"That much?" Jennifer's eyes widened in disbelief. Her hope was reignited instantly. She had been preoccupied with the asset transfer issue and missed this entirely."Frederick, I suddenly have a new idea after hearing what you said," Jennifer said seriously. "I plan to establish a subsidiary specifically for the Sleepless City project. In addition to that, I'll merge our most promising live-streaming e-commerce business into this new company."Establishing an independent subsidiary would, to some extent, circumvent interference from the board of directors.Frederick nodded in agreement. "I think that's a great idea, but we'll need someone with sharp wit and solid management experience to lead this company. Otherwise, it could easily fail despite our efforts."Jennifer smiled mischievously. "Isn't there someone standing right in front of me?"Frederick furrowed his brow. "In front of you? Is there someone else other than me?"The next moment, he was taken aback. "Holy crap! M
"I'll approve it." Jennifer didn't look back, striding away as if she were a guilty thief running away.Frederick saw through her act but kept it to himself, smiling faintly. "I have to admit, this ice queen can be quite cute at times."Tomorrow was an important day. Selene had been away from home for over half a year, and the university she attended was finally having a break. So, she would be home soon.More importantly, she was somehow connected to the truth behind their father's murder. If the powerful figures in the Imperial Capital were still fixated on her, Frederick had to protect his sister at all costs.Early the next morning, Frederick rented an electric scooter and rushed to the airport. Soon after, a young girl in a cartoon white T-shirt and short denim shorts emerged, her slender legs moving gracefully as she pulled her suitcase.Her features were innocent and lovely, giving off an aura of purity and charm."Selly!" Frederick practically flew to her side."Fred!"
The driver's smile froze instantly. "Bro, are you trying to cheat me out of my money?"Frederick remained composed. "Sorry, but when dealing with thugs, sometimes you have to be a thug yourself." With that, he grabbed Selene and got out of the car.The driver followed suit, his tone turning menacing. "Damn it, I was being polite earlier! Don't think you can get away with this. We have people around here. If you ever step out again, we'll be watching you!"As a good student, Selene had never encountered such a situation before. Her heart raced in fear. "Fred, let's just forget it. I'll pay the five hundred dollars. Consider it a lesson learned."She didn't want her family to get involved with such shady characters. As she pulled out the bills from her purse, Frederick stopped her."Put your money away. If you give in now, they'll only come back stronger next time," Frederick advised sternly.Normally, the money Selene received from home was just enough for her basic needs. She c
In an instant, all the taxis were reduced to wreckage."Our cars!""Damn it! He smashed our cars!"Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned bloodshot with uncontrollable rage.The driver roared at Frederick, "Are you out of your mind? Did you have brain surgery, and it got misplaced in your ass? I told you to pay up, not to smash our cars!""I like to trade fair and square. If you want money from me, you gotta give something in return, right?" Frederick smirked.Selene was startled. She hadn't seen Frederick in so long, and now, he seemed like a different person entirely. When he got serious, he was scarier than those thugs and ruffians!The driver gritted his teeth. "These cars aren't worth just seven grand! Plus, you gotta compensate the taxi company. You're looking at hundreds of thousands here!""I'm only giving you seven thousand," Frederick said slowly and firmly."You think you can get away with just a few grand after smashing cars worth hundreds of thousands?" The driver's eye
Arthur took the lead, and approached Frederick with a smile. Then, he apologized."Mr. Lester, I'm sorry! It's my fault for not keeping an eye on my men! I'll make sure to punish those bastards thoroughly when I get back. Rest assured, this won't happen again!"Frederick didn't even glance at him. He muttered to himself, "If the child isn't taught, it's the father's fault. It seems I need to have a word with Gavin."Arthur froze, then snapped back to reality and shuddered. He knelt down abruptly, slapping his own face."I'm sorry! I apologize, Mr. Lester! I'll reflect on this! If it happens again, I'll just die before you! Please, don't tell the boss! If he finds out, he'll kill me on the spot!"Arthur kept slapping himself, and blood started to trickle from the corners of his mouth.Selene looked on with wide eyes. Seeing this imposing underworld figure kneeling and hitting himself was a shocking sight. When did her brother gain such respect?"Let's go, Selly," Frederick said.
