146 Indeed You Have Truly Grown Up

"Then what do you think?" he asked getting the attention of everyone in the room.

The other three looked at him in confusion.

"I think you could get him under you. We don't know their real strength but if they are strong then they are a good company, if they are weak then at least we have more in terms of number."

"That's what I think as well but..."

"Yes, place them at a good distance, don't trust and just collaborate," she replied knowing what he wants to say.

"Very well," he looked at the boss and said.

"Shall we sign something?"

The boss laughed, "No need, no need, you can have my word plus we only need to work together during fights we don't have to be friends."

"I'll never take you as my friend," was his reply.

The boss once again laughed.

"I am getting bored anyway, name's Michael Banfield, nice to meet you," he stood up and extended his hand towards Ashton.

Ashton just accepted his hand.

Michael was in his late forties but still looked like he was in his early thirties.

He has this soft look that makes him look innocent, that one who didn't know him would not equate him with a gang leader.

"Such fruitful encounter, you see. I have an intuition that today I'll have a wonderful visitor. Who would have thought that it would actually be the famous Ashton Wright. You've done it twice now, wrecking havoc. And both times, your family suffered," he suddenly started speaking.

"So who was it? That made you this way? Someone as rationale as to actually slowly climb up instead of just going instantly for the top," he asked with a smile.

"If it were back then, with what was her name again?... Ah that's right Madison, I think if she was the one beside you, you would have run on impulse all over again," he continued.

Ashton frowned, his aura felt familiar but he can't point out just who was it.

"You don't have to know," was all he said.

"Well that's too bad. Anyway let me guess, is it that woman? The one beside you during the gala? She seemed to be strong," he insisted on saying.

Within the room there was only Ashton and his friends at the same time Michael Banfield and six more.

"She is," Ashton sighed as he replied without a change in his eyes, he can tell that there's no point in playing with this man.

"Oh, now I'm getting more curious of her, should I greet her?" Michael asked with a playful smile.

"You can try but that is if she entertains you," Ashton replied.

"I can just use different ways," he replied.

To his surprise Ashton didn't get mad but instead he smiled, "Not until you came face to face with her, would you understand if your different ways would work on her."

Michael laughed upon seeing this look, "Indeed you have truly grown up."

"Don't wonder," Michael said upon seeing his look.

"Could she be the one you just spoke to?" he then asked gesturing to the earpiece in Ashton's ear.

"Indeed," he answered truthfully.

Blake and the other two sat down on the empty chairs, planning to just watch the other two. The other five were also the same sitting as if watching a show.

The only one feeling weird was the one who shouted a while ago, who was actually just an errand boy of their gang.

"Is it possible for me to speak with her?"

"Give it to him," Amber said on the other side.

Ashton pulled out his phone and gave it to Michael without saying anything.

"Hello, can you tell me just who you truly are. I can tell that your current identity is a fake," he instantly said.

"I can also tell that Michael Banfield is a fake name, so will you tell me first? Then maybe I would tell you mine," she replied with the same tone as he did.

Michael started laughing all over again, "I'm starting to like you. I wonder if you'll give this old man a chance to meet you?"

"Some other time, a good distance. We may have clicked but that doesn't mean we could be friends already," Amber replied.

"I wonder. And I am talking to the two of you. Just who found our little gang? We thought it was already hidden enough," he then said, his eyes turned serious.

Even Amber could hear the seriousness in his voice.

"Why was it a hidden one? A camouflage of the real one?" Amber asked as her voice turned serious as well.

Ashton remained silent, the information they got on this gang was plainly from her. This is the only gang that he actually didn't have information of, if not for Amber being the Pianist.

Michael's face suddenly darkened and his five companions became alert.

"Despite being only on the phone, I can tell that you became shock? Or guarded?" Amber added.

"Who are you?" Michael seriously asked.

"Do you really want to know?" Amber returned it with a question.

"You..."

"Ah, you don't have to worry, it was my intuition that tells me that something else is behind your group," Amber added.

"Now I really wanna know just who you are," Michael squinted his eyes as he replied while looking at Ashton.

"If you are indeed someone who could help my fiancé, then I'd be more than willing to tell you how I found you," Amber replied seriously.

"Now, I want to speak with my fiance, kindly give him back the phone?" she then added.

Michael was still baffled but he still handed Ashton back his phone.

"You woke up?" he said.

"Yeah, it was not that deep anyway, just as I have told him, my intuition tells me that he would surely be of great help to you just stay at a good distance," she warned.

"I understand, go back to sleep now," he said.

"Very well, get back home safely."

"Just who was that person?" Michael asked.

" I wonder what kind of question are you asking," Ashton asked in return.

Michael smiled at him, "Now you guys are becoming more and more interesting. I am feeling bored anyway, why don't I have some fun with you for a while?"

"Suit yourself, we're taking our leave now. Since you know who I am, you can just go ahead and contact me. I just hope you won't contact me to kill me instead," Ashton said and without waiting for his reply walked out of the room.

Blake and the other two bowed towards them before they too left.

Michael chuckled, "You kicked open the door but you politely bowed down upon leaving, such contrast."

"Boss what happened?" one man asked after they also sent away their errand boy.

"I just felt like it, my intuition tells me to group up with them that's all," Michael commented as he lit up a cigarette.

"But you seemed to know that young man from even before this," another asked.

"Oh, well we could say that he was an acquaintance's relative. I ended up watching how he grew up because of this," he replied.

"Is he important to you then?"

"No, just an acquaintance. Well we can still end up being enemies in the future," he answered.

"Then what about that woman? His fiancé?" another asked.

"Hmmmm, that one is even more interesting. She was able to change that beast in such a short span of time," he replied with a playful smile.

'Or was it a short one? I saw some changes in him when he returned after going to star country,' he added in his mind.

"So we will really work under them?" one inquired.

"For now that is, I have heard that the group was not killing everyone they go against except those who tried to hurt them. But it came to me as a shock that he was actually the one leading this new team," he commented as he took a puff.

He once again laughed, "This truly brings back memories. We were just like them, trying our hand on things that others wouldn't dare to try at all."

He took another puff before sighing, "But well, I could say that our circumstances are a bit more better than theirs."

"Are you talking about the death of their other brother?"

"Losing one is like losing a real one but now that he entered the underworld? They might even lose more, I wonder how they will handle that."

The other five remained silent.

They too lost quite a lot of brothers in order to rise to where they currently are.

They got over these deaths by remaining true to what they started, a promise that they will surely reach their goal.

"What do you all think? How far will they go?" he looked at each of them while asking.

"Only the future knows, boss. Even we can't just say things for it might end up becoming the opposite instead," the one who seemed to be of the same age as him commented.

"Wow, you really love using such words, don't you?" Michael commented.

But he didn't deny what the other just said.