Chapter 1 Chapter 1

The autumn wind was cold in early September. Dried leaves fell on his broad shoulders. Thomas Mayo stood under an old tree and was looking at the office building of Shalom Technology. ‘Brother, they worked hand-in-hand to set me up. I can’t fight this any longer.’ Two months ago, the capital chain of Shalom Technology had ruptured. Its chairman, Scott Mayo was burdened with a huge debt of 1.2 billion dollars. As a result, the company was mortgaged to Darcy Davis of the Skyworld Enterprise. ‘Brother, I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry for leaving first.’ At midnight, Scott leaped from the roof of the building and died on the spot. A talented young man of the corporate world of the era died, just like that. Everyone had clearly identified the problem within. The business arena was like a battleground. Scott was just a pitiful sacrifice. In the cold wind, Thomas sucked in a deep breath and raised his head to look at the stars shining in the sky. “Scott, I’m sorry that I was late.”“Don’t worry. I’ll get all the people who framed you and bury them next to you.” For the past five years, Thomas had joined the military to fight at the west coast, which had been engulfed by the flames of war. He had started low as a small fry, and through his bravery in slaughtering the enemies and winning in many battles, he eventually became the commander of a battalion, a respected God of War. Now, he was back. In the middle of the night, a bleak figure appeared from the dark and passed a small blue book to Thomas. He was Samson Wood. Samson had gone through fire and water with Thomas. He was his best buddy on the battlefield. “Brother, they are only some annoying bugs. Why do you need to do this yourself? “You only need to say the word, and I could guarantee that Skyworld Enterprise, Darcy, and the rest of his men would disappear into thin air within three days.” Thomas shook his head slightly. “There are certain things that I must do with my own hands.”“Got it.” Samson tilted his head and vanished in the blink of an eye like a ghost. Thomas smoothed out his shirt and walked toward the building of Shalom Technology not far away from him. As he was about to enter the building, a cadaverous old man with a hunched back and a satchel on his back was making his way out. The old man ran head-on into Thomas. “I’m sorry.” The old man looked up and was about to apologize. When he was greeted by the sight of Thomas’s resolute face, his eyes instantly teared up and he said, “Young Master, you’re back?”“Yes, Uncle Ben. I’m back.” Ben Caspian was a veteran of Shalom Technology. He had watched the Mayo brothers growing up. Ben was not only Thomas’s employee, but also an elder who was like a grandfather to him. Ben took a look at Thomas then he turned his head around to cast another glance at the company building. His incredible disillusionment was beyond words. “You’re late.” Just then, a young man with red hair and a cigarette in his mouth walked over to him. “Old man, why are you dawdling over there?! “Didn't I ask you to pack up and get lost?! “If you stay on, trust me, I’ll put your lights out!” Ben hurriedly nodded and said, “Yes, yes, yes... I’m leaving now.” Out of fear and anxiety, Ben’s hand shivered, and his satchel fell to the floor. The things inside rolled everywhere. “Heh! Old coot, how dare you litter on my territory!” The young man in red hair strode forward and was about to deliver a kick to Ben’s belly when a loud bang rose. Ben stood in place, uninjured. Meanwhile, the red-haired youth laid five meters away behind the entrance. Thomas’s imposing stature was already in front of Ben, shielding him. “Y-You… How dare you strike me?! “Do you know who I am?!” Thomas stared at the red-haired youth coldly. He walked forward and trampled Brendon Davis’ face under his feet. “Who are you?” Ben got a shock. He immediately dashed forward to pull Thomas away from Brendon. Ben cried out in fear, “Young Master, don’t act recklessly. He’s Brendon Davis, the nephew of the company’s chairman, Darcy Davis. We can’t afford to offend them. Let’s go now!”“Go?” Brendon got up and dusted off his sleeves. He waved his hand, and eight security guards rushed out. They surrounded the two of them. “Do you really think you can leave just like that?” Ben was so frightened that his hands and feet were trembling. He hurriedly said, “Mr. Brendon, I’m truly sorry about it. The young master just came home and is ignorant about all this. He doesn’t know who you truly are. I’ll offer my apology on his behalf.”“Apology?” Brendon walked to Ben and patted his face lightly. “What's the point of having law enforcers if apologies alone are sufficient?”“Kill that rascal and old man. “You don’t have to hold back. I’ll cover for you. “Attack!” The security guards surrounded them, wielding electrical batons. Ben was so anxious to the point where he almost cried, “Young Master, you’re in trouble! What should we do now?!” Thomas shook his head faintly. He took a step forward and shielded Ben behind him. As the God of War who used to fight on the battlefield, fighting just a few security guards was nothing to him. Just as the security guards were about to flock to them, suddenly, a silver BMW stopped outside the company building. When the car door was opened, a man in a suit got out of the car. That person was Darcy Davis, the current chairman of Shalom Technology. “What’s going on?” The moment the security guards realized it was Darcy, all of them were frightened and hurriedly stood at attention. Brendon came over and said, “Uncle, someone is causing trouble to us. I was going to teach them a lesson.”“Oh?! Who has the guts to do so?” Darcy walked over and cast a cursory glance over the two. He was instantly delighted. “Yo! Aren’t you Thomas Mayo? “I heard that you joined the military five years ago and never heard from you since then. Why did you return all of a sudden?” Darcy said to Brendon, “He’s the biological older brother of the former chairman.” Brendon snorted to himself, ‘Isn’t Scott Mayo the former chairman? He’s the loser with a debt of 1.2 billion dollars, and it resulted in him being forced to jump to his death? ‘His younger brother was a loser, how much better could his older brother be?’ Darcy smiled as he said, “We’re not strangers. It was only a misunderstanding. Come, let’s go in and have a drink.” Darcy pulled Thomas in and headed for the big hall. Brendon smiled coldly and sinisterly. He followed closely behind them. Ben was very worried as he watched Thomas’s silhouette enter the building. He was anxious yet helpless. He knew well that Darcy was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Therefore, nothing good would come out of him “inviting” Thomas inside. ‘Young Master, I pray that nothing will happen to you.’ Inside the company, Thomas followed Darcy into a big hall. The company was having its annual meeting today. All the employees had dressed up to attend the event. They put on various glamorous jewelry, looking like members of the upper class. Scott had passed away less than a month ago. But all of them had long forgotten about him. They even enjoyed their lives with incredible glee. Darcy led Thomas onto the stage. He clasped his hands to signal the crowd to be quiet. After that, he used the microphone and said with a smile, “Everyone, a moment of your time, please. I would like to solemnly introduce all of you to this person beside me. “He is Thomas Mayo, the older brother of Scott Mayo, the chicken-hearted and good-for-nothing former chairman who jumped to his death.” The crowd under the stage looked at Thomas with a teasing gaze. Brendon had even grinned from ear to ear and took the lead to cheer.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

