Chapter 9 It’s an honor


    Everyone was petrified at Camel’s words.


    Camel was the general manager, the highest leadership position in the branchpany. The only


    person who could be this respected by him was the Chairman of the Group.


    Thinking that he’d been about to get violent with someone this important, Bill’s face turned ashen.


    With a thump, he fell to his knees at Baron’s feet, pleading, “Mr. Chairman, sir, I was blind. Please,


    have a heart and let me off this time!”


    Camel hadn’t known what was going on when he received news that the Chairman wasing to the


    thepany doors. And it seemed he’d gotten in some altercation with the help.


    “What’s this?” Camel demanded, incensed.


    He’d sacrificed too much to be general manager. And now, with the branch only just established,


    his own men had offended the Chairman himself. He was extremely frustrated.


    There was no mercy on Baron’s expression. “Have a heart? So I’m a heartless bastard if I don’t let you


    off?”


    Bill almost pissed himself at Baron’s words. Nearly crying, he babbled, “No Mr. Chairman sir, I didn’t


    mean it like that, I know I’ve done wrong, please give me another chance.”


    Baron only snapped, “Out!”


    Five years of serving on the border had taught Baron one thing – mistakes had to be punished.


    With his status, there was no need to butt heads over a mere security guard, but the Brone Group was


    the only thing he had of his mother. Nobody could tarnish its reputation.


    Bill had been about to make more pleas when Camel kicked him over andmanded, “Drag him out!”


    Camel’s attitude was one of subservience. He’d more or less heard a bit of the rumors surrounding


    Baron.


    The pair went into the office, one in front, and the other in the back. Everyone looked, shocked, at


    Baron, and their vaunted Camel following slightly bowed behind him.


    They’d heard that the Chairman of the Brone Group wasing to the offices today. Looking at


    Camel’s cautious bearing, Baron’s identity was self-evident.


    “It didn’t take a minute for the upper crust families to pay visits to Mr. Camel when he first arrived in


    Cona, but now he’s following behind this young man? Unbelievable!”


    “Nonsense. Even if the richest man in Cona came up, Mr. Camel wouldn’t treat him with this much


    respect. This young man has to be the Chairman!”


    “The Chairman is this young? Be still my beating heart.”


    Baron’s appearance made waves.


    “Yuri, look, is Mr. Camel following behind Baron?”


    Having just finished the employment process and walked back to the lobby, Bonnie caught a glimpse of


    Baron’s back and shock registered on her face.


    By the time Yuri took a look, Baron had disappeared at the end of the corridor.


    “Please. If Mr. Camel was following somebody, do you think it’d be that useless garbage?” Yuri said,


    amused.


    Bonnie pped herself upside the head. “I’m so silly. For Mr. Camel to treat him like that, it has to be


    the Chairman who’sing to the office today.”


    Brone Group penthouse, the inside of a luxurious office.


    Baron sat on afortable sofa, meditating with his eyes closed, without saying a word.


    Camel stood to the side carefully. “Mr. Chairman, sir, you must have orders to havee here all the


    way. Please tell me. I won’t disappoint you.”


    “Just wait.”


    With those two words, Baron fell back into silence, his eyes still closed.


    The seconds ticked by, turning into minutes. Baron continued meditating, cing incredible pressure


    on Camel, whose forehead began to bead with sweat. Unease clouded his heart. The Chairman said to


    “just wait”. Who are what was he waiting for? Did he know?


    As Camel’s doubts gnawed at him, the office doors were pushed open without notice. He’d been about


    to give whoever had barged in a scolding when he saw the intruder pass Baron a file. “Mr. Owen, what


    you asked for.”


    Only now did Baron open his eyes. Flipping across the document, his face slowly darkened.


    Camel’s heart fluttered, his eyes never leaving the file. He had a bad feeling about this.


    p.


    Baron tossed the document viciously towards Camel. “Read it!”


    Seeing Baron fly into a rage, Camel shuddered and picked up the document from the floor.


    “Fifth of May, took a bribe at the Hotel known as…”


    At that, Camel stopped, too horrified to continue.


    Everything in the documents was evidence of all his wrongdoings in the month he’d been general


    manager. The worst part was that they had even recorded the time and ce of his actions. He


    couldn’t deny it even if he tried.


    Baron hissed, “Continue!”


    Terrified, Camel shivered and fell to his knees before Baron’s feet. “I was wrong, Chairman, sir, I’ll


    never do it again, please, give me a chance…”


    Camel’s face filled with tears. He’d worked his way up to today as a bottom-level employee. In his


    dozens of years in thepany, he’d stuck to the straight and narrow, never even taking a cent in


    bribes – until he was appointed general manager of Cona, and countless local families came up to him


    to gain his favor. He finally sumbed to temptation and took their offers.


    “Mr. Owen, want me to kill him?”


    Camel had still been worrying if he could keep his job when Charles went and said that. He almost


    fainted right there.


    Charles wasn’t joking. He knew how much the Brone Group meant to Baron. If Camel had taken


    bribes, that meant he’d done something to harm thepany. Some nerve.


    A few clear notes rang out.


    Baron did not speak. His fingers drummed lightly on the coffee table, each note a knell.


    Camel, paralyzed, couldn’t even muster the strength to beg for mercy.


    “Since it’s your first time, I’ll give you one chance. Remember, though, it’s just one chance. Take


    another bribe, and the money you take can pay the toll for the ferryman.” Baron narrowed his eyes and


    rose to leave.


    Camel’s face filled with the joy of surviving the storm. He promised to the shadow of Baron’s back,


    “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, sir! I promise it won’t happen again!”


    He’d thought he’d been about to be sent to jail, but never could have imagined that Baron would


    actually give him a chance. Filled with gratitude, he swore to serve Baron properly.


    Following Baron out of thepany, Charles said, confused, “Mr. Owen, why are you keeping him on?”


    “I just got back and don’t have too many capable people I can use. Disappearing him is easy, but


    finding a general manager who knows how to manage Brone Group affairs is difficult.”


    Baron replied and continued, “The Brone Group has been under the control of the Owen n for so


    many years, thepany leadership is all made up of family men. Unless, of course, I switch out


    everyone right now. If I did that, thepany would reallye to ruin. Even if I wanted to, now’s not


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    the time to switch anyone out. I can’t rush this.”


    “I see, Mr. Owen. You’re nning on nting your own supportwork, waiting until the time is right,


    and switching out the old blood for the entire Group.”


    Charles was capable of being brutal, but he was no brute. He soon caught on to Baron’s meaning.


    “You’ve got clear evidence of Camel’s wrongdoing, and now you’re tossing him a lifeline as he faces


    destruction. Now that he’s grateful to you, he’ll serve thepany well.


    “If he really sticks to the straight and narrow from now on and demonstrates his value, you’ll definitely


    expand his horizons, too.”


    Baron looked at Charles with aplicated expression, sighing gently, “With your ability, your future


    would have been unlimited if you stayed on the P Inds. What a waste, following me!”


    Charles stood up straight, his face set. “As far as P is concerned, you are a god, Mr. Owen. I would


    have died countless times if not for you. It’s an honor to stay by your side!”


    Baron didn’t reply. He took a few steps forward, and then suddenly stopped and said, “Check


    something for me. I want you to find out who it was that set me and Tracy up five years ago.”


    In that moment, a terrifying aura erupted from Baron’s body, and in his gaze was endless winter.