Chapter 670

"Nothing's confirmed yet," Nathaniel said. "Don't be discouraged."

He shook his head, flicking his cigarette. "Don't forget, Henry didn't return alone."

"Are you referring to the so-called ancient kickboxers he brought back?" Arianna asked, raising an eyebrow disapprovingly. "I hate to rain on your parade, but this 'ancient kickboxer family' is exaggerated. No one has seen them in action for years; their power is purely legendary. I'm not trying to pry, but you've known Lily for years. Is she that powerful?"

Nathaniel remained silent.

"Look," Arianna continued, "even if they were powerful in the past, consider the current era. How can their skills compete with firearms? Even without our weapons, if they're as powerful as the legends say, why didn't Henry act sooner? Why wait for police involvement? It all seems like a bluff to me!"

She hadn't wanted to say any of this. If everything had gone smoothly, she would have been happy to remain silent. The kickboxers' strength was irrelevant to her; she was a businesswoman, focused on winning over the Tanner family, conquering Brown City, and ultimately controlling the national market. Seeing their progress and Nathaniel still dwelling on Henry's companions, she felt compelled to offer a reality check. It was better to be grounded than to live in the clouds.

Nathaniel disagreed, his silence conveying his dissent. He had witnessed Lily's power firsthand—during a surprise attack, he'd seen her single-handedly defeat numerous thugs. The experience instilled a deep fear in him. He didn't know the kickboxers' true strength, but they were clearly superior to ordinary humans, as were their bodyguards. He wouldn't tell Arianna any of this, though; arguing would be pointless.

"The Lodge family situation is unclear," Nathaniel said, extinguishing his cigarette and sitting up straight. "With police involvement, we shouldn't interfere. Let's focus on our immediate business."

"One step at a time," Arianna agreed, then leaned forward. "Wait a minute!"

"There's nothing we can do about the Lodge family right now," he said, eyeing her suspiciously.

She smiled, producing a flash drive. "This is a recording from that day. Review it carefully; we might find something useful. You're better at manipulating public opinion than I am."

"How did you get this?!" Nathaniel exclaimed, immediately realizing he'd overstepped. This woman was undeniably cunning.