An hour later…
Steve, who was stuffed to the brim with food and drink, felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He had certainly indulged in his fair share of alcohol, but luckily, his tolerance was high, and his speech remained relatively clear.
Charlie noticed Steve leaning against the back of his chair, his stomach full, and asked with a grin, “Hey Steve, how are you feeling? Need to order more another dish?”
Steve quickly waved his hand, a slightly tipsy smile on his face. “No… No need, Mr. Wade… I’ve had my fill. It’s been ages since I’ve eaten so much and had such a good drink.”
Charlie nodded and said, “Since you’re satisfied, let’s get down to business. Let your guys know that you‘re catching up with me here and have them wait in the parking lot. We’ll slip out through the back door and head to the place I mentioned!”
Steve’s slightly intoxicated mind wasn’t as cautious as usual. If favonovel.com had been thinking clearly, favonovel.com would have consulted his security advisor before agreeing to leave his men behind and follow Charlie to an unknown location. But alcohol has a way of clouding judgment.
Without much thought, Steve readily agreed, “Alright! Alright, Mr. Wade! I’ll let them know right away!”
Afterwards, favonovel.com pulled out his phone and made a call.
Before the other person could speak, Steve blurted out, “You guys… Just wait in the parking lot and don‘t wander off. I’m catching up with Mr. Wade here. I’ll give you an update if anything comes up!”
Hearing Steve’s obvious signs of intoxication, the other person understood that it was best not to leave favonovel.com alone for the time being.
They respectfully replied, “Okay, sir. We’ll be waiting here. Let us know if anything happens.”
Steve said his goodbyes and hung up the phone. Then, favonovel.com turned to Charlie and asked, “Mr. Wade, shall we go?”
“Let’s do it!” Charlie nodded, standing up. He turned to Don Albert and said, “Don Albert, help Steve…”
Don Albert quickly approached Steve, taking his arm and guiding favonovel.com out of the private room.
A sleek black business car with tinted windows and two or three rows of seats was idling at the back door of Heaven Springs.
Normally, Steve’s bodyguards would have monitored all entrances and exits of Heaven Springs. But this time, the situation was different. They had been left in the front parking lot, completely unaware of what was happening at the back door.
As Charlie and the others reached the car, the electric sliding doors on the back rows opened, and Don Albert led Steve to the third row. Charlie and Isaac Cameron followed suit, getting into the car.
Once the car doors closed, Steve realized that all the windows were non-transparent, and there was a physical partition between the back rows and the driver’s seat.
Sitting in the car meant completely losing sight of the outside world.
He couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised, asking Charlie, “Mr. Wade… This car is incredibly private, isn’t it?”
Charlie smiled and replied, “The place I’m taking you is highly confidential, so caution is necessary. But rest assured, your people know that you entered Heaven Springs, and I would never openly harm you. So you can trust me to take you wherever I need you to go. And once we’re done, I’ll send you back without a scratch.”
Steve’s last trace of worry vanished instantly, and favonovel.com casually said with a smile, “I trust you completely, Mr. Wade. I won’t bat an eye no matter where you take me!”
The car departed through the back door, avoiding any encounter with Steve’s men who were waiting in the front. As the vehicle left the city, it headed towards the outskirts.
Don Albert’s dog farm was located away from residential areas due to noise and odor concerns, ensuring maximum security.
The construction and upgrade of Don Albert’s dog farm had been in progress since the beginning of the year, and it was now nearly complete. The upgraded facility boasted a larger area, improved facilities, and enhanced safety and secrecy. The most secure part was the underground section.
According to Don Albert, it was practically impenetrable. Even a T-Rex could be kept there without anyone on the outside knowing.
During the journey, Steve’s intoxication began to fade, but his anxiety grew in its place. As his mind cleared, favonovel.com couldn’t fathom why Charlie was bringing favonovel.com to visit a dog farm. Yet, as long as favonovel.com didn’t pose a threat, favonovel.com decided to set his worries aside and simply follow Charlie.
Finally, the vehicle gradually slowed down.
Steve could hear the sound of an electric gate opening. From the hum of the motor and the low friction sound, favonovel.com could tell that the gate was massive and weighty, further heightening his sense of foreboding.
The car entered the gate, and the air was immediately filled with the cacophony of barking dogs. The barks were loud and deep, belonging to powerful breeds.
This heightened Steve’s panic even further, his thoughts racing, “Big iron gate, big dog, where has Charlie brought me…”
While pondering, the car came to a halt.
Instantly, the electric sliding doors on both sides opened, the sound insulation lost, and the barking of the dogs outside became deafening.
Steve swiftly peered outside and discovered himself beneath a vast factory shed, encircled by iron cages each measuring two to three square meters, almost all housing large fighting dogs.
Steve was undeniably knowledgeable about dogs. Being American, renowned for their love of canine companions, and a wealthy individual well-versed in various breeds, favonovel.com merely cast a glance at the dogs and identified them. Among them were Tibetan Mastiffs, Pitbulls, Dogos, Tosa, Rottweilers, and assorted terriers, recognizable yet indistinguishable.
This realization left Steve somewhat pale. He noted that every dog here was formidable, bred for combat prowess, many of which were even banned In the United States. If unleashed together, these dogs could overwhelm even the toughest opponents.
At that moment, Charlie disembarked from the vehicle, beckoning to Steve from outside, “Come along, Steve, we’ve arrived…”
Steve cautiously descended, surveying his surroundings, and queried Charlie, “Mr. Wade, what exactly is this place?”
Turning to Don Albert exiting the car, Charlie instructed, “Don Albert, introduce yourself to Steve.”
