besides, I can even promote the companies you are associated with. “Oh, right. Didn’t you want publicity for Rove? I can promote Rove on my live stream and sell its products.“You should know the influence I hold as a nationally recognized influencer. I hold the key to Rove’s survival.”
Desmond stepped back in fright. He looked at Kaze in horror and fury. “So you’re not for it, Kaze? “Do you even understand what I am proposing? You didn’t even consider it.” Desmond just presented Kaze with an offer of a lifetime. The offer was too tempting to refuse. The profit that an influencer of his caliber could bring was enormous. Barely anyone could resist it. However, Kaze remained unfazed. He said indifferently, “You said something similar when endorsing Mountain Dew Resort, Desmond. “But I don’t negotiate with snakes. “Oh, calling you a snake will flatter you. You’re just a dog, all bark and no bite. “All you can fool is a child. “The only thing you need to do now is get on your knees and beg.” Desmond opened his mouth to speak, but then thought better of it, seeing Kaze’s resolve.“Don’t do anything reckless, Kaze. We can always talk about it.” With Kaze pulling out his phone, probably to report him to the authorities, Desmond’s heart sank. Gritti
“I have proof of Desmond’s tax evasion activities. You can send someone to investigate his office.” When Kaze put down the phone, the hall of Desmond’s workplace remained silent. Everybody stared at Kaze in shock. No one expected Kaze to report Desmond to the authorities after what Kingston and Desmond had said. Kaze was a dummy. He sure was headstrong. To think Kaze tried to drag Desmond to hell. Everybody knew that the whole thing had blown out of proportion. Arcadians lived by two codes, which were inevitable. One was death. The other was paying taxes. The IRS was a powerful law enforcement agency. For Kaze to tip them off with his real name, the IRS would surely investigate the matter. Despite Desmond’s multiple backers, the investigation was going to happen. On top of that, Kaze held proof of Desmond’s tax evasion. “You have gone mad, Kaze! Fucking mad!“Do you know what you have done? You’re not just getting me killed. You’re in trouble too!” Feel
“Hand over the evidence, Lee, and we might just spare you.” “Look at yourselves. How dare you try to take our jobs away! We can kill you for pushing our buttons!” Desmond’s staff surrounded Kaze’s group and yelled at them maliciously. Faye and the employees of Rove went weak behind the knees from fear. Desperation drove Desmond’s staff crazy. However, Kaze kept his composure and chuckled. “I beat you up several times, Desmond. “Do you think I can’t handle your staff?” Desmond grimaced. He knew what Kaze was made of. During the disaster relief, Kaze hurled a dozen of Tendon Ltd.’s best security officers into the water. Kaze, on the other hand, was unscathed. “So what if you can fight? You’re too chicken to kill anyone.” Desmond scoffed and took out his phone. “Just surround him. I’ll contract help to kill him.” He had the connection to hire a few experts. Soon, he contacted a few outlaws living in gray zones and put away his phone. “Before my people arrive, h
“W-What? It’s Conan of the Butterworth Queens!” Desmond exclaimed when he heard Kingston calling the young man’s name. He and his staff turned pale. Everybody heard Conan address Kaze with the utmost respect. Why would an heir of the Butterworth Queens take orders from a wife moocher like Kaze? No one could understand. However, that did not matter. Conan was furious to see Kaze surrounded by Desmond’s staff. “How dare you encircle Kaze! “Take them down! I expect everybody to lose a limb.”At the wave of Conan’s arm, his team of suited men charged forward. “Urgh!” “Ow!” “Don’t!” Agonized cries ensued. In less than a minute, those surrounding Kaze collapsed to the ground with a broken leg. Even the press, who stood on the sidelines, gasped. Desmond and Kingston paled in fright. Conan drew close. “So you must be Lil Dee? “You have been stirring shit about Kaze online, bastard.” “Smack!” Conan slapped Desmond in the face. Desmond shuddered without a w
“That’s right. We are on the same page.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Queen.” Several journalists chose to yield to Conan’s authority right away. Some fell into hesitation. The Butterworth Queens may be powerful, but Desmond promised them shares, making the decision tough for them. “Lil Dee, the people with Lee Investment have arrived with the paperwork for the share ownership transfer.” Soon, a senior executive of Lee Investment, together with his subordinates and attorney, appeared at the entrance to the hall. The group became reluctant to enter the place, noticing the sparks flying in the air and Conan’s team of over a hundred suited men. However, Desmond just saw his white knight in shining armor and shouted, “Mr. Lays, hurry up and show our media friends the papers for the share ownership transfer.” Desmond knew that the shares in Lee Investment, far more persuasive than Conan’s empty words, would win the journalist over.Conan pulled a sulky look and was about to speak w
