William Grant hurriedly said, “It was my own ignorance... I remember back in the early years at the Yellow Sea, I once heard someone mention Wuyang wood. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to see it in person. To be able to witness it with my own eyes today fulfills a long-held wish... Mr. Harris, Miss King, sorry to have disturbed you.”

The old man cupped his hands in salute, leaned on his cane, and slowly walked away.

“Mr. Harris, please wait!”

As soon as William Grant left, David Harris and Linda King were stopped again.

A row of about a dozen burly men blocked the entrance to the trading hall tightly. Several of them held gleaming machetes, their cold, chilling blades flashing menacingly.

Edward Brooks calmly stepped in front of the two.

Chapter 8: Robbery

Caught off guard by this scene, chaos instantly erupted in the trading hall. Cries of alarm and screams rang out as everyone instinctively squeezed to the other side, trying to get as far from the door as possible, staring over in terror, not knowing why such a shocking turn of events had suddenly occurred.

“Everyone, please calm down.”

Ethan Brooks gathered his breath and shouted in a loud, clear voice.

In an instant, the entire hall echoed thunderously, making everyone’s eardrums buzz. The clamor and cries were immediately suppressed, and all eyes turned to Ethan Brooks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re all old friends here. What’s happening today has nothing to do with any of you. It’s just that I, Someone Brooks, have some business to discuss with Mr. Harris. I’ll only take a little of your time. Once I finish with Mr. Harris, the trading will continue as usual. I guarantee no harm will come to anyone. Here, I apologize to all of you for the inconvenience. I’m truly sorry!”

Ethan Brooks clasped his hands and bowed in all four directions.

Hearing this, the panicked guests finally calmed down a bit. But seeing those cold, gleaming machetes, it was still hard to feel completely at ease. After all, this was Edward Brooks’s territory—no one dared to step forward and play the hero.

Ethan Brooks was polite to the guests, but that was just a business tactic. If you really angered him, did you think Edward Brooks couldn’t deal with you? In the world of the jianghu, the most important thing isn’t your own strength, but your sense of the situation.

Those with good sense always manage to live a little longer.

“Mr. Harris, I hope you’ll understand. It’s not that I’m breaking the rules, but this matter is just too important to me.”

After calming the other guests, Ethan Brooks finally spoke to David Harris, still courteous, smiling, unhurried.

David Harris smiled lightly and said, “Boss Brooks, is it for the Wuyang wood?”

“That’s right, Mr. Harris. I’ve been searching for this Wuyang wood for four or five years. All this time, not only have I never seen the real thing, but hardly anyone has even heard of it. Even Old Grant couldn’t say much about it. I never expected it to appear today. Mr. Harris, I am determined to get this item. Please let me have it—name your price, whatever it is. As long as I can afford it, even if it costs me everything, I won’t hesitate.”

Ethan Brooks said earnestly.

David Harris replied seriously, “Boss Brooks, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. This Wuyang wood is just as important to me. It’s not a matter of money.”

There’s a joke online: whenever someone says “it’s not about the money,” it’s always about the money in the end.

But that saying really doesn’t apply to David Harris.

If David Harris says it’s not about the money, then it truly isn’t.

Ethan Brooks laughed and said, “Mr. Harris, I’m a straightforward man, not one for beating around the bush. Let’s be frank—I’m not here to negotiate. I must have this Wuyang wood. If you won’t name a price, then I will—two million, cash. Money in one hand, goods in the other. If Mr. Harris refuses, then I’m afraid I’ll have to offend you. Both you and Miss King are educated people and guests here—I really don’t want to do this. So please, Mr. Harris, don’t make things difficult for me. If you grant me this favor today, from now on, I’ll consider you a friend. If you ever need anything, as long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it for you, even if it costs me my life. Consider it my way of repaying this favor.”

Edward Brooks truly lived up to his reputation as a formidable figure in the underworld of the three southwestern provinces. His words were clear and reasonable, and those who knew Ethan Brooks’s character understood well that Edward Brooks was a man of his word—once he made a promise, he would never go back on it.

Two million in cash, plus Edward Brooks’s ironclad promise—this was no small offer, and the price was certainly high.

David Harris studied Ethan Brooks for a moment, immediately understanding, and said softly, “Boss Brooks, I understand how you feel. The hidden illness in your body is indeed quite serious... If you don’t mind, let me check your pulse.”

Before David Harris finished speaking, before his hand even reached out, Ethan Brooks had already stepped back two paces, raised his hand in defense, eyes narrowing, taking a guarded stance. “Sorry, Mr. Harris, I can’t allow that.”

Earlier, when David Harris fought Thomas Reed, others might not have understood, but Ethan Brooks saw everything clearly.

Seeing Thomas Reed subdued by David Harris in a single move, Ethan Brooks had already become extremely wary.