Chapter 101: Outside the Prosperous Dynasty

A middle-aged man in a suit and tie sweated profusely. This was York Smith, the main representative of the Smith Group. He had rushed over immediately after receiving his son's call, terrified by the scene outside the Prosperous Dynasty.

"What the hell did this useless son of mine do?" A soldier approached and pointed at York.

"You, go in."

"Okay."

York entered the Prosperous Dynasty, his heart pounding. The building was filled with armed soldiers; wounded people were being carried out. His terror intensified in the basement, where he saw his son, Yoel, bruised and battered, beside a one-star General, Daniel.

"General," York gasped, collapsing to his knees.

"Dad, waah! Take me away quick!" Yoel sobbed.

York stood, lashing out at Yoel. "You useless piece of trash! What have you done?"

Daniel intervened. "That's enough. Stop embarrassing yourselves. Take him and go. Also, bring the unconscious boy to the Callahans' house safely. We'll deal with you later."

York's heart leaped. He kicked Yoel several more times. "You useless trash! I'll kill you!"

Ignoring Daniel's earlier instruction, York, terrified, picked up the unconscious David and dragged Yoel from the building.

Outside, in the car, York's face was slick with sweat. He loosened his tie and collar; his shirt was soaked. He drove away, stopped, lit a cigarette, and cursed, "What the hell did you do, you dumb*ss?"

Earlier, Lieutenant General Daniel, a one-star general under the Blithe King, had led his troops into the Prosperous Dynasty. The floor was littered with screaming, injured security guards and gangsters. Daniel's face was grim.

"This…" he muttered.

"How did Xander of the Prosperous Dynasty get on James' nerves?" Daniel descended to the basement.

There, he found over twenty unconscious people, Xander's subordinates, including David and the barely conscious Yoel. Xander's lifeless body lay nearby.

"Deal with the corpse and detain everyone," Daniel ordered.

Yoel hastily explained, "General, general! Don't detain me! I didn't do anything. I'm Yoel from the Smiths…"

Daniel stopped, glared contemptuously, and kicked Yoel. "Who cares about the Smiths? Why offend James? Why cause our commander so much trouble? You won't be spared if you anger him!"

Yoel scrambled up, pleading, "No, you can't detain me. James… James instructed me to bring his brother home." He pointed at David. "This is James' wife's younger brother. He asked me to bring him back safely."

Daniel understood. Xander had antagonized Thea's brother. "Then what are you still doing here? Get out!" He kicked Yoel again.

It was all due to these troublemakers provoking others and ending up tangling with James, forcing the Blithe King to clean up the mess. Yoel, anxious and tearful, was too injured to leave with David.

A soldier entered. "General, someone outside claims to be York Smith. His son is inside. Should I let him in?" Daniel gestured towards Yoel. "Let him in and tell him to take this trash away quickly."

"Alright."

(The repeated section from the original text has been removed as it was a duplicate.)

In the car, York furiously questioned Yoel. "Sob. Dad, I can't tell you. I'll be dead if I say anything," Yoel cried.

York frowned. "You can't tell me?"

"Dad, I offended someone extremely influential, someone who commands the Blithe King. What should I do? Am I doomed?"

"What the hell is going on?!" York roared.

Yoel hesitantly explained the situation, omitting James' name, only alluding to a powerful patron of Thea who had killed Xander and then commanded the Blithe King's intervention.

"Who's that person?" York demanded.

"Dad, please don't ask. I'll die if I tell you. Don't tell anyone. Our family will be ruined. That guy… he killed Xander! Then he called the Blithe King. The general arrived quickly." Yoel trembled.

York reprimanded him, "You can't get anything done and only get into trouble! Who exactly did you offend? Tell me his name!"

"It's… it's James. Thea's husband, James! Dad, don't tell anyone. James said if word gets out, I'll have the same fate as Xander!"

York was stunned. James? He couldn't believe it. "Isn't he just the Callahan's son-in-law? How could he have so much power? How could he order the Blithe King around?"

He realized the news couldn't be spread. The Smiths were nothing compared to Xander, a powerful crime lord of Cansington.

"Useless," he scolded Yoel. "Hurry and send David home. Beg for mercy, get Thea's forgiveness. No, I have to go in person…"