Chapter 525


    The sight of the eight prestigious families squabbling over Jennifer like children outside the gates of


    Est Montaigne would undoubtedly be a ludicrous one to any bystanders.


    The crowd fought unceasingly, none willing to relent. They then looked to Tyrone, who was seated


    at the side.


    “You were the one to offer this reward of ten billion. So tell us, who should enter first?”


    Tyrone was too concerned for Jennifer''s safety to be bothered with anything else.


    “Who amongst you dares to go head to head against Gibbons?” Tyrone said derisively at the group


    of fools being frustrated over their order of entry.


    Tyrone''s words shocked them to a realization.


    Though they were members of the eight prestigious families, none of them could contend against


    Gibbons in terms of power or brutality.


    Gibbons was smoking a cigarette and enjoying the show when the other seven prestigious families


    fell silent at the mention of his name.


    What''s there to argue about? Like Tyrone said, who dares to walk in front of Gibbons?


    The entrance to Est Montaigne opened slowly.


    “It''s open! The gates are open!”


    Gibbons threw the cigarette butt onto the ground, extinguished it with his heel, and stretched before


    strolling toward the facility.


    The other prestigious families followed closely behind. Though they could no longer contend for the


    privilege to enter first, the position of second ce was still up for grabs.


    All of their expressions changed upon entering the facility.


    Tevin was lying in bed with a mouthful of blood and wide, unblinking eyes which seemed to contain


    no more life.


    Other parts of Est Montaigne were also in a wretched state. It looked as if it had been trampled by a


    frightening force.


    “Did somebody attack Est Montaigne?”


    “Go in and locate Jennifer. Quickly!” Tyrone ordered. The subordinates he brought immediately ran


    further into Est Montaigne.


    The explosive news caused a buzz of emotions throughout the Youngblood family.


    The attack on Est Montaigne left none alive!


    Sixty-odd managers in charge of the Youngbloods'' safe houses around the world sat around a long


    table in the hall of the Youngblood residence in Gerton. Every one of them looked grim.


    Before themy the information and personnel list of the security surveince system in Est


    Montaigne.


    Two Quattuor Ste Warriors and Sivert.


    The security setup installed in all the safe houses was deemed of above-average quality. It could


    ensure theplete safety of the house''s upants, even in a country ravaged by war.


    A safe house of that description had been razed in Pollerton.


    “Since everybody is here, let''s hear it.”


    The patriarch of the Youngblood family in Gerton, Yuvich Youngblood, sat at the head position in the


    hall and swept a cold gaze at everybody within.


    “Ever since news regarding Est Montaigne was released, Mr. Youngblood, the valuation of


    Youngblood Group has shrunk by five percent. Our old clients in banks worldwide are also


    requesting to transfer their capital because they feel Youngblood Group''s safe houses are not as


    safe as they had imagined.”


    The Youngblood family had managed a rapid ascent due to the reputation of their safe houses.


    As a result, the impact on Youngblood Group could only be imagined with such a blow to their


    reputation.


    “I don''t want to hear what I already know. Tell me something else,” Yuvich barked as he surveyed


    the crowd. “Like how Est Montaigne was razed, and who is behind it all.”


    “All of the surveince cameras in the facility had been destroyed, Mr. Youngblood. There are no


    survivors in there, so we could not find out who did it. Whoever it was left no trace behind.”


    “Is that so?” Yuvich said as he rapped on the table lightly with his fingers. “Then why did I hear


    Tyrone announcing that he would give ten billion to whoever it was that could rescue a woman


    named Jennifer from Est Montaigne before it was destroyed?”


    The Youngblood family members present were not stupid. Their eyes lit up at Yuvich''s words.


    They derived two pieces of information from Tyrone''s deration. The first was a woman named


    Jennifer being at Est Montaigne before the incident urred. The second was Tyrone being the


    person most likely to attack the upants of Est Montaigne since he had offered a ten billion


    reward to whoever it was who could rescue Jennifer.


    “Send somebody to investigate. The person who attacked Est Montaigne must have connections to


    Jennifer or Tyrone. Report whatever you find back to me. I''ll have that person wish they were never


    born.”


    “Yes, Mr. Youngblood.”


