The captain of the Guardians grabbed Sirius by the hair and dragged him away like a ragdoll. The other Viper’s Den’s agents were taken away as well. Kaze did not administer any punishment. He simply instructed the Guardians to send the agents to the local police department for minor disciplinary action before releasing them. After all, even though Sirius came to him with allegations, it was nothing serious. Even if Kaze wanted to be strict, he could not formally punish Sirius over this. However, the agents of Viper’s Den were under the Ministry of Justice’s jurisdiction. Being arrested by the local police by the Guardians was a significant embarrassment. When the news got out, the agents would face the public humiliation they deserved.Soon, only Kaze, Fanny, and the rest remained at the scene. “K-Kaze, who were those men?” Fanny asked, her eyes fixated on him. Kaze looked at Fanny indifferently. He smirked and said, “I can’t tell you that.” He then got into the car an
“Fanny, everyone now knows that to become Lilyrose’s mayor, Kaze Lee must give his approval. I believe it’s because he is related to the Lilyrose New City project. “This project is huge and it is sustainable with a bright future. That’s why the cabinet wanted the successor to align with the path that Kaze Lee had determined beforehand...” “I… I…” Fanny’s jaw dropped as she listened to her husband’s explanation. She did not listen to what Jared said after that because her mind only had one thought: the candidate for the new mayor must get Kaze’s approval. Was it purely coincidence, or did Kaze know it beforehand, hence the bet? “Fanny, are you listening to me? I remember you saying you are going to Lilyrose looking for trouble with him. Have you met him yet? Please tell me you haven’t! “I’m telling you, he’s the key to me becoming the mayor of Lilyrose. You cannot offend him in any way…” Jared sounded nervous and excited on the phone but Fanny was at a loss of words. …
“Uh…” The family members responded with a complicated look, mixed with jealousy and other emotions. They used to look down on Kaze but had since become a prominent figure who could decide the next mayor, who held the same authority as a vice governor. Even Mason, who was supported by the Ridgesouth Quints, had his appointment revoked because it had to get Kaze’s approval. No one saw that coming. “Hmph! There’s nothing to be jealous of. He’s just being lucky.” Only Deborah reacted with disdain. Her hatred for Kaze was brazen and it was no secret. Master Quint looked at Hector and Agnes. “Hector, you should talk to Kaze and tell him to approve Mason as the new mayor. Do not make any mistakes this time. “Mason is supported by the Ridgesouth Quints. If they are unhappy with us, not only us, but even your family will suffer!” Hector and Agnes felt intensely pressured when they heard about the Ridgesouth Quints. Despite originating from the same roots, they dared not mess
“Mr. Ceb.” The man was Mr. Ceb, not the dogs. Master Quint inhaled deeply and got up to meet the man. He was afraid of the man who was overflowing with wickedness. “Mr. Ceb, I would like you to follow me to Horizon Mirror Mansion,” Deborah requested politely. “Not a problem!” Mr. Ceb grinned and nodded. …Horizon Mirror Mansion. After returning from the Quints’ mansion, Agnes made a feast and asked Darcy to bring Kaze back immediately. Darcy was surprised by her mother’s unusual reaction but believed it was with good intentions, so she called Kaze. Sky and Agatha’s family were also around. Everyone sat down at the table to eat a meal. “Kaze, I have to return to Sunrise in a few days to continue my studies. Can you visit me at my grandparent’s house next time?” Rose said to Kaze. Since Nelson was working in the military, Agatha usually stayed at the Otters’ place with her children. Rose might still be young but she knew her aunt, Agnes, rarely spoke to her b
The moment Kaze’s words subsided, Darcy’s heart skipped a beat. She knew her mother’s temper. If Agnes was happy, she could be an angel; if she was unhappy, she could be worse than the devil. “Not suitable?” The smile on Agnes’ face froze at the next moment. She slammed her spoon on the table and glared at Kaze. “Tell me, why is Mason not suitable as mayor?” “Mom, I saw his profile.” Kaze did not mind the sudden shift in attitude. He patiently explained, “He’s too driven by results, impatient, and greedy for gains and credits. He’d do anything to achieve his goal. If he runs the city as mayor, it won’t be good for the people. “In fact, when I received the candidates’ profiles, he was the first one whom I rejected.” The profile that Kaze received was not the brief one released to the public, but a detailed version intended only for the city council. Through the details on the profiles, Kaze was able to see things others could not. He put a lot of effort into choosi
Agnes’ expression turned gloomy after hearing her husband. She grunted at the end and stayed quiet. Since her husband and daughter had spoken up, she realized she might have been carried away. “I knew it. It’s always Grandfather and them.” Darcy’s expression turned bitter. She had yet to tell her parents about the Quint family maliciously acquiring the shares of Sky Ocean Corporation. She did not expect them to be so shameless as well. How could they pretend nothing had happened and instigate her mother to coax Kaze? If Master Quint and the others got what they wanted, they would surely get back at Darcy and her family ten times over. “Dad, Mom, there’s something you guys…” Darcy told her parents about the Quint family’s malicious intentions and Deborah trying to force her into submission. Hector’s and Agnes’ expressions shifted when they learned what happened. “Father and the others are too much! Whenever they get the chance, they always try to hurt us! Since whe