Seiryu bowed respectfully. "No, my lord. We still have a lead. Fortunately, I managed to extract the assailant's DNA from my wound. We're conducting a city-wide search and narrowing down the culprit.""Is that our turning point?" Frederick felt a glimmer of unexpected joy, which lifted his previously gloomy mood slightly. He continued solemnly, "This operation must be swift! I'll contact Matthew to ensure full cooperation from the city government. But we mustn't tip our hand, lest they anticipate our moves again.""Yes, my lord!" Seiryu said, then he turned to leave.But Frederick suddenly stopped him. "Seiryu, take this." He handed Seiryu a crimson pill. "This is a Blood Tempering Pill. It can heal any external injury, even severed limbs, in a very short time. It’ll speed up your recovery." Seiryu was touched by Frederick's words. "Lord Hades, t-this is too precious! I can't accept it! The pills you refine are like priceless treasures! They're usually auctioned for exorbita
Frederick's expression changed abruptly, and his demeanor immediately became more compliant. "Ms. Smith, I'm really innocent..."Jasmine rolled her eyes at his reluctance to speak. "Men’s words are as slippery as eels! I don't believe a word you say!"She gave Frederick's thigh a firm pinch before stepping away. "Ms. York values us greatly. She's allocated three million as startup capital for Aeronwind Enterprise. We're just starting out, so have you thought about our future development path?"Although three million might not seem like much, Prospera Corporation's total available funds were currently just over twenty million. Jennifer had done her best! If things went wrong, losing three million would be a big setback and could affect Prospera Corporation's regular operations.Frederick smiled warmly. "I'll leave it to your arrangements, Ms. Deputy General Manager!"Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You're not the junior employee you used to be. Don't think about slacking off now!
Frederick jolted out of his thoughts at Jasmine's words. He quickly smiled, and said, "Ms. White, I understand your frustration. Currently, the company doesn't have enough budget to spare. However, I've devised a new plan specifically for the Livestreaming Department."Juliet huffed, "Mr. Lester, all plans require money! What kind doesn't? We need money to invest in short video platforms for content streaming, pay the hosts, and maintain the offline supply chain!"Frederick smirked. "Ms. White, when it comes to luxury product marketing, promotion is naturally the key expense. But there are avenues where we won't spend a penny, and others will still eagerly provide us with traffic and funding.""Is there such an avenue?" Juliet was taken aback, and retorted skeptically, "Mr. Lester, I heard you used to be a sales team leader at Prospera Corporation. Even so, I doubt you fully grasp the intricacies of livestreaming e-commerce."Currently, the major revenue for several domestic short
Heston was still scoffing when he received a call from Giovanni.He was taken aback, and he nervously glanced at Frederick. 'No way…'The moment he picked up the phone, he got a torrent of scolding.Meanwhile, a bloody power struggle was underway in the Imperial Capital.After the Conservatives took down Woody, their ambition surged. They now aimed to dismantle the entire Radicals faction. Though the Radicals had already compromised in the Woody affair, they were taken aback by the Conservatives' greed and refused to back down any further.A fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, quickly escalating into open warfare. The entire Imperial Capital was placed under lockdown, with martial law in effect. Gunfire and smoke filled the air as both sides clashed, and the violence soon spread across Drakonia. Armies from all regions were mobilized, and a war was about to erupt. At this critical moment, the First Elder woke up.Years ago, after deposing the Dark Monarch of
Senspiras, located in the southeast of Drakonia, was also a neighboring country of Drakonia. It also has the largest population of overseas Drakonians. Many of the wealthy families in Senspiras migrated from Drakonia within the past century or two. The current richest man in Senspiras was one such example."Is Mr. Stone your father?" Frederick raised an eyebrow and asked."Looks like you've got some sense! Name your price!" Heston smirked, and pulled out a checkbook.Frederick's expression darkened."Your dad's assets are not even enough to wipe my shoes. Who do you think you are, pretending to be a big shot? Get lost!"Frederick quickly realized that Heston was just a spoiled brat who would throw money around bullying people. Since he wasn't much of a real threat, Frederick wasn't bothered by dealing with him. Upon hearing Frederick's words, Heston was stunned. "Are you out of your mind? My dad is the richest man in Senspiras! How dare you belittle him?" “So what? Your enti
Sylvia had so many questions. She wanted to know what Frederick had been doing to provoke such dangerous enemies. She wanted to know if Frederick had really killed a hundred people. She wanted to understand how her son had gained such abilities. And most of all, she wondered if Frederick had been living this kind of disturbing life all these years."Mom, we'll talk about it when we get home," Frederick said, gently lifting Sylvia and leaving the company.On the way, Frederick lightly tapped on Sylvia's head, and she quickly fell unconscious. He had used a special method to erase part of her memory.When they arrived home, Sylvia slowly woke up."Fred! Why are you suddenly home?" Sylvia exclaimed in surprise when she saw Frederick."I'm about to go on a long trip, so I came to visit. Why are you sleeping on the couch instead of in your room?" Frederick smiled.Sylvia sat up from the couch, feeling a bit stiff and sore."I was talking to your sister on the phone. How did I
