Chapter 141: Family Meeting (Part 2)

Wealthy scoundrels do not accumulate money through simple addition. If the Grimio Family's annual income reaches over four billion, it does not mean they will have eight billion two years later, especially given that they are a syndicate. As for the entire family and the operations they must sustain, probably only they themselves truly know how much is left at the end of the year—unless, of course, one encounters a master of financial investment.

When Xiao Tianci proposed bringing out forty billion, with ten billion for each of the four factions, Reijar's heart was filled with nothing less than astonishment and burning covetousness. Throughout all these years, apart from the share allocated by the family and the illicit businesses he ran on the side, his personal net estate amounted to barely over a billion.

He was considered clever; his two older brothers were in far worse shape, though they were naturally much better at squandering money. He had always kept a low profile.

Reijar sat there, needing to say nothing more. Even if he claimed to have forty billion, no one would believe him. Xiao Tianci stated, "Here are four Swiss bank cards, each loaded with ten billion US dollars. Pick them up right now, and they belong to you."

With that, Xiao Tianci made a polite gesture. "Ten billion?!"

A tsunami and earthquake erupted in the minds of everyone present. Not only the four of them, but also the four elders and the other gang members standing in the rear—elders and martial arts masters alike—all had their eyes gleaming brightly as they stared at the cards on the table. Was it truly ten billion?

Reijar's uncle blinked, stared at Xiao Tianci, and sneered, "Ten billion? Are you dreaming?"

At that moment, Reijar's eldest brother also barked, "Damn it! Just hand them over to us? Is your brain broken? You say ten billion and expect us to believe it? Who do you think you are?"

The others immediately joined in, raising a clamor. Even those who lacked the standing to speak directly to the table muttered among themselves in lowered tones. Despite their words, however, not a single person's eyes left the cards on the table.

If that really was ten billion...

Reijar stood up and said with utmost respect, "Who is he? Never mind ten billion; as long as Boss Xiao speaks and says there are one hundred billion in here, who would dare doubt it?"

Swish—

Everyone turned to look at Xiao Tianci. Boss Xiao. He was Xiao Tianci, the Xiao Tianci who had inherited a multi-trillion-dollar fortune with unmatched, astonishing luck. He was the only person who could casually throw about sums in the tens of billions.

Xiao Tianci walked forward, accompanied by the Grand Steward and Vajra. Reijar hastily stood up and respectfully stepped aside. Xiao Tianci naturally took the vacant seat.

Everyone watched in a daze. How could an outsider sit in that chair? Several people immediately began to shout, but when Vajra cast a glance their way, they instantly fell silent.

The four elders seated at the table could no longer remain quiet. The elder who had spoken first looked at Reijar and demanded, "Reijar, what is the meaning of this? How could you bring an outsider in here? Do you know that doing this is—"

"Hmph," Reijar scoffed coldly. "Great Elder, you had better refrain from slapping false charges on me right now. The current situation is clear to everyone; this is a matter of life and death for the Grimio Family.

"This time, Boss Xiao disapproves of the little Japanese intrusion and specifically wishes to unite the underworld to drive the little Japanese out. The Tang Gang has already decided to follow Boss Xiao."

This was a strategy Xiao Tianci and Fatty had discussed beforehand. In today's world, suppressing people with money is far more effective than suppressing them with fists. No matter what one does nowadays, everything revolves around profitability; without profits, nobody is willing to work.

Hearing this, several individuals slammed their desks and stood up, fiercely cursing Reijar for betraying the family, looking as though they were about to resort to violence immediately. Meanwhile, Xiao Tianci comfortably lit a cigarette, leaned back in his chair, and coldly observed the spectacle. Although these men shouted fiercely, none of them actually dared to issue an order to advance. The situation remained unclear, and nobody wanted to play the fool who made the first move. More importantly, their attention was truly fixed on Xiao Tianci, finding it difficult to believe what was happening before them.

If he truly was Xiao Tianci... They cast stealthy glances at the cards on the table. If all of this was real, it would simply be too wonderful! With ten billion, who would bother fighting for that damn patriarch's seat?

"Have you all finished shouting? Now listen to me for a moment," Xiao Tianci's voice was not loud, and it was instantly drowned out by the quarreling and insults of the crowd. He was not a martial arts master who could infuse ordinary words with enough force to make everyone hear him amidst chaos.

