Chapter 37: Chapter 37

“Why can’t I mention it? If I tell your Dad, won’t he be able to take revenge on your behalf?” Casper asked patronizingly. He gestured towards Elena and himself, adding, “Look, there’s only the two of us.

If your Dad wants to harm us, we won’t be able to run away. You’d be able to get back at us then.”

Casper’s confidence made Elena smile wryly.

“Casper, you’re the boss, OK? If Dad finds out, he won’t take revenge for me. He’ll ask you to hit me another few times! I don’t want to oppose you anymore. Have mercy on me, Casper! I promise I’ll never collect protection money there again,” Stallion whined, wringing his hands.

Stallion knew full well his father’s character. In his mind, he greatly preferred being at Casper’s mercy than having Steed find out that Stallion had been thus disgraced.

Besides, the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce had always been a sore spot for Steed. If Casper exposed Stallion’s tattoo, it would only serve to agitate Steed even more.

The Sands Project had been lagging behind Marine Luxworld of late. In addition to the financial stress the failure of the Sands Project exerted on Steed, he was further burdened by the constant harassment from the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce.

Stallion suddenly brightened visibly. He hurriedly rolled up his sleeves and rubbed vigorously at the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce logo on his arm. To Casper and Elena’s amazement, the tattoo on Stallion’s arm gradually blurred into an indistinguishable patch of ink.

So it’s not a real tattoo after all! Casper marveled.

“Boss, it’s a new method of tattooing. The ink is applied only to the surface of my skin, so I can easily remove it,” Stallion explained, seeing the looks of wonder on Casper and Elena’s faces.

“You clever punk! Aren’t you attributing all your wrongdoing to the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce, then?” Casper burst out into a high, dry laugh. He had not expected such cunning from an impulsive, reckless youth like Stallion.

“Heh, Boss, I’m not adding to their troubles in any case. This is just what the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce has been doing lately. They’ve interfered with large hotels, businesses, and projects.

Furthermore, they collect protection money from everyone in sight. Anyone who refuses is immediately crushed,” Stallion informed them.

“Say that again. I’m not your boss, by the way,” Casper rejoined. While waiting for Stallion’s reply, Casper began walking towards the entrance of the Sands Project.

Stallion gazed after Casper in admiration, then gritted his teeth. “You’re already the boss in my heart!

I’ve already made up my mind to go with you,” he vowed.

Even with his limited intelligence, Stallion had already perceived that Casper was an extraordinary man. Armed with fearsome skills and incredible strength, along with his brilliant mind, Casper was poised to be a man of great authority.

Having seen all of Steed’s contacts growing up, Stallion could instinctively tell that Casper was far superior to anyone he had ever seen.

Instead of bitterly resenting Casper for having beaten him up, Stallion had instead developed a profound respect and awe for Casper. Stallion was thus determined to follow Casper till his dying day.

If Casper knew that Stallion had such a resolve, however, Casper would immediately have done his best to get rid of him.

At the moment, Casper and Elena were preoccupied with following Stallion to Steed’s office.

“Are you trying to overpower me and force my hand? Do you think you’ll be able to take the Sands Project away from me? How dare you even offer me five hundred thousand? It’s a mere pittance of what Sands Project is worth!”

As the trio turned into the corridor leading towards Steed’s office, they could already hear Steed bellowing with rage to what was apparently a group of thugs from the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce.

“Steed, the Sands Project is no longer worth anything. You should be flattered that so many of us came to pay you a visit. Five hundred thousand is a generous enough offer for the Sands Project!” An unfamiliar, dominant voice rang out.

“Tristan, I was the one who trained you to be what you are today. I never thought you’d be ungrateful enough to bite the hand that fed you,” Steed said, his face livid with murderous rage.

Tristan had been a homeless youth roaming aimlessly on the streets when Steed found him. Steed had spent years nurturing, training, and teaching him, pouring as much heart into Tristan as if he were Steed’s own. On several occasions when Steed had been otherwise occupied, Tristan had reliably managed Sands Project, even leading it to tremendous growth.

Things had gone awry when Steed had stumbled upon drug-related activities occurring in the Sands Project. Upon further investigation, Steed had uncovered a massive network of drug trafficking operations that Tristan had not only facilitated but also dabbled in.

The original purpose of the Sands Project had been to position it as Horington’s safest development.

Tristan’s crimes, however, had upended Steed’s life work. Steed had immediately upbraided Tristan, insisting that he cease all drug trafficking activities.

Tristan, however, had refused. He was unable to give up the immense profits that the operations were raking in, of which he was receiving a sizeable portion.

Unwilling to compromise the integrity of the Sands Project, Steed had banished Tristan from the project altogether.

Resentful, Tristan had proceeded to join the Firewolf Chamber of Commerce and returned to destroy the Sands Project with a vengeance.

“You jack*ss! How dare you come back? I’ll…” At the sight of Tristan’s show of blatant disrespect towards his father, Stallion was on the verge of charging into the office without a second thought, his eyes blazing. Fortunately, Casper had grabbed hold of Stallion’s collar and yanked him firmly back.

“Wait!” Casper said in a low voice.

Stallion could barely contain his outrage. He blamed Tristan entirely for the downfall of the Sands Project and was infuriated that Tristan had the gall to propose the idea of taking over the Sands Project from Steed.

“Go on and scold me all you like! You won’t have many chances to do so in the future. You b*stard! If it wasn’t for me, do you think the Sands Project would even have witnessed any success at all? It was all to my credit! Five hundred thousand’s a generous enough offer. If you don’t want it, we’ll be happy to keep it,” Tristan said, sneering. His gaze, as he looked toward his benefactor, was one of utter contempt. He thought Steed entirely unworthy of managing and even owning a significant development like the Sands Project.

In Tristan’s mind, the Sands Project belonged to him. Five hundred thousand was already verging on absurdity, considering Steed’s ineptitude.

“How dare you? We live in a society with laws in place! As long as I refuse to sign the Transfer Agreement, don’t even think about laying your filthy hands on the Sands Project!” Steed hissed. His face had turned white as a sheet, and his entire body was quivering with rage.

“Is that so?” Tristan scoffed.