Making 204


    Inside the cramped stone chamber.


    Norman, with disheveled white hair and a haggard face, sat on a chair, his eyes devoid of light.


    He never imagined that he, the proud head of the Weston family- one of the top ten prominent


    families in Oakhaven, would be confined within this tiny space, much like a prisoner.


    Had he known this fate awaited him, he wouldn’t have greedily sought the treasure map or colluded


    with Lawrence of the ck Hawk to target the Carter family.


    Yet, there’s no antidote for regret in this world.


    Even with the billions owned by the Weston family, while trapped in this chamber, all his wealth


    couldn’t buy him freedom.


    He had contemted using his immense wealth to barter with the Star Gate for his release.


    But every time he called out, requesting to meet the leader of the Star Gate, the guarding martialists


    rebuffed him sharply.


    They warned him that further noise would result in punishment


    Intimidated, he silenced himself but remained ever hopeful for a chance to escape.


    Crack.


    Suddenly, the sound of the chamber’s iron door unlocking echoed


    As it swung open, a masked figure, d in ck and clutching aptop, stood in the doorway.


    Norman jolted up from his chair, eyeing the masked figure anxiously, “Please, don’t kill me!”


    The reason for his rm was clear; he recognized the figure a first nce. This was the same


    masked individual who had taken down Lawrence and other martialists of the ck Hawk at the


    Carter residence.


    However, Norman was perplexed as to why this figure would appear in the Star Gate’s prison


    chamber.


    His first instinct told him that this masked stranger hade for his life.


    Gilmore stepped into the room and closed the iron door behind him.


    He took a seat on the only chair in the room, which Norman had just vacated.


    Setting down hisptop on the single table in the chamber, he looked at a visibly anxious Norman.


    “Did you figure I came here to kill you?”


    Norman, having merely suspected, felt his heart drop at the confirmation. He fell to his knees with a


    thud, pleading, “Please, show mercy!


    “I’ve lost my martial arts skills and have been imprisoned here, stripped of my freedom.


    pose no threat to you now and wouldn’t dare cross you ever again.”


    Gilmore nodded in agreement. “Indeed, you


    won’t and can’t cross me.


    “But I am the true master of Star Cate. You poisoned and injured our members in Oakhaven,


    breaking their limbs with such cruelty.


    “Every member of the Star–Gate is enraged, demanding your execution.”


    As Gilmore said this, his piercing gaze met Norman’s.


    Norman went pale, his hands trembling uncontrobly


    His biggest regret now was heeding Lawrence’s advice, drugging Ss and his group, and breaking


    their limbs.


    After a while, Norman stammered, “If you’re the true leader of Star Gate, what about Tristan? Isn’t


    he the leader?”


    “He is,” Gilmore responded calmly, “but he takes his orders from me.”


    Norman looked up, desperation evident in his eyes, “Could you please spare my life?”


    Gilmore shook his head, “If I release you, I won’t be able to face the disciples and martialists of Star


    Gate.”


    Pausing for effect, he added, “Today, you’ll be executed. And after your death, your head will be


    disyed for three days With that, Gilmore rose from his chair, preparing to leave.


    Norman, frantic, scrambled forward on his knees, grabbing onto Gilmore’s leg, begging. “Please, I


    implore you, spare my


    life.


    “I… can I use my family’s fortune of ten billion to buy freedom for me and my family!”


    Norman suddenly thought of his vast wealth and desperately pleaded with Gilmore.


    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Gilmore hesitated, “Billion in exchange for your lives and your family’s? That’s…”


    89%


    Π


    Seeing that Gilmore didn’t immediately decline, Norman clung to this glimmer of hope. “Please, if


    you agree, I can transfer the two billion dors to your ount right now using yourptop.”


    Norman sprang to his feet and went straight for theptop on the table. He quickly opened the


    official site of Juliss Bank and logged in.


    His ount bnce showed a staggering 2,000,000,000 exactly two billion.


    “Look, this is my bnce in Juliss Bank, Norman said, pointing at the screen. “I can transfer it to


    you immediately. All 1 ask is for you to spare me and my family.”


    Norman looked at Gilmore and said.


    Gilmore sighed, “Saving a life is meritorious. Since you’re willing to give up all your wealth for your


    lives, I’ll try to persuade the disciples and martialists of Star Gate.”


    He seemed reluctant as he spoke, making it sound as if the task would be challenging.


    Seeing Gilmore agree, Norman was over the moon with relief. Fearing that Gilmore might change


    his mind, he quickly said, “Thank you, martialist, for giving me a chance to live. Please share your


    bank details, and I’ll transfer the money right away


    Gilmore replied, “Alright! Today, I’ll perform a good deed and spare your lives.”


    With that, he provided Norman with his ount details from Juliss Bank.


    Without hesitation, Norman quickly typed in the bank details into theputer. After double–


    checking with Gilmore to ensure everything was correct, he executed the transfer of two billion


    dors.


    Within a few seconds, the screen disyed a sessful transaction message. When Norman


    checked his ount bnce, it had plummeted to zero.


    Seeing his immense fortune evaporate before his eyes, a hollow feeling gripped Norman’s heart.


    “All my hard–earned billions, gone just like that,” he thought.


    At that moment, a notification pinged on Gilmore’s phone.


    88 1


    He pulled out his phone and checked the notification. It was an international text message from


    Juliss Bank, confirming a deposit of 2 billion into his ount.


    Having taken the money, Gilmore knew he had to hold up his end of the bargain.


    He opened the iron door and called out to a guard from Star Cate further down the corridor, “Head


    to the entrance and bring the two presbyters here.”


    “Yes, Leader,” the disciple immediately responded, heading out.


    Norman was momentarily stunned. Did he hear that right?


    The disciple addressed Gilmore as the leader.


    He turned to Gilmore, ‘Are you… are you Mr. McLean?”


    Gilmore shook his head, “I’m not Tristan. I’m the new leader of Star Gate. Tristan’s position as


    leader has been revoked.”


    Norman finally pieced it together, and he knew why Tristan obeyed Gilmore’s orders.


    In just a day and a night, a significant shift in power had taken ce within Star Cate


    No wonder Gilmore was willing to take his money and sort things out for him.


    Usually, new leaders wouldn’t carry out the death sentences dictated by their predecessors, a way


    of establishing their own authority.


    However, what Norman didn’t realize was that he was giving himself too much credit.


    The real reason Gilmore “rescued him was to make a hefty profit at his expense.


    After the Weston family and the ck Hawk had repeatedly attempted to take down both him and


    the Carter family, how could Gilmore not seek some form of retribution?


    Hence, he made Norman bleed financially, taking a significant portion of the Weston family’s


    fortune.


    This was called ckmailing, especially when Norman willingly walked into the trap. It was an offer


    Gilmore simply can’t refuse.


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