The room instantly became quieter. Even Richard could sense the tension. Ethan's expression did not change but his eyes darkened slightly.
"Is that supposed to impress me?"
"No."
"What if I said Mr. Brown wants Eagle Wings gone completely?"
The atmosphere instantly changed. Even the bodyguards stopped smiling. Richard swallowed hard. Ethan's expression became unreadable. The executive continued. A dangerous silence followed. Ethan slowly stood up. The movement immediately caused several men to tense. Hands drifted toward concealed weapons. However, Ethan merely adjusted his coat. Then he looked directly into the executive's eyes.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No."
"I'm warning you."
"How thoughtful."
"You should appreciate it."
Ethan laughed softly. A laugh completely devoid of humor.
"Tell Mr. Brown something for me."
The executive tilted his head.
"What?"
Ethan stepped forward. Until he stood directly in front of the table. His emerald eyes were terrifyingly calm.
"If Devil Iris wants war..."
His voice became dangerously quiet.
"...then stop sending invitations."
The smile vanished from the executive's face. Ethan leaned down slightly.
"Start the war."
Nobody in the room moved or even breathed. The temperature itself seemed to drop. After several long seconds, the executive finally laughed. A genuine laugh this time.
"You're insane."
"I hear that a lot."
The executive sat back down.
"See? This is why Mr. Brown likes you."
Ethan ignored him.
"I'll pay off my old man's debts myself. Let him off the hook this one time and forgive him. I'll make sure he never sets foot anywhere near your people again. As a deposit, I'll leave my sports car here. You know how much that thing is worth, don't you? The value of a supercar isn't exactly small. I'll come back with the cash and redeem it myself."
"Oh... how fitting of Young Master Thorne."
The Left Hand laughed as he slowly clapped his hands together.
"I suppose that's your way of negotiating. The debt still has to be repaid. We won't force the issue. We might even reduce it a little. That's what I mean. Though I'm not sure if you understand."
The Left Hand gently placed his glass of liquor on the table. Then he stared directly at Ethan, one corner of his lips curling upward.
"But there's something I want that's worth more than cash."
"And what would that be?"
"A small job."
"A job?"
"That's right. Nothing difficult for someone like you."
"Just a transportation job."
Ethan let out a cold chuckle.
"You're asking me to work as a courier?"
"Hahaha... not quite."
The Left Hand waved a dismissive hand.
"It would be embarrassing for us to make the great Kakamora of Eagle Wings carry packages around like some delivery boy."
He reached beneath the table and pulled out a black file.
"Three days from now, a cargo container will arrive at Harbor Seventeen. Our people are having some difficulties retrieving it. All you need to do is pick it up and deliver it to a warehouse outside the city."
"And my old man's debt?"
"Half of it will be erased."
One of Ethan's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Half?"
"Half of the three million dollars."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"You're willing to reduce one and a half million dollars just for moving a single container?"
"You can think of it that way."
Ethan took the file and opened it. According to the documents inside, the shipment contained nothing more than industrial machine components. The import permits, shipping manifests, customs records, and transportation documents were all perfectly legitimate. There was nothing suspicious about it.
"That's all?"
"That's all."
"I'll do it."
A hidden trace of satisfaction flashed across the Left Hand's eyes.
"I knew you wouldn't refuse."
Ethan closed the file and turned toward Richard.
"Get up. We're going home."
Richard immediately stood. At that moment, the Left Hand called out from behind them.
"Kakamora..."
Ethan stopped and glanced back.
"What?"
"Do you know something?"
The Left Hand smiled faintly.
"Sometimes it's far more enjoyable to watch someone slowly lose the things they treasure than it is to simply kill them."
For a brief moment, Ethan fell silent. Then a crooked smile appeared on his lips.
"I don't like leaving my enemies alive."
"Hahaha..."
The Left Hand laughed loudly.
"And that's exactly why the two of us are different."
Ethan said nothing further. He simply motioned for Richard to follow him and walked out of the room. The door closed behind them. The smile on the Left Hand's face gradually disappeared. One of the men sitting nearby finally spoke.
"Boss... are we really just letting him go like that?"
The Left-Hand Man slowly turned the laptop around. A map of Harbor Seventeen was displayed on the screen. One specific container number had been marked with a red circle.
"He still doesn't know."
"Know what, Boss?"
"There's no machinery inside that container."
The room immediately fell silent.
"What do you mean?"
The Left-Hand Man's smile slowly returned.
"Inside that container are the records of Eagle Wings' secret trading routes."
Shock spread across the faces of everyone in the room. The Left Hand narrowed his eyes.
"Ethan will transport that container himself."
"And halfway through the route, the police will receive an anonymous tip."
The man's eyes widened.
"Then Eagle Wings will be investigated..."
"Exactly."
"But if Ethan realizes he's being set up..."
