Julian jolted in fear as the icy cold muzzle pressed against his forehead. He had never foreseen death knocking on his door so soon.
As a merchant with a net worth of hundreds of millions and a prominent status, Julian had countless people trying to curry favor with him. Even some influential leaders had to show him respect. He never expected a lowly villager to press a pistol against his head.
It was like a dream, but there was no mistaking how real the muzzle felt against his head. He didn't even have time to think things through before he began haggling for a chance at life.
"D-don't shoot. You can't kill me. We haven't got any bad blood between us. You can't just kill me!"
A cold glint flashed in Matthew's eyes. "So you can kill me, but I can't do likewise? Does that even make sense to you?"
Seeing that the killing intent was still strong with Matthew, Julian said, "You're here to solve a problem. Killing me won't solve the problem. Didn't Kingston mention that there is a pollution problem? We should solve the issue of pollution first. State your condition! I'll agree to anything!"
Matthew responded frostily, "Killing you off will solve the problem. I don't believe anyone will dare set up a factory here again."
Julian felt his heart being plunged into icy depths. He was so scared that he screamed, "Don't kill me! There's no point killing me! I only hold 5% of the factory's shares! The real owner of the factory isn't me! There's someone else behind it!"
Only 5%? Matthew shot him a ridiculing look. "Who are you fooling? You're able to become such a wealthy man from only 5% of the shares? Wouldn't the real owner be filthy rich then?"
Julian was quick to explain.
"I'm telling you the truth! I only take 5% of the profit! I'm only wealthy because of how high the profit is! One of our cancer treatment drugs, for example, is sold at 5980 per dose. But its cost is only 80 dollars!"
Matthew was shocked by what he heard. He was aware that the challenges of producing the treatments were in the research and development stage.
Once they managed to develop it, the cost of the treatment was pretty low. But he never expected the cost to be so low. They were making such a huge profit out of it.
But with such high profit, they were still unwilling to invest in proper wastewater treatment, causing so many people in Woolfields to suffer from respiratory tract infections, skeletal fluorosis, cancer, and dementia.
Matthew couldn't suppress the urge within him to kill Julian. "You fucking deserve to die!"
A gunshot was heard, and a spark flashed at the muzzle. A wound that oozed blood appeared on Julian's arm. He let out a blood-curdling shriek like one that a beast on the verge of death would make.
Matthew moved the gun upward and pressed it against Julian's head once again. "I shifted the muzzle downward slightly. I might be too lazy to do that for the next shot. You better speak up. Who's the real owner of the factory?"
Julian gritted his teeth as he sweated profusely from the pain, soaking his shirt. "Even if I told you, you-you wouldn't dare to mess with them. They are truly a powerful and prestigious family, possessing immense wealth. One decision of theirs can affect the whole of Lambda City."
"So tell me, who are they? I'd like to see which influential family is that powerful," Matthew said.
Before he had been imprisoned, he had been a merchant too. But in comparison to these people, he felt like what he'd been involved in was just child's play. Simple, innocent, and childish, even.
But what he was facing now was an entirely different side of society. It felt like something that would take place somewhere that the sun couldn't reach, somewhere that was constantly dark and dangerous.
In fact, if he hadn't actively reached out to find out about it, he'd never know that there was such a side to the world.
Julian was in so much pain that his expression was contorted and his face went purple. He clenched his jaws and forced out his words.
"Have you ever heard of the Fuller family from Mistvale City?"
The Fuller family?
Matthew gave things some thought. If he wasn't mistaken, Kenneth, whom he'd just recently killed, was from the Fuller family of Mistvale City.
Julian continued through gritted teeth, "Do you realize who you're messing with now? I suggest you better not challenge the Fullers. You won't be able to deal with the repercussions! No one in the entire Lambda City dares to provoke the Fuller family, much less someone like you!"
Bang!