Chapter 237 | Kreg…
A young dark-haired woman stood in front of the Hero Association building, staring up at its magnificent structure. Though it wasn’t as large as the Hero Association headquarters, it was still impressive. Heroes came and went through the gate as she watched.
"Hey," the woman said. "I assume you’re Jasmine."
Jasmine nodded slowly. "And you’re...?"
The woman smiled. The smile was warm. Genuine. The kind that arrived without calculation and stayed without effort.
"Call me Rachel. I was assigned to show you around. Show you your office. Walk you through the branch’s operations."
She extended her hand.
"Welcome ."
Jasmine took the hand and shook her.
"Please come with me," Rachel said.
Jasmine nodded. She followed Rachel through the front entrance.
---
Dexter stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the five thugs in his home. His lips curled into an evil smirk as various thoughts flashed through his head.
At that moment, Kreg and the other four lackeys were still looking around the house. One had even gone to the living room, heading directly toward Mira.
However, Kreg seemed to notice something. Although arrogant, his survival instinct was extremely sharp. He knew whom to offend and whom not to offend. That was why, despite the number of strong people in the neighborhood, nobody had taught him a lesson. He had not offended the wrong people.
But now, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He didn’t know exactly what, but he felt it.
One of his lackeys spoke. "Boss, what do you say? We can actually take one of the girls and sell her to one of the top three families. No matter how powerful the Vance, Frost, and Callaway families are, they can never compare to the top one, top two, or top three families. If we sell one of these premium girls to that royal blood, we’ll earn enough money to live out our lives. Enough money that our generations would inherit. We could even flee the country and enjoy the rest of our lives. What do you say, boss?"
Kreg did not answer. His brows furrowed as the wrongness persisted. He looked around the house, then turned toward Lyra.
Lyra sat on the couch in the living room, cross-legged, eyes closed in concentration. Mira’s eyes were also closed. Kreg looked at both women. It wasn’t their beauty that attracted him now. It was the fact that he couldn’t sense their strength at all.
But the danger he felt wasn’t coming from them. It came from another source. He looked around and frowned but could not see who or what it was.
"Boss, are you all right?" one lackey asked.
Kreg shook his head. "Must be my imagination." He waved the lackey off. "I’m all right." He turned back to Dexter and smiled.
"As you know, there was a monster outbreak a few weeks ago. If it wasn’t for us—the Red Fang gang—this entire street would have been wiped out. So our protection fee has increased by more than ten times. Previously, you gave me five thousand dollars, which was barely enough to do anything. But since you were the son of the Ashford family, we gave you face and didn’t say anything. This time, our protection fee has increased a lot. It has been months since the Ashford family even cared about you. They have never come here, which means you have been truly abandoned. Your wife has also been abandoned. Therefore, there is nobody else to protect you. Their reputation cannot protect you this time. So our fee has increased to five hundred thousand dollars. What do you say?"
Dexter blinked. Then he smiled widening and chuckled slightly.
Kreg raised an eyebrow, surprised that Dexter dared to chuckle.
Suddenly, one of the lackeys heading toward Mira froze. His face flashed with confusion. He tried to move, but pressure held him as if ten mountains had landed on him. His body was a statue; he could not move a single muscle. His eyes widened in horror. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. He tried to explode with energy, but his energy was restricted by multiple chains. He could not move at all.
The other three lackeys noticed nothing. They were staring at Dexter along with Kreg.
At that moment, Dexter spoke. "Oh, you’re laughing."
One lackey said, "No, boss. I think he has finally gone mad, actually daring to laugh at us. Should I teach him a lesson? Let me teach him a lesson."
The lackey stepped forward. It was the one Dexter had kicked in the nuts the first time, and he was still angry. He was about to crack his knuckles when Kreg raised a hand. The lackey froze.
"Wait," Kreg said. "Let him speak."
Dexter looked at the lackey, then at Kreg. "Five thousand dollars. Five hundred thousand dollars. From five thousand to five hundred thousand. Isn’t that a bit much? That is slightly too much."
Kreg shrugged. "Of course it’s much. We, the Red Fang gang, risked our lives to repel the monsters that invaded this district. That’s why it costs. I hope you understand where we are coming from."
Dexter slowly nodded. "Yeah, I understand where you’re coming from. So which one of you should I give the money to?"
Kreg’s eyes widened slightly. He had expected Dexter to negotiate, or to say he didn’t have that kind of money. But Dexter actually agreed. His brows furrowed, but then he spoke. "If you are trying to deceive us, I hope you know the consequences."
Dexter nodded. "Of course. I would never dare deceive anybody from the Red Fang gang."
Kreg laughed arrogantly, and his lackeys laughed with him. Dexter brought out his phone, opened his bank app, and told Kreg to give him his bank information. Kreg did. Dexter nodded and transferred the money. He showed his phone to Kreg.
Kreg chuckled. "Satisfied. Of course, of course. Haha. I never thought you had that kind of money at hand. Wonderful, wonderful."
The lackeys erupted in laughter and joy.