Chapter 308 The Ceremony Begins
"Of course, Mason's success is all thanks to his own hard work," Billy said, looking at Mason with admiration. "That's why he's got such a commanding presence. I've always looked up to Mason as my idol."
"Hey!" Billy suddenly turned his gaze to Noah, teasingly. "Bodhi, didn't your guy just say he's not low status? Think Mason knows him?"
"Knows him? How could Mason know someone like him?"
"Exactly! That guy was just trying to show off!"
The people around them immediately joined in the mockery.
"Billy, enough already. Let it go!" Bodhi frowned. "Noah's young and impulsive; it's normal for him to say stuff like that. Haven't you ever bragged when you were young? If you keep mocking Noah, don't blame me for turning against you!"
Billy rolled his eyes but said nothing more. It wasn't that he was scared of Bodhi; it was just that the ceremony was about to start, and he didn't want to cause trouble.
"Is that Ethan over there?" Daisy pointed to the young man sitting to Mason's left.
The young man had a buzz cut and sat upright, exuding a faint aura of authority. It was indeed Ethan. Over time, Ethan's demeanor had undergone a complete transformation. He was no longer the young man from the slums. Now, he had the faint air of a big shot.
"That's right," Bodhi nodded. "That's Ethan. He's very young but highly valued by Mason. His rise to power took just a month or two. He used to be at the very bottom of the slums."
"Just a month or two?" Daisy's mouth dropped open in surprise. "That's crazy fast! It would take an ordinary person thirty or forty years to reach his position!"
"Well, Mason values him highly," Billy chuckled. "But there's a rumor that it's not just Mason who supports Ethan. There's a big shot backing him. Otherwise, he couldn't have risen so quickly."
"A big shot? Who could it be?" Daisy asked curiously. "Mason is the biggest name in Oceanbridge City, isn't he?"
"Maybe that big shot is Bodhi's guy here!" Billy teased, glancing at Noah. "After all, he said he's not low status. Maybe Ethan owes his position to him!"
"Billy, shut up!" Bodhi was furious. "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute! Noah just said one boastful thing, and you keep harping on it. Is this how a leader behaves? I didn't expect you to be so narrow-minded!"
Bodhi's eyes were red with anger. Billy's mouth really deserved a beating! If it weren't for the ceremony, he would have already taught Billy a lesson!
"Alright, alright, I'll stop. Why are you so angry?" Billy waved his hand dismissively. "Besides, if he brags, he should be prepared to be mocked. He brought it on himself!"
"You!" Bodhi was trembling with rage.
Sensing the tension, Daisy quickly changed the subject. "Who's the guy on Mason's right? He looks pretty impressive too."
The man wore a floral shirt with an ancient painting on it. His temples were high, and he exuded a cold, murderous aura. Even from dozens of feet away, just one look made Daisy shiver.
"That's Otis," Bodhi said solemnly. "He's one of Mason's men, fiercely loyal to him. But he's known for being violent and ruthless, which makes him pretty unpopular."
Daisy shuddered.
At that moment, Lucas checked his watch and announced loudly, "The ceremony is officially starting!"
The entire venue fell silent, and all eyes turned to the stage.
Mason, gripping an iron staff, stood up from his wooden chair and walked to the center of the stage.
As Mason's back came into view, a cold glint appeared in Otis's eyes. Ethan, however, remained motionless, his expression unchanged.
"Today is the day I, Mason, retire, and it's also a great day for Ethan," Mason said, his voice strong and clear as he looked around. "First, I want to thank all my friends for coming."
"You're all friends, so I'll get straight to the point. The reason I've gathered you here today is clear: I'm passing my position to Ethan!"
The crowd below the stage was visibly shocked.
Behind Mason, Otis clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, his eyes growing colder.
Next to him sat a dark-skinned man in a trench coat, who placed a hand on Otis's arm, his gaze warning him not to act rashly.
Otis understood, took a deep breath, and relaxed his grip, hiding the coldness in his eyes.
"Ethan, as you all know, has done many commendable things recently and made significant contributions to us," Mason continued. "I'm confident in giving him this position, and it's only right. Let me explain a few reasons."
"First, Ethan is the head of the resettlement and compensation work for the slums in Oceanbridge City and has a good relationship with the city government."
"Ethan is in charge of the slum resettlement and compensation? I didn't know that!"
"That's a billion-dollar project!"
"Ethan has been hiding his cards well!"
The crowd buzzed with surprise and agreement.
"Second, you all know Luke, but what you might not know is that Ethan played a part in capturing him and got injured in the process. He made significant contributions to taking Luke down," Mason continued, then gestured to Ethan. "Ethan, come over here!"
Ethan stood up, walked over to Mason, and took off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body. On his shoulder was a prominent scar.
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