On the stage, Darcy raised his head while he looked at Thomas with contempt. He relished the feeling of looking down on people from a superior position. However, Thomas’ expression remained unchanged. Darcy misunderstood that as Thomas not daring to speak out of fear, so he provoked Thomas. “Sorry, I’m a very straightforward person. If I’ve hurt your fragile dignity, I really apologize. “Actually, I know why you’re here today. You just want to extort money from me for your brother’s death, right? “I’ve seen a lot of people like you.” Darcy shrugged and added, “Nevertheless, I can still give you some money. As long as you’re willing to say ‘Scott Mayo deserves to die’ thrice in front of everyone, I’ll agree to give you… hmm… five thousand dollars. Deal?” It was a humiliation. It was a complete humiliation! The people offstage laughed. Everyone was laughing so hard that their bodies shook. Some of them even spat the alcohol out of their mouths because they had burst into laughter. However, they could not detect any anger from Thomas’ expression even though he had been so directly humiliated. He did not reveal emotions on his face. That meant he was either an absolutely useless and submissive person who dared not speak or a distinguished person with a calm temperament. The latter would allow him to keep his cool as he looked down on the entire world. Darcy was a little unhappy because he felt that he could not understand Thomas. After everyone was done laughing, Thomas stepped forward to the microphone. “It’s my turn to speak now.” His tone was calm, and his voice was deep. He had a dignified solemnity that made those who were laughing instantly shut their mouths and subconsciously look at him. “I’ve come today to give you a message. Within seven days, all of you will go to my brother’s grave and kneel down for five hours to atone for your crimes,” said Thomas. Huh? Everyone below the stage stared at each other at a loss, and they did not understand what Thomas meant. “Is he crazy? What stupid thing is he talking about?”“Did he ask us to kneel down in front of that trash? Does he deserve it?”“Stop it, I’m laughing so hard now. Where did this fool come from? Someone get out here and put him on a leash, please?” Thomas ignored the discussion of the people below the stage and continued, “After seven days, those who fail to follow my instructions will be…” He then took out a blue notebook. “... will be added to my blacklist.” Pfft! Laughter instantly erupted in the hall. “You’ll blacklist us? Oh, my goodness, I’m so scared.”“Why don’t you just say that you’ll block us? Haha.”“This guy’s an idiot. Like elder brother, like younger brother.” None of them were bothered by Thomas’ threat, and all of them watched as Thomas supposedly made a fool of himself. However, if anyone had known Thomas’ past and understood the meaning of Thomas’ moniker, the “God of War”, they would not have acted like that. Once their names were on Thomas’ blacklist, they would have to prepare their coffins in advance. Thomas put his blue notebook away. “Remember that you only have seven days.” After he spoke, he walked down the stage and toward the hall’s entrance. “Stop. Did I allow you to leave?” Darcy said indifferently before a few security guards immediately blocked the door without giving Thomas a chance to leave. Darcy ruthlessly continued, “This is my domain. What were you thinking? Did you think you could just come and go as you please? “People can’t just come, talk for a while, and leave my place. “Thomas Mayo, since your brother used his life to help me get promoted, I’ll give you a chance. Today, as long as you kneel down, beg me, and admit your mistake, I’ll allow you to… hmm… crawl out of the door.” Brendon surrounded Thomas with a bunch of security guards, and all of them took their electric batons out. He had found Thomas an eyesore from a moment ago. Now, he could finally torment him. “Kneel down.”“Apologize now.”“Crawl out like a dog!” the staff of Shalom Technology shouted. They were eager to watch Thomas’ performance. Brendon pointed at Thomas with an electric baton. “Hurry up. Didn’t you hear what he said?” Thomas remained calm as usual. The noise of the outside world did not bother him whatsoever, and it seemed that his emotions could never be stirred at all. Darcy impatiently said, “It looks like some people don’t understand what the law of the jungle is. If he doesn’t want to do it, just force him!”“Yes!” Brendon led the security guards toward Thomas. Three meters... Two meters... One meter! As they closed in on Thomas and entered the one-meter range, they did not see Thomas doing anything. However, a loud thud was soon heard, and two security guards were instantly sent flying. Bang! Bang! The two security guards fell hard on the floor. Then, they vomited blood and fainted. What…? The hall instantly became silent. “What just happened?”“I don’t know. Two of them were sent flying before they fainted.”“Is this magic?” Brendon gulped; he was frightened. “Is this guy a monster?”“All of you, attack him together!” The security guards looked at each other before they rushed forward at the same time. They held their electric batons to smash Thomas’ head in. Thomas swung his hand, and a gust of strong wind forced those people away simultaneously. Next, he promptly raised his leg, leaving an afterimage. All the security guards received a kick in their bellies, and thudding sounds were heard continuously. In the blink of an eye, all the security guards were lying on the ground while coughing out blood. Some of them also had broken ribs. They lay on the floor while they struggled in pain. Nobody was able to laugh anymore. They started to understand how serious the consequences were for being on such a person’s blacklist. Thomas walked to Brendon and placed his hand on his shoulder. It made Brendon so scared that his legs trembled, and he immediately kneeled down. “Mr. Mayo, I’m sorry for my wrongdoing. Please don’t hit me. “Scott and I were very close. We always went drinking together. “Mr. Mayo, please forgive me. Please f-forgive me.” Thomas chuckled. He patted Brendon on the shoulder a few times, and each time, it made Brendon shudder in fear. “Cherish your life.” Following that, Thomas turned around and walked to the door. Everyone moved away reflexively, and nobody dared to step forth to stop him. Once Brendon saw that Thomas had left, he let out a long sigh. Soon after, he stood up and broke into a cold smile. “Thomas Mayo, not killing me today was your biggest mistake because you won’t have the chance again.” ...... Thomas walked out through the door, and Ben immediately went up to him. “Young Master, are you okay?” Thomas smiled faintly and answered, “Of course I’m fine. Didn’t I come out uninjured?”“That’s great. Perfect.”“Uncle Ben, you shouldn’t stay here for long. You should return first. I’ll go and find you when I have the time.”“Okay, I’ll leave first. Young Master, please take good care of yourself.” After Ben left, Thomas walked to the street alone, and a black sedan stopped in front of him. He opened the door and got into the car. Samson cast a glance at Thomas. He was confused, so he asked, “Boss, why did you give them seven days? With your abilities, you can kill all of them tonight.” Thomas did not answer Samson directly. Instead, he asked, “Do you know why cats catch rats?”“Because rats are their food?”“No. “Cats don’t eat rats, yet they catch rats. They want to enjoy the process of toying around with the rats. During that period, the rats know that they will die, but they can’t run away from the cats. They can’t beg for their survival or death, so they struggle in pain. “Human beings will try to find ways to survive only when they understand that they’re about to die. In the end, when they realize that there’s no way to survive, they will feel despair and agony. “If I kill them too easily, it won’t be punishment. “I want them to be in despair.”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Samson cracked a smile. He understood what Thomas was up to. “By the way, Boss, I just received a notification from the superior. “He says the three districts of Shaol, Desert Cele and Oceania Hail would merge to form Southland district, and you would be the chief officer in charge of this. “Boss, this is a lucrative sinecure!” Thomas looked outside the window and said, “I’m no longer interested in this. Let’s go.”“Huh? Where are we going?” Thomas thought about it for a while, and said, “Since we’re here, let’s take a trip down to my hometown.” After half an hour, the car slowed to a halt. After Samson left, Thomas walked into a prominent district and all the way to a slightly old-fashioned multi-story villa. He knocked on the door several times. “Who’s there?” A middle-aged woman opened the door. She was Thomas’s mother-in-law, Felicia Musk. She was stunned for a few seconds after being greeted by the sight of Thomas. Then, she said happily, “Oh, Thomas, when did you come back?”“Not long ago.”“Quickly come in and take a seat.” Since Thomas’s younger brother had passed away, his mother-in-law was his only close family. Felicia invited Thomas into the house, let him take a seat, and poured him a drink. She was in high spirits. At that moment, Thomas’ father-in-law, Johnson Hill came in and asked, “Who’s here?”“It’s Thomas. He’s come back.”“Huh?” Jonhson glared at Thomas in annoyance and snorted. He walked resentfully to the table and sat down. “Thomas, you still have the dignity to come home, huh?” His words instantly tensed up the atmosphere in the house, and it turned awkward. “Old man, Thomas just came back. How could you say that to him?”“Get lost. You’re in no position to speak. Call Emma downstairs now.”“Sigh… Alright.” Johnson glared at Thomas and blurted out, “I’ve heard about your younger brother. Shalom Technology is no longer related to the Mayo family, right?”“Right.”“You joined the military for five years and now, you’ve come back. Have you gotten yourself any official positions?” Thomas shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Hardly considered as one.”“That means you’ve gained nothing from there, right? Given your intelligence and skills, I’m not at all surprised that you didn’t gain anything from it. “So, what kind of job do you plan to get after returning?” Thomas shook his head and said, “Tentatively, I don’t have any plans yet.”“Heh!” Johnson said with a fit of rage, “You’ve lost your company, and failed to achieve any success in your military. Now, you don’t even have plans to look for a proper job. What’s the difference between you and a loser?!” Just then, the sound of high heels was heard. A lady came downstairs. She wore a simple, yet body-hugging T-shirt that brought out her perfect curves. Her pair of long, slender and fair legs were exposed under a pair of short jeans. She had an oval face, prominent nose and long black hair that draped over her shoulders, like a waterfall pouring down her shoulders. She was as pretty as a picture, to the point where her beauty was even lovelier than a flower. “Father, Mother, did you call?”“Yes. Come and sit over here. Thomas is home.” Emma was stunned for a few seconds. When she looked at the man who was almost a stranger to her, she felt complicated. Despite being married to Thomas, he joined the military on the west coast after their wedding in less than a month. Thomas was away for five years, at the same time, Emma had been as good as a widow for five years. As such, she was caught off guard by Thomas’s sudden return. Johnson said, “Thomas, as you could see, my daughter is extremely gorgeous whether it’s her look or figure. She is even more outstanding than the models shown on television. There are many men who came to ask for her proposals, but she has to be a widow all because of you!”“Father, why do you have to bring this up?!” Johnson continued, “I grew up with your father since childhood. He’s an old friend of mine. He built up Shalom Technology with his own hands, and it has gained a reputation. Even the Hill family business is on the rise. Originally, I intended to strengthen our bond by marrying my daughter to you. “Now, your father has disappeared, your younger brother has committed suicide, the Shalom Technology has fallen into a stranger’s hands, and you have gained no achievements at all even after five years in the military. You neither have money nor power, do you think you are still worthy of my daughter?!” Everyone inside the house was in dead silence. They breathed heavily, yet no one spoke a word. After a short pause, Johnson continued, “I’m not being pragmatic. But, life is that cruel. I initially wanted you to divorce Emma the moment you returned home. However, I’ve decided to give you one more chance for the sake of my decades of friendship with your father. “Half a year's time. I’ll give you half a year. “If you manage to achieve some success within half a year, I’m not asking you to be rich, but you should at least be able to earn a position in the office, only then do I allow you to be my son-in-law! “Otherwise, pack your things and get out of the house! “I mean what I say.” Emma and Felicia looked troubled. Both the mother and daughter did not have such deep hatred for Thomas. However, Thomas had just returned home, and Johnson’s harsh words were truly making things difficult for Thomas. Johnson rose up and said, “I just received a notification. I need to return to the department for a meeting. I’ll leave first.” Felicia asked, “But, the family banquet is about to start soon. Aren’t you joining us?” Johnson shook his head and said, “No, I’m not. I’ve just received news about the arrival of a new officer who would take charge of the merging of the three districts at Shaol, Desert Cele and Oceania Hail. I need to hurry back to the department for a meeting to discuss how to welcome the new officer. “I can’t afford any mistakes in this case. This is related to the Hill family’s future. More so, it’s closely related to me if I would attain a higher rank in this city. “Even other departments have their eyes laid on this case. Therefore, I must not let others step ahead of me. “You could explain to the old man on my behalf. By the way, Thomas, since you’re home, you may join the family banquet with Emma so that you could have your eyes opened.” Johnson put on an outwear and left the house in a hurry for a discussion on how to welcome the new officer. In the house, Felicia comforted Thomas, “Tom, don’t be sad. As long as you work hard, John wouldn’t criticize you anymore.”“Noted, Mother.” After that, Thomas boarded Emma’s car and headed toward I-Heart Hotel. Today was the annual family banquet for the Hill family. All the respectable family members would attend the banquet. On the way, Thomas looked sideways outside the window without a word. Although both of them were husband and wife, they were not familiar with each other at all. Emma had mistakenly thought that Thomas was still angry. She said faintly, “You don’t have to be upset by it. My father is used to this temper. Even so, what he said was true. If you continue like this, do you think it is appropriate? “You’re not young anymore, and you’ve achieved nothing even until this day. You can’t expect us to feed you for the rest of your life, right? Are you even a man?” Thomas remained indifferent. There was not even the slightest change in his expression. Emma started to get a little angry. She sighed, “You’re hopeless.” When they were about to reach I-Heart Hotel, Emma reminded him, “Later when you go in, you should talk less. If anyone says something unpleasant about you, just smile and forget about it. Don’t be so calculative, okay?”

