Robert Bennett's smile froze as quickly as super glue exposed to air. The others also stared at me in utter shock. The huge restaurant was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. While I was still wondering if this was some kind of traditional custom of their ethnicity, Ethan Ford had already grabbed my sleeve and was dragging me toward the door, turning back with a forced smile: “My friend here isn’t quite right in the head, please don’t mind him, sorry to leave so soon.”

　　Once outside, Ethan Ford practically exploded: “The Wen family hates Free Lancers the most! Especially assassins! What the hell were you thinking, announcing your identity right in front of them!? Did you remember anything I told you, or did you just treat it all like dog crap!?”

　　Thinking carefully, Ethan Ford did seem to have said something like that before, but expecting me to remember every detail is a bit much.

　　“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. Anything else I should know?”

　　Ethan Ford took a deep breath, calmed down, and began to explain seriously: “The Wen family doesn’t like Free Lancers because they hate solving problems with violence. Likewise, they dislike cynicism, breaking established social rules, vulgar indulgence because it lacks class, ignorance, irresponsibility, and…”

　　I waved my hand: “You could just say they don’t like me, Wang.”

　　“……”

　　Ethan Ford's expression clearly said: You, Wang, really aren’t the Wen family’s type.

　　“In that case, let’s just call it quits.” I was about to go back in and make things clear, but Ethan Ford grabbed me.

　　“Didn’t you claim to have great professional ethics?”

　　While my personal morals are average, my professional ethics are top-notch.

　　“In that case, since you agreed to take this job, shouldn’t you put up with the client, no matter how annoying they are?”

　　Ethan Ford had a point. I was moved and nodded.

　　Ethan Ford was relieved at having convinced me, but just then I remembered something and said, “No matter how noble my professional ethics are, if the client isn’t satisfied and fires me, that’s not my problem.”

　　“Well…”

　　I laughed and strode back into the restaurant: “My professional ethics don’t include entertaining the client. If they want to terminate the contract, that’s their business. Let’s see how long those idiots can put up with me—damn rich people!”

　　The Wen family really had good self-control. In the few minutes I’d been gone, they’d already adjusted their attitudes. When I returned, they all chose to selectively forget my earlier words, each offering me a noble smile and a sincere welcome.

　　This reaction was honestly disappointing. Looks like I’ll have to be a bodyguard for the Wen family for a while… As I was thinking this, I suddenly realized an important person was missing. At the table were two ladies: one was Robert Bennett’s wife, the other the eldest daughter. But the Wen family’s youngest daughter, whom I was supposed to protect, was nowhere to be seen!

　　Ethan Ford suddenly kicked me under the table. While I was distracted, those hypocrites had finished their small talk and moved on to the main topic, and now everyone’s eyes were on me.

　　I quickly put down my silver fork, which was overloaded with so much meat it looked like a mace, and said:

　　“Um, may I ask how the Wen family managed to provoke the Ravens?”

　　The Ravens are top-tier in the business, extremely difficult to deal with. Usually, no ordinary reason could get them involved. The Wen family isn’t ordinary, but even so, it’s not easy to get on the Ravens’ bad side.

　　Robert Bennett looked a bit embarrassed. “Just some business troubles.”

　　But the Ravens don’t do business.

　　Ethan Ford whispered an explanation: “Not long ago, the Wen family crushed a competitor using some unsavory methods, and wiped them out completely, leaving a new family totally bankrupt. If you trace it back, the grudge goes back decades, impossible to sort out. But the Wen family was too ruthless and angered a lot of people.”

　　“Then why target the Wen family’s youngest daughter?”

　　At this, Ethan Ford’s face also darkened.

　　“That ruined family ended up in a miserable state. Before that, they had a bright future, but the fall was too great, and almost all the family members went mad…”

　　So that’s how they could come up with such despicable ways to get revenge.

　　I concluded, “In the end, this is just a dog-eat-dog fight among nobles.”

　　I was quite satisfied with this conclusion.

　　Ethan Ford could only give a wry smile.

　　At this moment, Robert Bennett coughed and asked, “Mr. Wang, do you have any countermeasures against the Ravens?”

　　I’d been thinking about this ever since I left the house, and by now I had a solid plan.

　　“Starting now, move all Wen family members to a Class A underground shelter in Tianjing City within twenty-four hours, accompanied by me personally, and stay there for at least a year. No matter how patient the Ravens are, they’ll give up eventually. This is the safest method—absolutely foolproof.”

　　The table fell silent. Clearly, this so-called foolproof plan was beyond their imagination. But seeing Ethan Ford’s pained expression, I knew this plan probably wouldn’t pass.