Chapter 7 You've Got the Wrong Person

• Eric merely glanced at Alice with indifference before turning his gaze away. "You've got the wrong person," he said firmly.
• Then, he walked past her and kept going.
• Seeing this, Alice panicked. She quickly pulled out the jade Azuron amulet from her bag. "Mr. Goodwell, we found this pendant in Ciderbrook and tracked it to you through the shop owner."
• "My grandpa always said, 'The one who owned Azuron amulet is the Shadow Ruler.' There's no way I could be wrong about this.
• "Please, I'm begging you. Help us!
• "Grandpa said, if you're willing to help, regardless of the outcome, our family is ready to hand over all our business territories in Ciderbrook!"
• Eric frowned slightly, his voice turning icy. "And what if I refuse?"
• To him, the so-called shadow ruler and the only Six-Star Grand General in the Skaonia, money didn't mean anything.
• Even if the Hiltons offered up all their business in Ciderbrook or their entire fortune, Eric wouldn't be interested.
• Getting turned down by Eric again left Alice momentarily stunned. As the Hiltons' prized jewel, she was used to being surrounded and flattered wherever she went.
• Alice was used to having her requests granted without question.
• It was a shock to be turned down so coldly and repeatedly by Eric.
• While she was still in a daze, Eric had already walked away.
• Thinking of her critically ill grandfather, Alice was both angry and desperate. She quickly hurried after him, calling out, "Mr. Goodwell!
• "Please, I'm begging you—save my grandpa!
• "My grandpa was a soldier from the Northern Realm, just like you. He spent his life serving the country, and his illness is a result of that.
• "Even though he's retired and can't serve the country anymore, he still gives to charity every year. He's donated to tons of Everhope School, helping kids in poor mountain areas get an education."
• Eric stopped in his tracks when he heard that.
• His hesitation wasn't about the Hiltons being the richest in Ciderbrook, but because he found out that this person had once been one of his subordinates and kept doing good deeds even after retiring.
• "Okay, give me the address. If I have some time, I'll drop by."
• In the end, Eric agreed.
• Alice quickly asked, "Mr. Goodwell, can't you do it now?"
• Eric shook his head. "No, I can't.
• "I have something more important to attend to right now."
• Then, Eric continued on his way without another word.
• Even though the person in question was loyal and honorable, family came first.
• His parents were at home waiting for treatment. There was no way he'd ignore them to help someone else!
• After getting turned down by Eric so many times, even someone as aloof as Alice would be furious. If it were an ordinary woman in her place, she'd probably be livid by now.
• Watching Eric walk away, Alice pulled out her phone and called Silas. "Grandpa, I've seen Eric Goodwell.
• "But, he's so arrogant!
• "Even if he does have some skills, it doesn't mean he's all that impressive.
• "And about that 'shadow ruler' you mentioned—I checked, and there's no such thing in Skaonia.
• "If he were really such a big shot in Skaonia, everyone would know him by now.
• "And ...
• "You didn't see his attitude just now, Grandpa!"
• "Bang!"
• Before Alice could say more, the sound of something breaking came through the phone, followed by Silas' angry shout. "What's wrong with his attitude?
• "Don't even talk about his attitude!
• "Even if he treated you badly, slept with you, or even killed you, I wouldn't blame him. I'd say it's all your fault.
• "I'd bring your corpse to beg for his forgiveness!
• "Remember this!
• "He's the Shadow Ruler, the only Six-Star Grand General in Skaonia, unparalleled both now and in the future.
• "You can't find any information about him because you're not even in the same world. His level is something you can't even reach.
• "Also!
• "The fact that the Azuron amulet has resurfaced means he's the disciple of that esteemed person.
• "I might die!
• "But if our family offends him, our hundred-year legacy will be destroyed in an instant!"
• With that final statement, Silas hung up, leaving Alice staring at her phone, stunned and unable to process what had just happened.
• "No way!
• "I've got to find him!"
• Snapping out of it, Alice quickly set aside her usual high-maintenance attitude. She pulled up the information she had gathered earlier about Eric and his family, made careful preparations, and then headed off to Brookhaven.
• ...
• After getting rid of the troublesome Alice, Eric caught a cab and headed home.
• But as he was just a few steps away, he noticed a black Lexus parked in front of his house.
• As he approached, he saw that a group of rough-looking local thugs had thrown all the pots, pans, and dishes out of the house.
• In the yard, a middle-aged guy with a slicked-back hairstyle, a floral shirt, and loafers were sitting around munching on sunflower seeds. Next to him stood a middle-aged woman, hands on her hips and stomach sticking out, yelling into the house, "David!
• "I've been blunt with you from the start. Don't lose your sense of shame!
• "When are you going to pay back the money you borrowed from us?
• "If you don't pay, I'm tearing down your house today and throwing you both out onto the streets!"
• The village's old, run-down houses were already in bad shape, and now even the last door that kept out the wind and rain had been taken apart.
• David kept nodding and smiling, pulling a cloth bag from his pocket.
• Meanwhile, many neighbors had gathered around, but they all kept their distance, wary of the local thugs sitting in the yard.
• "Ugh!
• "How did David end up with such a troublesome brother-in-law and sister-in-law?
• "When David's family was still doing well, Edmund and Lucille took their share of the benefits.
• "I'm not saying they made millions of dollars, but they definitely pocketed several hundred thousands.
• "But now that David borrowed 15,000 dollars for his wife—Edmund's sister's—medical bills, they're showing no mercy, chasing him for the debt like it's a life-or-death situation.
• "Every month, they're showing up demanding money. It's like they're trying to drive him crazy!"
• "Exactly!
• "It's just outrageous!"
• "Yeah, it's hard for everyone to sort out family issues.
• "And this is David's family issue. Even if we take it to the police, there's nothing they can do."
• A few groups of neighbors gathered together, fuming and discussing the situation with righteous anger, but no one dared to step in and help David.
• At that moment, Lucille Blackwood, Edmund's wife, grabbed the cloth bag from David's hands and took a quick look inside.
• "What the heck is this?"
• Lucille frowned and turned the bag upside down, causing a bunch of crumpled bills to spill out onto the ground.
• There were a few hundred, fifty, and even some one-dollar bills.
• There were even a lot of coins worth just a few cents mixed in.
• "Is this junk supposed to add up to even 100 dollars?"
• Lucille shouted angrily at David.
• "Lucille, it's exactly 100 dollars. I've counted it several times.
• "If you don't believe me, you can count it again."
• David rubbed his hands together, hunched over and nodding.
• "Old man, whatever she says is always true. Do you dare to argue?"
• Before Lucille could say anything, one of the local thugs kicked David.
• Seeing this from a distance, Eric's rage boiled over, feeling like he was about to explode.
• "Get out of here!"
• Eric stormed over and kicked the thug hard, sending him flying.
• The kick was merciless, breaking the thug's ribs directly.
• "Dad!"
• Eric hurriedly helped David up, his eyes cold as he shot a dangerous look at the other thugs.
• The thugs who had been thinking about getting back at Eric all shuddered when they saw his fierce stare.
• "Whoa!
• "I was wondering who was so bold.
• "Looks like it's the big shot from the Goodwells back in town!"
• Edmund Blackwood, Evelyn's brother, who had been sitting on a small stool munching on sunflower seeds, spat out the seed shells and swaggered over.