Chapter 8 The Price

• Gordon was taken aback when Skylar accurately described his son's symptoms. “What does that have to do with you injuring my son? Cut the cr*p!”
• “Heh, your son has been infected by parasite poison, turning into a puppet manipulated by others. It's laughable that you're still blissfully unaware!” Skylar sneered.
• “This... This can't be possible!”
• “I believe you know if it's possible or not. Think about it. Has your son's abilities surged recently?”
• Gordon was in disbelief but was forced to accept the truth upon hearing Skylar's words.
• He had fought his way up from the underworld, so in order to educate his son, he had Howard practice martial arts from a young age.
• Gordon, along with a few of his top hatchet men, personally instructed Howard in martial arts. They even invited several renowned pugilists to give him lessons.
• Hence, Gordon was well aware of his son's capabilities. However, the overwhelming display of martial prowess Howard had shown in that footage was simply unbelievable.
• Not even martial arts masters, despite their lifetime of dedication, could reach that level. Yet, his son had displayed such terrifying strength, which was clearly abnormal.
• “Don't spout nonsense. My son, Howard, has been dedicated to martial arts training since he was a child. It has nothing to do with whatever parasite you're talking about!” Gordon snapped.
• Skylar chuckled lightly. “Of course it has. Howard has been infected with the Divine Strength Parasite. Once the host is possessed by this kind of parasite, the parasite will secrete a toxin. This toxin has the ability to stimulate the host's cells to rapidly divide, accelerating their metabolic rate. Consequently, within an extremely short period of time, the host's strength, explosive power, and physical endurance will experience a significant increase!”
• Upon hearing Skylar's description of the Divine Strength Parasite, everyone was taken aback, never imagining that such a miraculous thing could exist in this world.
• Some were even eager to experiment on themselves, contemplating the idea of harnessing a Divine Strength Parasite to boost their abilities, hoping it could help them reach a breakthrough.
• However, what Skylar said next discouraged them.
• “Of course, such an enhancement in strength comes at a significant cost. The toxin secreted by the Divine Strength Parasite is, in fact, a kind of fiery poison. If one is subjected to an extremely feverish state for a prolonged period, it could cause significant harm to their body. What's even more alarming is that the enhancement of physical strength provided by the Divine Strength Parasite comes at the cost of exhausting one's life.”
• “Exhausting one's life? What does that mean?” Gordon became flustered.
• “Let's put it this way. Under the influence of the Divine Strength Parasite, the faster one's strength increases, the shorter the remaining lifespan of the host! I observed Howard's condition yesterday. Let's just say he won't be able to live past five years.”
• “Five years? Five years!” Gordon murmured to himself. In that fleeting moment, he seemed to have aged several years. Suddenly, he reached out and seized Skylar's arm. “Since you know about this parasite, you must surely have a way to counter it, right?”
• At that moment, Skylar's vital energy was surging within him. A wave of this energy gathered on the surface of his body. Upon contact, Gordon's hand recoiled as if he had been electrocuted, swiftly pulling away.
• “Yes, I do know how to counter it, but why should I share it with you? Your son came to us provoking a fight, intending to steal my fiancée, and even sent someone to assassinate Grandpa Wallace. If you and your family don't answer to us, why should I provide him with an antidote? In other words, what on earth does your son's fate have to do with me?”
• Gordon's expression immediately soured. “Are you threatening me?”
• “In a way, yes,” Skylar said, rolling his eyes.
• Gordon turned around, his gaze landing on Wallace, who was standing aside and enjoying the spectacle. “Wallace, is this how you educate the younger generation?”
• “Hehe, I don't see anything wrong with what Sky said. Your son came to cause chaos at my house, even injuring us. Shouldn't you answer to us?” Wallace chuckled.
• “Wallace, my son didn't do it on purpose. You heard that, right? He was infected by parasitic poison, which was why he lost his mind—”
• Before he could finish his sentence, Skylar sneered. “Though the Divine Strength Parasite could alter a person's personality, it won't cause one to lose their sanity. To put it bluntly, your son willingly chose self-destruction. That's why he resorted to using the Divine Strength Parasite to make himself stronger. He knows what he did here yesterday.”
• Gordon seethed, his teeth gritted in frustration. However, at that moment, he was in a position of disadvantage, and had no choice but to swallow his pride. Thus, he bowed at Wallace to express his apology. “Mr. Weiss, I apologize for my son's behavior yesterday! Regarding my son's injury, I've decided to let it slide. Also, here's the money for the medical expenses and nutrition subsidies.”
• Gordon immediately pulled out his checkbook, penned down a check, and slid it across the table to Wallace.
• Skylar glanced over and was taken aback to see the staggering figure of fifty million.
• He couldn't help but click his tongue in surprise. This Gordon's quite impressive. He humbles himself and provides compensation without hesitation. Such a tactful man who knows to adapt to different circumstances will be a formidable leader in ancient times.
• At the same time, however, Skylar was well aware that Gordon was spouting nonsense when he said he would let it slide. He was just like a venomous snake, temporarily lurking in the shadows, ready to launch a lethal attack when one least expected it.
• Wallace chuckled. “Very well, since you're so sincere, I can't be unreasonable. We can let this slide, but it's up to my grandson-in-law to decide whether to give you the antidote or not.”
• Due to his advanced age and decades of experience, Wallace had seen all types of people. He was as wise and sly as a fox, so of course, he knew exactly what was going through Gordon's mind.
• However, if he had outright rejected Gordon, he would've crossed swords with the Burton family. This would only have escalated the conflict, leading to an open war between the two families. Therefore, Wallace simply handed the initiative over to Skylar.
• Skylar quickly grasped the old man's intentions and laughed. “Mr. Gordon, I can disclose the antidote's formula to you, but on one condition!”
• No sooner had Skylar's words fallen than the bald man next to Gordon pointed at Skylar's nose and barked angrily. “Who do you think you are to negotiate with our patriarch!”
• This man was of a robust build, completely bald, with a scar etched across his face. His muscles bulged all over, straining against the seams of his black suit, which seemed almost too tight to contain him.
• He was the top hatchet man under Gordon, Diego Santos.
• From a young age, he had been training in Steelpsych Clan. He had mastered a wide array of martial skills, exhibiting exceptional prowess. However, his character was brutal and aggressive, always eager for a fight. Eventually, due to severely injuring a fellow student, he was expelled from the Steelpsych Clan.
• Later on, he encountered Gordon. Their interests aligned perfectly, and they clicked. Gordon hired him for a significant sum, and thus, Diego became the top hatchet man for the Bai family.
• Skylar let out a cold chuckle. “The adults are speaking. What is a servant like you doing interrupting? Do you even have the right to speak here?”
• “You're asking for trouble, brat! I'll teach you a lesson today!” Diego snapped, throwing a punch straight at Skylar's face.