Chapter 622 Respect
James smoothly took over Alistair's position and became the head of the Smith family.
This event had no impact on the public, and there was hardly any information about it.
At most, there was a tiny blurb in the financial section: Alistair Smith, chairman of the Smith Group in the City of Mysteries, has stepped down, passing the torch to his 27-year-old grandson, James Smith. That was it. No fanfare, no drama.
A few folks recognized James as that hotshot doctor from before, but that's where the chatter ended.
For the elite, though? It was a bombshell. Word spread like wildfire across the country. Anyone with clout or connections knew exactly what went down. The fact that James took down Neil at the inheritance ceremony and made every family head bow to him had them shook. People were in awe—and terrified—of James.
As for Walter, Emberlyn, and Michael? Yeah, they heard about it too. They were blown away, almost like they were living in some kind of wild dream. James was on another level.
After taking office, James didn't idle. He spent a week taking over the Smith family's affairs, and under his management, the family was revitalized and thriving.
Many business deals that couldn't be settled before now came to him voluntarily without him having to make a move.
It was foreseeable that in the next two to three years, the Smith family's strength would at least multiply several times!
At the same time, James overhauled the family's rules and regulations. The Smiths had grown too big to let anyone run wild. James wasn't about to let family members cause trouble out in the world and tarnish the family name. He made it clear: everyone had to pull their weight. It wasn't just about enjoying the perks of being a Smith—it was about contributing to the family's legacy.
It must be said that James was truly a versatile talent. He was not only skilled in medicine and martial arts but also had a knack for business and management, making everything orderly.
The current Smith family was already a colossal, precisely operating machine.
He didn't hold onto power tightly either. Talents like Wylie and Usher were not buried. Based on their talents and abilities, he assigned them different positions.
Wylie and Usher were very grateful for this. They originally thought that after James took power, he would first eliminate the two of them. However, he didn't. James's magnanimity exceeded their expectations, making them work even more diligently.
It was no exaggeration to say that James now looked more like the head of the family than Alistair.
As for those families that submitted, James didn't waste them either, starting to infiltrate talents into them.
But he didn't go overboard, maintaining a balance just within their acceptable range.
After handling everything, he relaxed and could do what he had been wanting to do recently.
That was to settle the Godslayer Organization and bring Arianwen back.
He first flew to the headquarters of the National Security Agency to discuss this matter with Rolf.
When Rolf saw James again, he was struck by how much more enigmatic he seemed. There was this commanding presence about him now—so intense that even Rolf, the seasoned minister, felt a bit of pressure. It hit him again just how much of a once-in-a-generation talent James was.
He heard that Slayer had actually gone after James and got taken down. He was floored and blurted out, "Slayer? The top hitman from the Godslayer Organization? That guy's a monster! He's been wreaking havoc for years—countless crimes, unspeakable acts. So many of our NSA agents have fallen to him. Not just us, either. Experts from other departments too. Slayer's been a nightmare for all of us. I can't believe you took him out!"
Then, he stepped back and extended his hand for a firm handshake. James was caught off guard. "Mr. Tackett, what's this about?"
Rolf's voice was heavy with respect. "James, on behalf of every agent Slayer's killed… thank you."
James fell silent, feeling touched. The peace and stability of the country wasn't just handed to them—it was built and guarded by people like Rolf and the NSA, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, carrying the weight for everyone else.
He felt a deep respect for Rolf and the agency. "Mr. Tackett," James said, his voice steady, "this is what I'm here for. The whole nation owes you and your team a debt of gratitude."
Rolf's eyes glistened, clearly stirred by memories of the past. He took a moment, waving a hand as if to brush off the emotion, then got straight to business, diving into the discussion with James about how to take down the Godslayer Organization.
As luck would have it, the higher-ups had already made up their minds to go after the Godslayer Organization. Over the years, they'd managed to plant a few agents deep inside the group, and recently, those agents had sent back some game-changing intel—pinpointing the organization's hideout.
Turns out, they'd been holed up in some obscure little country, tucked away where no one would think to look.
But this mission was a big deal. The Godslayer Organization wasn't just some ragtag group. The NSA knew they couldn't handle this alone. They'd need backup, and plenty of it.
So, it wasn't just the NSA on this one. Other agencies, including Sidney's team, were brought in to join the fight.
When Sidney saw James again, his expression was somewhat unnatural. He no longer had the sharpness he had the first time he met James and seemed a bit awkward. Clearly, he knew about James's achievements and understood deeply that he was no match for James.
James had no grudge against Sidney, nor against the Lawson family. Since Sidney no longer sought revenge, James had no reason to target him. He smiled friendly and greeted Sidney.
Sidney had not yet reached the peak of the fourth stage of martial arts. If they fought, James could easily defeat him with one hand.
The plan was finalized in three days, and everything was ready. They headed straight for the Godslayer Organization's HQ, ready to bust in and take down the infamous group once and for all.
Of course, the Godslayer Organization wasn't just Sunlandia's problem. They'd ticked off plenty of other countries too, so some elite squads from those nations tagged along.
At first, these guys were all cocky, thinking they were hot stuff in their own countries and would dominate in Sunlandia too.
But then they met James.
One look at him, and they were put in their place—fast. After that, they fell in line, letting Sunlandia take the lead with James front and center.
James wasn't the top dog in this operation, but he was hands-down the most powerful, so he naturally took the reins.
He didn't argue. With great power comes great responsibility, and since he was the most capable, leading the charge was a no-brainer.
However, he felt that this operation might not go so smoothly, as the opponent's 'King' was a master at the fifth stage of martial arts.
Although James was invincible within the fourth stage, he felt uncertain when facing an Extreme Pathway master.
But some things had to be done, even without certainty.
Arianwen was someone he had to rescue.
Before setting off, James went for a walk and suddenly felt an overwhelming aura pressing down on him, causing an uncontrollable reaction. His internal energy surged, leaking out, and a large stone at his feet shattered into pieces.
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