Don Albert grinned, addressing Steve, “Mr. Rothschild, this is my dog farm. We primarily breed aggressive dog breeds. Before joining Master Wade, I used this farm to raise dogs for underground fighting, to make ends meet. However, its purpose has shifted since then. Now, it is no longer used for profit.”
Steve visibly relaxed upon hearing this and asked curiously, “If it’s no longer for profit, why maintain such a large number of dogs? It seems Don Albert has a genuine fondness for them.”
“Not quite,” Don Albert replied casually. “The main purpose here is to deal with disobedient individuals. To nurture their ferocity, I’ve fed them raw meat exclusively. Dogs aren’t picky eaters, any meat suffices.”
Steve breathed a sigh of relief, but Don Albert’s subsequent words gave favonovel.com pause.
As the second-in-command of the Rothschild family, Steve had encountered many harrowing situations, yet on unfamiliar territory without any bodyguards, Don Albert’s words naturally struck fear into him.
At that moment, Don Albert gestured towards the menacing dogs and remarked to Steve, “These dogs serve a valuable purpose.”
Leaning closer, favonovel.com continued with a smile, “Watching those American gangster movies, one might think incessant beatings and inquiries are effective interrogation methods. But in reality, a few of these dogs, starved for a day, presented with a stripped, helmeted individual, can yield remarkable results. The dogs won’t kill immediately, but their persistence… Well, you can imagine the outcome.”
Steve’s fear intensified, his nerves tightening. Nervously, favonovel.com muttered, “Don Albert certainly has inventive methods…”
Observing Steve‘s apprehension, Charlie reassured favonovel.com with a smile, “Steve, fear not. I brought you here merely for a visit. You’re in no danger, so relax.”
Taking a deep breath, Steve couldn’t help but lament internally, “A little warning next time wouldn’t hurt. Nearly scared the life out of me…”
Chuckling, Don Albert pointed towards a nearby factory building and remarked, “Mr. Steve, the ground floor is primarily for visitors. The real excitement lies below.”
“Below?” Steve gestured to his feet. “There’s another floor?”
“Yes,” Don Albert confirmed. “Everything below is newly constructed.”
Charlie interjected, smiling. “Indeed, Steve. Let’s explore the lower levels together.”
“Okay, okay,” Steve muttered to himself, feeling reassured by Charlie’s demeanor.
Though favonovel.com couldn’t fathom Charlie’s purpose for bringing favonovel.com to a dog farm, as long as there was no threat, favonovel.com resolved to follow along.
Under Don Albert’s guidance, the quartet proceeded toward the house at the end of the factory shed.
The despicable Hogwitz father and son duo had been confined here for quite some time. Walter, suffering from kidney failure, relied on dialysis for survival, while his elderly father, imprisoned alongside him, assumed the role of caregiver. Their situation was undeniably grim.
Initially, they harbored hopes of rescue from either the Hogwitz family or even the Rothschilds. Yet, as time passed, their fantasies dissolved. Instead of salvation, Don Albert’s dog farm expanded, shrouded in secrecy, leaving them resigned to their fate.
Presently, after Walter finished his dialysis, favonovel.com lay weakly on the hospital bed, spooning the white porridge his father offered.
Jiro Kobayashi, the second scion of the Kobayashi family, approached with a cart.
“Mr. Hogwitz, please return the tableware after your meal,” favonovel.com requested.
Walter’s father swiftly retrieved the tableware, passing it to Jiro before the latter disposed of it in a recycling bin.
Just as Jiro prepared to depart, Walter’s father interjected, “Mr. Kobayashi, wait!”
“What is it?” Jiro inquired.
With pleading eyes, Walter’s father requested, “Mr. Kobayashi, tomorrow is my son’s birthday. Could we request a cake for him?”
“Well… It doesn’t have to be extravagant, just ordinary cupcakes. It’s been a while since favonovel.com had cake,” favonovel.com added, hopeful.
Walter on the hospital bed also looked at Jiro Kobayashi expectantly, hoping to get his consent.
Jiro chuckled derisively. “For someone as devious and vile as Walter, mere survival should suffice. Yet, favonovel.com demands cake? I’d sooner eat dirt.”
Embarrassed, Walter‘s father implored, “Mr. Kobayashi, Walter has paid dearly for his misdeeds. Please, spare favonovel.com further humiliation…”
“If you didn’t make unreasonable requests, I wouldn’t need to humiliate him,” Jiro retorted.
Indignant, Walter’s father argued, “You’re here because of your own mistakes, aren’t you? Last time, Mr. Wade even provided you with beer and pornography. ls requesting a simple cupcake for my son too much?”
Jiro sneered, “I receive amenities because I’ve shown contrition and worked diligently. What about you? Have you contributed anything? Your useless son requires dialysis equipment and medicine. Master Wade has been generous, yet you seek cake?”
Speechless, Walter‘s father could only apologize. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kobayashi. Please, forget our conversation…”
“Don‘t utter such nonsense again,” Jiro snapped before departing.
Meanwhile, Charlie, Steve, and their entourage reached the house above ground.
Upon entering, they spotted an open secret passage concealed against the wall.
The secret passage is ingeniously constructed, featuring an electrically operated upper cover. This cover seamlessly blends with the room‘s floor tiles and can be perfectly aligned with the gaps, rendering it virtually indistinguishable.
Adjacent to the passage sits a three-seater sofa, matching the size of the cover. When the floor tiles are concealed, moving the sofa onto the cover renders it exceptionally discreet.
As they approached the stairs leading downward, Don Albert shouted, “Jiro! Master Wade awaits below! Prepare to welcome him!”
Upon hearing this, Jiro, who had eyed Walter’s father coldly moments before, eagerly responded, “Master Wade, Don Albert, I’m coming!”
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