"Why are you running a restaurant in America?""I'm wanted back home."
Silence fell again.
"Child, come to Nanluo Kingdom. I want to see you.""I'm busy these days. Can't leave.""Rascal! What's more important than acknowledging your ancestors?!""If it's about money, forget it—I'll have Yiyue send you however much you want!"
The old man suddenly exploded. Cao Yang was stunned for a second. He almost cursed back but held it in. After all, the old man was an elder—technically Cao Yang should call him Great-granduncle.
"It's not about money. Let's talk later. I'm… not ready yet. When I have time, I'll visit."
Before the old man could reply, Cao Yang returned the phone to Cao Yiyue.
Cao Yiyue stepped outside to speak with her grandfather. Inside the room, only Cao Yang and Nancy were left.
Cao Yang fiddled with the warlord uniform, finding it quite stylish. He really wanted to wear it on the street and take a stroll.
Nancy watched him with a sweet smile. Cao Yang scratched his head awkwardly and offered her tea.
Soon, Cao Yiyue came back.
"Cao Yang-ge, my grandfather sincerely wants you to visit. He's old now… he just wants to see you."
Even her form of address changed. She originally wanted to take some of his blood for genetic testing, but her grandfather insisted there was no mistake—so the verification step was skipped entirely.
Cao Yang waved his hand. "Some other time. I really have things going on recently."
Cao Yiyue pouted. "Your restaurant doesn't even need you to cook or serve. Worst case, close it for a month. Whatever you lose, I'll compensate tenfold."
Cao Yang still refused. The restaurant was just a cover—the place functioned more like the canteen of Zhongyi Hall.
He wasn't leaving because he still needed to deal with the Naitray gang. He could feel they'd clash very soon.
"What will it take for you to visit?!"Cao Yiyue was getting frustrated. This guy was like a wall—nothing got through.
Cao Yang ignored her irritation. His eyes shifted as he casually probed about the Cao family's status in Nanluo.
"Your grandfather retired yet?""No. Still working on the frontlines of the military.""Your grandfather's a soldier?""Of course! Most of Nanluo's army is under him!"
"So badass?"Cao Yang sucked in a cold breath.
Cao Yiyue proudly prepared to show off more of her family's power—then suddenly realized Nancy was present. Continuing the topic would be… unwise.
"I heard Nanluo Kingdom still uses a monarchy?"Cao Yiyue nodded faintly.
Cao Yang continued, "How is that acceptable? I heard your country is rich in resources, but the people are poor because the royal family monopolizes everything. Is that true?"
Cao Yiyue's expression instantly darkened. She wanted to deny it—but it was the truth.
Her eyes darted toward Nancy. She desperately signaled at Cao Yang to shut up.
But Cao Yang didn't get it at all.
"If your family controls the military, why not overthrow that rotten monarchy and establish a modern—"
"GE! CAO YANG-GE! PLEASE STOP!"Cao Yiyue was about to cry.
Nancy watched her with a half-smile, each glance pressuring her like a mountain.
Cao Yang still didn't notice anything wrong. He even wanted to continue offering "suggestions."
The moment he opened his mouth, Cao Yiyue slapped a hand over it.
"Cao Yang-ge, I'm leaving. I'll visit tomorrow."
She didn't wait for his reaction and dragged Nancy away as if escaping a fire.
"Hey—at least eat before you go!"Cao Yang shouted, confused. Why was his cheap little sister in such a hurry?
In the car, Yiyue immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry, Princess. My cheap brother doesn't understand our situation at all. He talks nonsense. Please don't take it seriously. Our Cao family is completely loyal to His Majesty!"
Nancy smiled gently."Don't overthink it, Yiyue. Without your Cao family's support, my father couldn't have secured the throne. We trust you implicitly."
"Princess, you praise us too much. His Majesty is beloved by the people and supported by the royal clan. It has nothing to do with what Cao Yang said."
Nancy didn't answer. Her eyes grew distant as she looked at the modern skyline outside the window—lost in thought.
When she arrived home, she encountered her brother, Nanda.
"Where were you?""With Yiyue. Visiting her… cheap brother."
"Keep your distance from Cao Yiyue.""Why?""The Cao family has ambitions. If you get close, it might put you in danger.""I think the Cao family is loyal. Without them, Father wouldn't be king.""Hmph! What do you know?!""If not for the fact that most of our population is of the Nanta ethnicity, and the Cao family are outsiders, they would've replaced us long ago!"
...
"Bad news, Boss!"
Chicken Feather rushed into Cao Yang's office, panicked."Something happened! Our men clashed with Naitray again. Five brothers got killed, and the smoking parlor was burned!"
"What?!"Cao Yang slammed the table and ordered Chicken Feather to gather everyone for a meeting.
When he left, Cao Yang lit a cigarette and smirked coldly.
Opening a smoking parlor on someone else's turf and stealing business? Of course there'd be conflict. Of course people would die.
Why didn't he stop them?
In this line of work—nobody walks away without bloodshed.
He originally wanted to fight directly, but Situ Meixin had warned him—don't make a mess. Or rather—don't go too far.
How do you steal someone's business without making trouble?
Now that his men had died, striking back became justifiable. Situ Meixin couldn't say anything.
As for the dead brothers? Unfortunate. High risk, high reward—that's the deal.
If they were close to him—like Xiao Fei, Liang Feng, Lei Dian—he would never use them this way.
But most of these guys he barely knew. Half their names he couldn't even remember.
Would he feel sad? Absolutely not. That'd be fake.
Those who survived would have the chance to stay with him longer—build real bonds.
A crowd gathered on the rooftop, brainstorming revenge strategies. Nothing ideal came up. Aside from gunfights and blood-for-blood retaliation, there weren't many options.
They weren't afraid of dying—but realistically—they were outnumbered and on enemy turf. They could only wait for their boss.
"Boss is here!"
Cao Yang stepped through the crowd. Before anyone spoke, he announced:
"Chen Wei, Du Hao stay. Everyone else—spread out and prepare to fully take over all smoking parlors in Modelwen Community."
The brothers erupted in shock.
They were still thinking about revenge—Boss came up and ordered a full takeover?!
Already at that stage?!Where did he get that kind of confidence?!