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

After they entered the hotel lobby, they saw that fine dining banquet tables had been neatly arranged. The people who came and left were dressed in luxurious outfits with fancy jewelry. They were also holding glasses of wine while having happy conversations. Emma led Thomas to a table at the center of the hall and smiled as she spoke to an old man. “Grandpa!” The old man was the current head of the Hill family, Richard Hill. He narrowed his eyes. “Hello, Emma. Why have you only arrived now? I’ve been waiting for you in agony. Come on, have a seat.” When he turned around, he saw Thomas beside Emma. “Who is this?” he asked in confusion. Emma lowered her head and responded with a lack of confidence, “He’s my husband, Thomas Mayo.”“Oh?” Richard sized Thomas up before he said, “I heard that you joined the army. I didn’t expect you to be back today. Come, have a seat.”“Thank you, Grandpa.” As soon as Thomas sat down, Harvard Hill sarcastically questioned him from across the table. “Thomas, did you have a good life during the past five years you were out there?”“It was so-so.”“Really? Was there a special car that picked you up when you were about to return?”“I’m not one for red tape, so I omitted it.” Harvard laughed. “Red tape? Haha, don’t play dumb. You weren’t discharged because of incompetence, were you?” Every member of the family looked at Thomas with ridicule, and their gazes were filled with contempt. Thomas did not say anything. Harvard mistakenly assumed that Thomas’ thoughts had been exposed and he could not give an explanation. Therefore, Harvard continued to sarcastically say, “But, it’s fine. The Mayo family still has Shalom Technology. Even if you didn’t have a good life, you won’t be starved once you come back.” When Harvard mentioned this, Thomas’ expression changed a little. Emma was even angrier. Shalom Technology was the talk of the town, so it was impossible for Harvard to not know that Scott had committed suicide. He talked about it in front of everyone because he wanted to humiliate Thomas. Others kindly reminded him. “Harvard, what nonsense are you talking about? Darcy Davis owns Shalom Technology now. Does it have anything to do with the Mayo family?”“Oh, you’re right.” Harvard stared at Thomas. He wore a cold smile as he said, “Sorry, I don’t have a good memory. I forgot.” He patted his chest and added, “Don’t worry, though. Even if you don’t have a good life, and you’ve lost your company, you won’t starve to death. As the second brother, I’ll surely take care of you. I think you have quite a fit body. Why don’t you come to my company and work as a security guard or doorkeeper? I can pay you six thousand dollars a month. What do you think?”“Stop it!” Richard yelled in a low voice, and it made Harvard shut his mouth. “We’re a family. Be careful of what you say.” He looked at Thomas again. “Thomas, your current situation isn’t very good. I hope you can work harder and catch up with us. Otherwise, I think it would be best that you not attend the family banquet again.” Others including Harvard looked on happily as Thomas was humiliated. Emma’s complexion turned pale. She had never been so embarrassed before. Meanwhile, Thomas had calmed down a long time ago. His face no longer displayed any anger and sadness. It seemed as though what other people said had nothing to do with him. Richard Hill saw his face, and he became so angry that he slammed the table. “You’re not worthy to be taught!” Right then, some honks were heard outside the hotel. More than ten white BMWs were aligned as they stopped in front of the hotel. There was a silvery-black Bentley in the middle, which was worthed more than a million dollars, and it showcased its owner’s noble status. “Jade and Donald are here!” Harvard stood up happily. At the same time, he did not forget to turn back and speak sarcastically to Thomas. “Thomas, you’ve also just returned from the military. Look at their extravagance and manners. Both of you recently left the military, yet why are you so different? You said that you didn’t like red tape? Haha, even if you liked it, would a single person be bothered with you, let alone a team of cars?!”“Stop talking nonsense. Come along, we need to welcome your sister and brother-in-law.” Richard got up and walked to the door. Others also stood up and followed him. If those people could make Richard personally welcome them, it was obvious how high-status they were. When Richard reached the entrance, he stood straight. After the Bentley’s door was opened, Jade Hill held her husband, Donald Brick’s arm as they got out of the car. “Grandpa, why did you personally come and welcome us? I feel so flattered.” Donald spoke in a gruff voice. “Hey, you’re a deputy commander in the war zone. Shouldn’t an ordinary person like me come and welcome you?”“Grandpa, please don’t say that. Let’s go inside quickly. Don’t catch a cold.”“Come, let’s go inside.” People surrounded Donald while they enthusiastically welcomed him into the room. “Come, Donald, Jade, come and sit with me.” The old man happily ushered Donald and Jade to his side. He was all smiles the entire time, totally different from his attitude toward Thomas earlier. There were ten seats at a table. They did not anticipate a visit from Thomas in the beginning, so there was one seat less. “Hey, we need one more seat,” Harvard said. Richard casually glanced around before he nonchalantly said, “Thomas, you stand for a while first. I’ll get the waitress to bring you a chair later.” His tone was calm, and he did not pay attention to Thomas at all. By the side, Emma was so angry that she clenched her fists, but she could not do a thing. Thomas smiled bitterly before he got up and stood by the table. Richard and Donald spoke happily, and Richard kept asking Donald about his recent situation. Yet, just now, he never showed Thomas the slightest concern. The difference was totally obvious. After they talked for a while, Jade pointed at Thomas and said, “Emma, is this your husband who joined the army, Thomas Mayo?”“Yeah.”“Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve met him. Why don’t you introduce him to us?” Harvard laughed and said, “Why should she introduce him? His family has fallen, he didn’t succeed in the army, and he doesn’t even have a job. On top of that, he relies on the Hill family. Why should she introduce such rubbish? I’m afraid he’ll pollute your eyes, Jade.”“Oh? Is it that bad?” Jade felt delighted. Ever since she was little, she never had something that was better than Emma. Her results could never compare to Emma’s, and their appearances, as well as figures, were also totally different. Emma had always outshone her in all aspects. Now, she finally found a chance to release her grievances. She held Donald’s arm and said in a coquettish way, “Dear, didn’t you also join the military? Since both of you have joined, why don’t you get him a job in the war zone?” Donald frowned. “Are you joking? Can anyone simply enter the war zone? You won’t be qualified to enter if you’re not at a certain level, especially when it comes to our war zone.” Donald turned back and sized Thomas up. “What’s your military rank?” he asked. “God of War,” Thomas said indifferently.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

