Carson Flores gave a cold smile, didn’t answer, but turned and walked toward Brian James, who leaned against a rock.
His finger struck like the wind, and he slapped down with his palm.
Brian James’s body trembled as if electrified, but his eyes suddenly snapped open, moving from confusion to clarity.
Seeing Carson Flores in front of him, Brian James instinctively roared, then quickly came to his senses; his expression turned to panic, he looked around, and his heart sank to the bottom.
His son’s wrist twisted grotesquely, his face filled with terror. Malcolm Gross sat on the ground, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth, his expression frantic and fearful, as if he had seen a ghost.
His son brought back the expert from the Rainy Field Sect, yet still lost to Carson Flores; tonight, he and his son will hardly escape death.
Brian James knew very well that two days ago, Carson Flores sparing his life was not out of compassion, nor fear of killing him, but only to wait for his son to bring backup and then take them all down, ensuring a clean sweep.
He had hoped the expert from the Rainy Field Sect would defeat Carson Flores and rescue him. Now, his last hope had dissipated as well.
"Mr. Flores, what must I do for you to spare my son and me? Name your terms, I’ll agree to anything."
Carson Flores squatted in front of Brian James and coldly asked, "The deputy team leader of the city’s industrial production environmental rectification inspection team, Hugo Combs, you know him, don’t you?"
Upon hearing this, Brian James realized what was happening and quickly responded, "I asked him to help deal with the Miller Group. I can give him a call and get him to call off the operation, no longer targeting the Miller Group."
Just as suspected, Brian James!
Carson Flores breathed a sigh of relief; at least he had found the source of the problem. Solving it just became much simpler.
"You were trying to ruin the Miller Group?"
At this point, Brian James dared not haggle with Carson Flores and spilled everything, "I ordered Hugo Combs to target the Miller Group, to create the illusion that they were going to halt production for rectification and were on the brink of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, I had Martin Baker persuade the other shareholders to sell their shares at low prices to see if there was a chance to buy the Miller family’s shares. Even if the Miller family refused to sell, I could acquire other shareholders’ stakes through Martin Baker to gain control and kick Shirley Miller out..."
Carson Flores was inwardly shocked – Brian James truly was a wily old financier; the strategy of openly suppressing and secretly acquiring was hard for anyone to guard against.
The plot was clear: halt the enterprise, buy up major shareholder stakes, even those of the Miller family, and as soon as one gains what he wants, a single word could lift the difficulties of the Miller Group, allowing it to return to normal. But by then, the relationship between the Miller Group and the Miller family would be nonexistent.
It was a ruthless and effective plan.
Carson Flores asked a few more questions about the details, then stood up.
Terror-stricken, Brian James spoke up, "Mr. Flores, spare us father and son this once, and I’ll give you the Supreme Sky Corporation, all of it!"
Carson Flores let out a cold chuckle and was about to make his move, but Malcolm Gross suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Flores, spare my life, and I can help you kill them and take care of any trouble that arises after their deaths."
Carson Flores looked sideways at Malcolm Gross, "Isn’t he your disciple?"
Malcolm Gross replied without any hesitation, "Brian James gave a large sum of money to the Rainy Field Sect to take his son as a disciple. Shepard James and I are only nominally master and disciple, bound merely by financial dealings, with no real emotional attachment. You struck Brian James, forcing Shepard James to return, with the goal of cutting the grass and eliminating the roots completely. Therefore, father and son must die today. They are bound for death anyway, so it makes no difference whether they die by your hand or mine."
Carson Flores sneered, "You think I don’t dare to kill them myself and I need your help?"
Malcolm Gross quickly explained, "Mr. Flores surely has no qualms, but Supreme Sky Corporation is a big name in the province, and Brian James, as the chairman, has good connections everywhere. If he were to be killed suddenly, it might invite troublesome fallout."
"I have no quarrel with you, Mr. Flores, and my involvement today was solely at the behest of Shepard James. Had I known your identity, not even eight times my courage would have allowed me to move against you. After all, the very survival of the Rainy Field Sect is due to Elder Xue showing mercy back in the day. Therefore, Mr. Flores, spare my life, and I shall never make a retaliatory move, nor would I dare to."
"Whether you kill me has no bearing on the situation, but sparing my life will undoubtedly save you a lot of trouble."
Carson Flores thought for a moment, and it did seem to be the case.
Brian James was a prominent figure; his death would not be overlooked as those of Drake Bernard and the several bodyguards – after all, Supreme Sky Corporation held significant sway in the province. If someone were to investigate the cause of death, it could indeed create complications for him and Shirley Miller.
The task of disposing of Brian James’s body was beyond Tucker Tyler’s ability to manage properly.
Before Carson Flores could speak, Shepard James on the ground was already cursing out loud, "Old thing, in vain did I address you as master, yet for the sake of your own life, you would kill me by your own hand. You’re worse than pigs and dogs!"
Malcolm Gross’s face flushed with embarrassment; after all, the matter truly was inhumane, but for the sake of survival, he could no longer afford to care.
"You brought death upon yourselves, provoking Mr. Flores. Who else can you blame? If you must die, don’t drag me down with you!"
Staring at Malcolm Gross, Carson Flores spoke indifferently, "I can spare you, but you raised a hand against me today."
Malcolm Gross’s expression shifted. Then, clenching his teeth, his gaze filled with resolve as he stretched out his left hand and laid it on a nearby rock. Channeling his energy into his right fist, he struck down fiercely on his left arm.