Vajra turned his head and exchanged a signal with Cheng Gong. Having fought alongside each other for so many years, they knew each other's signature moves well. A simple cue required no words, achieving a telepathic effect.

Cheng Gong nodded and suddenly inhaled sharply. "Hah!"

The immense wave of sound—if one had to describe it—was like ripples spreading across the surface of water, instantly surging outward and expanding.

"Ah... ah... thump... boom..."

The four elders, along with the experts flanking Reijar's two brothers and uncle, reacted quickly enough to channel their internal energy and simultaneously protect their masters. However, the vast majority of the others were ordinary people; uttering miserable cries, most were blasted off their feet and knocked to the ground. Aside from a few practitioners of martial arts and a single physical technique specialist who managed to cover their ears and collapse, the rest of the family members went down as well.

Xiao Tianci felt nothing unusual at first, as Cheng Gong's target was the group ahead of him. Even though Xiao Tianci was close and within the affected radius, right before Cheng Gong vocalized, he suddenly felt his ears enveloped by a warm current.

He looked over at Vajra and smiled in acknowledgment, because Vajra's palm was gently pressed against Xiao Tianci's back.

In an instant, the world grew quiet. A large number of people lay unconscious on the ground, while those who remained standing clutched their ears with dazed expressions.

Only twenty-odd people remained on their feet. The four elders and the various masters retreated backward, maintaining a distance from Xiao Tianci and his group. The Great Elder bellowed, "Reijar, you dare collude with outsiders to rebel?!"

These people... they truly seemed accustomed to a life of ease, and their reactions were rather sluggish. Rebellions? If they were going to rebel, wiping out people like them would be effortless; there was no need for any masters—a single bomb could have resolved everything.

Xiao Tianci flicked the ash from his cigarette, looked up at the panicked crowd, and said with a chuckle, "Heh... Everyone, there is no need for panic. It was simply too noisy here. Don't you feel that it is much quieter now? Fatty, come on out as well."

The crowd had no idea what he was talking about and stood frozen in place, because the effect of Cheng Gong's roar just now had been terrifying. Vajra had once suffered from that very move himself; basically, whenever the two of them fought and either developed a new formidable technique, the other was guaranteed to be the first to taste it.

Fatty walked in, stood beside Reijar, and said very respectfully, "Boss Xiao." Inwardly, however, he was cursing, *Damn it, you bastard, what kind of act are you putting on? You could have just resolved this directly and saved us the trouble. To think you're actually pulling rank on me.*

Both inwardly and outwardly, Xiao Tianci smiled as he replied, "Mm."

This time, everyone was completely convinced that this person truly was Xiao Tianci. Even the leader of the Tang Gang behaved in such a manner. Although the present situation was tense, while the four individuals believed he was Xiao Tianci, their eyes remained locked onto the cards on the table. *Good heavens...*

Greed is a universal constant; as long as that existed, everything else was easy to handle. Xiao Tianci declared, "Gentlemen, I believe you are all intelligent people, and I am not a man who enjoys beating around the bush. Take the four cards on this table, and from this day forward, we are friends. Reijar will represent me in managing the Grimio Family, and your family will remain your family. Naturally, when I have need of you, I trust none of you will refuse. Those who take the cards are friends; those who take the cards are our own people. I am a very democratic man. Make your choice; I will never force anyone."

Though he claimed to let them choose, he had effectively left only one answer. How else could they choose? Ever since they confirmed this person was truly Xiao Tianci, their eyes had been watering at the sight of those cards like a starving man gazing upon a naked beauty after years of isolation.

The four elders stood frozen, unsure of what to do, yet their eyes were likewise filled with envy. *Good lord, that is ten billion!*

Reijar's eldest brother tightly gripped his card and asked cautiously, "Xiao... Sir, are you truly giving this to us?"

Xiao Tianci nodded and smiled. "Of course. Go ahead and take them. How could anything I, Xiao Tianci, say not count? These are extraordinary times, and I assume none of you wish to watch the Sakura Syndicate act so arrogantly."

