Harker's eyes widened upon seeing those gold pearls. "What the fuck…."
South Sea pearls were the most expensive and coveted pearl type, and the Golden South Sea variation was the rarest color. They were extremely difficult to cultivate because they form for a very long period of time. The uncultured ones that were found by divers were even more costly.
"These are raw, unpolished pearls and freshly harvested. So you could have it modified to your liking." Mr. Xi presented with a flourish. "You could have it made as a necklace, bracelets, earrings, watch designs….. Anything, really. And it's all yours now, Roland. You can do whatever you like with it."
Roland was also aware of the value of these pearls alone, much more a whole briefcase.
"This….. Your company harvested this just to be my graduation gift?" Roland asked.
"Why not? You're like a godson to me after all." Mr. Xi smiled. "And Jiaoren Co. produces millions of these every day anyway, to be sold internationally. It's no big deal."
It was a big deal because they were the only Golden South Sea pearl cultivation company that could do that.
Harker watched Roland carefully. If he took this briefcase, it would be equivalent to holding trillions of dollars with lesser weight. All he had to do was to have them polished and sell these pearls. Then he'd had money to start somewhere else with a different identity, no longer his father's son…. f(r)eewebnovel
And escaping his engagement without having to kill him.
But Roland shook his head. "I couldn't accept this, Mr. Xi. I'd rather you give them to a charity organization if you have much to spare. What I wanted instead…."
Roland closed the briefcase and returned it to him.
"Is for you to tell me everything. The truth. Why your wife might have gone that path, when it could have started, everything. That way I'd be prepared if I did handle your case."
Mr. Xi's eye twitched. But he shrugged, and kept the briefcase at the table.
"Let's see…. There's so much I could tell you. I have lived for a long while after all, my memory is starting to fail me. Sometimes I even forget what meal I have eaten 5 minutes before, haha!" The man joked. "But as for Aixiang…. I'll tell you this first."
"Aixiang and I met when our families were having a dispute." He revealed.
Harker narrowed his eyes. So the 'Bai' clan that Miss Lovette mentioned, the succubus clan, must be at war with the 'Xi' clan, the snakes.
"At that time, her family was in chaos. My father, smart man as he was, decided it was the right time to strike while all the children are trying to take over their weakened father." He sighed when recalling the whole affair. "It was bloody."
"Business always is." Mr. Faust nodded.
Mr. Xi smiled ironically. "Well, the long and short of it was that out of all the heirs, it was my Aixiang who had managed to gain power over their subordinates. However, the damage from both the in-fighting and our own attacks were too severe. When Aixiang and I first met… Hm, how do I say this…."
"She tried to 'poison' me."
"Poison?" Roland frowned.
"Manipulated me. Control my mind. I guess you could say it was using her 'feminine wiles'." He explained.
But Harker knew that it was literal poison, since the scent released by a succubus was almost like drugs. It can sedate the body and she can even control it.
"Ah, she tried to seduce you." Mr. Faust chuckled. "I suppose it did work, and you married her so her company won't fall apart and just be adopted by yours?"
"No, the poisoning did not work." Mr. Xi finished his tea, and clicked his fingers at Harker to fill it again. "The Xi and Bai family had been enemies for a long time now. The reason we had won was not only because they were in the middle of a family feud, but also because my father had found a way to be immune to such 'poison'."
Roland rubbed his chin. "Then are you implying that Mrs. Xi's family had always been good at manipulation, and yet you still married a skilled manipulator?"
"Yes, because let's face it, Roland. You can't survive in this world without befriending some crocodiles and snakes." Mr. Xi said. "Thus becoming a snake yourself."
He then shrugged. "But besides for business purposes, I find no joy in victimizing people. I give to charity, as you remember. I also have several foundations for fishermen and their families back home in China. Still….. I thought that after my marriage with Aixiang, and having our child, she would get rid of her family's 'poison'."
He twirled his fork on the souffle. "I thought I had taken the venom off her, but it seems I have only tamed her to not attack me while seeking to prey on someone else."
Roland analyzed his whole story, and Harker wondered what his conclusion was. They had the same conclusion.
"I see. I believe you, Mr. Xi." Roland said. "But if you had known that your wife may have had these violent tendencies from her upbringing…. You should have gotten her a therapist or something to treat it sooner."
Mr. Xi bowed his head. "Yes, it was my mistake. That's what upsets me the most, that I should have caged the beast inside her better."
The tiny discussion closed from there, as they shifted into Mr. Faust and Mr. Xi talking about their company ventures. Harker's eye twitched. This man had developed immunity from the Succubus skill…..
The only thing he can rely on now was to fight him with the same Snake Ability.
Roland was bored out of his mind from all the business talk, and excused himself earlier. He passed by Harker, and suddenly stopped. freewebnov(e)l
Harker froze. 'Don't tell me it's that damn birthmark again! But this uniform is covering my neck….'
"Felipe, did you finish cleaning the Marsedes-Bentz? I forgot that I tasked you to do that. Mrs. Rosas should be the one serving, right?" Roland asked.
Harker was relieved internally. "Yes, Sir."
"That's good. Harker left some black marks on the seats when he borrowed it, like ashes or soot. I remember your white pants getting stained by them.It would be hard to wash—"
Roland checked. "Oh, wait. It's gone now. Huh…"
"I changed, Sir." Harker excused.
"I see. Well, I'll be in my room." He shrugged. "Thank you for cleaning the car and bringing the tea."
Roland always thanks his servants for every service they make. Harker couldn't help but smile at his friend. He really was more righteous than anyone he'd ever met.
As Harker was about to leave and wake up Felipe so he can get out of here—
"A Marsedez-Bentz, eh? Your son let his friend borrow a Marsedez-Bentz?" Mr. Xi asked. "To where?"
Mr. Faust didn't hear the conversation despite being the one nearer to the two. "He did? I was not aware."
"Yes….. Even leaving ashes and soot. Harker was his name, if I heard correctly."
Mr. Faust nodded. "Yes, Harker Jones. That's actually the genius boy I told you about who's studying genetics and may help with your pearl business…."
But Mr. Xi was not listening to this. Harker noticed his hair twitched on its own like a tail as he mumbled his name.
"Harker Jones…."
This content is taken from freewebnove(l).com