Darry exerted all his might. However, Kaze stayed rooted to the ground. “Fuck! Just kneel!” Humiliated, Darry shouted angrily, then raised his hand to hit Kaze. Kaze narrowed his eyes and retaliated with a slap. “Smack!” Blood bled out of Darry’s nose. Darry was knocked back and slammed into the ground, bouncing twice.He did not make a sound the entire time, not even opening his eyes. Silence befell the room. The crowd looked at Kaze, dumbfounded, their eyes widened. Kaze had the nerve to attack the Lyfes in front of Gareth. They wondered if Kaze was aware of his actions. “Darry!” After a long pause, Syed reeled in from the shock and ran to his son with a scream. “Are you okay, Darry? Are you okay?” Since it was not the time to lash out at Kaze, other members of the Lyfe family approached Darry, shaking and calling out his name. Alas, Darry was unresponsive. Syed came to a realization when he stared at Darry’s lifeless body. He reached out his trembl
With his eyes bulging, Gareth stared at Kaze menacingly. He shifted his chilling gaze from Kaze to Mary Sue, Syed, and the others. Mary Sue, Syed, and the group felt chills running down their spines as if they were preyed upon by a vicious beast. They could not understand the body language between Kaze and Gareth. “You’re evil, Kaze. It’s cruel of you to put him in a coma when he only criticized you a little.” Syed stood up with bloodshot eyes and glared resentfully at Kaze. Gritting his teeth, he kneeled before Gareth and shouted devastatingly, “Please kill Kaze, Mr. Hornberg. My family will be eternally grateful to you. We will serve you wholeheartedly.” “Get lost.” Gareth responded with a kick. “Blegh!” Syed coughed out blood and collapsed to the ground. “Grandmaster Hornberg?” Pale in the face, Mary Sue looked at Syed confusedly. Gareth flung his arm back, slamming Mary Sue away. Um… Silence hung heavy in the air. The crowd was dumbfounded. Gareth
Kaze demanded Gareth to leave Lilyrose. It was a last warning to Gareth. The crowd could not believe the words coming out of Kaze’s mouth. They suspected their ears were playing tricks on them. The whole thing was so bizarre. The Quints’ son-in-law just threatened Gareth, the renowned martial artist from Sunrise City. The roles should be switched. It would have made more sense if the threat came from Gareth. “Just do it, sir. Kill Lee!” “We need to make an example out of him!” “Show these bozos in Lilyrose that no one should challenge your authority!” Gareth’s disciples clamored savagely. For Kaze to insult their mentor, he was insulting them too. The disciples would jump on Kaze at Gareth’s command. The tension was coming to a breaking point. Amid the crowd, the heads of the Vikroms, Logmans, Joestars, and several others aware of Kaze’s identity were kept in suspense. Once Gareth chose violence, blood would be shed tonight in Lilyrose. Gareth stared K
Gareth’s words settled the disciples down. “So you are looking out for the guests, sir. We shouldn’t dampen the party with blood.” “I knew it. Our mentor could crush Kaze easily. He is just nice to let Lee breathe easy a little longer.” “The Lilyrose New City project is our priority in Lilyrose. Getting rid of Kaze can happen any other day.” The disciples, arrogant as ever, flattered Gareth. The guests scowled at the comments. Apart from a handful, most just found out that Gareth’s trip to Lilyrose was to acquire the Lilyrose New City project. It was no secret that the new mayor wanted to rebuild the Old District and develop a new city. Many had their eye on the project. The project was worth tens of billions. Even a small slice of this pie would be highly profitable.It explained why Gareth came all the way to Lilyrose. He was after the project. Some of the guests were upset. They, the local players, aimed to compete for a piece of the action. To their dism
One wrong step could have deadly consequences. The drama was so intense that it was easy to get completely lost in it.Many dared not make their stance known. “No one has met the new mayor before, Mr. Hornberg. He has never made a public appearance.” “He exercised his authority and fired several chiefs the moment he took office. One of them is the deputy mayor’s son, but Lou, the deputy mayor, is loyal to the mayor.” “The mayor intends to take over Lee Investment’s acquired hospitals even if it means making enemies with strong corporations.”“Many commented on the new mayor’s iron fist.” Under Gareth’s menacing gaze, a few succumbed to the pressure and offered the information they had.Nevertheless, they kept things vague and did not give detailed information on the new mayor. Gareth was not pleased. He turned to the heads of the Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars. “I heard that you have emerged as the top three families after the God of War clamped down on the former three
“We, the Logmans, share Bernard’s thoughts.” “Lilyrose isn’t a big city, Mr. Hornberg, but don’t forget that the military is based here. If you think about it, Sunrise City isn’t much threat to Lilyrose.”“So things aren’t as plain or simple as you think, Mr. Hornberg. Just return to Sunrise City before you get yourself killed,” Peter and Jack said. Bernard, Peter, and Jack embodied Lilyrose’s high society. Even they demanded Gareth’s departure from Lilyrose. The others were shocked, to say the least. At first, the Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars did not want to upset Gareth. They had no problem with Gareth securing the local projects. That was in the past now. Kaze had now told Gareth to get back to where he came from. Peter, Bernard, and Jack understood the authority behind Kaze’s words. They no longer feared stepping on Gareth’s toes. Heck, their advice was not to offend Gareth. They were doing him a favor by saving his life. There was bound to be a power strugg
