Jude might be attentive but he had no plans to introduce Kaze to Alfonso. Kaze did not mind either. He dipped the piece of meat into the sauce and then put it inside his mouth. He then said, “I am not a picky eater. As long as it’s cooked, I can put it in my mouth. Deputy Chief Gwake, make yourself at home, eat whatever you want, don’t mind me. It will only make me feel awkward. I feel like I am in debt to you, and I don’t like that. “Why don’t we split the bill for this supper?” Kaze then put a bank card on the table. What he suggested was certainly not a joke. Jude’s expression shifted when he saw the bank card. Alfonso’s expression darkened as well. His gaze at Kaze showed a hint of anger and contempt. Splitting the bill over supper with the deputy chief of the Viper’s Den South River Branch? Was it an insult intended for him or Jude? If people heard about this, they would assume that Jude could not even afford supper. Buffy looked rather helpless. She knew her f
Kaze saw through Jude’s hypocrisy with a glance. He did not pick up his glass for the proposed toast and simply scoffed. “Thank you for the high regards, Deputy Chief Gwake. Oh, may I ask about the Nether Viper Sword? “You bought it back a while ago, how did it feel? I think with the sword, you should be able to become chief right?” His mocking remarks left Jude stunned, his smile frozen. Kaze struck Jude at his weakness, rubbing salt in his wound. Alfonso looked at Kaze with narrowed eyes, his expression clearly displeased. After a brief observation, he realized Kaze was rude and impolite, he lacked the EQ to deal with people. Alfonso hated people like Kaze the most. Before Jude could say a word, Kaze skipped to the point and said, “Deputy Chief Gwake, let’s just skip the nonsense. This isn’t our first meeting, just tell me what you want. “If you are here just to eat supper with me, I could have just had supper with your daughter alone.” Buffy blushed at his words.
“Then do you have a way to cure the condition?” Jude asked, his body leaned forward and his eyes showed a sense of hope. “I am a man of my word. If I said I can cure your wife, then I can cure your wife.” Kaze confidently said, “It’s not a difficult issue, and it won’t take long, probably around half an hour. Then, all her health issues can be cured.” Even Hannah, who was completely crippled after her first meeting with Kaze, was cured and recovered to her prime. Faith’s condition was incurable to most of the doctors but to Kaze, it was nothing serious. Pft! Alfonso could not help but chuckle. He found Kaze’s confidence amusing. His tone was frivolous, which felt unconvincing. Jude was skeptical as well. “Half an hour? You’re that confident? I believe you only saw my wife for a very brief time. How are you planning to do that?” “Since this is a condition caused by the old martial arts, of course, I’ll use the ways of the old martial arts. That’s all I can tell you for
Kaze then realized what he said sounded wrong. He laughed and then explained, “What were you thinking? I mean I believe in your capabilities and if you use the money to run a business, you’ll be able to make a hundred times more. You just have to pay me a dividend and I don’t need to worry anymore.” Buffy simply grunted and then kept quiet. Watching Kaze tease and flirt with her daughter right in front of his face, Jude felt disgusted and repulsive. “If you don’t want money, what do you want?” he asked, his expression darkened. Kaze explained, “If you want to know how much I charge for saving Faith, then let me tell you not even all the money in the world. “As for what I want, I have already made it clear the other day. You owed Buffy and her mother an explanation. “As for Faith, she offended me and now I have to save her? Does she even deserve it?” Kaze did not show any courtesy as he explained. Buffy looked at him with a sense of warmth and emotion. Jude felt that h
“And the Krads... I don’t like people knocking at my door with trouble but if they insist on waking up the dragon, I don’t mind burning them all alive, since the dragon is simply slumbering. “As for the deputy chief, branch chief of the South River Branch, I am not interested. To be honest, I think even the position of West State Branch Leader is a burden. “Besides, you are just the deputy chief and you have not even been selected yet. Isn’t it a little too early to jump to conclusions? “Most importantly, you made me these offers because you want me to temporarily choose sides. Given your personality, it’s no big deal that you walk away from the promise. “Can I say that once I treated Faith and at the next second, you two will come after me, trying to slice me into a thousand pieces? Am I right? “So don’t simply make empty offers. I am not interested and I found them funny.” Kaze looked and sounded frivolous. Jude’s expression darkened as he asked gravely, “If you already
“You! How dare you!” Jude slammed the table and bellowed, “Just because you are slightly capable, you think you can disrespect me and treat me like a fool? You’re asking for it!” His eyes were burning with anger, his teeth clenched, and he looked like a vicious beast trying to devour Kaze. As he bellowed, Serene and the agents pulled their guns out, and pointed them at Kaze as they stared at him coldly. One word from Jude and they would rain bullets on him. The atmosphere in the restaurant became tense and heavy. Buffy’s face paled. She looked at Kaze, worried. Despite being surrounded by guns and Jude’s ferocious glare, Kaze remained unfazed. He remained seated, unfazed. “Splash!” Suddenly, Kaze splashed a cup of tea at Jude’s face. He said, “Jude, stop playing mind games with me. Your little gang might scare others but not me. “No one begs people like you do. If you want to ask for a favor, try to show some humility.” Jude’s face was wet, and several pieces of
Kaze scrutinized Alfonso to the point that the man felt uncomfortable. He then turned to Jude and mocked. “Jude, have you started some live streaming business lately? Where did you get this influencer? He’s good at cosplaying.” The mockery left Jude speechless, his lips twitched helplessly. When Alfonso arrived, Buffy called him “uncle” and showed utmost respect for his arrival. Yet Kaze pretended that he did not know. “You bastard!” Alfonso was visibly enraged by Kaze's disrespectful comments. His teeth gritted as if he wanted to strangle Kaze on the spot. “You little brat, you haven’t heard of me? Do you know it depends on my mood whether you can walk out of this restaurant or not?“Even if you never heard of me, what about Dayton? He’s my disciple and I am the one who sent him to protect Buffy and also take care of you so that you don’t die! “Haven’t you considered the consequences of spewing such disrespectful words in my face?” Alfonso peered down at Kaze angrily.