“Bastards! You are all bastards!” Conan lashed out. However, there was nothing he could do about the journalists who had banded together. As they said, these people in the press had friends and connections, maybe not across Arcadia but in most regions. They came together on a common ground, united in their actions. Conan could not possibly go ahead and kill them. Even the Butterworth Queens could not handle all the media outlets if they got in touch with their friends in high places. With Conan blowing up, the individual who spoke on behalf of the press grew smug and pretended to talk out of goodwill. “We don’t want to get into it with you either. We all will be happy if you don’t stand in the way of us making money. “I am Danesh Jetman from Neo-Fi Media. People call my boss, Mia Hunt, the queen of the media in Arcadia. I’m happy to be your acquaintance, Mr. Queen.” Neo-Fi Media was a media giant in Arcadia. The media outlet possessed a powerful voice that wielded gr
“Only the person, who set you up, knows that you were framed, Kaze. “That’s why I know you’re not part of the mafia. You just know a few friends on the street. “But I’m not telling you this to clear your name. “I just want you to be aware of the power of my penmanship. I have the ability to paint you public enemy No. 1. “If you continue to overstep and argue with Lil Dee, I don’t mind writing another article that will destroy you and your wife forever.” That was a lot of smack from Danesh. He acted high and mighty like he held the key to Kaze’s fate. As a media personality, Danesh believed so. The cultured could kill with words, not physical weapons. Words had the power to inflict lasting damage. “You’re so badass, Danesh.” Desmond exclaimed with joy as Danesh took a stand for him. “Hear that, Kaze? “Danesh and all the other journalists are on my side. “Take the hint now, or involvement with the mafia is only the start of your lifelong torment. You will nev
The hostages were locked up in the containers. Some of them were elites in their own field while some were ordinary people with average income, yet all of them got into trouble when they boarded the plane. Most of them could not accept their fate. Yet they dared not defy or resist the mercenaries. When things started to calm down, they broke down in tears, weeping in silence as resentment consumed them. Kaze sat down at a clean corner that allowed him to look outside the window. The window was dirty but at least he could see outside. The space inside the container was filled with people sitting closely, offering comfort to one another. They were aware they were just temporarily safe in this container. No one knew what the mercenaries would do to them at the next moment. “My parents must be worried. I said I would call them when I land but now I can’t even get in touch,” Barney muttered as he sat beside Kaze. He too looked outside the window, his feelings mixed. He watc
Kaze thought of what he had overheard in the toilet. If he told the hostages about that, they would probably panic. “It’s nothing. They are just going to separate us into different rooms or containers. They said the buses would be disposed of,” he said. He did not want to reveal too much because it would cause panic. Once the hostages knew their lives were on the line, things might spiral out of control. The mercenaries could kill a few of them to make an example, and none of the hostages would dare to cause problems anymore. Kaze kept it a secret because he wanted to protect the people. “That’s it?” “Is there anything else? How many men are there? What is their plan? Who are they looking for?” “We want to know because we want to survive. This isn't our problem—we just got caught up in it.” The hostages looked at Kaze, their eyes filled with worry. They felt aggrieved because they should not be caught in such a huge problem. “I don’t know either.” No matter how m
“There’s a room there. Get in.” The mercenary pointed his gun at the mother and son, which led them to look at Kaze nervously, seemingly asking for help. “What do you want?” The mother was nervous. She clutched her son’s hand tightly, nearly making him cry, but she reacted quickly enough to cover her son’s mouth to prevent him from doing so. “All women must go into that room. You go in now,” the mercenary explained. He did not want the woman to get the wrong idea. “You people won’t hurt me, right?” the mother asked, worried that she might be ravaged. “We are not into MILF,” said the other mercenary who was escorting Kaze, indirectly assuring the mother. Kaze shot a glance at the mother and nodded at her. “They told us they were going to separate us, so there’s nothing to worry about,” he said, worried that the mother and son would not cooperate. The mother then carried her son and followed the other mercenary into the room. It was called a room but it was actually ju
“Can you make him stop? If the man comes back, we’ll be done for,” someone said. The kid’s crying made everyone anxious. “What can I do? He’s crying because he’s scared. I can’t just stop him.” The mother was afraid as well, and she did not want her son to be taken advantage of. “Calm down. Just don’t alert the men and we’ll be fine,” Miguel said, hoping to ease the situation. “I’ll fight him if he comes in. I believe I can make it,” someone said. Those with an impulsive nature grew restless from being kept on the bus for too long, feeling like livestock being kept in cages. “Shut it. They are coming,” Barney said after a glance outside the window. The other passengers fell silent, sat back down, lowered their heads, and tried their best not to look out the window. The mother quickly hugged her son and covered his mouth to prevent him from crying. Kaze felt peace and quiet once more, even the air felt smoother. He knew the passengers were merely ordinary people and