“You are either with me or against me.” Many gasped sharply at Gareth’s ugly statement. They started to make faces too. It had become clear to them that the event tonight was not just a step designed for Kaze. The feast was also a trap set for the most respected individuals in Lilyrose.Gareth demanded that they pick a side to determine whether they were a friend or foe. To Gareth, there was no in-between. If they were not with him, they would be against him. The gray area did not exist. However, not everyone was conflicted. “I support you, Mr. Hornberg.” Trent took a stand without hesitation. “To be frank, I am disheartened by the way the noob mayor runs the city. It’s a mess!“The young man won’t take advice from a retired man like me. Kaze even humiliated me. “I trust that you will contribute greatly to the Lilyrose New City project, Mr. Hornberg. Please get rid of pests like Kaze and build a figure for the city,” Trent said righteously. Gareth’s eyes sp
Gareth was a go-getter with strong connections in Sunrise City.On the contrary, Kaze might hold some sway in the city, but he was just a nobody who took his wife’s last name. He did not have the resources and wealth to compete with Gareth. The odds were in Gareth’s favor. “Haha. Thank you, all.” Gareth grinned and glanced at Bernard’s group before mocking, “You’ve been contemplating for a while now. What are your decisions?” Bernard, Peter, and Jack were firmly on Kaze’s side. However, that could change. Gareth believed that the family heads would be foolish not to make the wise choice, especially after many were in support of Gareth. All eyes fell on Bernard, Peter, and Jack. The Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars were the top-tier families in Lilyrose at present. They profited from the fall of the top three families. Though the reputation of the top three families did not expand past the boundaries of the city, their influence went beyond that. However, the top t
Aiden broke out in a cold sweat when he remembered losing Crown Tower at the auction. He said solemnly, “I’m sorry, Ms. Hara. The fault lies in me.”“I love a strong and powerful man who can handle me, Mr. Krad. I don’t need a rash man who can’t think straight.” Reiko grabbed a towel and wiped every inch of Aiden’s body. Her fingers coasted along Aiden’s Adam’s apple, and she said indifferently, “You better ask us before you make the next move. Otherwise, you might lose the chance to work with us again.” Aiden gritted his teeth and said nothing. Dropping the attitude, Aiden was as meek as a kitten in front of Reiko.He was usually the one getting handsy with Reiko. By the time Reiko withdrew her arm, Aiden’s expression had hardened. He read between the lines. Reiko talked about dropping him, not the Krads. In other words, Reiko could go to another member of the Krads to collaborate. Aiden’s competition was within his family. He aimed to be the top of his family.
Aiden’s words trailed off. The Ryokanians were never out to get Kaze. They were trying to bring Kent down through Kaze. The only conflict between Kaze and the Ryokanians was business rivalry, and there was no reason to escalate negotiable deals to a personal level. Kent was a different story. He was the mayor of Riverbank. He passed the bills for policies. One policy could decide the fate of a business. Kent’s policies could eliminate the Ryokanian presence in Riverbank. Kent must die. The Ryokanians could get Kaze out of the picture. If necessary, they could call it a truce with him too. That was what the Ryokanians thought. There was a fundamental difference between the Ryokanians’ attitude toward Kaze and Kent. The only thing on Aiden’s mind was to get rid of Kaze. Aiden simply took hits at Kent because the latter was Kaze’s supporter. He and the Ryokanians were after different things. Due to the lack of transparency in their communication, the plan had gon
Aiden chuckled in delight and grabbed Reiko’s hand to pull her close. He sniffed her hand and said with a manic laugh, “Don’t worry, Ms. Hara. I will get you Crown Tower before killing him. “Hahaha! He’s just a loser. What does he have to compete with me?” Aiden gripped Reiko’s hand and threw his head back to guffaw. “Splash!” Reiko raised her hand and poured her drink on Aiden. Aiden choked on the drink, interrupting his laughter.“Cough, cough.” It took Aiden a while to get over it. He shot an angry look at Reiko and shouted, “Have you lost it, Reiko?” Aiden was surprised to see Reiko looking rather aloof. Reiko had always clung to him, catering to all his needs since they met. She made him feel like a king. Yet now, Reiko caught him off guard by turning on him. Aiden had no idea what was going on. “You have some explaining to do, bitch,” Aiden grabbed a towel to wipe his face while uttering furiously. Unfazed by Aiden’s temper, Reiko said with a blank face,