“Mr. Ceb!” All the adults, including Darcy, got up and bowed to Mr. Ceb politely. The younger ones were so scared that they stood still like a statue. Only Kaze did not respond and continued eating at the table. “Sky, go make some tea for Mr. Ceb!” said Agnes. She then forced a smile and said, “Mr. Ceb, please have a seat and we will serve you tea shortly.” “I’ll pass on the tea.” Mr. Ceb stepped forward and spoke in a horribly hoarse voice, “I am here today for two things.” Following his words, the three hounds stepped forward as well. Their fierce eyes gave the family goosebumps. “What can we do for you, Mr. Ceb?” Hector asked. Agnes nodded in agreement. Mr. Ceb put his fingers out. “First, Deborah gave you guys the Victim Impact Statement to release Young Master Kingston. Hand it over. “Second, about Mr. Mason Quint becoming Lilyrose’s mayor… Your son-in-law, Kaze Lee, shall call the governor, Loid Farland, and give his approval. “If you can’t fulfill my re
Darcy’s face turned pale but after glancing at Kaze, she shook her head strongly. “Mason Quint becoming the mayor is a serious matter. It’s not something our family can change. I cannot agree with that. “As for releasing Kingston Hacks, unless Madam Hacks can openly promise that Kingston won’t come after our family after he is released, it won’t happen. That’s my final offer.” Darcy knew she could not just simply agree to the terms but also did not completely shut off the possibilities for negotiations. “You want Madam Hacks to openly promise you?” Deborah scoffed, “Darcy, who do you think you are? Why would you think my godmother would make an open promise? “My godmother told me this morning that not only must your husband sign the Victim Impact Statement, but you will also have to sleep with Kingston for a night upon his release—consider it a welcome-back gift! Who gave you the courage to decline it? “Do you know what the Quints of Ridgesouth represent? The family is po
Sasha’s lips moved once more, but Kaze’s gaze remained fierce, so she wisely zipped her mouth. “Not a problem, sir.” The storekeeper knew Kaze was a generous customer, so she nodded happily. Being a storekeeper for a luxurious brand required experience and taste. In less than ten minutes, the storekeeper selected three sets of outfits for Sasha, from top to bottom and outer to inner. “Miss, you try these.” Kaze swiped his card before Sasha had the time to regret or stop him. If the size did not fit, she could change it on the spot. Sasha looked at Kaze helplessly and then reluctantly followed the storekeeper to the changing room. A while later, Sasha came out in a new dress and with a blush on her face. Kaze was slightly surprised, looking at the brand new Sasha in a pure white dress. He had to praise the storekeeper for her sharp sense. The white dress emphasized the girl’s innocence and gentleness. “Miss, you are the first customer in our store to present su
Sasha looked troubled. She said, “The owner is paying? It’s okay! I’m wearing the clothes anyway; I should pay for them. The owner and the others took good care of me while at work, I don’t want to take advantage of them.” Kaze was left speechless. How could a little girl be as stubborn as a mule?“How are you taking advantage of them? I said, the owner wants you to wear beautiful clothes and get more business for them, so that they can earn more money. “You know the other employees actually have an allowance for shopping? Each of them has twenty thousand to buy clothes, but since you are just part-time, and you are new, you only have ten thousand.” Kaze continued to coax the girl. “Ten thousand?!” Sasha was shocked by the number. She shook her head and hands, “No! I don’t need that much! A few hundred is enough!” Ten thousand was enough for her to cover her daily expenses for two years or more. How could she spend all of them on clothes? Kaze chuckled. “Ten thousand i
Twenty minutes later, Sasha came out in fresh clothes. She wore a white T-shirt coupled with a pair of jeans, but the patches on them indicated that they were old clothes. She was holding her phone with a slight embarrassment on her face. “Sasha? What’s the matter?” Kaze asked. “Uh, it’s nothing. I-I have to call my school to inform my teacher.” Sasha then went to the corner to make the phone call. “Sasha, you should really try to be the emcee of the evening party. I always have high hopes for you but you are too shy. You blush whenever you talk to strangers. How are you going to adapt when you go out to work in the future? You should train yourself to speak up more. Try to go on stage.” The voice of a middle-aged woman came from the phone once it was connected. Sasha said shyly, “Ms. Cornell, thank you for your kindness, but I cannot afford to buy a gown. I won’t be joining the party.” “My dear, you should learn to be more open-minded. I said I would prepare the gown
