“You can absolutely rest assured about this—I’ll keep my lips sealed!” William Foster thumped his chest with a loud bang. “Am I that kind of person…”

“Or… why don’t you just take it now?” William Foster, fearing that delay might bring trouble, was eager to settle things on the spot.

“Idiot!” Ethan Brooks scolded in a low voice. “Can’t you use your brain? With so many people watching me move things out of your house right now? How am I supposed to keep it a secret then?”

“Yes, yes.” William Foster leaned in close to Ethan Brooks’s ear. “Then, how about I bring it out to you at dusk, when it’s dark?”

“Excellent plan!” Ethan Brooks praised endlessly. “At that time, I’ll be waiting for you in the alley at the corner. And, I’ll bring the gold notes for you as well.”

That was exactly what William Foster wanted to hear, and he immediately beamed with joy. “Thanks so much, brother… As long as I can restore my original status at home, I’ll immediately start gathering silver from the shops to pay you back. Don’t worry, I always keep my word!”

“Alright, alright. If I didn’t trust you, would I have lent you so much money?” Ethan Brooks slung his arm around William Foster’s shoulders, the two of them acting as close as real brothers.

On the side, Logan Bennett watched this scene, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

With everything settled, Ethan Brooks and Logan Bennett, amid William Foster’s endless thanks and the respectful send-off from the young master of the Zuo family, gracefully left the Zuo Prime Minister’s residence.

“Don’t forget tonight, ah ah!” The two had already walked quite a distance, yet they could still hear William Foster’s emotional shout as he watched them leave.

……

“Tell me, are you really going to lend him the money?” Logan Bennett looked at Ethan Brooks suspiciously. “I mean… you don’t seem like such a kind-hearted person. Are you planning to back out at the last minute and trick that kid?”

“What kind of talk is that? You really judge a gentleman’s heart with a petty mind! Do you think I’m like you, someone who goes back on his word and can’t be trusted?!” Ethan Brooks looked at Logan Bennett with utter disdain, then added, “Go home and prepare ten thousand taels in gold notes for me—I need them!”

Lending to William Foster—it seemed his own family’s reserves weren’t enough…

“You need them, huh? Fine, wait… what did you say? You want me to prepare ten thousand taels in gold notes, and then you’ll lend them to Young Foster? Why? Give me a reason first!” Realizing what was going on, Logan Bennett exploded in an instant.

You play the good guy, and I pay for it?

Why should I!?

“A reason? You can’t figure that out? If you don’t prepare enough gold notes, what am I supposed to lend to William Foster? Isn’t that obvious? So much nonsense!”

Ethan Brooks rolled his eyes, seemingly casual and unhurried as he threatened, “Logan Bennett, if you don’t bring me the gold notes and make me break my promise, that’s fine. At worst, I’ll just tell your grandpa, your dad, your mom, and your stepmother about that time you and William Foster got jealous over a courtesan at the brothel and ran naked through the streets… And if that’s not exciting enough, I’ll just post big-character posters all over town! I guarantee everyone in the capital—and the whole world—will know your name, Logan Bennett! You’ll be as famous as Young Foster in the capital, renowned across the land!”

“What? You—!” Logan Bennett was so shocked he nearly fainted, his cross-eyed glare snapping back to normal as he wailed in agony, “That’s way too vicious! Are you trying to kill me…”

“Pah! You’re still so young, what ‘kill you’? Cut the crap! In the end, it’s just a few measly coins from you. I’m asking you: are you giving them or not?!”

“I’ll give! Do I have a choice?” Logan Bennett was on the verge of tears. “I’ll give them, alright…”

Chapter 5: Treasure in Hand, Chaos Begins!

Ethan Brooks stuffed the gold notes he’d extorted from Logan Bennett into his pocket and hurried anxiously toward the agreed-upon spot—the alley behind the Zuo Prime Minister’s residence.

When Ethan Brooks was about halfway there, night had already fallen, and darkness covered everything.

Not far ahead was the Zuo residence. Ethan Brooks smiled with satisfaction, about to take a detour toward the alley. But just as he rounded the corner and was about to enter the alley, a sudden, bone-chilling sensation surged up within him!

“Hm?” Ethan Brooks stopped abruptly.

It was an intense sense of danger!

This was an instinct honed through countless life-and-death crises and ambushes in his previous life—absolutely infallible.

This intuition was uncannily accurate when sensing rare treasures, and even more so when detecting danger!

Whenever this feeling arose, it meant he was about to face an extremely perilous situation.

Ethan Brooks could sense that experts from all directions were converging on this spot.

And the place where he stood was, faintly, the very center—the core.

“Are they after me?” Ethan Brooks frowned, then shook his head. “That can’t be… I’m not important enough yet for so many experts to make such a big move, am I? They’re giving me way too much credit!”

At the same time, hurried footsteps echoed from the nearby alley; a voice muttered in a low tone, “That guy Ethan Brooks isn’t going to bail on me, is he? He’s not going to play me for a fool, right?”

It was William Foster’s voice.

Clearly, this guy had arrived early and was already getting impatient from waiting.