Chapter 1496 Suspected
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Yosef and Parker had settled into their chairs for what promised to be another tense negotiation.
Despite yesterday's failed attempt to win Parker over—a rejection that had left him seething—Yosef had swallowed his pride and returned.
The four families of the inner island maintained a delicate web of business relationships, each watching the others with calculated wariness. Resources were finite, and maintaining the fragile equilibrium meant someone always had to sacrifice. None of the families played fair; each schemed for a larger share of the pie, their apparent harmony nothing more than a carefully orchestrated facade.
The Soto family had clashed with virtually every other house at some point, save for the Schmidt family, with whom they'd managed to maintain relatively cordial relations. Parker epitomized the fence-sitter—a man who refused to burn bridges, often absorbing losses rather than risk confrontation. Yosef had assumed such a man would be easily swayed, which made last night's polite but firm refusal all the more galling.
Returning for a second attempt wounded Yosef's pride, but with enemies circling and their next move unpredictable, he desperately needed an ally.
"Parker, align yourself with me, and the Soto family will relinquish our pharmaceutical distribution rights for the next six months," Yosef offered, his voice carefully controlled.
The drugs in question were essential for controlling their respective subordinates—a monopoly held exclusively by the robed figure who supplied all four families. The distribution rotated fairly among them, making Yosef's offer a significant concession.
Under normal circumstances, Parker would have jumped at such an opportunity. But circumstances had changed—Mario could now synthesize the same compounds, rendering the robed figure's monopoly worthless in Parker's eyes.
"Yosef, I must be frank," Parker replied with practiced sincerity. "Leo's health has been troubling me lately. You know how devoted I am to my son. I intend to spend this month in quiet prayer at the chapel, seeking divine guidance for his recovery."
Yosef's chest tightened with barely contained rage. Even after such substantial concessions, this fool remained obstinate! He rose abruptly, ready to storm out, when the robed figure glided into the room.
Yosef's expression immediately brightened. "Sir, you've arrived."
The robed figure acknowledged him with a slight nod before settling into a nearby chair to sip his tea.
Parker's eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly before he looked up with a calculated smile. "After all these years, we still don't know what you look like beneath that hood. Since Yosef is here as well, perhaps you'd honor us by revealing your face? With Raymond's recent escape from the island, and given his reputation for cunning deception, we must guard against the possibility of imposters. It would be catastrophic if he infiltrated our ranks in disguise."
Yosef's eyes widened in shock. Had Parker completely lost his mind, making such an audacious demand? The robed figure maintained connections with Emilio—one wrong word could spell doom for the Schmidt family.
"Parker, are you questioning our benefactor's identity?" Yosef demanded, finally finding an outlet for his mounting fury.
Parker's smile never wavered, his confidence unshakeable.
"I'm merely exercising prudent caution. Raymond has employed such tactics before. I have no desire to glimpse our patron's face out of mere curiosity, but if this person is indeed Raymond in disguise..." Parker's fingers moved deliberately as he loaded bullets into his pistol, one by one, the metallic clicks echoing his unspoken threat.
If this was Raymond, the man wouldn't leave this room alive.
Parker's gaunt features sharpened with cunning as he continued, "I trust you understand my position, sir. Raymond's background remains a mystery, and I simply wish to preserve our island's tranquility."
He turned his calculating gaze toward Yosef. "Surely you agree that reasonable suspicion is warranted, given the chaos Raymond could unleash?"
Yosef's brow furrowed. He'd been prepared to watch Parker make a fool of himself, but the repeated mentions of Raymond stirred uncomfortable memories. The man had possessed an undeniable aristocratic bearing and seemingly unlimited resources—had he not been captured, he likely would have attracted followers and established a rival faction.
Yosef's expression hardened as his hand drifted toward his holstered weapon.
The robed figure remained perfectly composed, his posture radiating elegant confidence despite the mounting tension.
Parker and Yosef spoke in unison, their voices cutting through the silence: "Sir, we must ask you to remove your hood."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
