Chapter 745: Chapter 745 The Price Of Protection
The sound was bone-chilling, like spirits shrieking and wolves howling, making anyone’s skin crawl.
Jean Tricia tried to say something, but Ms. Zackary cut him off. She lifted her hand and brought it crashing down on Tricia’ skull!
"Crack!"
That single blow shattered Tricia’ head completely!
Ms. Zackary’s expression was dark, her jaw clenched tight.
"Ms. Zackary, what’s our next move?" a purple-robed man asked.
Ms. Zackary drew a sharp breath. "The Ten-thousand-year-old Medical Materials are too valuable to abandon."
"You’re coming with me to The Noble Family. We’re getting our target back," Ms. Zackary said icily.
The purple-robed man looked troubled. "Ms. Zackary, The Noble Family isn’t easy prey. Word is they’ve been quietly building power, training multiple Marquis-level fighters, plus they’ve got tons of hired muscle."
Ms. Zackary shot the purple-robed man a look, grinding her teeth. "How the hell has Sybil Cooper been running things! He actually let The Noble Family get this strong!"
"Being so far from the Capital City, President Cooper’s options in Downton City are limited," the purple-robed man said with a shrug.
The Capital City Martial Arts Association depended on local branches to keep things in check.
But those local branches usually worked hand-in-hand with the local big shots.
This meant the Capital City Martial Arts Association couldn’t really interfere with local martial arts families.
"We’ll take our shot. I’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse," Ms. Zackary said coldly.
The Ten-thousand-year-old Medicinal Materials mattered. But what mattered more to Ms. Zackary was making sure those materials never ended up in Mason Raymond’s hands.
——
Right now, Guy Noble and I had made it back to the Noble Family compound.
"Just make yourself at home here," Guy Noble said, thumping his chest.
I nodded. "Mr. Noble, I really owe you for this..."
"Don’t mention it," Guy Noble waved me off.
Even though he said it wasn’t necessary, I’d never forget what the Noble Family was doing for me.
So I got up and went with Guy Noble to see Pat Noble.
Pat Noble was helping me because he spotted potential in me.
The Noble Family had been growing fast over the years, using their own power to keep expanding their reach.
Pat Noble had backed tons of martial artists, all of them promising.
As long as one of them made it big, it would lock in the Noble Family’s power for decades.
You had to admit, Pat Noble might be full of himself, but he was smart as hell.
"Mr. Noble, I’m pretty sure Ms. Zackary’s gonna show up here demanding me back," I said, worried.
Pat Noble brushed it off. "Don’t sweat it. I gave you my word, and I don’t break promises."
I bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Noble."
Right then, someone burst in from outside.
"Master, there’s a woman saying she’s Ms. Zackary wanting to see you," the servant said with a bow.
"Ha, that was fast," Guy Noble snorted.
Pat Noble laughed. "Show her in. I’ve been wanting to meet this Ms. Zackary anyway."
A few minutes later, Ms. Zackary walked in with eight purple-robed men.
When Ms. Zackary spotted me sitting in the main hall, her face went ice-cold.
"Hmph!" Ms. Zackary snorted, then sat down across from me.
The eight purple-robed men lined up behind Ms. Zackary.
Ms. Zackary looked up at Pat Noble. "Mr. Noble, hand over Mason Raymond. The Capital City Martial Arts Association will owe you big time."
Pat Noble ignored that and smiled. "You must be Ms. Zackary?"
Ms. Zackary answered flatly, "That’s right. I’m one of the real power players at the Capital City Martial Arts Association."
Pat Noble sneered. "So you’re the one who trashed our family? Called us monkeys?"
Ms. Zackary’s face shifted. She glared at me coldly. "This is all a setup by that punk Mason Raymond!"
"Bullshit!" Guy Noble exploded.
"You’re one hell of an actress. If I hadn’t been watching you closely, you would’ve fooled me!"
Ms. Zackary’s face went hard. As a big shot at the Capital City Martial Arts Association, when had she ever been insulted like this?
Even dealing with local bullies, she never had to eat crow!
"Mr. Noble, I know your family runs things locally, but let me remind you - the Capital City Martial Arts Association is the official martial arts organization," Ms. Zackary said coldly.
"If you give me Mason Raymond, I can make the Noble Family president of the Downton City Association. I can hand you control of Downton City’s entire martial arts scene."
"If not... Your family becomes our enemy!"
Ms. Zackary mixed threats with bribes, still acting high and mighty.
Pat Noble just sneered. "You think the Noble family scares that easy? We’ve ruled Downton City for over five hundred years. Why would we fear you?"
Hearing this, Ms. Zackary frowned again.
Over five hundred years?
Looked like the Noble Family really was old-school martial arts royalty!
No wonder they controlled so many resources!
Shocked, a greedy idea crept into Ms. Zackary’s mind:
What kind of treasure must a 500-year-old family be sitting on? How could the Capital City Martial Arts Association let these resources slip away?
"Mr. Noble, are you sure you won’t cooperate?" Ms. Zackary slowly stood up.
Pat Noble chuckled. "The only reason I agreed to meet you was to see that arrogant face of yours."
"Fine, fine!" Ms. Zackary clapped her hands slowly.
"Let me tell you something. Whatever resources you’ve got, they’re nothing to the Capital City Martial Arts Association!"
"I want to see how long your Noble Family can keep acting tough!"
After dropping that threat, Ms. Zackary got up to leave.
Pat Noble didn’t try to stop her. Watching Ms. Zackary walk away, he laughed coldly. "So what if it’s the Capital City Martial Arts Association? I’m not scared of them in Downton City!"
I was getting worried. "Mr. Noble, the Capital City Martial Arts Association really isn’t something to mess with. You should watch yourself."
Pat Noble waved it off. "Anywhere else, I wouldn’t dare cross them. But in Downton City, what are they worth?"
"Just focus on your training. They can’t touch you," Guy Noble said confidently, patting his chest.
I stood up and bowed again in thanks.
The Noble Family had set up a room for me and the others. The room was huge and came with a big courtyard.
"Damn, the Noble family basically runs Downton City like kings," the man with the mustache couldn’t help but say.
I nodded. "I keep feeling like the Capital City Martial Arts Association won’t just let this slide."
The man with the mustache scoffed. "Don’t overthink it. Since the Noble Family stepped up to help, no point in second-guessing now."
I thanked him, then looked at the man with the mustache again. "I owe you one too."
"You owe me so many favors already," the man with the mustache said, rolling his eyes.
——
"Ms. Zackary, the Noble Family is so cocky - are we just gonna take this?" a purple-robed man asked with a frown.
Ms. Zackary’s face was stone-cold. "Take it? Ha, I’m very interested in the Noble Family’s resources!"
"Once this settles down, I’m putting in a request to headquarters to wipe out the Noble Family!"