    “One more thing. I heard Donald Campbell of Pollerton hasunched the Dragon Fide Project.


    Cahan will handle this. Dragon Fide Vi must not be allowed to rebuild.”


    “Yes, Mr. Youngblood.”


    The inner circle of the Youngblood family began executing their orders. Meanwhile, the ten


    prestigious families in Pollerton had also descended into silence.


    Sebastian stood at the cemetery, wearing a white flower in his breast pocket and an impassive


    expression on his face.


    Rodolphus, the white-haired elder of the Freedman n, arrived before Sebastian. “You''ve been in


    Pollerton for a long time, Sebastian,” he said in a low voice. “Have you not found out who killed


    Oscar in Est Montaigne?”


    Oscar was the most highly regarded member of his generation within the Freedman n. If


    everything went ording to n, he would take over from the elders in another three years to


    be the new patriarch of the Freedman family.


    Oscar''s purpose in Pollerton was originally to rx and gain experience. Unexpectedly, that was


    precisely where something had happened. Worse still, he had met his end in Est Montaigne.


    Sebastian knew whose hand Oscar had died under very well, though he kept it to himself. “I''m sorry,


    Mr. Rodolphus,” he said while shaking his head. “Oscar has many enemies in Pollerton, but none of


    them have the ability to raze Est Montaigne to the ground.”


    Rodolphus looked Sebastian beadily in the eye, though thetter did not flinch nor disy the


    slightest hint of guilt.


    Satisfied that Sebastian was telling the truth, Rodolphus pped the former on the shoulder. “I


    heard Donald is reinstating the Dragon Fide Project and that you have invested three hundred


    million in him. I hope you can give me a reason, or your family will strip you of your personal assets,


    depending on the severity of the situation.”


    Prominent families did not wish to see their offspring devote all their energy to internal friction.


    The Freedman family''s objection to the Dragon Fide Project was well-known among its inner circle,


    and Sebastian''s affiliation with Donald was undoubtedly seen as a move against the Freedman


    n.


    If Sebastian could not give Rodolphus a satisfactory answer, he would lose the Freedman n''s


    support.


    “I trust Donald and believe that the Dragon Fide Project would be a sess. It''s been on hold for


    the past few years due to Tyrone''s objection. In addition, it provided no benefits to the prestigious


    families. What if, however, the Dragon Fide Project benefited us?”


    “Preposterous,” Rodolphus boomed. “The world''s top billionaires will fall under Donald''s control if


    Dragon Fide Vi is built. How is that beneficial to the other prestigious families such as ours?”


    “The recently announced La Tercera Order revealed the government''s n to set up the area


    around Dragon Fide Vi to be a pilot free-trade zone within a month,” Sebastian said with a nce


    at Rodolphus. “I think the potential value behind this zone speaks for itself.”


    The Ten Prestigious Families did not materialize out of thin air. Instead, they were essentially


    businessmen driven toward profit.


    Even if Sebastian stood against his entire family, he did so for profit, leading to their betterment.


    Rodolphus could not object to that.


    “Even if what you said makes sense, the Freedman n will never go against Tyrone. Over the


    years, the prosperity of the Ten Prestigious Families has been inextricably linked. I can''t control


    what you do, but you cannot represent the Freedman n.”


    Rodolphus'' words were carefully measured. Though he did not expel Sebastian from the Freedman


    n, he did not dere his intention to stop Sebastian from siding with Donald and investing in the


    latter.


    Sebastian understood. He gave Rodolphus'' hand a squeeze before turning and departing the


    cemetery.


    Sebastian did not me the Freedman n for their ignorance regarding the true extent of Donald''s


    strength. He was adamant about being in the same boat as Donald until the end, as it was the only


    way to preserve the spark of the Freedman n until the very end.


    Donald held Jennifer and sat on the couch in the couples'' marital bedroom in Pollerton. He felt


    touched looking at the decor of their matrimonial room.


    Even though he did not live there anymore, Jennifer still kept the house clean and tidy. It looked as


    if he had never left.


    “No! Let go of me! Donald! Save me!”


    Jennifer suddenly began struggling in her sleep. Donald hastened to hold her. “I''m here,” he


    whispered in her ear. “I''m right here.”


    She quietened down at the sound of Donald''s voice.