The crowd stared at one another, ‘God of War? What kind of post is that?’ Donald fake coughed and said, “I don’t know much about the situation over the west coast. However, I do know everything about military ranks. There is no such position as “God of War”. Thomas, stop making up stories.” Just then, the crowd was relieved to hear that. “So, it is a made-up story, after all. No wonder I’ve never heard of it.”“He should have made up a more reliable story.”“A position where not even Donald is aware of. That position certainly does not exist.” Emma was confronted with the cursings from the crowd. She felt embarrassed and wished to dig a hole and hide inside. Meanwhile, Thomas was very relaxed. He said casually, “Perhaps, you’ve not gotten in touch with him, that’s why you’ve not heard of it.” The crowd fell silent. Then, there was an instant uproar. The crowd stared at Thomas as if they were looking at an idiot. He was outrageous and could simply spew out anything. Who was Donald Brick? He was the deputy commander of the Eastland warzone. He was only second to the commander, and a leader of more than ten thousand people. Even Mr. Richard had to pay his respect for Donald and be polite to him. How dare Thomas accuse Donald of not knowing him just because Donald had not gotten in touch with him? Did he mean that he was superior to Donald? After a moment of silence, the crowd burst into laughter. Harvard pointed at Thomas, and said, “Emma, could you please take this weirdo home? He’s putting himself to shame over here. Is it appropriate for him to do so?” Donald also showed a disdainful look. “Someone who is obviously of lower status, yet, he still shamelessly wants to prove himself. This would only make himself a laughing stock to others. “I don’t look down upon you because of your low status. But, your lack of shame makes me sick! “Get lost! I’ll lose my appetite if I see you around here.” Harvard played along with Donald and said, “Loser, didn’t you hear him? He asked you to get lost!” The atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Richard waved his hand at Emma, and said, “Emma, ask Thomas to take his meal at the table over the corner there.”“Noted, Grandpa.” Emma rose up. She reached out and grabbed Thomas’s wrist. She gritted her teeth, dragged Thomas away from the scene, and led him to a corner. Thomas shook his head slightly and continued to eat. “Do you still have the appetite to eat?!” Emma yelled fiercely at him, “I’m so angry now! How could you still act like nothing's wrong, Thomas?! Do you know the word “disgrace”?!” Thomas said calmly, “Something that is genuine cannot be faked, likewise, something that is fake cannot be made genuine.”“What do you mean?”“You’ll understand about it sooner or later.” At the head table, Richard asked, “Donald, I would like to seek your advice for a certain thing.” Donald smiled and replied, “Grandpa, that’s very polite of you. There’s no need to “seek advice” from me. I guess you must have wanted to know about the new superior, right?” “That’s very true indeed. Donald, you guessed it right the first time!” Donald said, “The merging among the three districts is something big. The officer in charge could consider the position as either a lucrative sinecure or a trap.”“Why do you say so?”“That’s simple. As the chief officer in charge of the three districts, he has to allocate all the resources evenly. As long as he handles them well, he would be gaining various sources of income, right? However, the problem lies with the willingness of the original teams of the three districts that determine if they would allow him to do so. The original teams comprise people from the government, business arena, local authority and many other forces. Therefore, it’s not easy to reconcile with all of them. In other words, the new chief officer in charge must be someone who is capable of taking charge of the situation.” Richard nodded and asked again, “Do you know who is this new man?”“I don’t know.”“He’s someone whom you don’t even know about?” Donald replied awkwardly, “Of course, there is a vast difference between my level and his. The only clue I’ve got is that the chief officer in charge comes from the west coast.”“West coast?” Richard unwittingly looked at the table at the corner. The next moment, he was upset by his own idiocy and shook his head. “Donald, you have to be more attentive to this matter. When the new superior arrives, you have to strive to gain more benefits for the Hill family. The merging of the three districts would bring ample opportunities for various sources of income. A little from them is more than sufficient for the Hill family to last a long time.” Donald patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll take all the matters related to the Hill family to my heart. The new superior would take office within a few days. I’ll personally greet him. By then, I’ll certainly speak for the Hill family, so there’s no need to worry about not gaining any benefits, right?”“Geez, I thank you for that, Donald.”“You’re welcome, Grandpa.”“Come, let’s have a toast.”“Cheers!” When they were about to raise a toast, they saw three black Rolls Royce outside the entrance. Each of them was worth more than ten million dollars. Not any ordinary person could afford to own one. Who had such a grandeur bearing? Richard and Donald locked gaze. They paused their toasting and walked over to the entrance. Three Rolls Royce stopped at the entrance. The car doors were opened. Several men in military uniforms got out of the cars. They unloaded a huge pennant from each car. The leader of the military men marched forward to Richard and gave him a military salute. “Good day, Mr. Hill. We are from the warzone. We purposely came to present pennants as our token of appreciation for your grandson-in-law’s outstanding contribution at the warzone.” ‘Warzone? ‘Grandson-in-law?’ Without giving it a second thought, Richard immediately thought of Donald. He said, “Oh, Donald, you couldn’t have been better than this! Your superior has actually sent his people to present the pennants for you. It’s truly an honor to the Hill family!”“U-Uh…” Donald smiled awkwardly. His heart fluttered a little and thought to himself, ‘Judging from my ability and capability, how on earth do I deserve to be awarded these pennants?’ He could not even afford a pennant, let alone three of them. The three pennants were opened. “Loyalty and righteousness” were embroidered on the first pennant. “Invincible in battle” was embroidered on the second pennant. “A lasting legacy” was embroidered on the third pennant. Each of the words carried a profound meaning. Not every Tom, Dick and Harry could afford to be honored this way. Not even Donald’s warzone commander could afford one of those pennants, let alone Donald himself. Donald was puzzled. He wondered what was the special contribution he had contributed to deserve three pennants for his recognition. He had to ask his superior when he got back to them. On the other hand, Richard smiled from ear to ear, and said, “Good, that’s very good of you, Donald. You’ve truly made the Hill family proud of you. Come, receive the pennants and hang them in the hall!”“Noted.” After the pennants were delivered, the officers from the warzone returned to the cars and drove away. At that moment, Emma looked at the three pennants from the table at the corner. She smiled wanly and said, “My older sister has truly married to an ideal man.” She was green with envy. Were there any women on earth who did not wish to be married to a capable man? Were there any women on earth who did not wish their men were above the rest? At that moment, Emma felt bitter. Meanwhile, Thomas sat at the side. When he saw those three pennants, he mumbled to himself, ‘I’ve already told them that I hate this type of red tape. Yet, they still delivered them over. How annoying!’ He shook his head and continued to eat.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

At the family dinner, a lot of people kept flattering Donald, one after another, and they were very friendly. Meanwhile, nobody looked at Thomas properly from start to finish. Emma, who was sitting beside him, also felt humiliated. There were a few times that she wanted to get up and leave because she was really embarrassed about being in that place again. At that moment, Thomas’ phone rang. “Excuse me, I need to answer this call.” After Thomas walked out of the room, he answered the call, and Samson’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Boss, we’ve received the document. They want you to take over as chief officer and be in charge of three cities. You will have to attend the succession ceremony.”“You know how I am. I don’t like these types of formalities. I can take over as the chief officer in charge, but just cancel the succession ceremony,” Thomas answered indifferently. “Hmm… it’s been fixed by our superiors. Boss, it won’t be easy to cancel this.”“You can attend on my behalf, then.”“That would be inappropriate, wouldn’t it? Our superiors won’t agree.”“If they don’t agree, I don’t have to take over as the chief officer in charge. Just pass my original message to our superiors.”“Boss, don’t get angry. I’ll tell them.” Thomas then ended the call. As he was about to go back, Harvard walked over happily. “Hey, who were you talking to on the phone?”“A friend.”“Does trash like you still have friends?” Harvard said. “Both of you have been in the military, but look at Donald, and look at yourself. Why are both of you so different? Just now, Ronald promised to bring me to the succession ceremony of the new chief officer. Look at how capable he is. He managed to directly get an invitation through internal channels. What about you? You can only stay at home and wait to see me shaking hands with the new chief officer on the television!” Thomas smiled faintly and asked, “Isn’t it easy to obtain an invitation? If you can’t attend and even Donald can’t go, wouldn’t it be very awkward?”“Bah!” Harvard scolded, “If we can’t attend, will trash like you be able to attend?” As the two of them talked, Emma walked out. Her face was completely sullen. Clearly, someone had said something to shame her again. When she passed by Thomas, she whispered, “Let’s go home now.” Harvard sarcastically said, “Hey, Emma, don’t go home first. I haven’t toasted with you.” Emma lowered her head while she quickly walked toward her car, and Thomas followed suit. After Emma opened the car door and got inside, she slammed the steering wheel with force to release her anger. Then, she raised her head and breathed a long sigh. Her suppressed feelings, grievance, objection, and pain burst out at that moment. Thomas glanced at her and did not express anything. He turned around and looked out the window, appearing aloof. Emma stepped on the accelerator and quickly left that place, which made her feel uncomfortable. Halfway through the drive, the aggrieved Emma asked, “Do you know what comments they made about you?”“What did they say?”“You’re weak, low, and clueless about improving yourself. Some people even said that you’re a kept man.”“Oh.”“Oh? You don’t have any other response when you hear those words?” Thomas turned around and looked at Emma. “What response do you expect me to give? Feel angry, feel sad, or fight with them?” Emma bit her bottom lip. She wanted to say something but did not know how she should say it. She actually just wanted to see Thomas working hard. Thomas continued to look out the window, but he suddenly asked, “My life over these years has been very boring; do you know what I like to do the most to get rid of the feelings of anger?” Emma did not answer. “What I enjoy the most is to watch performances in the circus. I don’t like to see anything that highly complicated, instead, I like to see the clowns performing.”“Huh?” Emma glanced at Thomas in puzzlement. She did not understand what he meant. Could it be that he treated the people who had mocked him during the family dinner as clowns? Hence, it was not from a lack of temper that he did not get angry. He was actually watching their “performance”? In an instant, Emma felt like she did not quite understand Thomas. The man seemed to be very mysterious, but his expression painted the picture of a timid man. Was he a strong man or a weak individual? Back at home… When Emma and Thomas entered the living room, they saw Johnson sitting on the couch while writing non-stop with a pen. He even scratched his head and seemed to be in deep thought at times. “Dad, you’re back.”“Yeah.”“What did the department say?” Without raising his head, Johnson answered, “The result’s out. The succession ceremony for the chief officer in charge will be tomorrow. I’ll represent the department and attend. If I can build a relationship with the chief officer in charge, I’ll definitely have a successful career.” Emma walked over and glanced at the things that Johnson had written. “Dad, what are you writing?”“A list of gifts.”“Huh? Who are you gifting?” Johnson said, “Isn’t it clear? I’m attending the succession ceremony, so how can I go without bringing a gift? Don’t I need to prepare something? But, I don’t know what the chief officer likes. If my gift is cheap, I’m afraid that he’ll despise it. If I give him an expensive gift, I’m afraid that I’ll be criticized. Emma, come and give me an idea.” Emma shook her head. “How would I know about this?” Thomas walked over and scanned the list of gifts that Johnson had written on the paper. Most of them were precious items, so they were good enough as gifts. The problem was that Thomas had no interest in those things. He smiled as he said, “Dad, I think these gifts aren’t sophisticated.”“Really?”“You can afford these gifts, but others can also give him the same thing. That won’t allow you to show your sincerity.” Johnson nodded. “You’re right. What do you think I should give as a gift?”“Beer.”“Isn’t beer more common?” Thomas answered, “You need Rhapsody beer from the West Coast.”“Oh? What’s so special about it? Is this beer very expensive?”“Nope.” Thomas explained, “Life on the West Coast is very tough. Every warrior has a wild wish to drink a sip of beer. Rhapsody beer is cheap, as well as strong, and it’s a favorite among low-class warriors.” Johnson frowned. “How can I give the chief officer beer that’s enjoyed by low-class warriors? He’s from the West Coast, but he’s absolutely not a warrior from the bottom class.” Thomas said, “On the West Coast, leaders and warriors sleep together in the same place. They eat the same food and drink the same beer. What the warriors love to drink should also be the leaders’ favorite.” Johnson was finally convinced by Thomas. Indeed, in terms of understanding the West Coast, he was not as good as Thomas. “Yeah, I’ll have to try it. “I’ll get them to buy Rhapsody beer. Thomas, I hope it’s not a mistake for me to believe you.” Johnson immediately ordered his people to buy the beer. Right then, Thomas’ phone rang again. “Boss, the superiors agree. As long as you’re willing to accept the position of chief officer, they don’t mind who attends the succession ceremony.” Thomas said, “Okay, help me obtain invitations for two.”“Huh? Wait, Boss, are you kidding me? You’re the chief officer, and you’re supposed to attend the ceremony, but you’ve asked me to attend the ceremony. That’s fine, but you still want me to get you two invitations. Are you ready to be a guest and see me embarrass myself?” Johnson coldly asked, “Are you trying to disobey my order?” Samson instantly gave in. “I wouldn’t dare. I’ll follow your orders.”“Oh yeah, help me remove two names from the attendance list for the ceremony.”“Whose names?” Thomas smirked. “Donald Brick and Harvard Hill.”