“That’s for sure!” Alfonso explained, “People from our generation forged friendships through hardship and bitterness, it’s not something a boy like you can understand.” “That’s what I don’t understand,” Kaze suddenly said, his tone icy. “Buffy’s mother is in a coma and even if Faith isn’t directly involved, she has to bear some responsibility. “I am demanding justice for Buffy and her mother. If you are close with her mother, why are you standing in my way? “To be honest, I suspect that you harbor ulterior motives. You are doing this not because of your friendship with Buffy’s mother, but maybe Jude promised you something that you cannot reject.” Hearing Kaze’s question, Buffy looked at Alfonso, her eyes clear as the day as she waited for an explanation. “Young Man, my friendship with Buffy’s mother and my care for Buffy are not something you have the right to question!” Alfonso's expression darkened, his tone frosty as he continued, “I watch Buffy grow up, of course, I
“You…” The fear of death suppressed and replaced the anger in Phoenix. Her wrinkled face paled, making her look like a living corpse. “Madam!” Two of Phoenix’s followers from Ridgesouth tried to jump on Anzu to rescue their employer. However, Anzu swung her katana in a swift, deadly arc, slitting their throats instantly and splattering blood across the ground. “Kaze Lee, get over here! Or else I will kill this old hag!” Anzu roared, her tone resentful. “She killed them!” “Grandaunt is being taken hostage!” “Call the police!” The morgue fell into chaos following the death of the two followers. All the members of the other family branches screamed in panic. Some scrambled to escape, while others stood still in shock. A few were paralyzed by sheer terror, unable to process what was happening before their eyes. As chaos broke out, Kaze quickly dashed forward to pull the horrified Hector and Agnes away, dragging them back to Darcy and Sky. “Stay here and don’t move.
“Get down and kneel to Joan, or else I will haunt you even after I die!” Kaze twisted his wrist, subtly revealing a thin silver needle in his palm. He then looked at Joan and said, “Fire if you can.” If Joan got so much as close to the trigger, he would use the silver needle to kill her on the spot. His words put disappointment in Darcy’s eyes. Kaze was physically strong but the family was surrounded by guns. Under such intense circumstances, Kaze could really be more tolerant and endure the insult for their sake. Darcy was deeply disappointed in Kaze. Phoenix was so enraged by Kaze’s threats toward Joan that she laughed in exasperation. “Joan, show that you mean business!” “Kaze Lee, you made me do this!” Joan said with a grin. She slowly raised the gun at Kaze. Bang! Suddenly, the door was kicked open from the outside, and a woman in a funeral home uniform with a mask appeared. Strangely, she wielded a Ryokan katana and was searching for someone among the cr
There were police officers outside of the funeral home, and since the hitmen from the Steelclaw Guild would come after Hector and his family, Phoenix did not need to kill them in the open. Though she did not mind scaring them and making them kneel before her, begging for mercy—it would be quite satisfying. Thump! Hector and Agnes knelt immediately. Agnes was shuddering as she said, “Grandaunt, we never meant to disrespect you! It was all Kaze! Him! He was the one who opposed you and challenged your authority! “He was the one who broke your cane and beat up Joan. He was the one who called the stop on the projects! We had nothing to do with it!” She then turned to her son and daughter. “Sky, Darcy, what are you two doing standing? Get down! Madam Dark’s death is already painful enough for Grandaunt. Stop upsetting her!” “Yeah, kneel! Grandaunt is an elder, it’s not embarrassing kneeling to her!” Hector said to his children, the anxiety on his face was obvious too. He did
“The day I arrived, you broke my walking cane of three million dollars and you hurt Joan. You even got her fiance’s family killed. Don’t even get me started about Mayor Synder stopping the company’s project. Now, you are opposing me directly?! “The other branches of the Quint family are doing just fine but why are you and your family such a pain in the ass? Now I realize the reason—it is you! You are the one who caused all this mess! “Hector, your family is useless! That’s why even a live-in son-in-law can misbehave like this! Do you even deserve to carry the Quint’s name?” Phoenix bellowed. Hector lowered his head and dared not argue with Phoenix. Kaze did not care at all. He sternly said, “Phoenix, you know better than anyone why I broke your walking cane, why I hit Joan, and why I ceased the project. “If you want to distort the truth, I won’t bother to explain it either, but all I want to say is don’t overly rely on your position and your seniority. Respect is earned, not
