417: [Bonus chapter]His only reason

[Bonus chapter]His only reason

Two days later...1

[Hunter's Zone]

"Well, this only means we have to postpone the project for the time being." Kaiden Wang announced with a heavy heart, smacking his lips as his eyes glossed over the people around the lounge table. "Unless you guys want to put ourselves in danger, but that means I have to pull out from this venture."

Dominic maintained a poker face as usual, tapping his index against the surface of the table. His eyes, however, had been fixated on the tablet before him. 

"Is this person really dangerous?" Since Dominic was quiet, Ivy Wei couldn't help but inquire. "I don't understand the hype."

"Hype?" Kaiden Wang raised his brows, setting his attention to the beautiful and smart Ivy Wei. "That person is a legend, but not in good ways. As someone who had been in this business, we heard a thing or two about certain people in the business."

He took a deliberate pause, leaning his arms against the edge of the table. "This person had this strange inclination in gems. That's why we stayed away from this person's territory. But since this witch had been quiet and there were rumors she died of old age, people had been eyeing the mining she used to own."

"By people... that means, including you?" Ivy arched a brow as a layer of frost coated her eyes. "Kaiden Wang, how can you know all of this and not tell us beforehand?"

Kaiden Wang pressed his lips as he raised both his hands in surrender. "Others had tried and succeeded, so I thought the rumors that she's dead were true!"

"You..." her frown deepened, already torturing Kaiden Wang in her mind. 

"Come on, Ivy." Kaiden sighed. "I didn't mean to provoke anyone, alright? But think of the bright side! At least, we aren't the ones who were targeted and were used as a lesson."

"How can you be so optimistic? Are you not thinking, Mr. Wang? What if that person you are referring to set her eyes on us?" Ivy clicked her tongue in irritation. "You, me, and Dominic wouldn't be here, talking. Just in case that didn't cross your mind."

Kaiden gulped, clearing his throat. How could he argue with her? Just yesterday, some businesses faced troublesome problems. Most of them had their own company system hacked and plagued with viruses. Some had minor accidents. Though not life-threatening, it was alarming. 

Why?

Because these incidents had a clear signature of a grim reaper. All the victims were associated with the mining business. Thinking about it, most of the victims were all the men against the WWZ (Wang, Wei, Zhu) business venture. Even so, the authorities concluded they were targeted because of their growing influence on the business and market. 

A market where the particular witch was in. 

"How did you know about this person?" After a moment, Dominic broke his silence. He lifted his gaze and instantly laded on Kaiden Wang. "Considering the news about all these incidents was kept vague to the public, while some weren't even in the news, makes me think the authorities already knew about this person."

"I have connections, Dom. In this business, it's inevitable to have contact with the shadiest people who are connected in the underground. I already mentioned it to you," Kaiden sighed, resting his arms against the edge of the table. "Although I kept a safe distance not to go further into their vicious world, every single one of them always warned me of a certain witch."

"Rumor has it that this person likes sparkly things. That's why she got into this business, owning a major part of the industry. The thing is, this person isn't operating legally, but steals people's gems," he continued, clarifying the situation in the market. "On top of getting a percentage of mining companies, she gets the right to buy all raw gems first. In other words, those who were up in the market were leftovers. A person like that, it's quite obvious, the authorities were already aware of her."

"Of course, the Wang family wasn't affected by it because we operate in a different region and state," he added, rocking his head. "I must admit, though. If this person sets her eyes on our region, it wouldn't be a surprise if we negotiate with her."

"What a complicated, greedy person," Ivy murmured, swaying her foot that was resting over her other leg. "And to think this person appears again after all these years. I don't want to get ahead of myself and think it has something to do with us."

"Eh... that's impossible." Kaiden chuckled, waving dismissively. "Compared to us, those who were targeted already set a strong footing in her territories. Anyway, Dom, we should postpone this venture, right?"

Dominic kept quiet, blinking ever so tenderly. "And why is that?"

"Weren't you listening?" Ivy scoffed. "Kaiden had been talking nonstop about this legend in the mining business."

"I was listening, but why should we postpone it?"

Kaiden and Ivy scrunched their noses up.

"If what you say about this person is true, then we can just give her some sparkly things," explained Dominic in a plain tone. "I don't think this person hadn't heard about our interest in the business. And yet, she let us off the hook even though some people kept sending us death threats."

Dominic leaned back, closing the tablet before him. "From my understanding, she's welcoming us to the party."

"Huh?" Kaiden Wang furrowed his brows while Ivy frowned. "Dom, this person isn't someone we should associate ourselves with."

"Heaven is pregnant," Dominic stressed, in case Kaiden Wang had forgotten. "You approached me first, Mr. Wang, and lured me with this particular diamond. I'm not postponing this venture just because someone woke up from a long hibernation."

"My wife will not give birth without this ring around her finger," he added sternly. "We'll continue, although we're going to be discreet about it."

Dominic pushed himself up, gazing down at the two who stayed seated. "In case you don't know yet, everyone who received the reaper's signature was the people who had sent us death threats."

After saying his piece, Dominic walked away calmly, leaving Ivy and Kaiden behind. Ivy furrowed her brows, casting Kaiden a look. The latter shrugged in return. 

The two then shifted their attention to Dominic's retreating figure once again, sighing. Dominic's only motivation for collaborating with them was because of a rare gem he wanted to get his hands on. He was planning to customize it into a ring and propose to his wife with it. 

"It's quite romantic," said Kaiden Wang with a deep exhale. "I get he now wanted a proper wedding with his wife, but this is quite something. It hurts my head."

"Well, if you still want to leave this partnership, the door is wide open." Kaiden Wang moved his attention to Ivy, only to see the latter standing up. "If he wants to continue, then I will continue as well."

She smiled. "Don't worry. We'll not charge you with anything if you want to leave the partnership." And just like that, Ivy bid him farewell and walked away, leaving Kaiden Wang in disbelief. 

pqdm.com