The Divine Marshal

Chapter 7 - Everything Under Control

The news that the Ares Group was investing heavily in Oceanview City had spread like wildfire, attracting a swarm of luxury vehicles outside the Luminar Family's headquarters. The owners of these opulent cars were all here to seek alliances with the Ares Group.

Everett Luminar, astride an electric bike with Eira Whitlock riding pillion, stood out starkly against this backdrop of wealth. As the eldest daughter of the main branch of the Whitlock family, Eira didn't even own a vehicle, which only served to deepen Everett's disdain for the Whitlocks.

The car wasn't Chthonius's personal one; it had been returned to him last night. After the fiasco with the intermittent mental patient information that Chthonius had botched, he had received a sound thrashing from Everett! Not only that, but Everett had also taken another step last night, informing Brian Adams about Eira's visit to the Ares Group to discuss cooperation.

Everything was under Everett's control!

Elizabeth Whitlock sneered at their arrival, "Eira, you really dare to show up? It seems you've truly lost your mind!" All members of the Whitlock family were present, as was Paul White.

"Paul, have you spoken to Brian Adams?" Mrs. Whitlock asked.

"Don't worry, grandma, everything is under control," Paul assured her confidently, patting his chest. "My dad has already spoken to him. Brian Adams will give face to the White family!"

Mrs. Whitlock looked pleased, "Good, my excellent grandson-in-law!"

Elizabeth continued to taunt Eira, "You better not go in, so as not to embarrass the Whitlock family!" Eira bit her lower lip tightly and said nothing.

Everett calmly retorted, "Who can finalize the cooperation is still uncertain. It's too early to draw conclusions!"

At this moment, a staff member came over and invited Elizabeth to meet Brian Adams. She was the first one to be called, which inflated her pride even more. She shot Eira a disdainful look before following the staff upstairs.

Paul boasted, "Grandma, Elizabeth was the first one invited up. The contract is ready; all she needs to do is meet Brian Adams and sign it!"

Mrs. Whitlock was so excited that she could only repeat, "Good, good, good!" A worried look appeared on Eira's face, but Everett gently held her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Inside the office, Brian Adams said, "Please sit down." Elizabeth immediately sat down, eagerly took out the contract, and said, "Mr. Brian, I am Elizabeth Whitlock, and Paul White is my boyfriend!"

"We're short on time, don't beat around the bush, let me see the contract," Brian said. Elizabeth handed him the contract, her eyes filled with anticipation as she waited for him to sign.

Brian skimmed through the contract quickly, then threw it back at Elizabeth, shouting, "Do you think I'm a fool? This contract is practically handing money to your Whitlock family!"

Elizabeth was dumbfounded. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Hadn't Paul said that just mentioning his name would make Brian sign?

"Get out, it's ridiculous!" Brian shouted again.

"But...I am Paul White's..." Elizabeth stammered.

"Can't you understand human language? I told you to get out!" Brian shouted once more.

Elizabeth left Brian's office in a daze and came downstairs. The Whitlock family members and Paul immediately surrounded her.

"How did it go? Did you sign the contract?" Mrs. Whitlock asked.

Paul chimed in, "Where is the contract? Let them see Brian Adams's signature!"

Elizabeth said dejectedly, "I was driven out by Brian. He didn't sign the contract; he even threw it on my face!"

"What?" Paul looked incredulous.

Mrs. Whitlock's eyes widened, her mind went blank!

At this moment, the staff member invited Eira up.

"Go ahead, have a good talk. I believe in your ability!" Everett encouraged Eira.

"Aren't you going with me?" Eira asked.

"When you come down, you will be holding the contract. I want to watch some people eat humble pie in front of me, so they can't run away!" Everett said with a smile.

Paul turned pale, "I would like to see how you negotiate the cooperation!"

"As long as you don't run away!" Everett looked at the Whitlock family, "If you are interested, you can wait and see how my Eira gets the contract!"

Inside the office, Brian Adams stood waiting for Eira. "Miss Whitlock, please sit down!" His politeness and enthusiasm were a stark contrast to his treatment of Elizabeth.

Eira thanked him for the water, took a sip, and steadied her nerves. She began to talk about Amelia Eira, a brand established by her father. She spoke eloquently and truthfully, telling Brian everything from the establishment of the brand, its development, to its current decline and difficulties.

Finally, she said: "I hope the Ares Group will invest in the brand. I am confident that I can restore the glory of the brand!"

"Good, good!" Brian immediately took out the contract and signed it with Eira.

Although the contract was prepared last night, Brian was still impressed by Eira's talent. Whether it was her understanding of the brand or her various plans for the Ares Group's investment in the brand, they were all impeccable!

Eira had been upstairs for a long time. The longer the time, the worse Paul and Elizabeth's faces looked! Finally, Eira came down, holding the contract in her hand, happily waving it at Everett.

Moreover, it was Brian Adams who personally sent Eira down!

The moment Brian Adams made his entrance, he was instantly engulfed by a sea of eager faces. A cacophony of voices bombarded him with inquiries, each more pressing than the last. The question that echoed loudest among the clamor was about the whispered rumor that the illustrious Divine Marshal was the investor behind the Ares Group!

With a resigned yet calming gesture of his hands, Brian managed to hush the crowd: "Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed true. Our benefactor at the Ares Group is none other than the esteemed Divine Marshal!"

His words sent shockwaves through the crowd! If the whispers were true, and the Divine Marshal was indeed backing the Ares Group, then aligning oneself with the Ares Group would be akin to hitching a ride on a rocket to success!

Once the initial wave of astonishment had subsided, Brian continued to deliver his news: "The leadership of Oceanview City has shown great interest in this venture. We, at the Ares Group, have prepared a hundred exclusive invitation letters, which we've entrusted to the city's leaders. Those who aspire to discuss potential cooperation must first secure one of these coveted invitations to our negotiation meeting!"

The implication was clear - the Ares Group was setting a high bar for partnership. Only those with substantial influence could hope to receive an invitation from the city's leaders.

This was all part of Everett Luminar's master plan, designed to deter any opportunists from exploiting the Ares Group for personal gain. He believed in a symbiotic relationship where cooperation should lead to mutual prosperity, not one party leeching off the other.

As the crowd began to disperse, each individual was already scheming ways to obtain one of the prized invitations. Paul White subtly nudged Elizabeth Whitlock, hoping to make a discreet exit, especially after catching sight of the contract in Eira Whitlock's hand!

"Stop!" Everett Luminar's voice boomed authoritatively: "Paul White, a wager is a wager. You will face the consequences of your bet and eat s**t right here in front of me!"