Chapter 695: Representing Orange County
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As soon as the news came out, everyone except for Lucas, Bruce, and Frederick, who already knew about it, was astonished.
The eight great giants of DC were unchallengeable behemoths in the hearts of many people!
If the Smiths really decided to get involved with the situation in California, they would definitely be extremely tyrannical!
Ethan and Darren looked glum and somber.
Frederick narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Watson, since the Kingstons have even told you such a thing, then they must have promised you a lot of benefits in order to win you over, right?”
He was implying that since the Watsons had gotten a promise from the Kingstons, there was no need for them to form an alliance with them and go against the Kingstons.
It didn’t make sense.
Reynold nodded and said without hiding anything, “Indeed, the Kingstons promised to support my family fully and help us become the second strongest family as long as we keep supporting the Kingstons when they become the true overlords of California!”
“In that case, why are you…” Darren looked confused.
As soon as he said a few words, Reynold interrupted him, “However, I just learned that we’re not the only ones the Kingstons gave that promise to. They also gave it to many other families! So this verbal promise of the Kingstons means nothing at all. How can I believe them?”
Reynold cursed and sneered.
Hearing this, everyone in the reception room was shocked.
The Kingstons’ action was clearly giving false hope and using it to draw in other top-tier families in California so that they would all side with the Kingstons.
They initially thought that this Elite Business Exchange was for the three giants of San Francisco to unite and divide the power of the other forces in California.
But it now seemed that the Kingstons had long colluded with the Smiths and secretly bribed many families in order to dominate all of California and become the Smiths’ official agent here.
In that case, wouldn’t the other families have to submit to the Kingstons and follow the orders of the Kingstons and the Smiths?
Reynold looked at everyone’s expression and slowly said, “I, Reynold Watson, am not willing to watch my family, which I’ve singlehandedly developed, be reduced to a subordinate taking orders from others. I don’t want to see the Kingstons becoming the overlord. I think all of you should think similarly to me, right?
“We are all local families of California. If we join forces, the Kingstons might not be able to succeed just with the support of the Smiths! There’s a saying about how you can’t beat the local tyrant on his turf no matter how strong you are!
“Now, what do you plan to do?”
After Reynold finished speaking, the entire reception room immediately fell silent.
Everyone looked at each other for a few moments before turning to look at Lucas.
Tap-tap. Lucas tapped his finger on the table before saying, “In that case, let’s join hands.”
His sudden words instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
Reynold looked at Lucas but suddenly frowned and rebuked, “Who are you? We helmsmen are discussing something important. What right does a junior like you have to speak?”
He hadn’t met Lucas before. Seeing how young he was, he thought he was an ill-mannered junior from one of the four major families of Orange County.
Lucas sat still without saying a word and merely looked at Reynold with a mirthless smile.
Bruce immediately stood up and chided with a stern look on his face, “Reynold, don’t be rude to Mr. Gray! He isn’t a junior of one of our families, but an honored guest officially invited to the Elite Business Exchange. Moreover, Mr. Gray can make decisions on behalf of the Hales!”
Reynold was surprised. He was from San Jose, so he only knew that Orange County was dominated by the four major families for a long time. He didn’t know when there had ever been a powerful Mr. Gray.
What Bruce said almost made Reynold laugh.
“How can the Hales follow the orders of a young man who’s an outsider? Mr. Hale, you’re not really muddled, are you?” Reynold said with contempt.
Ethan suddenly stood up and said austerely, “Mr. Gray can also make decisions on behalf of the Sawyers! Mr. Watson, are you trying to say that I’m old and muddled too?”
Previously, when Lucas went to the Kingston residence to get Karen back and confronted them, Ethan had chosen to stand by and give up the opportunity to follow Lucas because he was afraid of the pressure from the Kingstons and the Huttons.
When he later learned that the Hales, the Parkers, and even Joe from Little Atlantis City had followed Lucas to San Francisco to stand on the side of Lucas, who gained the upper hand in the conflict, Ethan was full of regret.
At the same time, Ethan also felt some fear and nervousness.
He was the first person to offer an olive branch to Lucas. But because of this incident, Lucas probably already disapproved of him. He reckoned that the status of the Hales and Parkers had surpa.s.sed the Sawyers’ in Lucas’s heart.
So this time, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity again, and he had to stand on Lucas’s side firmly. Otherwise, he would never have the opportunity to approach Lucas again!
“Mr. Sawyer, what are you saying?”
Even Ethan had made his position clear and also openly said that Lucas could make decisions for the Sawyers too, shocking Reynold even more.
Frederick also slowly said, “That’s right. Mr. Gray has a special status. He can make decisions on behalf of the forces of Orange County.”
Both the Hales and the Sawyers would obey Lucas’s instructions, and Lucas’s own strength was not to be underestimated. So if he wanted to unite the forces of Orange County, Lucas was undoubtedly the most important person with the most decision-making power.
Darren hesitated for a moment before saying wisely, “Me too.”
Although his words were somewhat ambiguous, at least they proved that he and the other major families of Orange County were indeed on the same side.
Seeing that the helmsmen of the four great families of Orange County all valued and respected a young man so greatly and even said that he could make decisions on behalf of all of Orange County, Reynold was shocked beyond belief. He even began to wonder what was wrong with the world.
“You… Isn’t this too absurd? I’m afraid this young man isn’t even thirty. Do you expect a greenhorn like him to represent all of Orange County? Hah, I have to say that you people from Orange County have lost the last of your backbones!” Reynold felt that this matter was too ridiculous, and he didn’t take Lucas seriously, so he sneered and mocked them.
“Reynold Watson, I’ve already warned you not to insult Mr. Gray again!” Bruce yelled furiously while glowering at Reynold.
Ethan stood up and said coldly, “Reynold Watson, if this is the att.i.tude you have, you’re not only insulting Mr. Gray but all of us from Orange County. There’s no need for us to join forces with you. Hurry up and get lost!”
“You!” Reynold was enraged, and tension immediately arose in the room.