Chapter 68

"N-n-no! This wasn't supposed to happen!"

The manager wiped away the cold sweat. Jada had explained that Severin was a strong fighter, and if their restaurant's thugs proved insufficient, they could call One-Eye. One-Eye was their strongest contact, and they had a good relationship. His subordinates were skilled fighters, and he himself could easily handle several dozen ordinary thugs.

Despite Jada's warning, the manager underestimated Severin. He'd dismissed Jada's concerns, but he was shocked to see all their thugs incapacitated, groaning on the ground, seemingly seriously injured.

"Can we go now?" Severin sneered. Since the restaurant had targeted him, he refused to pay.

"Hehe, what do you think?" The manager chuckled, called someone on his cell phone.

Within a minute, seventy or eighty people, each wielding a machete, appeared outside. They were far more imposing than the previous dozen, radiating a distinct murderous aura. The one-eyed man leading them, with his robust figure and bulging muscles, was the most intimidating.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You guys came quickly, huh!" Severin said coldly.

"Yo, Steve! Where are the folks who wanted to leave without paying?" One-Eye asked, entering brashly.

"Right here!", Steve, the manager, replied immediately.

Diane saw the sheer number of men and an insignia on One-Eye's waist. Her expression paled. She whispered to Severin, "This is bad. One-Eye is said to be able to fight dozens of people at once. More importantly, he's a skilled warrior from the Cedar Gang, on par with Blade from Draco Hall—the man you met at the wedding."

Severin simply smiled and nodded. He turned to One-Eye. "Do you expect us to pay ten times the original price? We're not pushovers!"

"Haha, that's beyond my control!" One-Eye laughed. "I'm close to the owner, so I can't let you leave without his say-so!"

Steve, noticing Judith, Diane, and the others' worry, knew it was time for the next phase. He stood, half-smiling. "Miss Diane, you're an acquaintance of our boss. He wishes to speak with you. Today's meal is on the house if you'll chat with him upstairs for ten minutes. What do you say?"

"On the house?" Diane frowned. Even without the scam, the meal cost sixteen thousand—a substantial sum. Why would the owner offer it free in exchange for a chat?

"No! You can't go, honey!" Severin said immediately. "It's a trap! I'll fight my way out!" Judith agreed, "Severin's right. If he's your friend, why doesn't he come down?"

Steve added, "Discuss amongst yourselves, Miss Diane. Our boss just wants to talk. He's prepared wine and food. Just chat, maybe drink. If not… none of you leave in one piece!"

"Is that so? Show me what you've got then!" Severin stepped forward, clenching his fist, glaring at the men.