“Despite your training, you were defenseless at the hands of Kaze. It appears the disowned member of the Lees is more powerful than we thought.” A woman’s voice, bearing a heavy Ryokanian accent, boomed. Reiko, dressed in a black and gold dress, brewed tea on her knees. Her delicate hands moved with grace and allure. There was a temptation to hold her hands forever. Aiden’s gaze turned cold. Shifting his eyes from Darcy and Snow, Aiden looked at Kaze’s photo in the center of the board. Embracing his urge to kill, Aiden threw his sword. “Swoosh!” The sword sank into Kaze’s face, piercing through the board. Aiden took a seat across from Reiko and smiled ruthlessly at her. “Well, he can’t fight weapons with bare hands. I can assure you that Kaze will not get away this time. “I want him to give up Crown Tower. Once I squeeze every little thing out of him, he can die.” “Oh?” Reiko poured a drink and passed it to Aiden. She said with a smile, “We can do our best, bu
“Don’t feel discouraged. Just pursue in the direction I’ve told you. I can guarantee that you’ll be fine,” Kaze said while patting Morgan’s shoulder. Wallace could not possibly restrain Morgan, the state police chief, from doing his job. Surely, Morgan had people he could trust. Kaze gave Morgan the go-ahead to investigate and to direct any needs to Snow. Despite the presence of the police force and Wallace’s eyes on site, Kaze had no qualms about letting his intentions known. It was baffling that Kaze acted like he was Morgan’s superior. The police looked at Kaze in reverence. Kaze challenged the deputy governor’s authority and talked down to the state police chief in public. There was something mysterious about Kaze. Now, they knew that the case was more than just a murder. It was part of a larger power struggle. They were just insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The state police force dropped the arrogance while questioning Kaze. They would only be c
The Frosts were prominent in the South River State. Wallace was a man of power and wealth. Plus, he was an established deputy governor. He did not have to give a damn about anybody else. He could care less about Kaze. No one could change Wallace’s mind, not even if Kent were there. With that in mind, Wallace walked past Morgan and said curtly to the police force, “I expect you to be on this case.“You will report to me on every little progress. “I’m not asking for much. I expect you to respect the law, deliver justice, protect the good…” Wallace glanced at Kaze and stressed. “And punish the bad.” He carried himself with aggression and authority. Though nothing was said outright, Wallace basically stripped Morgan’s power and disregarded his opinion. Morgan grimaced hard. There was clearly no trust between them, and Wallace believed Morgan played favorites. Besides, Wallace ordered Morgan’s subordinates around, clearly bypassing his authority. Wallace’s behavior
Wallace looked fierce and sounded firm. A live-in husband who got into his current position through nepotism, despite having made a name for himself and getting the support of the mayor of Riverbank, he was still involved in a murder and showed no remorse for what happened. Instead, he tried to go around the system to free himself. Wallace looked down on people like Kaze from the bottom of his heart. Kaze suddenly laughed after hearing the man, which fueled his agitation. He bellowed, “What are you laughing at?” “I am laughing at you for being a busybody, Deputy Governor Frost.” Under Wallace’s fierce gaze, Kaze chuckled and said, “Deputy Governor Frost, I don’t care what you think of me, but I have two things to say. “First, I am not a suspect and I have nothing to do with this case. Second, my relationship with Snow is also none of your business.” “Hey! Watch your mouth!” “Mind your choice of words, Kaze Lee!” “What gave you the right to talk to the deputy gover
Kaze looked at the entrance. The man was probably in his 50s, tall and upright, striding and exuding a sense of commanding presence. His expression looked stern, his eyes fierce, expressing his authority and superiority. Morgan was slightly surprised before he went over to the man. He bowed and said respectfully, “Mr. Frost! You’re here?” Upon hearing Morgan call the man, Kaze knew the man’s identity. Wallace Frost, like Mitchell, was one of the two deputy governors. Unlike Neegan and Michell, who were not locals and were simply transferred to their positions, Wallace had been serving South River State for many years and earned himself a high reputation. More importantly, as his name suggested, he was from the Frost family. However, his family was from a distant branch and had rooted themselves in Riverbank rather than Butterworth, though he was still in contact with the main family in Butterworth. In other words, if Snow was around, she would have to call the man unc
Donovan bit his lips, his expression clearly showed his internal struggles. Kaze did not waste time and referred to Morgan. “Chief Bale, based on the recording, I think it’s enough to relieve them of their duties.” “Of course. The wrong interrogation method is against our rules. They would not only be relieved of their duties but also be investigated. They had nothing against you but they took the risk to cross the line. I believe they must have received bribes from whoever is behind them. “Once the investigation is complete, it will be a criminal offense.” Thump! After the last word came out of Morgan’s lips, Donovan fell on his knees immediately. He spoke with a righteous voice earlier, accusing Kaze of committing an atrocious crime. Now, he became the one who would be punished and charged. “Mr. Lee, it’s Aiden! Aiden Krad! He gave us ten million and told us to make you call the mayor. He wanted to use his power to get you out of here…” Donovan then spilled everything