Hendrik replied sincerely, “It’s my responsibility as a parent to teach my children what is right and wrong. Peace is important when it comes to us businessmen. Another friend is one less business enemy.
“You seem to be interested in developing in the media and entertainment industry, Mr. Laine. How about this. Since I do business in a similar field, we can agree on a time and talk about it in person?
“We’re planning to hold a huge banquet in celebration of Swallow Capital being approved to host the Olympics. We could talk about this, Mr. Laine, and your company could host this banquet if you’re interested.”
Jasper gave it some thought, and Hendrik did not speak anymore. Instead, he waited quietly for Jasper’s reply.
It may seem like silence but in truth, Jasper and Hendrik were both testing each other. Basically, if Jasper responded, then it meant that he had no desire to fight the Combe family beyond the point of reconciliation.
This was the world of adults. Love and hatred did not exist, for everything was merely a transaction of benefits.
If I had more power, then you would have to give in.
If you had more power, then there was no one to blame but myself for my failure.
This was something both Jasper and Hendrik were very well aware of.
A short moment later, Jasper chuckled and replied, “I’d be an idiot not to take up your offer considering your compromise, Mr. Combe. How’s tomorrow sound?”
Hendrik smiled. “Alright then, tomorrow night it shall be. I’ll fetch both you and Mr. Law, then. What a coincidence that I’m attending a gala tomorrow night and most of the people in attendance are those within the industry. We can get to know each other better.”
Jasper gave a polite but noncommittal reply before hanging up the phone.
“What does Combe want?” Henry asked.
Jasper replied faintly, “To resolve the resentment, perhaps.”
“Perhaps?” Henry was stunned. “His attitude was great though. Didn’t he say he wants to write this whole thing off?”
Jasper laughed. “He plans to have me host the celebratory banquet for Swallow Capital hosting the Olympics in return for leaving his sons alone. It might not seem like much of a trick, but he wants to announce it at the gala tomorrow night of all time and places. Don’t you find it weird?”
Henry frowned. “Most people would beg to keep this under wraps, so why would he want to announce it at a gala? Has he gone mad?”
Anna interrupted, “From what I can tell, the host for the celebratory banquet has most likely already been decided. After all, this is a boon to both the host’s fame and fortune. Everyone’s going to be fighting for it no matter what. Especially when it’s about something as grand as Swallow Capital being approved for hosting the Olympics.
“The person who has already been decided will likely be present, and you’ll be targeted tomorrow night.”
Jasper nodded at Anna’s analysis. “That’s what I’m thinking as well.”
“What the f*ck?! The Combes’ old man is even more difficult to deal with than his stupid f*cking sons. How could he be so vile? I’m calling him and scolding the f*ck out of him.” Henry was pissed.
“Calm down.”
Jasper stopped Henry.
“This is still just a guess. Even if this is the truth, it’s still a hidden plan. Unless that is, we turn against him straight away and we meet the fight head-on.
“What Hendrik means is that they’re going to hand out the benefits, but whether we reap them or not will depend on our own ability. There’s no way he can take them back even if we don’t manage to reap them since the Combe family has already been kicked out of the equation with this incident alone.”
Henry’s expression darkened. “Isn’t this letting him off too lightly? We don’t even benefit from this at all then!”
Jasper narrowed his eyes. “The world is hardly as benevolent as we make it out to be. It’s not going to be that easy for him to shift the blame.”