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

At night, Thomas and Emma entered the bedroom. Although both of them were husband and wife and were supposed to sleep in the same bed in the room, both of them were as good as strangers. Therefore, they found it awkward to have to sleep in the same bed all of a sudden. This was especially so for Emma. She had not even slept with other ladies, let alone a man whom she just met, despite the man being her husband. Thomas did not put her in a difficult position. He straight away picked up the quilt and spread it on the floor. “What are you doing?” Emma asked. “You sleep on the bed, I sleep on the floor.”“This…”“You don’t have to feel sorry about me. I’m used to sleeping on the floor all these years.” Emma did not say much. She switched off the light and slipped into the bed. In the dark, Thomas abruptly blurted out, “I’m sorry.” Emma trembled. She had never thought Thomas would actually say that to her. Thomas continued, “Throughout all these years, I’ve always felt sorry for two people. One of them is my brother, the other is you. If only I could return earlier, my brother would not have died. If only I could return earlier, you wouldn't have to suffer so many grievances.” At that instant, tears of grievance through the years streamed down on Emma’s face. For the past five years, she had to endure various kinds of gossip. After being taunted, she did not even have someone whom she could pour out her feelings for. Therefore, she could only weep silently at a place where no one was around. She was tired of her life. Thomas continued, “But, you could be rest assured that my comeback would not cause you further grievances. I give you my word.” Thomas could not make up for what he had owed his brother. The least he could do was to give his best to compensate his wife for what he had owed her. ...... Early the next morning, Thomas got changed early and woke Emma up. “What’s the point of getting up so early?”“We’re attending the ceremony.” Emmas was stunned, and asked, “What kind of ceremony?”“Today is the succession ceremony of the officer in charge of the three district. I’ve asked a friend to get two passes for us. You could attend the ceremony with me.” Emmas was a little surprised. She asked Johnson, and he said the eligibility to attend the succession ceremony is extremely high. Even a veteran like himself who had worked more than twenty years in the city could earn the pass after multiple selections. Ordinary people did not even have to think about it. It was extremely difficult to gain the pass for the attendance, let alone two passes. Probably, only someone of Donald’s level could easily get them. However, Thomas did not look like he was joking. Emma gave him a benefit of the doubt. She got changed, took her breakfast hastily, and drove Thomas to the building where the succession ceremony was held Just then, most of the luxurious cars parked there were worth more than millions of dollars. This represented the dignified status of the attendees. Emma’s car looked out of place there. “Thomas, are you sure we are eligible to attend the ceremony?” Emma questioned him once again. It would be truly embarrassing if they were to make a big fuss about it later. “Just trust me.” Thomas led Emma to the entrance of the building. At that moment, three shadows were seen catching up to them diagonally behind them. “Yo, Jade, Donald, look who’s there?” As soon as Emma heard the voice, she immediately identified the voice to be her second brother, Harvard. She turned around, only to see it was indeed him, along with Jade and Donald. They walked over to them. Harvard said cheerfully, “What a coincidence! We actually meet at a place like this. Yo, you’ve brought along the weirdo too! What are you two doing here?” Thomas replied nonchalantly, “Aren’t we here to attend the succession ceremony?” Harvard was slightly caught by surprise. He looked at Donald and asked, “Donald, did you get the passes for them too?” Donald shook his head and said, “With my authority, the most I could get is three passes only.”“Oh?” Harvard continued, “Did Johnson get for them?” Donald smiled in disdain and said, “Johnson who? He begged others to get the pass for him with the excuse of presenting a gift to the superior. How could he get the passes for others?” Harvard laughed when he heard his words. “If that’s the case, Emma, you guys are not eligible to attend the succession ceremony. So, why are you guys still here? Do you think this is a market where you could just come and go as you please?” Emma frowned. Actually, she also started to doubt Thomas’s passes if they were real or fake. As such, she became more suspicious upon hearing Donald’s remarks. At that moment, Thomas took a step forward, and said placidly, “We know ourselves well if we are eligible. Unlike someone who doesn’t even know if he is eligible. How pathetic!” Apparently, he was targeting Donald and the other two. Harvard was unhappy, and he said, “What are you talking about?! Don’t think that you’re part of the Hill family just because you’re married into our family. If you dare to show off again, trust me, I’ll slap you!” Donald reached out to stop Harvard. “Stop making a fuss over here. If anything, we could settle at home.”“Noted, Donald.” Donald cast a disdainful glance at Thomas, and said, “As a human, self-awareness is the most important value to embrace. To attempt the impossible by overreaching oneself would only end up in humiliation.” After Donald finished speaking, he turned around and walked toward the entrance of the building. Jade walked over to Emma and gave her a piece of her advice, “Emma, my husband comes from the warzone and has a hot temper. His words are harsh, I hope you could just let bygones be bygones. Speaking of which, don’t bring the weirdo out that often, it would only drag you down. I’m going in to attend the ceremony. That’s all for now, you could go back first.” Jade’s words were pleasant to the ears on the surface. In actual fact, each of them pierced the heart. The moment Jade turned around, there was a smile on her face. Since childhood, Jade had been inferior to Emma. She exploded with excitement like never before for being able to taunt Emma in her face. All thanks to her marrying an ideal man. Emma’s face turned black. She stood in place and remained motionless for a long time. ‘Originally, staying at home would have been good. Why did I have to come to this place to make a fool of myself?!’ “Let’s go,” Thomas said calmly. “Go? Where are we going?” Emma sounded harsh. “Didn’t I tell you that we’re attending the succession ceremony?”“Have you had enough of making a fuss of all this?!” Emma could no longer hold back herself, “I wouldn’t blame you for being incapable, but you could at least fight for some dignity for yourself. You should be realistic, instead of acting ambitious and pretentious. Otherwise, not only would I be upset about it, but I’ll also look down upon you even more!” At that instant, all eyes were on them. Thomas stood in place. After three seconds, he smiled cheerfully, and said slowly, “Emma, trust me for once. If I can’t bring you in, I’m willing to divorce you with immediate effect.” Emma froze. His words were so mean. Thomas did not seem like he was joking. He had taken it seriously. Emma hesitated for a while. She pouted her lips and said, “Alright. I’ll give you one more chance.” She strode forward to the entrance of the building.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

