Chapter 13 Trapped in Deception

• Chase, too, was taken aback by Mr. Aukes's sudden aggression.
• "Out! Leave, all of you!"
• Mr. Aukes commanded, forcefully kicking Marcus and sealing the door shut behind him.
• Approaching Chase with a disarming smile, Mr. Aukes queried, "Hey, Chase, remember me?"
• "No recollection," Chase responded, his gaze probing Mr. Aukes's face, finding it unfamiliar.
• Pointing at himself, Mr. Aukes declared, "I'm Clown Aukes from the foot of the mountain."
• "You're Clown Aukes?!"
• Chase's surprise was palpable as he pointed at Mr. Aukes. Though the face was unfamiliar, the name resonated deeply within him.
• Though he couldn't place the face, he could never forget the name—such a down-to-earth name, he probably wouldn't find another person with the same name in his lifetime.
• With a soft chuckle, Mr. Aukes confirmed, "Indeed, I've shed the moniker of Clown Aukes. Nowadays, it's Cecil Aukes."
• "Ah, it's you," Chase acknowledged, the pieces falling into place.
• Mr. Aukes, formerly Clown Aukes, hailed from the same hometown as Chase.
• While Chase dwelled in the mountains, Clown inhabited the small town below.
• Clown had immersed himself in the discipline of martial arts from a tender age, relishing in the camaraderie of gang life. By the time he reached his twenties, he had ascended to a position of prominence within the town's hierarchy.
• However, the trajectory of his life took an abrupt turn upon crossing paths with ten-year-old Chase.
• In the wake of their encounter, Clown endured a profound reversal of fortune. The formidable gang he had meticulously built, boasting over a hundred members, was swiftly dismantled, all at the hands of a mere ten-year-old child.
• At that moment, Mr. Aukes recognized a harsh truth: as long as Chase remained, his ascent would be stymied.
• Fleeing the confines of the mountains, Clown sought refuge in the bustling metropolis of Gemville.
• There, he relied solely on his combat prowess to carve out a new path, ascending to the coveted position of leader within the formidable Inferno Crew.
• Under his command, he instilled fear and commanded respect, earning the moniker of Mr. Aukes, a figure whose reputation preceded him throughout the city.
• However, the last thing Mr. Aukes anticipated was the reappearance of Chase, the notorious troublemaker.
• A decade prior, Chase had single-handedly vanquished over a hundred adversaries at the tender age of ten.
• With the passage of time, one could only shudder at the thought of the formidable force he had evolved into!
• "Why are you here in Gemville, Chase?" Mr. Aukes inquired cautiously.
• "I married and chose to settle," Chase replied calmly, his demeanor unwavering.
• Settling in Gemville!
• Mr. Aukes's countenance darkened at the revelation.
• Even in a new city, he couldn't evade Chase's presence!
• "Why, not thrilled to see me?" Chase quipped with a playful smirk.
• "Naturally, you're more than welcome," Mr. Aukes replied, his tone lacking sincerity. "I'll arrange dinner tonight as a gesture of welcome for you."
• Chase gave Mr. Aukes a friendly pat on the shoulder, chuckling, "Sounds like a plan."
• Just then, Chase's phone rang.
• Sydney informed him of her prior dinner commitment and suggested he make his own arrangements.
• Chase readily agreed.
• Meanwhile, Sydney received a call from Wessel, who expressed his regrets for the previous night's events and extended an invitation to a dinner gathering. As a gesture of goodwill, he also arranged a meeting with the Deputy Manager of the Investment Department at Blackhaven Ventures, representing the firm's interests in Komet Inc.
• Sydney accepted the invitation.
• "It's likely Mr. Grayson's intervention that prompted Wessel's apology," Sara remarked confidently. "You should express your gratitude to him promptly."
• Sydney dialed Mr. Grayson's number. "Mr. Grayson, I'm incredibly grateful! Wessel just called to apologize and arranged a meeting with the Blackhaven Ventures deputy manager."
• "Hmm?" Mr. Grayson paused briefly, surprised by the development. He hadn't reached out to Wessel yet, so how did the apology occur?
• Nevertheless, he replied vaguely, "Oh... It's no trouble."
• Sydney extended an invitation, "Mr. Grayson, Wessel has organized dinner at Zephyr Gardens tonight. Would you care to join us?"
• "Um... I'll see if I can make it tonight," Mr. Grayson responded ambivalently. "If I can, I'll definitely come."
• "Understood. I'll let you take care of your business," Sydney concluded.
