Jill added, “Vi’s boyfriend is a government official, working for Riverbank City Council. Not even he has a way to get a blessed artifact from St. John Church, and you said you can? “Why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror and listen to what you are saying?” Kane shook his head and chuckled. “Kaze, if you can really get a blessed artifact from Pastor Angelo, I will get on my knees and slap myself as I apologize to you.” Violet and Jill continued to laugh. Kane kneeling on the ground, slapping himself, and apologizing? Impossible. Kaze would be more likely to do that. Violet covered her mouth and said softly, “Kane, you think too highly of him. You should know what he can do, it’s impossible…” “Then you can get down on your knees already,” Kaze said, interrupting Violet before she could finish. The atmosphere grew awkward. Kane widened his eyes in disbelief. He was triggered. “Are you asking for it?” Just as he was about to throw a punch, Violet pulled him bac
Jill obviously did not believe Kaze had a way to get a blessed artifact by Pastor Angelo. She simply assumed Hamlin was a paid actor that Kaze hired just to make him look good. The bracelet in the box must be some gift from a tourist trap spot. Everything made sense. It was easy to get a souvenir gift from a tourist spot as there were at least ten to twenty stores around. Violet shook her head and laughed. She lectured, “Kaze, as my uncle’s student, not only are you useless and unambitious, but how can you do this just to save face? This is a fraud, do you understand? “My uncle wouldn’t want his student to lie to him. You have to be humble and honest. You might be poor now but you lied just to fulfill your vanity, it will destroy your whole life.” She sounded like she felt bad for Kaze and cared about his future. The two ladies continued to lecture Kaze about what they saw. Standing on the moral high ground made them feel superior. “Why are you guys still talking to
Violet held Kane’s arm and said anxiously, “Kane, what are you doing? Is this some kind of mistake? He’s not whatever chief, he’s just a paid actor hired by Kaze.” Slap! Kane got anxious and slapped Violet in the face, silencing her. “What the hell are you talking about? This is Mayor Synder’s driver, Chief Hamlin!” With just a brief interaction with Hamlin, Kane already knew what was going on. He might not know about the relationship between Kaze and Hamlin but he was certain that Hamlin got the blessed artifact by Pastor Angelo from St. John Church and came all the way here just to deliver it. Then, his stupid girlfriend and her friend mistook Hamlin for a paid actor and mocked him. Thinking about the stupid things his girlfriend and her friend said to Hamlin while he was away, he really wanted to slap their mouths off their faces. “What? Mayor Synder’s driver?” Violet covered her face and stared at Hamlin blankly; Jill did the same with a pale look. The mayor of Ri
“I…” Kane flushed with embarrassment, his eyes burning with fury. He served as a government personnel at the city council and was considered one of the better-known figures in Riverbank. Yet he had to kneel and apologize to someone he looked down on before. His grievance piled up. Thump! Just as he was contemplating, Kaze kicked him in the stomach. The heavy thud caused Kane to fall to his knees. Slap! Kaze smacked him on the face, causing one cheek to swell up instantly. “If you can’t do it, then don’t even talk about it,” Kaze said as he held the bracelet in his hand to feel the carvings. Had Kane not mocked him earlier, he would not have slapped the man. Kane practically asked for it. Looking at Kane’s aggrieved look and eyes with vengeful intent, Hamlin said indifferently, “Kane Jango, I will inform the mayor about what you have done here.” “No!” Kane was horrified. If Hamlin reported this to the mayor, his future would be ruined. He quickly prostrat
Kaze said with a smile, “Mayor Synder is quite rich and generous I see.” Hamlin smiled back. “Mr. Lee, please don’t take it the wrong way. The Synders are a family with a long history here in Riverbank and the annual dividend for the mayor alone is a large sum of money. He doesn’t need to commit illegal acts just to get some allowance.” “I see. I guess I have misunderstood Kent.” Kaze picked up and looked at the document before taking the keycard too. “Please thank Kent for me.” He never intended for Kent to repay him but he did save the man’s life back at the train station. Therefore, be it the blessed artifact by Pastor Angelo or the mansion, Kaze believed he earned it. If Kent were not lucky enough to meet him, Riverbank would have lost its mayor. Kaze was confident only a handful of people in Arcadia could save Kent at that instant. Seeing that Kaze accepted the mansion, Hamlin stood up with a satisfied smile. “The mayor is waiting for me. I’ll leave you to your din
“This mayor's residence used to be the embassy of Ryokan. After the Ryokanians moved out, in order to save money, the city council used what they had left behind, that’s why it feels like that,” Hamlin introduced the place to Kaze. Upon hearing the introduction, a thought came to Kaze’s mind. Kent was cursed by the Ryokanians and it almost got him killed. The mayor’s residence that he was living in used to be the embassy of Ryokan. Could Myra’s condition be related to the place? Kaze subtly asked, “If I may ask, did Myra’s condition begin after they moved in here, or did it already exist before?” Hamlin was slightly surprised but he quickly understood the question. “Ms. Myra’s condition started shortly after Mr. Synder became the mayor. Ms. Myra was still a college student, so she moved in with her parents. “Mr. Lee, are you saying that Ms. Myra’s condition is related to this place? Is it because she moved into this place?” Hamlin asked with a grim look. He was Kent’s
Standing at the top of the stairs, Cole looked down at Kaze with contempt. He returned to his arrogant and hostile self, like when he first met Kaze. The respect he had for Kaze after Kaze saved Kent had faded. There was another group of people behind him, men and women with some locals and some foreigners. Two of them captured Kaze’s attention. The first one would be a young and beautiful woman who exuded a powerful aura. Her professional business attire and black heels made her look stern and fierce. People would easily notice her at first glance. The other one would be a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. The glasses he wore gave him an academic demeanor and composed presentation. “Cole, Mr. Lee saved Mr. Synder back at the train station. You saw it with your own eyes as well. Mr. Synder told me to take good care of Mr. Lee and I was with him when I received the call about Ms. Myra. That’s why he is with me. “Mr. Synder also agreed to let him come along. You can’t j
“How unfortunate.” The man named Professor Wilson scrutinized Kaze and shrugged. As the target of ridicule, Kaze barely felt anything. He simply smiled at Hamlin. Hamlin awkwardly bowed at Kaze. “I’m sorry, Mr. Lee. For Mr. Synder’s safety…” Back on the train, after Kaze left, Hamlin had run all kinds of background checks to find out about Kaze’s true identity. It was to protect Kent, especially after multiple assassination attempts. It was his duty to investigate every person who approached the mayor. Now that Cole exposed it in front of everyone, especially in front of Kaze, Hamlin felt a little awkward. Kaze would never tolerate Cole’s arrogant attitude. “It’s okay. You are just doing your job,” Kaze said to Hamlin. He then looked at Cole and said, “Cole, I prefer the humble and respectful you back on the train. You were arrogant and disrespectful at first but you learned quickly and started to show some respect after I saved Kent.” Cole’s face turned bitter wh