A row of them walked toward the building’s main entrance in order. There were a few dozen guards at the main entrance, and the guards in the innermost row were armed. It was a sign that the people who went there today were of high status. Donald and the other two approached the building’s entrance, followed by Thomas and Emma. A few of them were stopped by the guards at the door at the same time. “Please present your identity card.” Harvard arrogantly passed his identity card to the guard before he turned around and gazed at Thomas. “Look carefully, this isn’t a place where people like you can visit.” The guard scanned his identity card with the machine, and a very obvious, big red “X” was instantly shown. The armed guards immediately came over and stopped Harvard. Harvard was so terrified that his complexion turned pale. “Hey, what’s happening?” The guard directly returned his identity card. “You’ve been blacklisted. You’re forbidden from entering the building. Please leave.”“That can’t be, right?” Harvard turned around and looked at Donald. Did Donald not say that he had gotten him an invitation? Why was he unable to enter and even blacklisted? Donald frowned and said, “Hey brother, I wonder if you’ve made a mistake. I personally asked for his invitation.”“People on the blacklist are not allowed to enter. There is no mistake at all.” Jade was angry. “Hey, why are you speaking like that? Do you know who my husband is? He’s the deputy commander in the Eastland war zone. Do you want to get kicked out of the military?” The guards glared at Jade in unison. “Are you threatening us?” The guards grasped their guns tightly, and that frightened Jade to the point that she moved behind Donald. Donald’s official position was not low, but today, he was not a big deal in front of the new chief officer. Not to mention, all the people there were from the West Coast. They would not be bothered with a deputy commander from the Eastland war zone. Donald had never been treated like that before, so he became a little mad. He suppressed his anger and said, “Fine, Harvard, don’t go inside first. Jade, come inside with me.”“No, Donald.” Who would have known… The guard then extended his hand toward Donald. “Please present your identity card.”“Huh?” The embers of anger in Donald burst into flames. “What did you say?”“Please present your identity card!” The guards lifted their guns and pointed them at Donald as well as his wife. If he disobeyed, they would be forced to leave. Donald’s complexion turned pale. “I’m a deputy commander in the Eastland war zone. Don’t you know that I’ve been invited to attend the succession ceremony?”“For the last time, please show us your identity card. Otherwise, don’t blame us for anything that happens to you.”“Dear…” Jade pulled Donald by the arm to urge him not to persist. These guards did not look like they were kidding. “Great, just great... I’ll remember you.” Donald handed his identity card over, and the guard took it. Scanning it with the machine, a prominent red “X” was instantly shown. “What…” Donald immediately became dumbfounded. The guard returned the identity card to him. “You’re also on the blacklist. You’re not allowed to enter. Please leave.” Donald was so mad that he trembled. He was a deputy commander and only had one superior in the Eastland war zone. Everyone had to be polite whenever they saw him. When did he start suffering from such humiliation? He had been invited there, but why had he been blacklisted? “There’s something wrong with your machine. Go and get a new machine here,” Donald demanded in a tough tone. “You have no right to order us. Everyone on the blacklist, please leave immediately, or else we will take drastic measures.”“How dare you!” A few guns were simultaneously pointed at Donald, and it forced him to take a few steps back. “You’re such ungrateful brats! Let’s wait and see. I’m calling my superior now and removing all of you!” By the time he got ready to make the call, Thomas had led Emma over. “Excuse me, we’re in a hurry. Please let us go inside first,” Thomas said nonchalantly. Donald glanced at him impatiently. “What are you doing, trash? Can’t you see that I have something to do?” Thomas shrugged. “Something to do? I can just see a few people who are unqualified to enter but still unwilling to leave. It’s so embarrassing.”“You!” Donald got so furious that he became speechless. Harvard yelled, “Thomas Mayo, don’t play dumb! We can’t go in, but you can? Hurry up and get lost! Stop being so shameless here.” Thomas chuckled. “I’ve made it clear that I know whether I can go inside or not, unlike some people who have no idea about their qualifications. How pathetic!” He took the initiative to hand his identity card to the guard. The guard scanned his identity card on the machine, and it showed “Passed”. “Welcome,” the guard said respectfully. Thomas pridefully walked into the building right in front of Donald and Harvard. Donald’s complexion was completely pale, and he felt sickened as if he had eaten a fly. He had previously said that Thomas was rash, and he had mocked Thomas for not knowing the situation clearly because not everyone could go inside. In the end, Thomas had easily gone inside, while he had been stopped outside. Nobody could tell who the real trash was. Subsequently, Emma carefully handed her identity card over, and the scan also showed “Passed”. “Welcome, Madam.” The guards were very respectful toward people who could enter the building. Emma looked dumbfounded as she entered the building. She also never expected things to end like this. She was so lucky to go inside a place where even Donald could not enter. Thomas held Emma’s hand and said to the people in front of the door, “Jade, Donald, you don’t have to be sad. I’ll take some photos and buy you souvenirs. You should go home first. You can watch it on the television, and it’ll be the same.” His words made Donald tremble with anger, and he nearly wanted to smash his phone on the floor. Jade was even more embarrassed, and her face turned red. She had even asked Emma to go back first. What just happened? She was the one who had to go back now. “It’s impossible. This can’t happen. Why can that trash go inside, but we’re stopped outside? “There must be something wrong with the machine. “Let me go inside!” Harvard pounced on the guard like a mad person, but the guard kicked him, and he lay on the floor with a loud thud. Next, the guard fired a bullet next to Harvard’s leg on the floor. At that moment, Harvard was so terrified that he peed and wet his pants. Thomas shook his head slightly. It was really foolish to make a scene in such a place. He held Emma’s hand and ignored those people at the entrance while he walked into the hall. On the way, Emma felt as if she was dreaming. Everything seemed incredibly surreal until Thomas smiled faintly and asked her, “Are you happy?”“Yes…” Emma was stunned for a while before she unwittingly broke into a faint smile. She could not suppress her happiness, and the emotions she had held back for so many years finally came out at this time. “Hmph! I won’t be smug like you. I’m not happy.” Emma turned around, but she smiled more brightly.

Chapter 9 Chapter 9

The duo arrived at the venue. At one glance, they saw Johnson carrying a gift box. He was pacing back and forth and looking anxious. “Father.” Emma walked over to him. “Why are you guys here?” Johnson was caught by surprise. Emma pointed at Thomas, and said, “He asked his friends to get us two passes. So, we are here to have a look.”“He’s able to get the passes?” Thomas smiled as he said, “A comrade of mine when I was still a soldier on the west coast is a good friend of the organizer of this ceremony. Therefore, he got me two passes through internal channels.” Johnson nodded and said, “So that’s how it is.” Emma asked, “Father, why are you wandering around here?” Johnson frowned deeply, and said, “It’s all about the gift. I’ve bought the Rhapsody beer. But, the problem is that I don’t really have the guts to give them out. Did you know that the beer costs three dollars and sixty cents per bottle only? Is it truly appropriate to give such low-quality beer?” Thomas said, “As long as that person in charge is a good leader who shares life and death with his soldiers, he is certainly in favor of this type of beer.”“Hopefully.” At that moment, several middle-aged men with potbellies came over. The man who took the lead was bald, and with a pair of spectacles. “Yo, Johnson, what a coincidence to see you here!”“Oh, it’s you, Mike!” Johnson faced Emma and Thomas, and said, “He’s my colleague, Michael Elon from the marketing department.” Emma immediately greeted him. However, the so-called Uncle Mike was actually Johnson’s nemesis. On the surface, the two of them were on good terms with each other. In fact, they had been at daggers drawn every now and then. They competed with each other in everything. This time, they vied for the same position discreetly. It could be said that the person who performed better during the succession ceremony would most likely be able to suppress the other and occupy the position as the deputy director. Johnson had mentioned Michael more than once at home. Most of the time, he had nothing good to say about him. Therefore, Emma was also not fond of him. “Good day, Uncle Mike,” Emma said coldly. “Eh, Emma, good day to you too! It’s been a while, and you’ve grown up within a blink of an eye.” Michael stared at Emma lecherously. He gulped, looking very lewd. Emma did not feel comfortable. She took a step back, making way for Thomas to stand in front of her. “Who is this?” Michael pointed at Thomas and asked. “He’s my son-in-law, Thomas Mayo,” Johnson answered. Michael was delighted, and said, “Oh, so he’s the loser whose father has disappeared, the younger brother has committed suicide, and ended up relying on his family-in-law to survive out of wits. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Johnson and Emma’s faces turned black at the same time. Michael did not bother about Thomas’s feelings, and continued, “Johnson, I wonder how could you stand to have this kind of person in your house for nothing? If I were you, I would have long since kicked him out of the house, and let my daughter divorce him. To put it bluntly, even an old man like me would be a better son-in-law than a loser like him.”“Mike!” Johnson shouted loudly. Michael shook his hand and said, “Tsk, tsk, tsk! I’m just cracking a joke with you. Haha! There’s no need to take my words to your heart. I still need to handle some business, so I’ll make a move first.” Michael purposely walked past Thomas. He provocatively cast a glance at him, then he turned to look at Emma who was behind him. He could not help but lick his lips. The hint of a lewd smirk from his eyes was disgusting. Michael’s followers behind him also left. After they left, Emma stomped fiercely, “Scum! Trash!” Johnson’s face turned dark. Of course, he was also very angry. However, he was helpless. Despite Michael’s words being abominable and unpleasant to the ears, he must admit that there was a certain truth in it. If Johnson were someone else, the person would have let his daughter divorce Thomas and kicked that loser out of the house. Johnson even wondered if he had been too kind-hearted. Johnson intentionally or otherwise shot a glance at Thomas. He snorted. Then, he turned his head around and left. Little did anyone notice, at that moment, Thomas was already watching Michael's silhouette with killing intent. Although he enjoyed watching a joker’s show, he hated anyone who bullied his wife. Thomas could put up with anything. However, Emma’s case was the only exception. Emma Hill was Thomas’s only minefield. The moment someone triggered his taboo, he would die for sure. Thomas silently took out his mobile phone. It was unknown to who or what he typed, but after some time, he kept his phone. Then, he acted as if nothing had happened and returned to Emma’s side. “The ceremony is about to start soon, let’s find a seat,” Thomas said. “Okay.” The duo sat down according to the number stated on the passes. When the curtain was gradually drawn, the host introduced the guest of honor for the succession ceremony in a formal manner. Finally, the mysterious officer in charge was about to make an appearance. While everyone’s attention was gathered on him, a young man with a sturdy physique, and an imposing aura about him walked out. When he spoke, his voice was deep and resonant, with an air of authority. At that instant, many girls on the spot were attracted to him. “He really lives up to the reputation as the highest level of the commander of the west coast. He’s truly as handsome as a heavenly god.”“If I were to be married to a man like him, I would wake up smiling every night. Moreover, I would want it every night too.”“You guys are indeed shameless! Do you think a man like him would ever lay his eyes on you all?” In the midst of all the discussion, the young man spoke up. “A very good afternoon to ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Samson Wood, the officer in charge of the succession ceremony. “First of all, I would like to offer my apology to everyone. Actually, I’m not the chief officer in charge of the merging of the three districts. I’m just a subordinate of him.” At that moment, the crowd cried in surprise. ‘Even his subordinate could be that extraordinary, wouldn’t the officer in charge himself be even more remarkable?’ Samson continued, “The man himself prefers to stay humble. He dislikes such ceremonies. Therefore, I’m his proxy for this succession ceremony. Next, the official ceremony pronouncement begins.” When Samson was delivering his speech on the stage, tongues were wagging under the stage. “No way, does that mean the officer in charge doesn’t intend to show up?”“That’s too much of a show, right?”“Shhh… Keep your voice down. Do you still want to stay alive?! Didn’t you hear Samson mention that the officer in charge dislikes ostentation and prefers to stay humble?”“Sigh… That’s a little disappointing. I wonder what the officer in charge looks like.” Amidst everyone’s chattering, Emma brought herself closer to Thomas, and whispered in his ear, “You’ve been a soldier at the west coast for five years, could you guess who could be the officer in charge? What does he look like? Is he handsome?” Thomas shifted his gaze, and said, “Well, it’s hard to say. Just look at me, most of the soldiers are about the same as me.”“How could you compare yourself with the chief officer in charge?”“What if I’m the chief officer in charge?” Emma rolled her eyes at him, and said, “I’m not dwelling on this with you anymore. You’re not taking it seriously.” Thomas looked at Emma with a smile. Just then, he found that his wife, who was a stranger to him, was actually quite adorable and beautiful too.

Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Samson spoke passionately for a long time on stage. After he finally finished his speech, he left the stage. The host held the microphone and said to everyone in the hall, “The event today has ended. Please exit in an orderly fashion.” The host asked them to leave, but many people still remained in their seats. After a bunch of people left, a man went on stage with a gift. He chuckled while he said to the host, “I’m Rayden Haynes, the General Manager of Victory Heavy Industry. I’ve prepared a small gift to welcome the chief officer in charge. Please pass this to him.” He opened the box, and a ginseng root that had been aged for ten years was visible. It was very pricey! The host nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll pass it to him.”“Thank you very much.” As soon as Raiden walked down the stage, a second man walked up the stage. People went up one after another to relay their “sincerity” to the host and request that the host hand their gifts to the chief officer. People gave him gold, pearls, sports cars, and even agate. Everyone gave extremely valuable presents, and even the cheapest thing was worth at least one hundred thousand dollars. When Johnson saw the gifts that others had presented, his forehead was beaded with cold sweat. Compared with the other gifts, his gift was really embarrassing. Michael was sitting next to him. When Michael saw the box that Johnson was holding, he curiously asked, “Johnson, what are you giving him? Can you tell me?” Johnson awkwardly said, “You’ll find out later.”“Hey, you’re being quite mysterious.” Michael then took out a golden box too. He gently patted the box and said, “But, no matter what you’re giving, it can’t compare to my precious gift.” Johnson rolled his eyes at him and did not say anything. Seeing that almost everyone had handed over their gifts, Johnson got to his feet and walked up the stage. “Excuse me, I’m Johnson Hill. I prepared a small gift to welcome the new chief officer in charge. Please accept my sincerity.” When the host took the box and opened it, he found six bottles of beer inside. At first, everyone thought that they were some kind of very expensive and precious beer. After they saw the brand clearly, they burst out laughing. “Is he serious? Rhapsody beer? I remember that the canteen sells a bottle of Rhapsody beer at $3.60, right?”“Isn’t that a little too stingy?”“Don’t come if you’re poor. Even two bouquets of flowers are more expensive than that beer, right?”“Tsk, this is so embarrassing.” Johnson’s face turned red. He had known that this would happen, but when it actually unfolded, he realized how stupid he was. He really regretted believing in Thomas, that piece of trash. In fact, he would have realized it if he had put some thought into it. On such an important occasion, would he not be humiliating the chief officer in charge by giving bottled beer that was worth $3.60? Forget being promoted and having a salary increment, it would already be a blessing to not be removed after he went back. “Get off the stage. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”“This man came to ruin the occasion. Where are the security guards? Why aren’t they chasing him out?” Johnson was really embarrassed, so he left the stage in a rush. The host chuckled before he spoke in a cold tone. “Today is a good day for the succession ceremony. How can it be ruined by anyone? Is such a thing good enough to be sent over? Get lost!” He casually threw the six bottles of beer on the ground. Right then, Johnson felt that he had completely lost face and he could no longer save it. Below the stage, he was drowned in shame, and he could no longer hide it. Michael laughed so hard by the side that he almost could not breathe. “Hey, Johnson, is there something wrong with your brain? Giving a bottle of beer that is worth $3.6 on an occasion like this? Do you think the chief officer in charge is a beggar? “I don’t want to insult you, but you tried to cut down on your budget for such an important gift. That means you’re extremely stingy.”“When you go back to work, just wait to be removed. You’re an embarrassment to us all.” Among the audience members, Emma’s expression darkened, and she looked at Thomas. “It’s that ‘good idea’ you gave my father. Now, it’s made my father so embarrassed. When he goes back to work, he might lose his job!” Thomas appeared aloof. “Do you trust me?” he asked this question again. Emma had chosen to trust Thomas earlier, and he did not let her down. Nonetheless, this time… Emma hesitated and said, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but look at my father. He’s being bullied by the rest. The gift you recommended isn’t working!”“This is just judgment from ignorant people. Believe me, if this chief officer is a good leader who takes care of his soldiers, he will like the gift that I’ve chosen for him.” Emma snorted coldly. “I wonder where you got your confidence…” At this time, Michael patted his sleeves and stood up. “Forget it, you’ve embarrassed us. I need to quickly make up for it. We can’t just let them laugh at us.” He took a small box and walked up the stage. Then, he chuckled while he said to the host, “I’m Michael Elon, the supervisor of the Marketing Department. I’ve purposely prepared a small gift for the chief officer in charge.”“He’s not giving any cheap beer this time, is he?”“I think it might not be a good thing.”“When have they been so poor?” While everyone discussed, Michael bowed to them. “I’m here to apologize to you first because my colleague was foolish enough to make a joke of himself in front of you. Here, I want to apologize on Johnson Hill’s behalf. “We are not poor, and we did not mean to disrespect the chief officer in charge. What Johnson Hill did was of his own volition. Please don’t overthink it.”“Anyway, talking is of no use. To make everyone here see our sincerity and also show my own sincerity, I’ve purposely prepared this gift for you.” After he spoke, he opened the small golden box, which only contained a key. Everyone stared at each other in confusion. What was he doing? Was it a car key? Michael grabbed the key and raised it. “This is the key for a detached villa. More specifically, house number 33 in Wind Ridge Neighborhood in town.” When he said this, everyone was taken aback. Wind Ridge Neighborhood in Northern City was one of the top five luxurious neighborhoods in the city, and the people who lived in that area were wealthy! The detached villas in that area were worth up to ten million dollars. Besides, if they did not have a certain network or background, they would not be qualified to buy the villas. Such a luxurious house was not affordable for ordinary people, and they could never buy it in their lifetime either. Yet, Michael had bought it and given it to the chief officer in charge as a gift. His generosity was terrifying. Between Johnson and Michael, one of them had spent less than thirty dollars, while the other person had given a house that was worth ten million dollars. The difference between both of them was too huge. In this invisible war, Johnson looked like a failure.

Chapter 11 Chapter 11

“What do you think? Why is the gap that big?”“In my opinion, this is just a gimmick by deliberately giving away trash as padding in order to bring out Michael’s grandeur.”“It makes sense. This time, he truly grabbed all the attention.” Michael’s face was beamed with happiness. He put the key inside the box and passed it to the host. The host carefully placed the box in the center space. Despite Michael’s gift being the smallest, its place was the most conspicuous. Michael returned to his seat and sat cross-legged. “Johnson, what do you think about my gift?” Johnson’s face went livid. He lowered his head without speaking a word. “Hahahaha! Why? Haven’t you always liked to compete with me? “This time, I’ll see how you could still fight with me. “Johnson Hill, let me tell you. This time, I’m certainly going to be promoted as the deputy director, and you'll get lost soon! “You are a loser, just like your son-in-law. There’s a saying that goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”, hahaha!” Facing Michael’s cynicism, Johnson could not find himself refuting him. Johnson had completely lost. In the midst of the crowd, Emma felt her entire body boil with rage. She was helpless to see her father being bullied like this. She really wanted to stride forward and slap Michael. At that moment, Thomas silently grabbed her hand. “Don’t be angry.”“Why shouldn’t I?!” Emma frowned deeply and said, “Didn’t you see how that scum bullied my father?!” Thomas replied calmly, “Do you still remember that I mentioned I enjoy watching a joker’s performance?”“What do you mean?”“That’s simple. Micheal would struggle soon.” Emma was skeptical. She asked, “He bought a luxurious mansion worth more than ten million dollars, while my father gave a beer that costs three dollars and sixty cents only. Naturally, Michael would please the officer in charge more and could soar in the future. Meanwhile, my father may be sacked for this, and lose his way in the future. Why do you say Michael would struggle soon?” Thomas smiled as he said, “Precisely, Michael’s luxurious mansion would cause trouble to him. He’s such an idiot.”“Why do you say so?”“Just wait and see. The good show is about to start soon. The joker show is over.” Soon, everyone finished presenting their gifts. Most of the gifts were very expensive. They were worth more than a hundred thousand dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, those gifts paled in comparison to Michael’s luxurious mansion that cost ten million dollars. A majority of the people predicted that Michael would certainly prevail this time. The host said, “All of you have spent a lot on the gifts to welcome the officer in charge. Please be rest assured that I’ll definitely convey your token of appreciation to him.” As soon as the host finished speaking, amidst the crowd, Thomas’s phone vibrated. He instantly hung up. Then, he typed and delivered a message. After that, he continued to sit there as if nothing had happened. After a few minutes, Samson walked out once again. The host was stunned and asked, “Do you have further instructions for us?” Samson chuckled, and said, “While I was backstage, I heard that many of you have presented your token of appreciation for the chief officer in charge, so I came to take a look at them.” The host smiled, and said, “Their gifts are all over here. Please take a look.” Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Samson walked over to the area where the gifts were placed. Samson swept his glance over each gift and eventually rested his eyes on the Rhapsody beer on the floor at the corner of the stage. He walked over, bent down, and picked it up. “Is this a gift too?” The host sneered, and said, “Yes. Johnson Hill’s token of appreciation.” The crowd glanced at Johnson with a mocking gaze. Johnson buried his head in his arms in shame, he simply did not have the guts to face people. Suddenly, Samson unscrewed the lid, took the bottle, tilted his head, and drank it. He gurgled several mouthfuls of beer. “Yes. That’s the taste. It’s exactly that strong taste!” Samson’s words and reaction got everyone confused. ‘Could a low-grade bottle of beer that cost three dollars and sixty cents only truly be that good?’ He rose up and raised the six bottles of beer high. He said loudly, “I’ve seen all your gifts. These six bottles of Rhapsody beer are the chief officer in charge’s favorite!” The crowd was dumbstruck. They fell silent. Even Johnson froze on the spot. He thought there was something wrong with his ears, and he had heard it wrongly. After some time only did the crowd respond to it. At the same time, they cried in surprise. Even the host was also caught off guard and asked, “Are you kidding us? The Rhapsody beer costs three dollars and sixty cents per bottle only. What makes it better than other gifts?” Samson looked at the beer in his hands like looking at his lover. “You guys are ignorant. “When we stay on the west coast, our lives are at stake at every moment. We hardly eat and sleep well daily. Let alone a glass of good wine. “Rhapsody beer is the most common beer that we could find on the west coast. It’s also the strongest drink we could have. It’s the favorite beer for each and every warrior of the west coast! “It’s this beer that we drink to comfort our soul. It’s the same beer that we drink to slaughter the enemies. It’s the same beer that we drink to protect our nation! “This is not just a beer, it’s our brother, and lover as well!” He had delivered an impassioned and touching speech. After a brief moment of shock, the crowd erupted in dramatic applause to offer their most sincere respect for the warriors who had shed their blood for them. Once again, Samson raised the bottle of Rhapsody beer, and said, “Therefore, it’s without a doubt that the person who has presented the Rhapsody beer is the winner!” The host looked troubled. He had just taunted Johnson before this and had even thrown his gift on the floor. At that moment, the host said in embarrassment, “That’s very true. A precious wine like this is truly the best gift. Johnson is very insightful, thoughtful and understands the warriors on the west coast well. He’s truly a good partner for all of us. Let us give a warm round of applause to Johnson Hill!” The crowd applauded respectively, especially those people who had just mocked Johnson. All of them earnestly clapped their hands, fearing that Johnson may hold his grudge against them. “I’ve long known that this man is more than meets the eyes.”“Only a true man could express his solicitude for the warriors, and would not spend lavishly for a gift.”“Johnson Hill is indeed a good man!” Just like any other man, when one fell, everyone would add insult to injury. When one rose, everyone would butter him up. Within just ten minutes, Johnson had experienced a drastic change of emotions from sadness to happiness. He rose up and bowed at the crowd. He smiled from ear to ear, and his face was beamed with happiness. He was very pleased. The gloom that had shadowed him previously was gone. In the midst of the crowd, Thomas shot a glance at a stupefied Emma. He smiled and said, “So, how is that? My recommendation works pretty well, right?” Emma snorted, “It was a fluke.”“Haha!” Thomas slightly shook his head, and said, “I’ll replicate more flukes again. Wait and see. Michael, that scum is going to get it soon.”

