Jasper looked at Ian coldly. The man was growing more arrogant by the second. “You really do think that you can devour all my assets, don’t you?”
Ian snorted and returned to his chair. Picking up his wine glass, he laughed loudly. “You’re telling me you have another trick up your sleeve? Look around you, Jasper. This isn’t Swallow Capital, nor is it the Southeast Province. I’ll show you just how powerful the Hull family is!
“You drove my son mad! I’m going to make you kneel before him and prostrate in apology! I’m going to destroy you!”
Ian glared at Jasper through the transparent wine glass and scoffed. The latter was expressionless. “And this is only the first wave of my plan! I’m only going to continue attacking you from here on!
“So are you here to show off or are you here to mock me?” Jasper looked at Ian calmly as if whatever the man said was not enough to faze him.
“Or perhaps, you’re here to compromise?”
Ian’s expression froze.
His eyes drilled into Jasper, and at that moment, Ian wanted nothing more than to take a look at Jasper’s brain to see what was going on inside.
Jasper had got it right. Ian did not come over to boast or mock Jasper at all.
Such things were normal for youths like Ben, but for Ian who had seen his fair share of business struggles, he knew that he had to be careful until the last moment before victory was confirmed.
The only reason he would compromise was due to the importance of the two ships that were detained in Harbor City!
Ian scoffed and replied meaningfully, “It’s always better to resolve conflicts than add to them. You’ve seen what I’m capable of, and to speak the truth, maybe I do need to put in a little more effort to completely crush you. But there’s no way you’ll ever be able to crush me.
“This is the difference between the both of us. We’ve got completely different foundations.
“You’re just representing yourself, and Dawson Schuler too, at most.
“But I have the businesspeople of Haddock on my side. You screw with me, you screw with the entire Haddock Chamber of Commerce. Forget you, not even the Law family is powerful enough to counter them!”
Ian took a deep breath and stared at Jasper icily. Slowly, he began, “Leave my two ships in Harbor City alone and I’ll consider not killing you.”
“Why? You’re scared?”
Jasper’s three words had caused a drastic change in Ian’s expression.
Glaring frostily at Jasper, Ian snorted. “Scared? Did you forget who’s territory you’re standing on right now?”
“Of course, I know that this is the Hull family’s territory, but so what? I’m here anyway, aren’t I?”
Jasper shifted to a more comfortable posture and looked at Ian before continuing plainly.
“Let’s be honest. These tricks you’re playing, they’re nothing grand at all but that’s because this is the best you can think of within such a short period of time, correct?
“I can tell that you’re panicking, or you wouldn’t have come to me so hastily and tell me so much right after pulling out those small tricks of yours.”
Jasper then slightly leaned forward and chuckled, looking at Ian. “Just what are you so panicked about? Let me take a guess, shall I?
“Could it be the two detained ships of yours in Harbor City? And the charge for smuggling goods?”
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