Chapter 13 Please You

• Meanwhile, in the study of a certain extravagant mansion in Lofbury, Harvey, the head of the Hoffman family, one of the top three first-rate families in Lofbury, held his phone, silently listening to the detailed report from the young man on the other end of the line.
• In the end, the young man said, “Mr. Hoffman, the SSS-class individual you're looking for is none other than Joshua Judd.”
• “Understood. Your monthly salary will be tripled from now onward, Adam.”
• Yesterday, Harvey had received news that the Juxshire Military District commander-in-chief, Clayton, visited the dock.
• He hurried over to pay his respects, only to be harshly rejected.
• Clayton had personally come to the dock to welcome his senior. That was the only information he gathered.
• After Clayton left the dock, Harvey had secretly sent someone to tail him.
• Unfortunately, Clayton's undercover agents quickly intercepted his men.
• Luckily, the dock's surveillance cameras had captured Clayton's senior.
• Harvey classified the figure as an SSS-class individual, disseminating the information to all middle and upper management of the Hoffman family.
• A substantial reward was promised to anyone who could locate the SSS-class individual.
• That day, Adam, the CEO of the Hoffman family's renovation company, attended a tender opening session at Woodhaven Group and unexpectedly discovered the target.
• “Kevin, you heard everything, didn't you? What do you think?”
• Harvey asked the middle-aged man across the desk.
• The middle-aged man, Kevin, was the chief butler of the Hoffman residence and Harvey's most loyal personal attendant.
• “Mr. Hoffman, Adam has served the Hoffman family for years. He probably wouldn't fabricate news for the sake of rewards. What he saw is most likely Commander Lightfield's senior.”
• Kevin furrowed his brows, “But, if Commander Lightfield's senior really is Joshua, then we'll need to be cautious.”
• Harvey raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
• “Seven years ago, Joshua, built himself up from nothing. He grew from a poor boy to a highly sought-after dark horse in the business world. He was regarded as one of the leading figures in the industry. At the peak of his career, his family betrayed him, causing him to suffer through a horrific car accident and slander. Subsequently, he faked his death and disappeared for seven long years. Over seven years, his relatives each achieved their own successes. Even the least successful among them had grown into a first-rate family in Lofbury. His ex-father-in-law's family, in particular. They are now one of the three first-rate families on par with the Hoffman family.”
• Taking a deep breath, Kevin continued, “It's risky to curry favor with Commander Lightfield and please Joshua!”
• “Your reasoning... makes sense.”
• Harvey lit a cigarette for himself, a bitter smile playing on his lips when he explained, “It's just. Commander Lightfield is so high and mighty, that trying to curry favor with him is impossible. Joshua is our only chance! Moreover, Joshua is Commander Lightfield's senior. With this connection, winning over Joshua may hold more value than cozying up to Commander Lightfield directly.”
• Exhaling a thick puff of smoke, he added, “Indeed, it's risky for the Hoffman family to get involved in Joshua's seven-year grudge but giving up now is such a pity.”
• “Mr. Hoffman...”
• Kevin asked, “We can please Joshua to win over Commander Lightfield. Does that mean we can also win over Joshua by pleasing others?”
• “Hmm?”
• Harvey questioned, “You're saying...”
• “Earlier, Adam mentioned that Joshua attended the tender opening session, alongside Quinley Calloway from Josquin Renovation Group.”
• With a smile, Kevin added, “Matthew, Quinley's brother, has an unresolved dispute with our family!”
• “Haha!”
• Harvey laughed, saying, “Kevin, handle it personally.”
• At the same time, in the lounge area of Woodhaven Group's lobby, Xavier made a call to his father, William, to report the happenings at the tender opening session. “The chances are too slim.”
• William responded, “If Joshua really had such extraordinary abilities that even Woodhaven Group stood up for him, he could have simply wiped us out upon his return. Why would he bother with all these unnecessary schemes?”
• “Um...”
• Xavier asked, “You truly believe Quinley's victory had nothing to do with Joshua?”
• “Regardless, we can't act rashly.”
• William replied, “The incident from seven years ago wasn't just the Youngblood family's doing! Why should we take the blame? I've already reached out to the four other families. Let's see what they have to say first.”
• “Understood!”
• Xavier nodded, saying, “Let Joshua live for a few more days then.”
• After hanging up the phone, he seethed but had no outlet for his rage. In his fury, he destroyed the couch armrest.
• From the corner of his eye, he caught Joshua and Quinley conversing in the parking lot. His eyes reddened once again.
• Joshua, just because I can't lay a finger on you doesn't mean the people around you are untouchable too.
• Picking up his phone once again, Xavier dialed a number and said, “Mr. Neuner, do you know anything about Matthew?”
• Outside the door, Joshua was talking with Quinley.
• “Joshua, isn't there something you'd like to tell me?”
• With her hands clasped behind her back, Quinley lifted her head to gaze at Joshua, her face full of hope.
• The tender opening session was full of unexpected turn of events and countless surprises for her.
• The final outcome would've been impossible if there hadn't been any external interference.
• She suspected Joshua was behind it.
• With a smile, Joshua said, “I've told you before that Woodhaven Group is mine.”
• “You're saying that again!”
• Quinley playfully complained, “Can you stop joking around?”
• “Um...”
• Joshua felt very resigned.
• I was being honest! How did it turn into a joke?
• He sighed softly, then said, “Fine, I admit that I know Camilla.”
• That was the truth.
• Not only was he acquainted with her, but she even obeyed all his commands unconditionally.
• “Ms. Camilla Cooper of Woodhaven Group?”
• Quinley's eyes sparkled as she joyfully exclaimed, “I knew it! How could Woodhaven Group possibly let me win the tender and even invest five hundred million in me? As expected, it was all thanks to you!”
• Ring!
• Quinley's phone rang. It was a call from her brother, Matthew.
• “Matthew!”
• She immediately picked up the phone, her voice brimming with excitement. “I was just thinking about calling you to tell you—”
• “Quinley, listen to me! I'm about to get rich!” Matthew interrupted her, laughing heartily. “Guess who just called me?”
• “Who?”
• Quinley was curious.
• Whose call made him so happy?
• “Mr. Kevin, the chief butler of the Hoffman family!”
• Matthew gloated. “Mr. Kevin told me that the Hoffman family has determined Happy Barrel Bar was to be blamed for the entire incident. They want me to go over now and collect the compensation!”
• “Really?”
• Quinley was momentarily stunned, then a joyous expression lit up her face. She said, “Did he ask you to head over to Happy Barrel Bar now? You go first, and I'll be right there!”
• “That's exactly why I called you. The Hoffman family is wealthy and powerful, I'm afraid they might deceive me, but I'm at ease if I have you with me.”
• Matthew urged, “Hurry up! I'm leaving right now!”
• Beep! Beep! Beep!
• The call had ended.
• “Was it Matthew?”
• Joshua only caught some of the conversation. His brow furrowed as he asked, “What's going on between him and the Hoffman family? Why do I hear something about compensation?”
• “Um...”
• Quinley took Joshua's hand. Biting her lip lightly, she said, “Joshua, since you're going to meet Matthew anyway, there's no point hiding it from you. Not long after your incident, Matthew also got into trouble...”