    Jennifer hugged him and wept when she opened her eyes and saw his familiar face looming over


    hers.


    “I''m so sorry, Donald.”


    Donald brushed Jennifer''s nose as he chuckled. “What are you talking about, silly? It''s fine now.


    Oscar did not do anything to you.”


    Jennifer lowered her gaze to her clothes and found they were indeed tidy. They did not look like


    they had been forcefully undone.


    “How is that possible? How did you find me?”


    Donald gazed at Jennifer. “I asked a friend for help in rescuing you. He is formidable but does not


    wish for anybody to learn of his existence. Can you promise to keep his secret, Jennifer?”


    Jennifer nodded obediently.


    “Are you still upset?” Donald suddenly asked.


    Jennifer blushed before rolling her eyes at Donald. “Yes, I am,” she huffed. “Let go of me.”


    Donald knew very well that Jennifer did not mean what she said and refused to let go.


    He bent down and kissed Jennifer, causing her embarrassment to turn into anger.


    “What are you doing, Donald? Let go of me!”


    Donald bent down and kissed her again. Jennifer''s resistance weakened, and her breathing


    becamebored.


    The couple kissed for a long time on the couch. “Would you like to go out for a bite?” Donald asked


    Jennifer atst.


    Jennifer nodded while blushing furiously. Donald was the only thing in her thoughts at that moment,


    so she was naturally agreeable to any suggestion he made.


    They emerged from their residential area. Donald took Jennifer to board a bus and arrived at


    Ophelia''s, a restaurant specializing in Epean cuisine.


    “Isn''t this restaurant a little expensive, Donald? What say we go to a different restaurant?”


    Though Donald and Jennifer each owned apany, their monthly sry was only slightly higher


    than that of an ordinary white-cor worker. On top of that, they had to worry about theirpanies.


    The patrons of Ophelia''s were mostly big fish from prestigious families. Their spending power was


    something the two of them could not contend against.


    “We''ll treat it as a celebration of you surviving a disaster. I can still afford a decent meal.”


    Donald led her by the hand and entered after he spoke before being stopped in their tracks by a


    server, Frank Lansing, standing at the door.


    “Excuse me. This restaurant is for members only. Are you two members?”


    “No. It''s our first time here.” Donald produced a bank card and handed it to Frank. “Since it''s


    members only, make us a membership card.”


    Frank did not take the bank card Donald offered. Instead, he said coolly, “I''m sorry, sir. This


    establishment operates on a rmended membership basis. We cannot allow you to dine here if


    you have not been rmended by one of our existing members.”


    “Forget it, Donald. Let''s eat somece else.”


    Jennifer was not insistent on dining in that restaurant. She tugged at Donald to hint that they should


    seek another.


    Just then, a piercing voice came from the entrance.


    “Well, well, if it isn''t Jennifer. Why are you standing here by the door instead of going in?”


    Jennifer turned around and saw a woman in a tight, low-cut red dress toting a Chanel purse gazing


    at her with an inscrutable smile.


    “Keira?”


    “Who else would it be?” Keira Summers said with a charming smile. “You were our campus belle,


    Jennifer. Where are you working now?”


    Jennifer was indeed the campus belle during high school. The boys who pursued her could almost


    make up an entire ss.


    Keira was also pretty then, but she and Jennifer were on two different extremes.


    Jennifer was pure and sweet, while Keira was kitsch, seductive, and had affairs with many boys in


    school.


    She was also the type of person who made others jealous if she failed to obtain something.


    She did have a boy she liked in high school. He was the heir of a good and wealthy family.


    Because that boy never considered her over Jennifer, Keira had always held a grudge.


    Jennifer was aware that Keira never liked her, so she did not prepare to entangle herself with the


    latter. “I''ve started my ownpany,” she replied half-heartedly.


    “Wow. You''re a boss now, huh?” Keira then nced at Donald. “Is this your boyfriend?”


    Jennifer blushed and did not answer. Donald took the initiative to speak instead. “Hello. I''m Donald


    Campbell.”


    Keira nced at Donald up and down, her eyes filled with disdain.


    Having associated herself with celebrities for many years, Keira had long since developed a sharp


    eye.


