Chapter 420 Framing
"You're really slick, aren't you?" On the way back, Mary couldn't help but marvel at the deed to Cloud Top Mountain in her hand.
Poppy was equally impressed with James.
James had cleverly exploited the auction rules for Cloud Top Mountain, using a bid of $100 billion to block Micah and his group from raising the price, then defaulting on the payment to make the transaction fail.
As a result, Mary, the second-highest bidder, got the property at a bargain price.
For most items, the auction house could declare the auction void and try again later. But Cloud Top Mountain was a special case; the committee had already decided it couldn't be left unsold. As long as someone bid, it had to be sold.
And $10 billion was far above the $1 billion starting price, so James had found a legitimate loophole.
"Slick? I call it genius," James said, leaning closer to Mary. "I sacrificed $5 billion and got blacklisted so you could save tens of billions on Cloud Top Mountain."
Last night, during dinner with Gerald and the others, James had learned two secrets about today's auction: the secret of Chicken Crowing Throughout The World and the rule that Cloud Top Mountain couldn't be left unsold.
So he devised a plan, delivering a heavy blow to Micah and helping Mary acquire Cloud Top Mountain at the lowest cost.
"You didn't lose a penny," Poppy laughed. "You lost $5 billion, but you also made $5 billion from Micah. You broke even and stole the spotlight."
She admired James deeply; only he could outmaneuver Micah and his group.
Mary playfully huffed, "You're getting more cunning. You used to be so honest."
James grabbed her hand. "Bad boys are more attractive, right?"
Mary tried to pull away but couldn't escape his grip, eventually letting him hold her hand. Poppy covered her mouth, laughing.
"After today, we're sworn enemies with Micah," Mary sighed, looking ahead. "There's no turning back now."
She preferred peaceful business dealings over fierce competition.
"Do you think backing down would bring peace?" James looked at the traffic ahead. "That's naive."
"The Gonzalez Family has been on top for so long, they've forgotten what it means to know their limits. They've forgotten what it means to have enemies and to be respectful."
"Micah's underhanded tactics show he has no boundaries. They won't spare you just because you compromise."
"The only way to stop them is to make them pay dearly, to make The Gonzalez Family realize that messing with us comes at a high cost."
"Just wait. After a few more hits, Micah won't dare to act recklessly."
James exuded confidence.
Mary smiled brightly, "I believe in you."
"But we can't be careless, especially about your safety," James said, his eyes flashing. "You should take more bodyguards with you, just in case Micah gets desperate."
Mary nodded gently. "Don't worry, they won't dare harm me. But you need to be careful."
As they spoke, the car slowed down and pulled over.
James looked up.
Poppy, in the driver's seat, said, "We need to be checked."
James saw several uniformed men ahead, holding signs and inspecting the convoy.
He smiled faintly, "Micah's quick to retaliate. But this old trick won't work anymore."
He sent a text message from his phone.
Mary noticed James's serious expression and looked up, trying to spot anything suspicious but saw nothing.
She frowned slightly. "Even if Micah hates you, he wouldn't act openly. It would cause him too much trouble."
Especially with her, the head of the Smith Clan, in the car.
"Desperation can make people do crazy things," James smiled faintly. "After losing an extra ten billion and Cloud Top Mountain, both The Gonzalez Family and the Blood Medical Sect will pressure him heavily."
"Of course, he'll target me, not you."
No matter how low Mary's status in the Smith Clan, she was still the head of the thirteenth branch. If Micah killed her, the Smith Clan would declare war on The Gonzalez Family.
Mary bit her lip. "What should we do? Should I call the police or get more bodyguards?"
"No need." James shook his head. "I can handle it."
As Mary looked worried, the car slowed down further.
The cars ahead were already lined up.
Not far away, a dozen police officers were checking each vehicle, some with drug- and weapon-sniffing dogs.
James squinted, spotting a few cold glints. "They're going all out."
Mary tensed. "What will they do?"
"Nothing much. Just turn on the dashcam and your phone, record everything," James said quietly. "But keep it hidden."
Mary nodded.
Two minutes later, a man with a hooked nose approached, his expression grim, hand on his gun holster.
James got out of the car, looking confused. "Officer, what's going on? Is there a problem?"
The man didn't respond, impatiently signaling James to show his ID.
At that moment, a female officer with a police dog approached.
James squinted slightly. "Cute dog."
The man tossed James's ID back and signaled to open the trunk.
When the trunk opened, he had the female officer check it with the dog.
Then he turned to James. "Show me your hands."
James smiled and extended his hands.
The man, wearing gloves, grabbed James's hand.
The gloves had adhesive inside, leaving fingerprints when touched.
Just as he was about to grab James's fingers, James suddenly punched him in the head.
The thunderous punch knocked the hooked-nose man out, blood spurting as he collapsed.
In the next second, James moved like lightning, kicking the female officer checking the trunk.
Then he spun and kicked the police dog unconscious.
"What are you doing?" The other agents reacted quickly.
Almost immediately after James took down the two, a dozen men rushed at him, guns drawn.
They shouted for James to raise his hands until Mary stepped out of the car and revealed her identity. "I'm Mary, CEO of the Smith Corporation."
Her voice was firm. "You'd better lower your guns to avoid serious consequences."
At that moment, several Mercedes arrived, and a dozen Smith Corporation bodyguards, armed to the teeth, surrounded the scene.
"No matter who you are, attacking agents is a serious crime," a man shouted. "We need to arrest the assailant!"
"You need to arrest him!" James ignored the guns pointed at him, pointing at the hooked-nose man. "He's the criminal you're looking for. Check his palms for drugs."
He kicked the man's gloves, revealing a packet of white powder.
"And this woman." James sneered at the female officer as her pocket also dropped a bag of contraband.
Mary silently cursed Micah's ruthlessness.
This frame-up was absurd, but if they planted drugs, even if they fell into the car, James would be in big trouble.
The man's face changed, then he shouted, "We'll investigate, but you must come with us."
"Otherwise, we'll consider you a dangerous criminal and shoot."
He signaled his men, "Take them down."
"Going with you is fine, but Mary and Poppy are innocent," James said calmly. "Let them go."
Mary instinctively spoke, "James—"
James shook his head. "You go with Poppy."
In public, James didn't want to clash with law enforcement; it would be hard to explain.
"I attacked them," James said to the man. "Arresting me is enough."
The man frowned, reluctant, but seeing the Smith Corporation bodyguards, he nodded. "Clear the way, let Miss Smith leave."
Mary looked at James worriedly, then bit her lip and got back in the car.
She believed James could handle it; staying would be a burden.
Mary and Poppy quickly disappeared.
James dusted off his clothes and got into the police car.
The man waved, leading a few men to escort James away.
In the distance, thunder rumbled.
It was going to rain.
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