Unfortunately, Leah knew she would not get an answer out of Snow since she was refusing to help. Everything seemed to have changed following her mother’s disappearance. She tried to stay for answers but when security came in, she could not resist them anymore. It was the first time she was escorted out by security guards and it impacted her. She used to be the daughter of the CEO of Northborn Group—everyone respected her. She used to enjoy a privileged status. No matter where she went, she was the star of the event. Yet when her mother disappeared, everything changed. She wanted to look for Kaze but she had just lost the chance. Snow turned her down and gazed at her with contempt and irritation. Leah could not accept the changes but some things felt like they were destined to change. She was forced to leave the branch office but then had no idea where else to go. She felt abandoned by the world. Before this, she could still hope for Kaze’s help, but now she had no
Leah went to her mother’s company but did not find her anywhere. Joey was busy working in the CEO’s office. Leah went over and asked, “Joey, where’s my mother? I can’t reach her.” She wanted to know what happened to her mother. “I don’t know about your mother either. We went out together earlier in the day but I don’t know where she went. I can’t get in touch with her.” Joey was so busy that she could not even free herself from the desk to explain to the girl. “Where did she go? How am I supposed to find her?” Leah panicked. If even Joey did not know where her mother went, then something must have happened. A bad feeling rose from her heart. Things just got serious. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask someone else?” Joey did not have time to deal with the girl. Leah was unfamiliar with Joey’s coldness. Joey had always treated her with kindness and flattery, so the sudden coldness caught her off guard. She felt like something had changed. “Who should I be looking f
“No! My daughter is still in the hospital!” Katie refused to accept her punishment. She started to regret her decision but it was too late. “Now only you think about your daughter? I guess you are not that foolish, but have you thought about her when you betrayed Chairman Lee? “Don’t worry. Leah knew Chairman Lee personally and we won’t hurt her, but she might not live a good life anymore,” Snow said coldly. She did not want to put the girl in a difficult situation but her life as a princess would come to an end. “You can’t do that!” Katie could not believe Snow would do that. “I bet you never thought of the consequences when you leaked the information. Too bad. You’ve lost.” Snow revealed the truth because she wanted Katie to suffer for the decision she made. Katie would now regret every decision she made because she knew she had jeopardized her daughter’s life. She would feel like a fool. She devoted her life to climbing higher to gain more power but she ignored the
“I went to a bar to have a drink and I bumped into an informant of the Viper’s Den.” Katie looked helpless as she explained as if everything that had happened was planned out for her, pushing her to the edge step by step. It was a lively night at the bar. The atmosphere was pleasant and most of the guests were having a good time. Katie was a single woman. She needed care and love at times. She was alone when she visited the bar. She started off by ordering some drinks at the counter, waiting for a chance to meet a man who shared the same ideals. A drink or two later, maybe she could get herself a company for the night. As a grown-up woman, she had her desires. It was a way to release her stress. Katie entered the bar in a casual outfit but it did not diminish her elegant demeanor. When she sat down at the counter, a few young men approached her but she was not interested in immature boys. She continued drinking. She looked at the dance floor occasionally, searching for a
“Who do you think will believe you?” Arthur frowned. There were too many coincidences that it felt like a giant setup. “I’ve explained what I need to. Don’t interrogate me like I’m a criminal. I am the CEO of the Northborn Group.” Katie left them speechless. She had said the necessary and it was up to them whether they wanted to believe it or not. They did not have the evidence to charge her anyway. “You really think we can’t hold you responsible?” Snow was not really looking for a definite answer. The moment she suspected Katie, whether or not she was truly the traitor, Snow already had the right to hold her accountable. It was necessary to make things clear and it was to find out who Katie leaked Kaze’s information to. “It has come down to this. No matter how you deny it, it’s useless. We already know what you have done and you can’t escape. Even if you don’t want to confess, we can continue the investigation, and we’ll eventually find out the truth. “If you come clean