Casius was not just one of the Riverbank Seven. He was the Weathers’ hope to remain one of the elites for years to come. While the Glitters were on a decline due to the family’s incompetent heirs, the Weathers were flourishing. The tragic end of Casius, the heir expected to bring the family to new heights, came as a shock to everyone. It was a shock not only to the Weathers but also to all the mourners. A place to pay respect to Casius was set up. The family, including Johnson, the head of the Weathers, was not in a state to receive the mourners. “Here comes Collier, the deputy chief of the Viper’s Den South River State Branch.” A high-pitched voice boomed. Several hundred people piped down. If Casius had not died, the city’s highlight would be the Viper’s Den South River State Branch fight in Drake Gym. Shockingly, the winners turned out to be Hannah and Collier. Jude, a long-standing deputy chief, was a total wipeout. Not only did Jude lose out on getting the pr
It was Casius’ head. Collier presented Casius’ head at his funeral. There was no telling whether the gesture was an insult or a respect to the Weathers. At least, Casius was able to be put to rest as a whole. He could rest in peace now. Despite knowing that Collier did not mean well, Johnson, the head of the household, fought back his rage and accepted the box. He said, “Open Casius’ coffin and stitch his head back on.” The household staff held the box and carried out the order. Johnson looked back at Collier with a complicated look before taking a deep breath. He uttered, “May I know who killed my son?” “What? Are you planning to avenge him?” Collier scoffed and said curtly, “Your son was in over his head to get involved in the South River State Branch’s internal affairs. He was killed because of it. “Ms. Delmore has a message for you. You and your family better watch your step. “Otherwise, your family will suffer the same fate as Casius.” Collier walked away f
The call connected moments later. Upon learning that Kaze was at the hospital, Snow said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Chairman Lee. I’m in Emerald Bull Palace. “I have a new friend, Ms. Yemen. She’s with Golden Scale Corporation. Her plan today is to make a reel in Emerald Bull Palace. She insisted that I came along.“I couldn’t refuse. I thought a change of scenery would help, so I accepted her invite.” Kaze raised a brow. “Ms. Yemen? Is she Golden Scale Corporation's signed influencer?” The last name and association with the company gave Kaze everything he needed to know about the person. “That’s right. Her name is Cyan. She works for Golden Scale Corporation as an influencer. She went viral lately for her sweet looks.“I’ve been bored lately, so I’ve been looking into this new live streaming sales thing. A friend then introduced me to Ms. Yemen. “Are you coming, Chairman Lee? Emerald Bull Palace is a nice place to walk around.” Snow asked in anticipation. Kaze was hes
Kaze enjoyed the live stream with intrigue for a moment. It would be nice if Cyan stayed chilled and relaxed. He generously gifted Cyan ten virtual stars to show his support.The screen lit up with a dazzling display of animations. “Thank you for your stars, Sponge.” The generous cash tip took Cyan’s attention away from calligraphy, and she beamed. “Sponge has always been my number one supporter. He is always busy with his business to be online, but when he does, he supports me with his generous gifts. “Thank you, Sponge!” Cyan was a major influencer now. Kaze could remember Cyan jumping with joy when he first sent her a virtual star. She would readily do whatever Kaze asked of her, even if it meant performing a sexy dance. Now, Cyan could remain unfazed when rewarded ten virtual stars. At least, Cyan could carry herself in a more graceful manner. Her loud and boisterous behavior would come off tacky. Cyan got up and dragged Snow over to say hello to Sponge. She j
“Mr. Aiden Krad, what brings you to Riverbank?”“You are one of Westeros’ ten best young entrepreneurs. You run a multi-billion-dollar business before hitting 30. Could you share some insights into the investment opportunities you’re exploring in Riverbank?” “Mr. Krad, rumors have it that you’re single. Do you have plans to settle down?” The press was all over the towering man, bombarding him with questions. “Aiden Krad?” Kaze raised a brow. Judging by the name, Aiden must be Aaron’s brother. When Midas King called for a hit on the Hidens, the Hidens turned to the Krads for help. The Krads would only interfere if Snow married Aaron. Due to Kaze’s involvement, Venom escorted May back home. Aaron and Snow’s date ended without any further developments. Later, Aaron was transferred to the South River Strategic Department as commander. Unlike Albert who had a distinguished military record to back him up, Aaron lacked the credibility to command the respect of his subordina