“She was elderly; how could someone beat her up physically? More importantly, aside from breaking Madam Dark’s arm, this particular someone staged a car accident and killed her, leaving her with barely a corpse. “It’s inhumane! It’s outrageous! Is he even human?” Joan cried as she expressed her grievance. Each word she muttered felt heavy like mountains. Following her claims, everyone turned around and looked at Darcy and her family at the back of the line—including Kaze, who was beside them. “Have Hector and his family arrived yet?” Phoenix stomped her walking cane on the floor and bellowed, “Tell them to get over here right now!” Seeing Phoenix as if she was ready to devour someone alive, Hector and Agnes shuddered as they quickly went up. “Grandaunt, we are here. We’ve arrived for some time now.” Agnes quickly shifted the blame to Kaze, saying, “Grandaunt, it was not us who broke Madam Dark’s arm. We did not arrange for the truck to ram into her car either. It was Ka
Besides, several Viper’s Den agents in casual attire had also blended into the scene. Hannah was hurt, or else Kaze would bring her along as well. Although he had already devised a plan with the Steelclaw Guild, he was not sure if the guild would take the act too far and make it real. On top of that, the Steelclaw Guild was a mysterious organization rooted deeply in this city. No one could guarantee if they would not deploy all their hitmen on this mission. It was why Kaze arranged as many men as possible to be on the scene to ensure the safety of Darcy and her family. Under the staff’s guidance, Kaze, Darcy, and the family arrived at the morgue. They saw a crowd inside. All the branch families and their respective heads arrived. Phoenix, leaning on her walking cane, and Joan, seated in her wheelchair, were also there. Madam Dark and her family had served the Quint family for generations and she grew up with Phoenix. She took care of Phoenix, protected her, and they
South said with a sigh, “Kaze, you might not know First Tiger in person but he’s a man with a great mind and tactics. “He said the Steelclaw Guild would remain in the shadows while the Quint family roamed openly. If the Quint family wants revenge against us, then their family members will be our targets. “You, however, are not the same. He can’t see through you and he’s willing to sign a peace treaty with you instead of going to war against you without any solid reason.” Kaze smiled and said, “He’s a wise man indeed. I’m more curious about First Tiger than before. Tell him that I will play along with his plan. I owe him one.” After the call with South, the chief of the South River Police Department, Morgan Bale, called. “Mr. Lee, the servants of Phoenix Quint and the elder of the Quint family from Ridgesouth were killed in a car crash. All six of them died on the spot. I believe you’ve received the news.” As soon as the call got through, Morgan’s serious voice came through.
Agnes bellowed, “So what if Darcy suspects you? You did it, yet you won’t let people talk about you? My daughter is a chairwoman, she’s smart! She’s not like Sky who trusts you unconditionally. She has solid reasons to suspect you!” “I have to take this call.” Kaze did not want to argue with Agnes. The buzzing phone saved him in the nick of time and he went out after seeing South’s name on the screen. As though Agnes clutched on the very evidence that could prove Kaze did it, she jumped excitedly and shouted, “Look! He knew he couldn’t keep it up anymore! He’s going out to talk with the killer! “I’m telling you guys! Don’t trust people like him! He’s mad and he could do anything to you! He’s beyond saving…” While Agnes was being relentless with her groundless accusations, Kaze answered the phone. “Kaze, Phoenix Quint just contacted us and said you and your family would be at the funeral house. She even said if we wanted revenge, we could send people over there now and they
“Other than Kaze, who else has the motive to kill Madam Dark and her daughter? Didn’t you hear him when he shoved them out earlier? He said he would kill them! “I think he was afraid back then, but he didn’t want them coming after him, so he took the chance once they left! “Kaze, you’re horrible! How could you kill them?!” Agnes took a few steps away from Kaze and stared at him. “You’ve gotten bolder than ever. I really don’t know what else you don’t dare to do! Do you know what the consequences of your actions are? You can’t keep it hidden forever! People will eventually find out! “You think you can get away with it? Look again! The crash just happened, and the driver is already under investigation. A gambler in debts took the risk for money and pretended to be DUI. Do you think people are idiots? “Can’t you see it’s obvious? Now you’ve become a prime suspect! You better take responsibility and not get us involved, or I will make you regret it!” She scolded Kaze as her f