Chapter 73

The next morning, they met at Java Joys. Dustin entered the café and noticed a burly man standing beside Natasha. His bulky muscles rippled beneath his clothes, and his knuckles were calloused. The man was obviously an experienced fighter.

“Mr. Rhys, sorry to bother you. I owe you one,” Natasha said, approaching Dustin.

“It’s all right. I don’t mind helping a friend in need. Besides, they even specified my name in the note. I have no other choice,” Dustin replied with a wry smile. Edwin’s men had left a ransom note bearing his name; he was to go with Natasha to save Ruth.

“Mr. Rhys, let me introduce you to Stephan Chapman, one of the best fighters from the Harmon family,” Natasha said, gesturing toward the silent man.

“Mr. Chapman, a pleasure to meet you,” Dustin acknowledged with a nod.

“You’re Dustin?” Stephan sized him up. “Was it you who took down Liam and Noah Asher?”

“In a way, yes,” Dustin nodded.

“What do you mean, ‘in a way’? Don’t give such a vague answer. Did you use shady tricks to win?” Stephan stared at him suspiciously.

“Well, as long as it gets the job done,” Dustin said nonchalantly.

“As martial artists, we should win fair and square. What’s the use of winning by resorting to despicable tricks?” Stephan scoffed, clearly considering Dustin, who didn't belong to any martial arts group, inferior.

“That makes sense,” Dustin replied, uninterested in arguing.

“To be honest, I defeated Liam and Noah in a match before this!” Stephan boasted. “Don’t be too proud of yourself, even if you did win against them! They are weaklings compared to me. Once we have a match, you’ll see that many martial artists are stronger than you!”

Dustin was speechless. They were practically strangers. Why was Stephan lecturing him like a child? Who was really looking down on whom?

“Alright, now that you’ve met, we’ll be working together. Once we arrive at Hummer Villa, we may need each other’s help,” Natasha interjected.

“I’m sure we won’t need to. With me around, taking down Edwin will be easy,” Stephan said confidently.

“Mr. Chapman, it’s good to be optimistic, but it’s better not to underestimate the enemy. When will Tilda arrive?” Natasha changed the subject.

Tilda Snider, one of Natasha's aunts, was renowned for her deadly strikes and currently headed security for the Harmon family. Compared to Stephan, she was in a different league; in this fight against Edwin, she was key to victory.

“Tilda is on her way. She’ll be arriving shortly,” Stephan answered.

“Great. Since she’s on her way, let’s go,” Natasha said.

Natasha’s car led the way as the group drove in a line toward Hummer Villa. Hummer Villa sat atop a hill on the Hummers’ private land. As the cars ascended, Edwin’s men kept surveillance from the shadows of the surrounding trees.

Upon arriving at the villa, everyone exited and entered the back garden. Edwin, scissors in hand, was arranging a vase of flowers in a gazebo. Behind him, Fletcher Lawson and a group of muscular men stood guard, glaring at them.

“Ms. Harmon, you’ve finally arrived? Have a seat,” Edwin said with a smile, gesturing to a chair. He acted as if they were there for a friendly chat.

“Sir Hummer, I’ve heard that you’re holding my sister hostage. Is that true?” Natasha asked impassively.

“To be honest, I only learned about your sister this morning. My men acted on their own initiative, so I’ve reprimanded them,” Edwin replied with a charming smile.

“Is that so? Well, why don’t you let my sister go?” Natasha pressed.

“Let her go? That would be impossible,” Edwin shook his head. “Ms. Harmon, your sister caused a mess at my party—destroyed antiques and beat up some of my underlings. If I let her go without repercussions, my reputation in Swinton would be ruined!”

“Then what do you want in return?” Natasha’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s very simple. Repay me double for my losses,” Edwin’s smile remained fixed. “I’ve calculated the damage your sister caused, totaling ten billion dollars. As compensation, I want half your Swinton business.”

“Half the business? Are you joking?” Natasha’s voice rose.

“Ms. Harmon, you’re only giving up a small portion of your assets. Moreover, your business activities are mainly in Milling. You won’t be significantly affected,” Edwin said smoothly.

“What if I refuse?” Natasha retorted.

“It’s only right to pay what you owe. If you refuse, I can’t guarantee your sister’s safety,” Edwin gave a chilling smile.

“Are you threatening me?” Natasha met his gaze steadily.

“I’m giving you a warning. Of course, we can resolve this with a death match. However, all our assets must be at stake,” Edwin smirked.

“A death match?” Natasha considered his offer.

It was an unspoken rule in the business world. A death match settled unresolved conflicts between warring families to prevent further death and bloodshed. There would be three rounds of battle royale, with each family sending representatives to fight on their behalf. There were no rules; everything was fair game.

“Challenge accepted!” Stephan interrupted before Natasha could respond. “Isn’t it just a fight? We’ll take you on! Show me some real competition!”

Edwin chuckled maliciously. This was exactly what he'd hoped for.