    Her sweeping nce informed her that Donald''s entire outfit totaled almost three hundred, less than


    what she would spend on a single manicure session.


    If Jennifer''s boyfriend is somebody like that, that means she isn''t doing well at all!


    Keira became gleeful at that thought.


    Weren''t you high and mighty during high school, Jennifer? Weren''t you like a white swan waiting for


    her Prince Charming? You still ended up with a loser boyfriend.


    “We have matters to attend to, Keira. We''ll make a move.”


    “Hey, don''t leave yet.” Keira tugged on Jennifer''s arm. “It''s rare enough to have run into an old


    ssmate, and you''re just going to leave?”


    Before Jennifer answered, Frank, the server, chimed in from his position at the door, “They are not


    members of the restaurant, Ms. Summers. We cannot allow them to dine here.”


    “Not members of our restaurant, you say?” Keira repeated thoughtfully before continuing with a


    frown, “What say we let them dine for my sake?”


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    “Ms. Summers, that—”


    “What? Don''t you know who my husband is?”


    Frank did not dare say much else against Keira''s words. He stood aside and waved the three of


    them in.


    Jennifer did not wish to dine there via her association with Keira as it was awkward for her, but


    Donald was adamant that Jennifer epted the offer.


    The trio was seated at a table beside the window, but Keira had the server prepare four cutlery sets.


    “Coincidentally, my husband is about to get off work. Would you mind if he joined us?”


    As Keira was the one who brought them in, they could not say they minded.


    “Are we ready to order, sir and madams?”


    “We are.”


    Frank handed the three of them a menu each. Jennifer opened hers and found that it was entirely in


    Ferropenian.


    “Their steak is excellent, Jennifer. You should try it. It''s called the Murphy Steak. Can you find it?”


    Keira could tell from how flustered Jennifer looked that thetter did not understand Ferropenian.


    Her reason for asking was to embarrass her old nemesis.


    Unexpectedly, Donald said to Jennifer, “I know what you like, Jennifer. Let me order for you.”


    Jennifer heaved a secret sigh of relief, though she could not help feeling nervous. Does Donald


    understand Ferropenian?


    He then turned to Frank and rattled off in a foreign tongue, ending in a rising intonation.


    Keira was stunned when Donald spoke.


    He not only knew Ferropenian but was also highly fluent, with an impable ent to boot.


    Ophelia''s originally had menus in sevennguages, but Frank had purposefully handed them three


    with the scarcely used Ferropenian menu under Keira''s direction.


    Who knew that Donald spoke Ferropenian?


    “W-What did you say, sir?”


    It was Frank''s turn to be embarrassed.


    Their servers who spoke Ferropenian were bing increasingly scarce. Coincidentally, he himself


    did not speak it. Isn''t this picking a fight I''m guaranteed to lose?


    “You don''t speak Ferropenian?” Donald asked coldly.


    Sweat beads were beginning to form on Frank''s forehead. “I don''t. My colleague does, however.


    Would you like me to fetch him?”


    Donald chuckled. “Since you don''t speak Ferropenian, why did you hand us Ferropenian menus?


    What is the meaning of this?”


    Frank gulped, unable to find the right words. How should I exin something like this? I can''t say I


    wanted to see you embarrass yourselves, can I?


    Fortunately, Keira spoke up for Frank. “This is a custom of the restaurant. They will first give new


    guests the Ferropenian menu, though not many of them speak Ferropenian. Why don''t you bring


    three Chanaean menus over, and we''ll start over.”


    “Yes, Ms. Summers. I will make the change right away.”


    As if being spared a terrible fate, Frank dashed off to change the menus. Jennifer could tell that it


    was all arranged by Keira.


    At that moment, a man with a big belly entered through the door. Keira stood up excitedly as soon


    as she saw him and waved him over. “Come quickly, Darling. We''re over here.”


    Keira and Jennifer were of the same age: in their mid-twenties. But Keira''s husband looked to be at


    least fifty.


    However, she did not think it was a problem. On the contrary, she hugged his arm affectionately.


    “This is my husband, Fane Grayson,” she said haughtily to Jennifer and Donald as she made the


    introductions, “the Director of Fane Group. Darling, this is my high school ssmate, Jennifer


    Wilson, and her boyfriend, Donald Campbell.”