With a thought, Ethan opened the system panel only he could see.
He switched to inventory and selected a One-Dollar Flash Purchase Card.
Target: Sterling family.
`One-Dollar Flash Purchase in progress...`
`Purchase successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained all assets under the Sterling family, including but not limited to real estate, corporate shares, vehicles, and related holdings.`
Ethan's mouth curved slightly.
His idea was simple.
Casually purchase one family stronger than the Blackwell family, then use that family's power to step on Marcus.
But after another thought, he changed his mind.
Why think so small?
He did not lack these cards.
He selected two more.
Targets: Whitmore family. Ashford family.
`One-Dollar Flash Purchase in progress...`
`Purchase successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained all assets under the Whitmore family.`
`Purchase successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained all assets under the Ashford family.`
Three families acquired.
Ethan looked at Marcus.
A bold idea rose.
Since three families were already his, why fear one more Blackwell family?
He used one final card.
Target: Blackwell family.
`One-Dollar Flash Purchase in progress...`
`Purchase successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained all assets under the Blackwell family.`
With that notification, the four richest and most powerful families in Northbridge all became Ethan's property.
Marcus, standing opposite him, knew nothing about what had happened in that instant.
He did not know that Northbridge's sky had quietly changed above everyone's heads.
He only saw Ethan standing there silently with a faint mocking smile.
As if treating him like air.
In front of so many people, that left Marcus publicly humiliated.
He moved closer and lowered his voice so only Ethan could hear.
"Boy, my patience is limited. Kneel and apologize now while you still can."
His teeth ground audibly.
"Don't seek death. The power of the Four Families is not something you can imagine."
Ethan preferred action to words.
He raised his hand and slapped Marcus across the face.
Slap.
Marcus spun twice and fell to the ground.
The hall went silent again.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they had just seen.
They had seen people courting death.
They had never seen someone court death with such enthusiasm.
Marcus was stunned for several seconds before reacting.
"You hit me again?"
He pushed himself up and pointed at Ethan, his face hideous.
"If I don't tear you apart today, my surname isn't Blackwell."
Bang.
The doors were pushed open hard from outside.
A deep middle-aged voice rang through the hall.
"Marcus Blackwell. Who are you going to tear apart?"
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
A middle-aged man stood there with a powerful presence, several large bodyguards behind him.
Someone recognized him and gasped.
"That's Theodore Ashford."
"Head of the Ashford family."
"The Ashford family ranks third among the Four Families. Why is he here?"
Marcus's expression changed.
When he saw the man clearly, his vicious face immediately softened.
Theodore Ashford was someone even Marcus's father treated with respect.
Marcus hurried toward him with a forced smile.
"Uncle Ashford, why are you here?"
Theodore did not even look at him.
He lifted a hand and pushed Marcus aside heavily.
Marcus staggered but did not dare show resentment.
He steadied himself and watched Theodore walk straight toward Ethan.
Maybe Uncle Ashford was going to help him recover face for the sake of the Four Families.
Marcus thought this made sense.
They were all part of the Four Families.
If Ethan dared ignore the Blackwell family, he was challenging the authority of all four.
As one of the family heads, Theodore should step in and teach this arrogant young man a lesson.
Reality was the opposite.
When Theodore reached a spot three steps from Ethan, he stopped.
Then, under everyone's shocked gaze, he placed both hands at his sides and bowed deeply at ninety degrees.
"Theodore Ashford, head of the Ashford family, greets Mr. Cole."
His voice was loud.
His attitude was respectful.
The simple sentence turned the already quiet hall into a tomb.
Everyone seemed frozen.
Marcus's mouth hung open.
The head of the Ashford family, a man on the same level as his own father, was bowing to a young man and calling him Mr. Cole?
Marcus rubbed his eyes hard, blinking again and again, suspecting he was seeing things.
But no matter how he looked, reality did not change.
Theodore remained bowed, waiting for Ethan's next command.
Ethan stood calmly, as if it was natural.
"Uncle Ashford," Marcus stammered, moving closer, "what are you doing? You're the head of the Ashford family. Why are you so respectful to someone like him?"
Slap.
Another burning slap answered him.
Marcus spun twice again, clutching his face.
This time, he was completely dazed.
Theodore stared at him with eyes as cold as knives.
"Marcus Blackwell. Watch your words. Where did you get the confidence to disrespect Mr. Cole?"
Marcus opened his mouth.
"Uncle Ashford, I..."
"Shut up."
Theodore's cold command blocked every word.
Before Marcus could understand, heavy footsteps came from the entrance again.
Two groups entered almost at the same time.
On the left was a broad, square-faced man in a black suit, his expression fierce.
On the right was an elderly man in a gray traditional jacket, white-haired but straight-backed, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
Their arrival drew every gaze.
"Raymond Whitmore, head of the Whitmore family."
"Henry Sterling, head of the Sterling family."
"All the Four Families are here."
No one understood why such a small auction had drawn so many top figures.
The sight was almost unbelievable.
Raymond Whitmore and Henry Sterling walked to Theodore Ashford's side.
The three men exchanged one glance.
Then Whitmore and Sterling turned toward Ethan at the same time.
They placed their hands at their sides and bowed deeply.
"Raymond Whitmore, head of the Whitmore family, greets Mr. Cole."
"Henry Sterling, head of the Sterling family, greets Mr. Cole."
Their voices were not loud.
But they landed clearly in everyone's ears.
The hall fell into a dead silence.
No one spoke.
No one dared move.
Even breathing became careful.
Marcus Blackwell stood there like stone.
Three family heads appearing together was rare enough.
They had come to greet the same person.
His expression could no longer be described as shock.
It was terror.
His throat went dry.
His legs weakened.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
What did I just do?
What kind of person did I offend?
Vivian stood beside Ethan, equally shaken.
And it still was not over.
Footsteps sounded again outside the hall.
This time, they were hurried.
A middle-aged man rushed in.
Marcus's eyes lit up.
"Dad."
It was Leonard Blackwell, head of the Blackwell family.
Marcus instinctively wanted to go to him.
But the look in Leonard's eyes stopped him in place.
Anger.
Disappointment.
And fear.
Marcus's heart dropped.
Leonard ignored him.
Like the other three, he walked straight to Ethan.
Under everyone's gaze, he bowed like a disciplined student.
His voice trembled.
"Leonard Blackwell, head of the Blackwell family, greets Mr. Cole."
Author's Note:
This story will continue updating here.
If you want to read more, you can unlock it here:
/c/TYMercer
Thank you for reading.