As the feeling never faded even as Hagar watched his matriarch and entourage leave Laneville Manor in a hurry, he could not help feeling even more wary inwardly.Meanwhile, as every member of the Yimmel family moved out, Frank clapped Dorek Yimmel on the shoulder. "Well done."Dorek could only smile exasperatedly at the praise, as Frank's tender loving care continued throughout the night.He shuddered, remembering Frank's smile as he pulled out the needle from himself and the smile on his face now.The horror that was the man was now deeply ingrained in his mind, just as two needles taught him the worst pain there is in life.He trembled even as he remembered his pain and could kill the Dorek from yesterday who came to establish himself.He would never dare spout rubbish like Draconia's martial artists being charlatans or whatnot either, having gotten a lesson to remember yesterday.He had surrendered unconditionally to that extreme torment.Never betraying the Yimmels?Hostil
The Yimmels traveled from Riverton to Zamri fashionably, with a procession of over twenty cars bearing their family crest.It was an ostentatious sight, drawing the states of many pedestrians.A few of them recognized the family crest and were left wondering why they would suddenly show up in Zamri.Were they extending their influence here to Zamri? That did not make sense, considering the distance between Bralog and Riverton. While it was not particularly far, it was not exactly close either, with the state of Norsedam sitting between them.If the Yimmels were expanding their influence, they should start by heading to the closer city, Norsedam. Why start with Zamri?While the pedestrians were busy pointing and gesturing and speculating at the grand procession, Yora Yimmel was laughing smugly, as she sat in the Lincoln limousine in the middle.After all, she had done her homework.The Three Bears of Zamri had previously kept the city beyond the reach of outside influence, but th
There was a huge crowd of gossipers who gathered outside Lanecorp Tower, and Yora frowned at them in displeasure. "Who brought them here? Chase them away!""Yes, ma'am!"As the Yimmel bodyguards chased the crowd away, they left tamely, the ferocious glare in their eyes escaping everyone's notice.On the other hand, Yora became even more smug to see the crowd being chased away and led the procession striding into Lanecorp Tower.She reared her chin like a triumphant general, just waiting for her enemies to sign their surrender.Seeing that the lobby was empty, she nodded in satisfaction. "Where's Dorek?"The boy was definitely not lying—he must have captured Helen Lane, and now, operations in the company stalled."M-Mr. Yimmel is in Ms. Lane's office," the receptionist waiting at the door stammered, clearly intimidated by the number of people Yora brought."Good. Everyone, follow me," Yora gestured, before turning to some of the Yimmel bodyguards. "Watch that door. Don't let an
"Eh?"Although they had taken the elevator upstairs, the key members and executives of the Yimmel family could still hear the ruckus below."What's going on here?" Yora asked in confusion.Ding.However, that was when the elevator jingled, indicating their arrival.Since Yora had been there before, she knew her way around on the executive floor, where Helen's office and the board conference room was.But as the elevator doors opened and Yora was about to ask about the ruckus below, she found herself staring blankly at a familiar face.Frank Lawrence!On top of that, he stood there outside the elevator as if waiting for them to arrive.Even as her heart sank to rock-bottom, she asked with a quiver in her voice, "W-What's the meaning of this…?"None of the key members and executives of the Yimmel family behind her answered, as they all knew that they had been tricked, even willingly falling into Frank's trap."Welcome!"Frank smiled and started clapping, and the huge crowd be
However, even as everyone looked on, Mr. Noon's smile as he whipped out his phone turned to shock.Eventually, he was staring blankly at Frank, as fear and disbelief gradually crept into him.Frank even walked up to him, asking pointlessly, "So? Can you reach her?""Mr. Noon, can you reach my sister—I mean, Baba Yaga?" Yora pressed as well.It was only when Mr. Noon turned that Yora finally saw the fear and disbelief in his eyes.After all, the personal numbers that Corpsedale and Hundred Bane Sect used concerned personal security!In fact, any member of their cabal would be labeled a traitor and executed accordingly if they refused to answer a call from those personal numbers.As it was a fate worse than death, rarely anyone betrayed Corpsedale and Hundred Bane Sect.In other words, if one could not be reached on their number, the only explanation was that they had been killed.Mr. Noon realized that before anyone else, but Yora realized too after seeing his reaction."Mr. N
Yora could not beg for her life—not when she was joking around and bragging with her family members and executives on how to split the spoils after taking over Lanecorp.But in just the blink of an eye, she was a captive, a reversal of fortunes that came all too quick.If she begged now, she would be thoroughly humiliated. Her place as matriarch would also be reduced to a joke, as the Yimmels would certainly not listen to her afterward.Threats? Yora had certainly tried. But in all likelihood, Baba Yaga, her greatest leverage against Frank Lawrence, had been killed by the man himself.What else could she threaten him with now?"We still have a hand to play!"Nonetheless, Cadell Yimmel shook her, whispering under his breath, "Don't you remember the Southstream Lanes? Hagar is still in Laneville with our many elites! If Frank dares to attack us now, we will kill our hostages!"Cadell's words jolted Yora to her senses.That was true! Gavin Lane and his family were still in their
Yora, however, shook her head at the confused looks thrown her way. "But after all is said and done, I am still Mark Lane's wife… and I desire an alliance between the Yimmels and the Lanes as equals. What do you say to that?""What?!"It was not just the Yimmels—even Helen was left dumbstruck by Yora's offer.What was Yora saying? An alliance, and at this stage? Was that even possible?!"Have you gone mad?!"Cadell sprang to his feet, snapping right then, "We still have our hostages, and our family is much more powerful than the Lanes! We can return to Bralog in one piece even if we fail to take over the Lane family or Lanecorp! Why should we ally ourselves with some mooks like them?!""Exactly, Madam Yimmel! There's just no reason for it!""Are you perhaps in shock? Could you be delirious?""Shut up! I'm still sane!" Yora snapped, glaring at Cadell and the rest. "I am still the matriarch, so you'll obey even if you don't like it or face punishment per family rules!"Her threa
Yora was no different, as she could barely hold back her rage.She was ready to be reasonable with Frank, just as she intended to use the excuse of alliance to make Frank, the sole heir to the Lord of the Southern Woods, the Yimmels' new patron.Not only did Frank immediately refuse, but he was also demanding that the Yimmels become vassals to the Lane family?!Did he even consider the weight class of either family?!If anything, Frank's demand made it clear that the Yimmels could not reason with Frank now—he wanted to push them over the brink, and the so-called alliance was certainly a pipe dream.Moreover, from the perspective of the key members and executives of the Yimmel family, Frank merely meant to insult them.You can kill a pawn, but never humiliate them—some were even thinking that it was high time they killed their hostages in Laneville!Helen almost fainted at Frank's ridiculous demands too.They were just inches away from saving the Southstream Lanes unscathed whil