Chapter 192 Kaelen
Facing Skyview, Hilda could at least entertain the notion of competition.
But with Kaelen? Competition wasn't even a consideration. Kaelen's brilliance was so absolute, so untouchable, that it filled Hilda with a suffocating sense of hopelessness.
To illustrate the chasm between them, one could use a geographical metaphor. Kaelen was Mount Everest, soaring, majestic, and untouchable.
Hilda, in comparison, was the Mariana Trench – buried in the deepest recesses of the ocean, forever in shadow.
The gap was insurmountable.
It was this very disparity that had driven a wedge between them. To maintain even a semblance of self-worth, Hilda had distanced himself from Kaelen after graduation. He simply couldn't bear the constant reminder of his own inadequacy.
But now, he needed Kaelen.
Finding a reliable assassin was beyond Hilda's capabilities, but for someone like Kaelen, with his vast network and underworld connections, it would be child's play.
Kaelen's family, the Darkmoon family, was a force to be reckoned with in Skyscape City. Originally hailing from Stellaria Oasis City, Kaelen had invested heavily in his hometown, particularly in real estate. The recent boom in property prices had only served to further line his already deep pockets.
But Kaelen was no fool. He recognized the volatility of the real estate market and had wisely diversified his portfolio, pouring a significant chunk of his capital into the tech industry.
He had been instrumental in bringing WealthWave to Skyscape City, forging a strong bond with Erin from ApexTech Group in the process. His latest venture was TripLink, a collaboration with a group of ambitious young entrepreneurs from SparkLoom.
Kaelen was operating on a completely different level, his business acumen as formidable as his family's influence.
Reaching out to him, however, filled Hilda with a sense of dread. Kaelen was arrogant, condescending, and utterly infuriating to deal with.
Back at Wharton, Kaelen had treated Hilda more like a lackey than a friend, doling out favors with a patronizing air that made Hilda's skin crawl.
But Skyview... Skyview had to be dealt with.
And if enduring Kaelen's insufferable personality was the price he had to pay, then so be it.
Hilda took a deep breath and dialed Kaelen's number.
The phone rang for an excruciating minute before Kaelen finally answered, his voice booming through the receiver, laced with amusement. "Hilda! To what do I owe the pleasure? I was starting to think you'd forgotten all about your old pal."
Hilda bristled at the thinly veiled jab. This was precisely why he couldn't stand the man. If he had possessed even an ounce of Kaelen's physical prowess – the man was a walking arsenal, trained in mixed martial arts – he would have punched Kaelen in his smug face years ago.
"Kaelen," Hilda said, forcing a cordial tone. "Long time no see. I hear congratulations are in order. WealthWave, TripLink... you're quite the tycoon these days."
"Money has a way of finding me," Kaelen said, his voice dripping with false modesty. "Unlike some people, I seem to have a knack for holding onto it. How's Shark Live doing these days? Heard there's been a bit of... restructuring? When's the bankruptcy filing?"
The barb, though predictable, stung. But Hilda couldn't afford to antagonize Kaelen, not now.
"It's... challenging," Hilda admitted, swallowing his pride. "We're all friends here, Kaelen. Surely you can be straight with me."
"Friends?" Kaelen echoed, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Well, you did prove somewhat useful back in the day. I suppose I can count you among my... associates."
Hilda knew Kaelen well enough to recognize the backhanded compliment for what it was.
Kaelen was too proud, too accustomed to being surrounded by sycophants, to bother lying to someone he considered beneath him.
And if Kaelen considered him a friend, even in his own twisted way, then there was a chance.
Perhaps helping Kaelen all those years ago wouldn't be a complete waste after all.
"Kaelen," Hilda said, his voice low and serious. "I need a favor. A big one."
"Name it," Kaelen said, his tone turning businesslike. "Within reason, of course. You did help me out once upon a time."
"I need you to help me kill someone," Hilda said, his voice devoid of emotion.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, then Kaelen's voice, laced with a hint of intrigue.
"Kill someone, you say? And who might this unfortunate soul be?"
"Skyview," Hilda spat, his voice thick with venom.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