• After concluding their call, Sydney and Sara made their way to the appointment.
• That evening, outside Zephyr Gardens, as Sydney stepped out of the car and glimpsed the restaurant entrance, she narrowed her eyes. "That person looks like Chase," she remarked.
• Sara, however, shrugged in disregard. "Why would he be dining alone at Zephyr Gardens?"
• Sydney shook her head and proceeded into the restaurant.
• Guided by the waiter, the two women were ushered to the private room.
• "Oh! The two lovely ladies have arrived," Wessel warmly greeted them.
• Then, he slapped his forehead apologetically and said, "Ms. Saffer, I drank too much last night and said some things I shouldn't have. I'm truly sorry."
• "You're a forgiving person; please don't hold it against me."
• Sydney felt utterly disgusted by Wessel. Nonetheless, she had to play along since she needed his assistance.
• Wessel motioned with a flourish of his hand, indicating the portly figure beside him. "Allow me to introduce Mr. Dirchs from Blackhaven Ventures," he announced.
• "Hello, Mr. Dirchs," Sydney and Sara greeted in unison with polite smiles.
• "Please, ladies, take a seat," Mr. Dirchs offered with a courteous gesture.
• As they settled into their chairs, a subtle exchange of glances passed between Wessel and Mr. Dirchs; their hidden greed veiled beneath outward civility.
• Meanwhile, in the seclusion of a nearby chamber, Chase lounged casually while Mr. Aukes, ever attentive, hovered nearby.
• Marcus, pouring wine with a careful hand, remained acutely aware of Chase's formidable presence, one that even Mr. Aukes held in reverent fear.
• Thus, he dared not overstep his bounds.
• Chase gestured casually to Marcus. "You need not stand. Sit, for I have a question," he commanded.
• Marcus sat down and braced for the inquiry. "Who tasked you with the unfortunate duty of breaking my leg?" Chase inquired pointedly.
• Marcus bowed his head in submission. "A man by the name of Wessel Preston. He offered me five hundred thousand to carry out the deed," he confessed.
• "Ah, Wessel," Chase mused knowingly.
• Mr. Aukes interjected with a genial cough and smiled. "A regrettable oversight by my associates. I shall address this matter with Wessel promptly," he assured.
• With Mr. Aukes taking responsibility, Chase harbored no immediate intention of confronting Wessel again.
• Meanwhile, in the adjacent chamber, Wessel and Mr. Dirchs toasted the two ladies repeatedly.
• Sydney and Sara, possessing only modest alcohol tolerance, soon found themselves succumbing to a light-headed state.
• "Mr. Dirchs, I must beg pardon, but I fear I can indulge no further," Sydney pleaded, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency and pleaded. "Let us adjourn for the evening, and I shall be sure to host you another time."
• Witnessing this, Mr. Dirchs shot a quick glance in Wessel's direction, silently conveying their shared understanding.
• In response, Wessel emitted a contemptuous snort, his irritation palpable, before forcefully bringing his glass down upon the tabletop with a resounding thud.
• "Another time? I'm telling you, neither of you are leaving today!" Wessel's tone dripped with malice.
• Wessel, consumed by desperation, resorted to drastic measures in his bid to assert control.
• "What do you mean, Mr. Preston?" Sydney's voice trembled with dawning realization.
• Wessel's sneer deepened. "What do I mean? Simply put, you had your chance to oblige me yesterday, and you chose to spurn it. Tonight, you shall both serve us until we are satisfied!"
• "Wahaha..."
• Wessel and Mr. Dirchs chuckled lasciviously.
• "You... you deceived us!" Sydney finally understood!
• The dinner had been meticulously orchestrated, a carefully laid trap orchestrated by Wessel and Mr. Dirchs.
• With a sly flick of his tongue across his lips, Wessel's words dripped with smug satisfaction. "What else? Look at your current situation. How could I possibly apologize to someone like you?" he taunted, reveling in their predicament.
• As classmates, Wessel and Mr. Dirchs had concocted this scheme in response to the humiliation Wessel suffered at Sydney's hands the previous evening.
• "Sara, we must depart," Sydney urged, rising with the intention of escaping their dire circumstances.
• Yet, as she attempted to stand, a dizzying wave of disorientation washed over her, threatening to send her crashing back down.
• "Sara, we must make our exit," Sydney declared, her determination unwavering as she rose with the intent of escorting Sara to safety.
• However, as she attempted to stand, a sudden onset of dizziness left her struggling to maintain her balance, her efforts thwarted by a disorienting sensation.