Kaze gave the Golden Toad to June, wondering if she knew the origin of the artifact. Someone from one of the top ten families in Arcadia would certainly know more secrets than the ordinary. It was the greatest advantage they had over the ordinary people. “I have never seen this thing before.” June checked the Golden Toad carefully but shook her head. Surprised, she continued, “But this thing helped with Sasha’s condition? It’s crazy! It even hastened the removal of the Nine Phantom Lotus! It’s like a magical artifact! “I can go back and look at old texts in my family or maybe ask my elders about it. I might be able to get some clues.” She then gave the Golden Toad back to Kaze, having no desire to own it. She believed Kaze must have figured out her background, so she did not bother to conceal it further and decided to be honest. “Great. I’ll be waiting for your good news.” Kaze put the Golden Toad away and explained, “I’ll take this with me. The Krad family is looki
With the messy thoughts out of his head, Kaze concentrated on the treatment. In just a little over ten minutes, Sasha was freed from the pain, which had tormented her badly and drained her energy, leaving her exhausted. When the treatment was over, she was already asleep. Her lips curled into a sweet smile, seemingly dreaming about something nice. Her eyelashes had droplets of sweat hanging on the edges, a testament to her exhaustion. Looking at her exhausted look pained Kaze’s heart. He had also exhausted his energy. Performing the treatment for a full session was even more tiring than fighting a foreign martial arts expert. Noticing that the seventh petal of the Nine Phantom Lotus had almost faded, Kaze started to pull the needles out of Sasha’s body. He knew speed was not the key to curing the girl. Creek! It was then June came in through the door. She had a towel over her neck to wipe her sweat because she dared not take a shower after the treatment. Her face looked
“Mhm…” Sasha nodded. She tried her best not to make any noise. Kaze concentrated and started the treatment. Sasha’s back was covered with even more silver needles yet the pain showed no signs of subsiding. As Kaze continued the treatment, his brows furrowed and his forehead was covered in sweat. Suddenly, he felt hot around his waist and it was at that moment, Sasha felt a slight relief. Kaze asked, “Sasha, did you feel better just now?” “I-I think so. I felt like being poked by a thousand ice needles. It’s cold and painful, but now I started to feel warm…” she said timidly. While she was explaining, Kaze retrieved the hot object from his pouch; it was the Golden Toad he got from Aiden. When he first saw the Golden Toad, he was afraid it might contain radioactive materials, so he dared not touch it. However, realizing that Aiden carried it around—knowing he was not some idiot with no common sense—dispelled Kaze’s doubts. He looked at the shining Golden Toad and po
After spending some time with Sasha, Kaze had already treated her like a little sister. He felt bad when he heard her painful groans. After getting permission, he went inside the room. Sasha lay face down on the bed, her bare back exposed. Seven petals of the Nine Phantom Lotus glowed faintly on her skin. Her hair was drenched in sweat, clinging to her face. Her exposed cheek was slick with moisture, deathly pale, revealing agonizing pain. Her back was also covered with thin silver needles of different lengths, almost a dozen of them. As she shuddered due to the pain, the needles flickered with a chilling gleam. Kaze knew at first glance that the needles were an enhanced version of the Ghastly Thirteen Needles. Other than Kaze, June was the only one in Herbal Spring who could perform the technique, not even Dr. Wright, deemed one of the greatest doctors in West State, could do it. Dr. Wright was a medicine specialist, not acupuncture. June was performing the treatment o
“You are really a trouble magnet,” Miru mocked Kaze. A quick sigh later, she added, “But you are right. That man is really a problem. One of his feet is in the grave already and he’s still causing problems. He thinks everyone should respect and obey him. I’ve had it with his attitude a long time ago. “But I can’t make a move on him yet. I just got news that he actually saved some big shot’s life from West State Viper’s Den, and because of that, he got strong support.” When Miru first arrived at Riverbank, she hardly saw any progress. It was after Kaze helped her acquire Bronze Sparrow that her conquest of the underworld accelerated.Now, she had become one of the most influential and powerful kingpins in the underworld of Riverbank, rivaling the big four. Her next target would obviously be the big four kingpins. Everett Techman was a suitable target for a start, but he stepped down when things went south, using Aiden’s situation to make peace with Kaze and stop going after
“The number you have dialed is not available.” On the way back, Kaze made multiple calls to Darcy, but she did not pick up. She was obviously mad at him. “Mr. Lee, what’s the matter?” Snow asked out of concern after seeing the bitterness in his expression. Kaze did not want Snow to feel bad or guilty. “It’s nothing. You should take some rest. I might have forced the poison out of your body, but it’s still hurtful to the body. I’ll take you to Herbal Spring and let Dr. Wright’s disciple check on you.” The only thing he could do now was text Darcy, hoping to explain the situation. He then called Miru. “Kaze Lee, how dare you call me now?!” Miru’s upset voice came through the phone, but she was not exactly furious. “What’s the situation at Bronze Sparrow?” Kaze asked. “A hitman infiltrated the place. Lost a few of my men, many of them injured, and he managed to take that woman away. He even said that he will go after your life next time. “Kaze, you are really a wal