Chapter 12 Chapter 12

Emma felt doubtful. Although she found Thomas’ words unreliable, she still thought that she could have some hope since what he said previously had been accurate. At that moment, Samson reached out to take the key that Michael had contributed. Michael’s face glowed with happiness. He secretly felt delighted. ‘Haha, the chief officer in charge liked Rhapsody beer? He was just putting on a show. In the end, won’t the chief officer in charge still choose my luxurious villa? I haven’t lost yet.’ Samson looked at Michael. “Mr. Elon, did you contribute this key?”“Yes, I did.”“Okay. If I’m not mistaken, houses in Wind Ridge Neighborhood are not cheap. Every detached villa in that area is worth at least 20 million on average.” Michael happily said, “It’s expensive but worth it. Only houses at that price are good enough for someone of the chief officer’s status!” There was a cold glint in Samson’s eyes, and he purposely asked, “Did you buy the house?”“Of course.”“Oh? Mr. Elon, may I know how much your monthly salary is as the supervisor of the Marketing Department?” Michael’s smile slowly faded. He sensed that there was something wrong with the atmosphere. “Hmm… my monthly salary is about seven thousand dollars.”“Okay, it’s seven thousand dollars. With dividends, a year-end bonus, and various kinds of benefits, is your yearly income about two hundred thousand dollars?” As Michael heard this, he had a bad feeling. “Yes, you’re right.” Samson shook his head slightly. “That’s weird. How can a person whose yearly income is two hundred thousand dollars afford a luxurious mansion that’s worth twenty million dollars? Michael Elon, can you give me a reasonable explanation?” Oh, snap! Everyone in the hall was secretly shocked. This problem was very serious. Actually, everyone knew that there was something more going on. However, thinking that it was a gift, they felt that it would not be investigated even if everyone found that something was wrong. Despite that, the new chief officer in charge was different. As soon as he arrived, he had displayed his power to everyone. Those who had given gifts earlier felt a shiver run down their spines. Some who had presented gifts that were worth less than two hundred thousand dollars secretly felt glad. In contrast, people who had given gifts that were worth a few hundred thousand dollars or even up to a million dollars felt their hearts drop. Naturally, Michael’s heart dropped the most. You could say that a few hundred thousand dollars were your savings, but how long would you need to earn twenty million dollars? Based on Michael’s income, he would need one hundred years to earn that amount! Clearly, there was something off with Michael’s income. Michael was totally scared now. He kept gulping and stuttering, unable to say anything. Samson raised his voice. “Michael Elon, tell me, where did you get twenty million dollars to buy the house?” Michael was frightened until he fell onto the ground with a thud. How could he answer? Samson snorted coldly. “I think you can’t answer me. You can slowly explain it later. Everyone, come and arrest him. Bring him away!” A few policemen immediately rushed out. They put Michael’s hands behind his back and handcuffed him, and he was brought away in front of everyone. “No, Chief Wood. We can talk this out properly. What’s going on? “Let me go. Let me go now...” Michael’s gaze looked unspirited. He never expected that giving a gift would land him in such huge trouble. When he was arrested before the public, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads and dared not look over because they were afraid that they would become the next Michael Elon. Samson continued, “I actually know that many of you are not honest. I advise all of you to come clean and act properly. Otherwise, you’ve also seen the consequences that Michael has faced. “To those who want to rely on giving gifts and building connections, I advise you to not do it. The chief officer in charge doesn’t like this, and he hates people who bootlick! “Take back all the gifts that you’ve brought today. The chief officer in charge doesn’t want any of them. I’ll forget about it this time, but if this happens again, I won’t let you off the hook!” All the people there lowered their heads. They were so terrified that they dared not even breathe loudly. In the end, Samson raised the bottles of Rhapsody beer. “Mr. Johnson Hill, others may bring their gifts back, but I’ll accept your gift on the chief officer’s behalf.” Johnson broke into a bright smile. “It is my honor.” Samson nodded. “You’re different from the others. I’m optimistic about you. Work hard!”“Thank you.” Samson turned around and left, while the rest of them exhaled. Everyone let out a long sigh. They knew that the new chief officer in charge had a different style, but nobody anticipated his style to be so aggressive. Emma patted her chest and spoke as her heart still trembled with fear. “Luckily, you gave my father the suggestion to give Rhapsody beer. Otherwise, if my father had given a gift that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, he would have been scolded.” Thomas smiled. “You believe me now, right?”“Yeah, you have really good luck,” Emma said in relief. “Michael Elon is a lousy person. Finally, someone has put him in his place. I just wonder if he’ll just run through the procedures and come out after his arrest.” Thomas said, “Don’t worry, the amount that he’s involved with is incredibly huge. If he’s jailed, he won’t be able to come out.” As the God of War and chief officer in charge of three zones, Thomas could guarantee that Michael would definitely meet a horrible end. After he was jailed, nobody could save him. That was the consequence of touching Thomas’ taboo! Johnson walked over and smiled faintly. “Thomas, you’re impressive. If hadn’t given me the idea, things would’ve ended very badly for me.” Thomas smiled. “Dad, what’s most important is that you’re happy.” Johnson suddenly did not dislike this son-in-law of his. Today, Thomas had really allowed him to ruthlessly vent his anger. Michael had suppressed Johnson in the company for so many years, and he had finally turned the situation around. Once Michael was imprisoned, he would not come out again. Johnson felt extremely happy. “Let’s make a move. I’ll treat you today. Let’s go out and have a good meal.” Thomas shook his head. “Dad, I still have something to do. Please enjoy the meal with Emma.”“What do you want to do?”“I… I want to visit my brother.” Johnson and Emma looked at each other and wore a sad expression at the same time. “Yeah, you haven’t gone to visit him since you came back two days ago. You should go and see your brother.”“Thomas, you have to work hard. Although your current condition isn’t very good, as long as you’re willing to work hard, you’ll have a chance to restore the Mayo family’s glory.” Thomas nodded. “I understand.”“Okay, we’ll go back first.”“Okay.” Johnson left the hall with Emma, and Thomas also walked out after he tidied up his clothes. He hailed a cab and went directly to a street by the West River. The car stopped, and he opened the door. Thomas then walked to the grave by the lake. With every step he took, his heart would tremble aggressively. His deep sense of guilt made it nearly impossible to breathe. “Scott, I’m sorry. I came back too late. “Scott, I miss you. “Scott…” He walked to the grave and stared at the extremely exquisite tombstone. He leaned on the tombstone as if Scott was still by his side. He was the God of War who always got injured, but this was the first time that his eyes had become teary. Thomas caressed the rough tombstone with both hands, and his sense of guilt exploded more than before at that moment. When he first left, they had been living a very good life. Now that he was back, they were separated by death.