The Left Hand lit a cigarette. The flame briefly illuminated his cold eyes.
"That would make things even more interesting."
Smoke slowly drifted upward. The Left Hand leaned back into his chair.
"He won't find out until he's already halfway there. By then, he'll have only two choices. If he continues forward, his own organization takes the hit. And if he turns back..."
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"His father's debt problem lands right back in our hands."
Silence filled the room. The cigarette burned slowly between his fingers. A cold shadow flickered across his eyes.
"When he tortured my little brother until he was half-dead... I'm sure he enjoyed himself quite a bit."
He exhaled a long stream of smoke.
"Now... I'd like to play with him a little too."
The corner of his mouth slowly lifted.
......….
The road leading back toward the grand estate was quiet under the dim evening light. A cold breeze slipped through the vineyards, rustling the leaves with a soft, restless sound. Only Sam and Julian walked along that path. The others had already returned inside the estate, leaving the two of them momentarily separated from the rest of the world. Sam kept his hands in his pockets, occasionally glancing at Julian from the corner of his eye. He was the first to break the silence.
"Julian…"
Julian didn't look up. He simply responded in a low voice.
"Hmm?"
Sam hesitated for a moment before asking,
"What really happened between you and Ethan?"
Julian's steps slowed for a brief second but he kept walking.
"Nothing happened."
His voice was steady. Sam frowned slightly, unconvinced.
"Nothing happened' isn't how someone with that face says it, Julian. I know something happened between you and Ethan."
The wind seemed to grow quieter for a moment. Julian turned his gaze toward the vineyards, then replied calmly,
"Uncle Sam… it's not important."
Sam's expression hardened slightly.
"It may not be important to you, but it is in this house. You know what kind of person Ethan is. If he keeps something in his mind, he doesn't let it go easily."
Julian let out a small, dry laugh.
"He doesn't hold onto anything."
Sam suddenly stopped walking. Julian stopped as well. A heavier silence settled between them. Sam looked directly at Julian.
"If you don't want to talk, then don't. But I know one thing. From today onward, things between you and Ethan are no longer the same."
Julian's eyes flickered slightly but he said nothing. Sam sighed and started walking again.
"I don't want trouble in this house, Julian. Especially not with Ethan. He's not someone easy to control."
After a brief silence, Julian finally spoke in a low voice.
"I know that as well."
There was a heavier tone hidden beneath his words. At the end of the path, the lights of the estate slowly came into view. But neither of them felt like they were simply going home. Sam gave Julian one last glance.
"Just be careful. If you underestimate Ethan, you'll get hurt too."
Julian only nodded slightly.
"Yes, Uncle."
And with that, the two of them walked silently back into the estate.
In the dining hall, the adults were already seated around the table, waiting for dinner to be served. Yet Ethan's absence at the edge of the table was something no one openly mentioned but everyone felt. Mr. Thorne glanced at the clock again. His brows were tightly furrowed, unable to hide his dissatisfaction.
"Where is the younger son, Ethan? He still hasn't returned?"
His tone carried more irritation than concern. Isabella, sitting nearby, flinched slightly but quickly composed herself.
"He… he was called away urgently by a friend. He said he would be back soon."
Her voice remained steady, but uncertainty lingered underneath it. Even she did not fully know why Ethan had left so abruptly. Julian sat quietly at the table. His expression gave nothing away. After dinner, the adults gradually dispersed. Some continued talking inside, while others moved toward the veranda outside. Isabella's face remained subtly tense. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan.
Finally, she quietly stepped outside.
The vineyard breeze was cold against her skin. She took out her phone and dialed Ethan's number.
Beep… beep…
After a moment, he answered.
"What is it?"
His voice was cold, impatient—like he had no time for anything.
Isabella raised her voice slightly.
"Why did you leave, Ethan… your father is asking about you at home. Everyone is waiting at the table. Where are you right now?"
A brief silence followed on the line. Then Ethan's voice came back, faintly mocking.
"Since my biological father is the one calling me, I have no choice but to go…"
Isabella's eyes immediately narrowed.
"What… what did you just say?"
Ethan showed no reaction and continued calmly.
"I have some urgent business to attend to. I won't be coming back for now."
Isabella's voice instantly turned sharp.
"Why are you going to meet that man, Ethan?! Come back immediately! That gambler… that alcoholic of a father there's no reason for you to meet him!"
Her voice finally slipped out of control. But Ethan remained silent for a brief moment before replying in a calm, indifferent tone.
"I'll handle my own matters myself."
And with that, he ended the call. Isabella stood there for a long moment, staring at the phone in her hand, her eyes wide with disbelief. The wind passed gently around her, but she no longer felt it. On her face, worry, anger, and confusion were all mixed together.
"Ethan…"
She whispered softly. But there was no answer anymore.