Chapter 79: The Chess Player

“I’m just an outsider. You are indeed a very skilled chess player, but no matter how good a chess player is, they can’t see the whole picture like an observer can.”

Masashi turned to look at the mixed-race beauty, who was now crying uncontrollably. “Ailin, do you know how Amy describes you? She says you’re pitiful. Though she doesn’t know why, she knows you’ve always been in pain. You’re a kind-hearted person who doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but you’ve fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t. Do you think that child is just there to help you play the role of an unmarried mother? You’re wrong. Murphy knows very well the power of Adams. He doesn’t have the ability to protect you. So, that child is actually a bait, a bait to make Adams think it could be used to threaten you. Because he believes he has leverage over you, Adams hasn’t sent anyone after you. That’s the main reason Murphy had you adopt the child.”

Upon hearing Masashi’s words, Ailin looked at Murphy with disbelief.

Murphy remained silent, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

“Why? Just a little bit more, and I would have succeeded. I can’t accept this! I can’t accept this…” Murphy glared at the young man.

Masashi silently watched him.

Murphy didn’t like the way the young man was looking at him. He shouted at him hysterically, “No one in the family respects me. All they care about are Montreux and my elder brother. I’m just their shadow, a shadow that can be dispensed with. I can’t accept it! I have to prove to everyone that with Montreux’s shares in my hands, I can do better than him. Only I can truly lead the family to prosperity. Why, why are you ruining my plan?”

Masashi looked at him for a while, then suddenly stood up and punched him in the stomach.

“Ah!” The punch was heavy, and Murphy bent over in pain.

“You fool who thinks you’re a savior,” Masashi sneered, then signaled to the man in black standing nearby. The man understood, pulled out a shiny knife from his body, and walked toward Murphy.

Seeing the approaching man, Murphy’s face turned even paler. But the proud blood of the Defoe family wouldn’t allow him to beg for mercy, so he simply closed his eyes in silence.

“Don’t… Lei Yin, please, don’t kill him, Lei Yin…” Ailin shouted desperately, trying to rush forward, but was tightly held back by the man with brown hair.

To their complete surprise, the man cut the ropes binding Murphy with the knife.

“What do you mean by this?” Murphy stared in disbelief at the young man.

“What’s wrong? Do you want me to kill you?” Masashi said, leaning against the window.

Murphy stared at him, and after a while, he gradually calmed down. “Speak, how much do you want?”

Masashi looked at him and suddenly laughed. After a moment, he coldly said, “Mr. Murphy, you guessed wrong. I don’t want a single cent.”

“What do you want then? Shares in the Diabo Group? Sorry, that’s impossible. Before inheriting the previous generation’s estate, we all signed a contract, and outsiders, except for the Defoe family members, can never get any shares,” Murphy said, regaining his calm, now that he knew the young man didn’t want to kill him.

Masashi walked up to him, “Mr. Murphy, you guessed wrong again. I don’t want anything.” The young man said, each word clear.

Murphy showed a look of confusion. He had no idea what the young man was after.

“Even if tomorrow you have Ailin go to the law firm to transfer custody rights, I won’t stop you. Didn’t you say you could do better than Montreux? I’ll give you the chance.”

“What do you really want?” Murphy was a businessman, and he never believed in anything being free.

Masashi ignored him and continued, “Even if you fail in the end, it doesn’t matter, because I never thought you would succeed. Do whatever you want, even if you ruin the Diabo Group, it doesn’t matter. You ask what I want? Sorry, I don’t want anything. I have no interest in the Defoe family’s assets.”

At this point, Masashi looked at Ailin, “I originally thought of killing all of you to eliminate future trouble. But for Amy, I gave up on that idea. Ailin, you’re one of the few people Amy is willing to accept. If I killed you, Amy would lose the one who has always cared for her. I’ve said it before, you’re a kind-hearted woman, so I believe your feelings for Amy aren’t fake. So, for that little girl, I spared you. And Murphy, you’re lucky because of Ailin, I spared you too. Even though I could kill you, if I did, Ailin would hate me. Though she can’t affect me much, I can’t risk her using Amy to strike back at me. Women consumed by hatred are irrational.”

He paused for a moment. “And also, giving Montreux’s shares to you might be better than giving them to that madman Adams. I’m not worried about you wasting Amy’s fortune, if she needs it, I can give her more.”

Masashi smiled faintly, “Maybe you don’t believe what I said, but that’s your problem, not mine.” With that, he calmly walked toward the door.

This was the young man’s true thought. When he learned of their actions, he did have the urge to kill them. But what would happen to that little girl afterward? If not for Ailin, Amy might have become more reclusive and withdrawn. He couldn’t stay in Switzerland to take care of Amy forever, and the school environment in Japan wasn’t suitable for a child like her. So, he finally came to this plan.

Capturing Murphy here was just a warning to him.

“Do you really want nothing?” Murphy asked skeptically.

“It’s no use talking now. Time will prove everything. Though I won’t interfere with you, there’s one thing you’d better remember—if I find out you made that little girl sad, be prepared for the consequences,” Masashi said calmly.

Murphy fell silent.

“Well, I’ve said everything I needed to. You two may leave now.” Masashi opened the door.

Murphy glanced at him, then dragged Ailin out of the room.

“You’ll send them back. And take care of this sniper.” Masashi tossed the car keys to the man in black.

“I understand, sir.” The man in black bowed to Masashi, then dragged the unconscious sniper out of the room.

Masashi leisurely walked to the entrance and said to the mixed-race beauty who was about to get into the car, “Ailin, Amy is still waiting for you at home. If you’ve rested enough, come back.”

Ailin looked at him with a complex expression, then nodded and got into the car.

After watching the black Bentley disappear into the distance, Masashi turned to the two young men remaining and said, “Let’s go. Looks like someone will have trouble sleeping tonight.”

The Asian man bid farewell to Masashi and ran to the garage behind the house. After a while, he drove a white Citroen and came in front of Masashi.

“Where did this car come from?” Masashi asked as he opened the door.

“Sir, this car was just stolen back.” The young Asian man answered.

Masashi nodded without saying anything further.

Switzerland has many billionaires living there, and its beautiful scenery is one of the key reasons. Many people who enjoy life build their homes in the suburbs or semi-suburbs, far from the hustle and bustle, in places with picturesque views.

Adams was no different. His private mansion was located on the quiet shores of a lake. Unlike others who sought peace, he built his home in such a location for business meetings, as his clients were often shadowy figures.

About half a kilometer from Adams’s mansion, Masashi and his two companions got out of the car in front of an old warehouse.

The Asian youth knocked four times rhythmically on the warehouse door. After a while, the door opened, but no one emerged.

Masashi felt quite satisfied. He noticed four people hiding in different spots outside the warehouse. It seemed that this batch of people was very well-trained.

Inside the warehouse, there was only one fluorescent light.

Thirteen men in matching black tight-fitting clothes were standing in a line, bowing to Masashi. “Good evening, sir.”

“No need for that, save it for when we pay respects. What are you doing here, kid?” Masashi said to one of the tall men in the group.

“Master has something to do, so I naturally have to serve,” Lei Li said with a smile, also dressed in black.

“Oh, really?” Masashi smiled as he walked up to him.

Seeing Masashi’s smile, Lei Li thought something was wrong. He was about to step back, but it was too late. A hand, too fast to be seen, struck his head.

“Mind your own business,” Masashi snorted. 

“Master, I just wanted to help you. There was no need to hit me so hard,” Lei Li said, rubbing his head with a wronged expression.