With that in mind, Natalie could care less about Kaze. She said peevishly, “You sure have an attitude for a nobody. Can’t you wait for me by the road? I had to make a U-turn just to get into the hospital.“Don’t you know how expensive the parking at St. Mary’s is? It’s 50 bucks just to stop for a bit. “You don’t look like you can afford St. Mary’s anyway. Jesus.“Don’t just stand there. Get in! “I don’t get why Ms. Frost has a friend like you. You don’t even own a car. I can’t believe I had to drive all the way here for you.” Natalie mumbled disgruntledly, her disdain for Kaze showing. She even powdered her nose before making the drive. Kaze did not look like he was made of money. Natalie had encountered many members of the rich and powerful while working for Cyan. Nothing about Kaze caught her eye. As Kaze opened the door to the front passenger seat, Natalie sulked and uttered, “Be gentle with the seat. It’s made of genuine leather. You can’t afford to pay for the
“Emerald Bull Palace? Oh, got.” Kaze raised a brow and nodded. The area of his apprentice, Juan’s territory. Juan often organized retreats there with his disciples. His persona as a spiritual retreat leader was a deliberate deception.There was nothing meditative about Juan. Juan was greedy, lustful, and shameless. Kaze had a good understanding of Juan’s character during those few days at the hillside villa. Juan had been too busy studying the Oracle to bother Kaze back then. “Ha! You must have known about the place through reels. It’s a must-visit place for influencers. “I doubt you can afford the food in the tourist spot. “But you’re in luck today. Ms. Yemen dug deep into her connections to reserve some great vegan food for Ms. Frost. “Ms. Frost doesn’t seem like the kind to be associated with you.” Natalie went on while driving. She took out all the frustrations she had experienced with Cyan on Kaze.Natalie did not mind hurting Kaze’s feelings since he
Apart from Snow and Cyan, the courtyard was filled with other decked-out influencers. The other women lacked refinement and elegance next to Snow and Cyan. There was a certain vulgarity about them that made Snow frown, and she rarely engaged with them.Cyan, on the other hand, enjoyed the attention of her peers. The other influencers treated her like a star. A line of well-dressed men stood guard near the courtyard wall, their build and attire reflecting an air of authority. Once inside, Natalie dropped the attitude. Different from her annoyance toward Kaze, Natalie carried an ingratiating smile. Natalie went up to Cyan and said, “I have brought Ms. Frost’s bodyguard here, Cyan.” She had overheard the conversation between Cyan and Snow. Since Snow had dismissed her security detail two days ago, Kaze was likely her new hire. Kaze’s physique, though not as impressive as the professional security team Golden Scale Corporation had hired for Cyan, looked the part. The women
Even though Aloysius saw it coming, he was surprised to learn the truth from Murray. “It’s not what you think. We were simply trying to find out if someone was sabotaging those projects since problems came all at once. We were also trying to gather intel.” “So what? It’s my money, but you and the Frosts don’t seem to appreciate that fact. I don’t see a point in working together.” Murray made up his mind to cut business ties with the Frosts, and nothing they said or did could change his mind. More infuriatingly, the ninety million dollars was taken out of the business account for investors. Jet sure took the investors for a ride. “I can offer an explanation for this. You don’t have to be mad about this. It was just to keep it in the books, but the money will be put back.” Aloysius was not there to upset Murray. His intention was to iron out issues in a peaceful manner. However, Aloysius just made Murray angrier, and they were nowhere close to solving anything. “I don’t
“We are facing a minor issue, but it’s no biggie. With some alterations, we will see profits in no time. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Plus, when have the Frosts ever let anyone down when doing business together?” Aloysius continued to persuade Murray. For some reason, Murray was determined to pull out anyway. How did Murray find out about the issues regarding the projects? Jet had blocked any news from leaking out. No one would have known. “As you said, no one knows what tomorrow will bring, so you better give me back my money. I want to cut my losses.” Murray’s mind was set. Aloysius was disappointed. From the meeting, Aloysius could see that Murray had made himself clear. “That reminds me. You have five days to return the investment, or I’ll spread the news and ruin your business.” Murray understood that intimidation would get what he wanted. Integrity was important to businesspeople, but without the right strategies, it was hard to stay on top. “We have
“Anger won’t get us anywhere. We should brainstorm strategies,” Aloysius said. Jet was already struggling with injuries. The mental strain only added to his burden. However, they were bold to run multiple business ventures all at once. The Frosts were able to keep the operation going with the support of business partners. Unfortunately, when it rained, it poured. If one project had issues, Jet and the Frosts could still weather through, but the problems in various projects proved too much to handle. “Do you think I don’t want to? Our hands are tied right now.” Jet was hurt, and he could not even rest. As if things were not bad enough, the shareholders did the unthinkable. “Maybe we should give up on getting the films released. We can sell that business off. “We can abandon the piece of land near the port or offer those old people some compensation.” Aloysius believed the issues with these projects were easy fixes. Most importantly, they were able to sustain the losses.
