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“What?” Fred’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he expressed his surprise.
Zuko leaned forward, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. “I said I’ll help you rise to power! But there is one
condition you must agree to.”
Fred furrowed his brows slightly, intrigued by Zuko’s proposition.
Despite the age difference, the young man standing before Fred exuded a certain aura that surpassed his own.
Fred was well aware of Zuko’s background as a Hamerton, and since arriving in Southeast Aciatic, he had learned
about the intricate connections between the Hamertons and the royal family in the region. Zuko had been
bestowed with a noble title from a young age.
As a pragmatic person, Fred realized he had no other viable options but to cooperate with the young Count. He took
a deep breath and nodded. “I will follow your lead, Mr. Hamerton!”
“Very well.” Zuko poured coffee into a cup with a relaxed and elegant demeanor. He savored the taste and
chuckled softly. “The flavor is quite good as well.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Now, let’s discuss the trade I mentioned…”
Zuko locked eyes with Fred, acknowledging his capabilities. “You are a capable individual. However, the Grists have
been suppressing you due to your status as an illegitimate child, which is undeniably unfair.”
Fred pursed his lips, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.
Years of frustration had twisted his psychological state, but when presented with the right opportunity, he was
willing to redirect his energy toward a more promising path.
Speaking softly, Zuko continued. “With Violet facing trouble and the Grist Group in chaos, they have sent you here
to diminish your influence. But fear not. I will mobilize the Hamertons’ influence in Jangasas to help you regain
control of the situation.
“Since they want to lure the tiger out of its mountain, we will employ their own strategy against them.” Zuko
smirked. “In the end, there will be only one winner—and that will be you.”
Fred’s joy and hope surged, leaving him staring at Zuko in a dazed state.
“I’m not sure what you mean by using their own strategy against them,” Fred admitted, seeking clarification.
“Isn’t it easy for the Hamertons to acquire a company?” Zuko prompted, indicating a potential avenue to pursue.
After a moment of contemplation, Fred grasped the implications. If the Grist Group were to be acquired, it would
completely restructure its upper management, allowing those deemed necessary to remain and those deemed
unnecessary to depart. This meant that Fred would fall completely under Zuko’s control, which, in his opinion, was a
far better outcome than being suppressed by his cold-hearted relatives in the Grists.
Straightening his posture, Fred adopted a solemn and serious expression as he spoke. “Mr. Hamerton, I am
wholeheartedly dedicated to serving you.”
Zuko winced, finding Fred’s statement to be overly dramatic. However, Fred firmly believed that his words did
justice to the gratitude he felt toward Zuko for recognizing his talents.
With a serious expression, Fred reached out and picked up the small cup of coffee on the table, resembling an
ancient warrior taking a blood oath. He locked eyes with Zuko, raised the cup, and solemnly drank its contents in
one gulp.
“Hey…” Zuko couldn’t stop him in time.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Cough, cough, cough…”
A horribly bitter taste overwhelmed Fred’s tongue as the coffee went down, nearly driving him to madness.
Zuko covered his face, unable to bear witness to the scene.
Unbeknownst to Fred, the coffee he had consumed was an espresso. Although he was unfamiliar with different
coffee types, Zuko enjoyed the bitter taste and had ordered a double shot for himself. However, Fred unknowingly
downed it in one go.
“Water, water!”
“Ugh…”
Fred hopped around in discomfort.
Zuko sat on the sofa, holding his head in his hands, his face filled with embarrassment. Fortunately, knowing the
owner, he had made a prior reservation at the coffee shop. Otherwise…
Once Fred finished bouncing around, he returned to his seat with a smile on his face, gazing at Zuko.
Zuko glanced at him helplessly. “I haven’t even mentioned my conditions yet. Why are you so thrilled?”
“Oh, right, right…” Fred’s tongue felt heavy after consuming the bitter coffee. “What are your conditions?”
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