"Yes, it was me. If no one managed to escape, the entire Steinfields family—except for children under sixteen and elders over seventy—should be dead by now," Frederick said with a smirk.If he didn't deter the Steinfields with a show of force, others might try the same methods against him in the future.Hearing this, Kaizer's face went blank and terror filled his eyes. At that moment, Frederick's phone rang. It was Melanie calling. Frederick answered, and put the call on speaker. "How did it go? Tell me, so Kaizer here can hear," Frederick said."There were a hundred and seventy-three Steinfields. Fifty-two were children and elders. The remaining hundred have all been executed!" Melanie reported. Kaizer spat out a mouthful of blood in shock. "No way! We're the Steinfields! The Steinfields of Imperial Capital! How could this happen?"In a panic, Kaizer fumbled with his phone, trying to call his family. However, every call he made went unanswered."You'll find out for sure onc
"Let her go!"A sharp voice rang out.Kaizer instinctively turned around, and he was stunned by Nella's beauty. He couldn't believe someone like her existed."Nella, why did you come down?" Jasmine called out, her eyes widened in panic. She had specifically told them not to come down.Nella trembled in fear. "Ms. Smith, we were worried about you!"Though she was terrified, she still stepped forward. She couldn't just stand by and watch Jasmine get assaulted."Well, well, Frederick sure is lucky with women. But now, they're all mine. Who would've thought that I'd be blessed with a feast before leaving Drakonia!" Kaizer was practically drooling.He let go of Jasmine, and rushed toward Nella eagerly. Nella backed away step by step, but soon found herself cornered."Haha, come to me!" Kaizer spread his arms wide, lunging toward Nella.Just as he was about to grab her, a thunderous crash shook the room. The outer wall of the building crumbled down.Frederick had burst through it a
Meanwhile, Frederick had just gotten off the plane. As soon as he turned on his phone, he saw a long list of missed calls from Selene.He immediately felt uneasy. Selene would never call him so many times unless something urgent had happened.He was about to call her back when his phone rang again.Frederick answered Selene's call quickly, but before he could ask anything, Selene's tearful voice came through."Fred, Mom's been kidnapped!"Frederick's face darkened instantly, and his killing aura surged."Alright. Don't worry, Mom will be fine."With that, Frederick hung up the phone; he then immediately called Melanie, who was still in the Imperial Capital, lazily lounging in bed."Do you have any intelligence on the Steinfields in the Imperial Capital?" Frederick asked through gritted teeth.He didn't need much thought to figure out who was behind this. There was hardly anyone left in Mirage City bold enough to cross him, except for Kaizer. And now, Sylvia had been kidnapped
When the elevator doors opened, Jasmine stepped out into the lobby.Kaizer's eyes lit up as he eyed her from head to toe. Though he had seen pictures of her before, she was more of an eye candy in person. Kaizer, holding his rifle, approached her. "Ms. Smith, you certainly kept me waiting!""What do you want with me?" Jasmine asked coldly. She knew that showing fear or vulnerability would only embolden these lawless men."Ms. Smith, why don't you take a guess?" Kaizer reached for Jasmine and lifted her chin with the barrel of his gun, forcing her to look at him.Jasmine met his gaze without a hint of fear."Is it money you want? The company has ten million in cash reserves. You can take it, and I guarantee I won't call the police. We can pretend nothing ever happened as long as no one is hurt. As for the funds in the company’s accounts, you wouldn’t be able to take it even if I transfer the money to you with today’s financial systems," Jasmine spoke calmly."Ms. Smith, you're q
Bang!With a loud crash, the door was violently kicked open. Kaizer and his men stormed into Frederick’s place.Sylvia was startled, and she shouted, "What do you guys want?" "We're here to kidnap you!" Kaizer strode toward Sylvia. Then, he snatched away her phone and crushed it."Tie her up and take her away!" Kaizer and his men acted quickly. Selene, on the other end of the video call, was shocked by the strangers. Fortunately, she was still on alert. She quickly tried to call Frederick while shaking with fear. However, Frederick’s phone was off since he was on a flight."How’s everything going on your end?" Kaizer asked his men over the phone."We’ve rigged all four walls of Aerowind Enterprise with high-powered explosives. Once we detonate them, the whole building will turn to ashes," his subordinate reported.A smile finally appeared on Kaizer’s face. "Good, I’m heading over now." Soon, Kaizer arrived at Aerowind Enterprise with a backpack."I want to see Ms. Sm
Upon hearing Frederick’s words, Woody stumbled. "Take him away!" one of the senior officials from the Supervision Department ordered.The respected elder of the Drakonia Royal Court, Woody, was escorted away along with the evidence and witnesses."After today, the Lamberts will cease to exist, and you're finally free." Frederick sighed in relief, and smiled at Easton.Easton looked slightly lost. He wasn’t sure what to do next with his sudden freedom. "What's wrong? Struggling to find a new purpose in life?" Frederick teased.Easton nodded, and replied, "Yeah, my ambitions have been completely worn down these three years. I feel a bit aimless.""Should I find you a job?" Frederick suggested casually."It’s best if I could work for you, Mr. Lester!" Easton’s eyes lit up with excitement."I have a pharmaceutical company under me. If you're interested, you could take the position of Chief of Biomedical Engineering," Frederick said jokingly. To his surprise, Easton was genuinely