A casual smile formed on David's lips. “I don't care about anything else in this world. Nothing is more
important than my wife and my children. I know that these are the very things you also care about, so I
think that you, above anyone else, can understand. Isn't that right?“
Of course, Jacob knew just how submissive David was to his wife. But although HT Group had
gradually recovered, it was still shorthanded. Yet, David wanted to leave.
Jacob asked in a more serious tone, “Are you sure that you want to do this?“
David answered, rather boldly, “You are a capable man. I believe that you'll be able to solve whatever
problems come up. I'd better not hold you back.“
Jacob's tone grew colder. “It seems that you're determined to go.“
David burst out laughing before he said, “That's true.“
Jacob hung up with a blank expression on his face. He decided that, from this point onward, the other
man was no longer deserving of his respect.
In a private room inside a bar, it was eerily quiet.
Bill sat on the sofa with whiskey in hand, listening attentively with a gloomy face. One of his men was
reporting his findings as cautiously as he could, afraid of infuriating his boss.
“Ethan has recently subdued all the killers in the city's north. I heard that they have reached an alliance
agreement. I'm afraid that this will be unfavorable for us in the future. Should we move now, boss?“ The
man's voice trembled slightly, revealing his fear.
Bill, who could no longer stand what he was hearing, threw the glass onto the floor.
With a smash, it broke as soon as it touched the floor, and shards of glass flew everywhere. The scent
of alcohol mixed with the air. Somehow, it made the whole atmosphere more dignified.
Bill's men looked at one another, careful not to do anything to further upset their boss.
Ethan continued to be a thorn in Bill's flesh.
Bill sneered before his face darkened. “Have you learned nothing?“
No one dared to make a sound.
Bill looked everyone in the eye and declared, “Ethan is not a nobody. You should all know that. And
now, he has grown even more powerful. This is bound to affect us in the future. Doing nothing is like
nurturing a snake in our bosoms.“
How could they not understand Bill's words? One of the men mustered up the courage and asked,
“Boss, how about we secretly send an assassin?“
“Idiot!“ Bill barked. Glaring at the man, he asked, “Is that what you want? You want to alert the enemy?“
The man, realizing that he had said something wrong, quickly waved his hand and took back what he
had said. “I'm sorry, boss. I won't do it again.“
Bill remained expressionless. After a long while, something that resembled cruelty flashed in his eyes.
Then, in a deep voice, he commanded the man, “Contact Ethan and tell him that we haven't reached
an agreement on the last deal. Ask him to come here tonight. I have to talk to him in person.“
The man nodded quickly.
Night fell and enveloped the city in darkness.
Bill was sitting on the sofa inside the same room, accompanied by his men. The atmosphere felt
extremely tense. Ethan, on the other hand, had brought only two bodyguards with him. Both were tall
and well-built. He looked indifferent, not at all intimidated by the imposing manner of the men inside the
room.
Bill smiled ambiguously and broke the ice. “Long time, no see. How have you been these days?“
Ethan glanced at him coldly as he replied, “Not bad.“
Bill clenched his teeth at Ethan's indifference, but he managed to control his temper. He flashed him a
sarcastic smile and said, “I heard that you've recently taken over the killers in the north of the city.“
Unwilling to show any kind of weakness, Ethan sneered, “Bill, I didn't expect you to be so well-informed
about my movements. Have you been keeping an eye on me all this time?“
Before Bill could say anything, one of his men yelled, “Ethan! Watch your tone, you arrogant bastard.
Our boss doesn't give a shit about you!“
Ethan chuckled. “Sorry, should I thank him, then?“
“You —“
Before the man could finish talking, Bill kicked him in the shin and yelled, “Who told you that it was your
turn to talk? Shut up!“
Immediately, the man realized that he was not in any place to chip in. The color drained from his face,
and he hurriedly apologized. “Forgive me, boss. I —“
“Get out!“ Bill snapped.
The man, now thoroughly shaken, ran out of the room.
Ethan watched silently, caring very little about this show Bill and his men were putting on.
Of course, he knew why Bill wanted to see him, but he did not intend to compromise.
“Let me put it bluntly, Ethan. If you want to grow in power, you need my permission first. Do you
understand?“ Bill asked authoritatively as he shot Ethan a meaningful look.
For the latter, this meant nothing. He said with a faint smile, “And what if I don't agree?“
Bill had expected this as well. He took one look at his men and told Ethan, “Then, you won't be able to
walk out of this room alive.“
Dozens of men moved around the room. In the blink of an eye, Ethan and his two guards were
surrounded.
Ethan remained unfazed. He toyed with his car keys and said indifferently, “Is that all you've got?“
That drove Bill to the edge. Unable to bear Ethan's arrogance, he moved to pull out a pistol, intending
to shoot.
However, he was no match for Ethan, who was much faster. In a flash, Ethan had produced a black
pistol and accurately aimed between Bill's eyebrows.
By then, Bill had only just taken out his gun.
In an instant, his men drew their weapons and pointed them at Ethan. Judging by the looks on their
faces, it was as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Ethan smiled leisurely. “Do you think that they can move faster than me?“
His finger slowly and calmly grazed the trigger. Bill, on the other hand, had begun sweating profusely.
He was confident that as soon as he gave his men the order, Ethan would pull the trigger.
Realizing that the situation had changed and that he should switch gears, Bill yelled at his men, “Get
out!“
They looked at each other again, unsure of what to do. Finally, one by one, they left the room under
Bill's gloomy gaze.
After everyone had left, Bill spat, “Are you satisfied? Can we finally talk?“
Ethan slowly put his hand down and placed the pistol back in his pocket. He said coldly, “Tell me. Why
on earth did you ask for me?“
Bill knew that at the moment, peaceful negotiation was his only choice. “Ethan, you've become too
powerful.“
Ethan raised an eyebrow and asked bluntly, “Are you afraid?“
This infuriated Bill. Ethan had guessed exactly what he was thinking. Immediately, he lost his
composure and began thinking irrationally again. Gritting his teeth, he threatened the man in front of
him. “Don't go too far, Ethan.“
Ethan stared straight at him. He smiled without saying anything.
Bill's eyes darkened. Suddenly, something occurred to him. He smiled and said, “You might be good at
planning things, but there's something you didn't take into account. I can't hurt you, but there's
someone around you that I can harm. You can protect her at times, but are you sure that you can do
that for the rest of your life?“
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