Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Loud noises of tables and chairs being overturned echoed from the phone.

Draco’s excited voice followed, “Boss, is it really you?! Where have you been!? You’ve been missing for all this time and it almost drove us mad!

“Since your identity is confidential, we are not permitted to locate you without official orders.”

Kaze sighed and said, “I got into some trouble. I’m fine now. I have recovered.”

“Someone tried to harm you? Who is it? Just one word, boss! Me and the guys will raze them to the ground,” Draco said angrily.

“It’s okay,” Kaze replied coldly. He did not want others to be involved in his affair with the Lee family. He must end it with his own hands and his own hands alone.

“I have something that I need you to do. Arrange for Sky High Investment Group to enter Lilyrose by tonight and announce an investment in the city worth ten billion.”

He served in the army for three years. Not only did he lead his men to battle, but he also founded a business empire in another country—the Sky High Investment Group.

He wanted to use his company to help Darcy.

“Yes, sir!” Draco answered vigorously. “Boss, I’ll come to Lilyrose right away. While you were away, domestic and foreign enemies grew restless. I have something I must inform you in person.”

“Alright.”

...

That night, Sky High Investment Group declared its entry to Lilyrose City.

The news exploded and spread across every nook and cranny of the city as everyone knew this would be a great opportunity to reshuffle the city’s power dynamics.

Sky High Investment Group was one of the top companies in the world. They controlled a great amount of funds and specialized in investment.

Any lucky family or company in Lilyrose City that managed to get an investment from Sky High Investment Group would rise to prominence within the city in no time.

On the next day, Kaze was discharged and he made his way to visit the Quint family.

Meanwhile, at the Quint family’s mansion, Master Quint’s seventieth birthday event was being held.

The place was lively and crowded.

“Granddaughter, Deborah Quint, an antique teapot worth six hundred thousand.”

“Grandson, Samus Quint, a golden antique statue worth four hundred thousand.”

The young ones were presenting their presents to Master Quint at the main hall while the butler announced the value of the presents.

Sitting in the master’s seat, Master Quint looked delighted by his grandchildren’s generosity.

Everyone was in a celebratory mood until Darcy arrived.

“Granddaughter, Darcy Quint, a cake worth... fifty!”

Everyone looked at Darcy with the cake in her hand, surprised.

“Embarrassment! Are you seriously giving me a cake?!” Master Quint bellowed and his expression turned grim.

“Grandfather, I...”

Darcy wanted to explain but her cousin, Deborah Quint, scoffed and stopped her. “Darcy, this is Grandfather’s seventieth birthday. All of us prepared tens of thousands worth of presents for him and you are giving him a cake? Aren’t you a little too cheap?”

Deborah was never close with Darcy because she was jealous of Darcy’s looks.

Darcy was consumed by bitterness. She explained timidly, “Deborah, it’s not that I don’t want to, but my family is deep in debt and our company is on the brink of bankruptcy. This is all...”

“What’s wrong? Blaming poverty now? You have no money so it becomes an excuse for you to present a cheap cake to Grandfather?”

Slap!

Deborah scoffed and slammed the cake to the ground.

“Not even a dog will eat this cake. I don’t know what gives you the nerves to bring this here to embarrass yourself and Grandfather.”

Darcy teared up while staring at the fallen cake.

She spent an entire night baking the cake, which symbolized her heartfelt feelings, but they were not appreciated by her extended family.

Then, Deborah’s brother, Samus Quint, approached with a contemptuous gaze.

“Darcy, are you trying to simply brush us off with a cheap cake and feast on the food later?”

“Grandfather did prepare a feast and I believe you and your family aren’t in the condition to even have a proper meal.”

His words amused everyone else.

“Samus is right. I think Darcy and her family are here for the food only.”

“They are in no position to taste the food Grandfather prepared.”

“Tell the kitchen to make them instant ramen instead!”

“You overestimated them. Just give them leftovers from yesterday. It’s already a blessing for them.”

Even Master Quint was amused by the terrible joke. The grimace on his face softened and he said, “Just give them some noodles. Leftovers are for dogs.”

“Grandfather is too kind.”

“Darcy, hurry up and thank Grandfather for his kindness,” Deborah said with disdain.

Darcy bit her lips, her eyes teared up, and unable to speak a word due to the grievance felt.

“Enough. The feast is starting. Deborah, arrange for everyone to be seated.”

Master Quint did not care about Darcy’s reaction. He simply told Deborah to announce the seating for the rest of the family.

With Master Quint’s order, Deborah stepped up and made the announcement.

“For family members who contributed more than ten million, the main table.”

“For family members who contributed more than five million, the first row.”

“For family members who contributed more than one million, the second row.”

...

Soon, all the Quints were seated, except for Darcy and her family.

The three of them were left standing in awkwardness.

Embarrassed, Darcy asked, “Deborah, where are we sitting?”

Deborah scoffed. “You guys? You see that folded table in the corner? That’s yours. Sit down and the kitchen will make you some instant ramen.”

It was pure insult.

Darcy held her tears back and said, “We are family, why are you doing this to us?”

Deborah scoffed. “What’s wrong, not happy with the decision? The seats are prepared for those who made a contribution. The bigger the contribution, the better the seat; the lesser the contribution, the worse it would be.”

Then, a rich voice came from outside the door, saying, “Then where is the seat for those who contributed ten billion?”

Ten billion?

Who spoke with such audacity?

Everyone looked at the entrance and saw Kaze.

They laughed as if they saw a clown.

“And here I thought it was someone else. It’s Kaze the retard!”

“He doesn’t even know how much ten billion is. I guess the zeroes are enough to confuse him.”

Master Quint tapped his seat made with pure solid wood. “If you can contribute ten billion, how about I give you my seat?”

“Too bad the retard can’t even contribute a penny!”

Everyone laughed again.

Deborah shouted in disgust, “Darcy, how dare you let the retard through our door? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is?”

Darcy and her parents wished there were holes big enough to bury themselves from the embarrassment.

“You stupid retard, what are you doing here? Get the hell out!”

Darcy’s mother, Agnes Quint, née Otter, swung her hand to slap Kaze but he dodged it easily.

Everyone was surprised. They looked at Kaze strangely.

The retard could never react in time and always received a beating.

What happened to him today? Was he no longer a retard?