“You are all a bunch of losers. What happened to those fighters? Didn’t I pay them to do a job?” Jet believed he had prepared for every eventuality. Yet, Kaze came on strong and fast. Before Jet could get his team to protect him, Kaze pulled the first punch. “When I took you to the hospital, these fighters were still lying on the cold, hard floor. They were all down and out.” Aloysius grimaced, recalling the incident. He was lost for words. The incident was etched in his mind forever. He could never forget the tragic scene. Jet was not too happy with the brawlers, but the news took him by surprise. “Kaze came alone. How could he fend off so many?” Jet was skeptical that Kaze could be so powerful. “I later heard that Kaze had backup. He might have had help.” Aloysius refused to believe the truth, so he asked around. Another group barged into Kurosawa Club and possibly helped Kaze. There was no way Kaze could finish the fighting crew off all by himself. Jet was re
The group shook their heads, not carrying much thought about the incident. However, the dynamics were shifting in Butterworth. Several cars fleeted across the road, not causing much notice. The pedestrians went about their ways. Life was as mundane as it ever was. Yet, behind the scenes, the city underwent a silent upheaval. Jet was a seasoned businessman with experience spanning across numerous industries. His position of power earned him the favor and flattery of many. However, the recent events surrounding the Frosts cautioned many businesspeople and potential business partners against doing business with them. Some businesspeople who had yet to secure a deal with the Frosts were not too eager anymore. They had pursued a collaboration before, but now they would think twice before engaging with the Frosts. Some of Jet’s existing business partners were concerned. Jet came from a prestigious and resourceful family. He had the guts and judgment to procure the most pr
After a series of examinations, it was determined that Jet had an open wound on his forehead. Otherwise, he was doing fine health-wise. Jet was unconscious, and it was for the better. At least he would not feel any pain. The chatter outside put Aloysius on edge. Aloysius guessed that Kaze came from power, and Jet had upset him this time. Kaze’s wrath was likely upon them. Aloysius worried about the business. However, he took a glance at his unconscious employer before realizing that Jet should be the one to feel concerned. He called the number of a private hospital, and an ambulance was dispatched right away. With the help of others, Aloysius managed to get Jet on a stretcher. He glanced at the out-cold fighters in disdain. “Get their boss here to take his useless members back. They can take care of their own injuries,” Aloysius said before promptly leaving. The news about Jet’s injuries was shut down. Kurosawa Club’s owner was close enough with Jet to know that any
Oblivious to the situation, Aloysius felt a shiver down his spine. It was as if the world had crumbled. “What happened? Did we hire protection? How did Mr. Frost get hurt?” Aloysius heard the commotion, but he did not expect his employer to be the victim. Jet was talking smack at the time, and Aloysius assumed that he had the upper hand. Kaze was on his own. How could he take the win despite being outnumbered? Aloysius was baffled and curious about what had transpired. Nevertheless, now was not the time to ask questions. Aloysius had to get Jet medical treatment for his bleeding wound. Things were the opposite of what was planned. They intended to bribe Kaze into telling the truth. If Kaze refused to cooperate, they would resort to force. The horrible conflict was the last thing Aloysius expected to see. The plan went through, but the roles were reversed. Jet lay on the ground heavily wounded, and the brawlers were down too. Kaze, who was supposed to be rest
Kaze sat by the table and dumped an unconscious man sprawling across the surface to the ground. He then opened a new bottle of liquor to take big gulps. “Sorry we’re late, Mr. Lee.” Arthur rushed to the scene, only to find such a bloody mess. He felt bad because he and his team were tasked to protect Kaze. Yet, Kaze had to get his hands dirty with these low-life scums. “Mr. Lee, why didn’t you wait for us? You didn’t have to do it yourself.” Arthur and his team came as quickly as they could when they picked up on the commotion, but it was too late. Nothing could stop Kaze when the fight started. He acted swiftly, and help could not come in time. Arthur and his crew felt sorry. The Viper’s Den’s members took in the aftermath and stared at Kaze in reverence. They had no idea that Kaze was amazing. They did not even know who he was. The only thing they were told to do was protect him. It only dawned on them now that Kaze was a terrifying force. “I could use a little
“Who the hell is he? He must be trained because he’s one hell of a fighter.” “I think he might be military.” “What do we do now? Do we still fight him?” The brawlers grew scared. “Things won’t end well for us if we cross the Frosts. You can hide and choose not to attack him, but you’re doing it at your own risk,” the head of the fighters uttered.They were not given the option to back down the moment they took the job. “How do we approach this? This is strange.” “He’s aggressive.” The fighters looked at their injuries. Despite the extent of the damage, they could not walk away from the conflict. “What do we do? Are we fighting him?” Once fear took over, the brawlers lost the will to win. Kaze let out a mocking smile as the fighters turned into cowards. “Are we doing this or what? If you’re not, I can save my energy.” Kaze sneered at the group, finding them disinteresting. Here he thought he could get a good workout with these guys. Kaze guessed he gave them t