"Managing such a large Kuaihuo Forest, and you're telling me that David Lewis doesn't have a single coin on him?" Edward Sutton cast a cold glance, instantly making Richard Howard feel a chill all over.

"It's really all gone! David Lewis, in order to curry favor with Thomas Brooks, gave all the money he extorted to Thomas Brooks for gambling at the casino. Now he probably can't even scrape together ten taels of silver."

Richard Howard explained with a bitter face, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Oh right, sir, David Lewis still has five hundred taels of silver, which he just extorted from the shops in Kuaihuo Forest. He was planning to offer it to Thomas Brooks. Should we keep it for ourselves or return it to those shops?"

"Do you even need to ask? That money was extorted by David Lewis—what does it have to do with me? Why should I return it to them?" Edward Sutton turned to glance at Richard Howard. This guy still isn't sharp enough—does he really need to ask about something like this?

"Oh right, sir, there's something I'm not sure if I should say." Richard Howard suddenly hesitated.

Edward Sutton waved his hand, signaling Richard Howard to continue.

With Edward Sutton's permission, Richard Howard finally spoke slowly: "Sir, there's nothing much about you killing David Lewis this time. In our gang life, we're not as hypocritical as those sects. To be honest, it's all about strength—there are plenty of cases where a junior takes down the boss and rises to the top.

Especially since David Lewis rose to power by betraying his brothers, he never had any moral standing to begin with. You took him out, and no one can say anything about it. But you killed Thomas Brooks—now that's a big problem.

Thomas Brooks is the adopted son of our chief, Tiger Senior.

Tiger Senior is already over fifty this year. He spent more than twenty years raising Thomas Brooks, only just now bringing him to this level.

Tiger Senior has no sons of his own—he wanted Thomas Brooks to be his successor.

Now that you've killed Thomas Brooks, it'll be very hard to get past Tiger Senior."

After hearing this, Edward Sutton rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table and said, "Go get me detailed information on Tiger Senior, and exchange all those five hundred taels of silver for banknotes."

"Yes, I'll get right on it." Richard Howard quickly and efficiently prepared everything Edward Sutton needed.

It wasn't because Richard Howard was particularly loyal.

It's just that since he had already thrown his lot in with Edward Sutton, of course he hoped Edward Sutton could hold onto his position. Otherwise, wouldn't all his previous efforts be wasted?

After receiving the information, Edward Sutton read through it all in one go, then started tapping his fingers on the table again—thud, thud.

This was a habit he developed in his previous life. Whenever he was thinking about something, he'd sit alone in his office and tap on the table.

After about fifteen minutes, Edward Sutton finally stood up. "Let's go, come with me to see Tiger Senior."

"Wha... what!? You're going to see Tiger Senior?" Richard Howard was so shocked by Edward Sutton's words that his jaw nearly dropped.

Even though it had only been half an hour since Edward Sutton killed Thomas Brooks, Tiger Senior had definitely already heard the news.

All those gang members under David Lewis were recruited after he became a minor boss, so naturally they had no real loyalty to him. Likewise, they felt the same about Edward Sutton, who rose to power by killing.

Now, Richard Howard was sure that someone had already secretly leaked the news, reporting it to Tiger Senior in hopes of a reward.

In his opinion, the best move now would be for Edward Sutton to take the five hundred taels of silver and seek protection from another chief by offering the money.

Going to see Tiger Senior at this moment? The most likely outcome was getting slapped to death on the spot!

"What, you don't want to go?"

Richard Howard gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go!"

After all, he'd already sided with Edward Sutton. If he wavered now, Edward Sutton could probably kill him with a single sword stroke on the spot, without even needing Tiger Senior to do anything.

The other gang members all watched coldly as Edward Sutton and Richard Howard walked out of Drunken Moon Tower, their expressions indifferent.

If Edward Sutton could come back alive from Tiger Senior, then he'd be their boss. If he died, who would care about him?

Chapter 5: Sophistry

Of the forty-nine markets in Changning Prefecture, the Flying Eagle Gang actually controlled only four, including the most rundown one, Changle Market.

As one of the thirteen chiefs of the Flying Eagle Gang—and one of the stronger ones at that—Tiger Senior's territory was a third of Shunyi Market.

Compared to Changle Market, Shunyi Market was much more prosperous. The streets were bustling with people, a constant flow of pedestrians, unlike Changle Market, which was always full of sewage and looked like a slum.

"Tiger Senior has his own residence in Shunyi Market, with three courtyards in a row. Tsk tsk, when will we ever get to live in a mansion like that?" Richard Howard said with envy.

People like them, at the bottom of the gang, didn't dream of fame and fortune. Instead, they just wanted a stable life.

At the entrance to Tiger Senior's residence, two Flying Eagle Gang members stood guard. Richard Howard quickly went up and flattered them, "So it's Boss Walker and Brother Tanner on duty today? Could I trouble you to report that Edward Sutton from Changle Market requests an audience?"

"Edward Sutton? The one who killed Thomas Brooks?" The two looked at Edward Sutton with a playful expression.

Richard Howard's heart skipped a beat. As he expected, the news had already reached Tiger Senior.