Several of them hurriedly nodded, expressing their deep animosity toward the Sakura Syndicate. The people lying on the ground had not sustained serious injuries and were merely knocked out by the sonic wave; they would recover shortly.

Having accepted the ten billion from Xiao Tianci, these individuals had long since elevated this God of Wealth to the status of an ancestral deity, showering him with endless flattery. As for Xiao Tianci installing Reijar as the patriarch, they voiced no objections whatsoever, expressing their complete and utter support.

Once everyone had fully recovered their senses and retaken their seats, Xiao Tianci stood up, gestured to that very chair, and said to Reijar, "Come. From now on, you are the patriarch of the Grimio Family. Do not disappoint the expectations of your elders, seniors, and brothers."

Reijar hastily said, "Boss, please take a seat—"

Xiao Tianci shook his head. "I said before, you are the patriarch of the Grimio Family. You will manage it from here on, and I will not interfere in the family's internal affairs."

The Grand Steward had already brought over another chair, and Xiao Tianci seated himself to the side. Seeing Xiao Tianci sit down, Reijar finally took his place in the master's chair.

How many times had he dreamed of sitting in this seat? Today, he had truly claimed it—and with everyone's consent. *Hmph,* Reijar thought, a cold smile crossing his mind as he recalled their previous attitudes. *Let all of you enjoy yourselves a little before you die.*

According to the plan agreed upon beforehand, Reijar needed them to immediately and publicly acknowledge his status. Only then could he legitimately and justifiably take over everything they owned after eliminating them.

Looking out over the assembly, Reijar issued his first command as patriarch: "Gentlemen, I am delighted by everyone's support. We are currently in a time of crisis, so we shall dispense with the formal ceremonies. Now that Boss Tang has arrived, we need to immediately discuss how to deal with the Sakura Syndicate."

He turned his gaze to the Great Elder. "Great Elder, immediately spread the word that I have inherited the position of patriarch with everyone's support."

He looked back at the rest of the gathering. "Everyone, send out word right now, right here—notify your people personally. Shortly, we will be discussing strategies to deal with the Sakura Syndicate, and I do not wish to find anyone who is ignorant of my status or unwilling to obey my commands."

Reijar's orders were entirely reasonable. Everyone smiled and nodded, nodding even faster toward Xiao Tianci to demonstrate their resolve, and hastily pulled out their mobile phones to relay the instructions.

"Hey, listen up! My third brother has just assumed the position of patriarch of the Grimio Family with the full support of all of us. From now on, his word is supreme! If anyone dares disobey the patriarch's commands, I'll be the first to show them no mercy. Go and notify all the brothers immediately—damn it, why are you asking so many questions?"

"My third brother is the new patriarch! Notify everyone immediately. Anyone who dares defy my third brother's orders..."

That uncle of his, who had earlier worn an expression of deep cunning, now put on the most exaggerated display of all: "Our entire family belongs to the Grimio Family. We are now united against an external threat. Report in immediately—yes, right now!"

With that, he turned to Xiao Tianci and Reijar with a smile. "Boss Xiao, I just had a good friend of mine at a TV station start broadcasting the news. Rest assured, everyone will know. It's not a large station, but the effect will still be there, heh heh..."

Seeing that everyone was falling in line, Xiao Tianci smiled and said, "Heh... there we go. That's the way. When facing an external threat, we must stand united. Only when our own people are bound together can outsiders find no way to exploit us. You are all intelligent people; whether in the underworld or the legitimate world, what is the point of it all if not to make money? As long as you all work hard from now on, making money—well, I won't brag, but for me, Xiao Tianci, that is a trivial matter."

Another round of nods and murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. Xiao Tianci glanced at Reijar, signaling that he could proceed to the next step.

Understanding the cue, Reijar looked around and commanded, "Gentlemen, I believe we should now begin discussing how to deal with the Sakura Syndicate. You must all be aware that while we experienced internal turmoil during this period and the Sakura Syndicate managed to establish a foothold, this time, with our alliance with the Tang Gang, we will surely wipe them out in a single blow. Since time is of the essence, Boss Tong and I have devised a plan. Have a look; if you have no objections, we shall prepare to take action immediately..."

They were not even given a moment to calm down and think. From the initial shock straight through to the final mobilization of troops, they had been led entirely by the nose.