Chapter 8: Unbelievable

Words : 1819 Updated : Dec 11th, 2025

Kevin Warth's two weak coughs hit the banquet hall like thunder. In an instant, everyone gaped at him as he slowly opened his eyes on the floor; jaws nearly hit the carpet. "Dad! Y-you're really awake?" Eddie Warth froze for three seconds, then lunged over, joy blazing across his face. "How do you feel? Anything uncomfortable? I'll call Director Looske-no, I'll get Mr. Jauncy to take a look!" A moment ago he had been yelling about avenging his father and killing Asher Jauncy. Now he was calling him "Mr. Jauncy" like it was nothing. The whiplash left the onlookers stunned. Kevin blinked until his vision focused, then turned slowly to Asher Jauncy. His lips trembled, his voice still weak. "Y-young man… was it you who saved me?" Asher nodded, bent to help him up, and gave his back two light pats. Color returned to Kevin's face at once. "Nothing much," Asher said. "I just cleared the vessels that were blocked. Stop letting doctors cut you open at random. Your heart can't take that kind of punishment." "C-cleared… the vessels?" Zion Looske stood off to the side, his face turning an ugly shade of purple. "I clearly checked just now-Roy Warth's heart had already stopped. Even an open-chest surgery would've taken three hours. How could you possibly-" He slapped his stethoscope to Kevin's chest, not ready to believe it. The instant he listened, his eyes flew wide. "Impossible… how is this happening? The heartbeat is so steady, and the vascular murmur is gone!" The room erupted. People who had mocked Asher a minute ago wore entirely different faces now. "Oh my God! Mr. Jauncy is too good! Even Director Looske couldn't save him, and he fixed it with a few taps!" "I thought he was a fraud before. Looks like the real deal!" "No wonder Ramon Scurr and Maria Scurr think so highly of him. With skills like that, he's practically a miracle worker!" Juliana Yale huddled in Harris Zorn's arms, her mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. What kind of monster was Asher Jauncy? He could bring the dead back? Harris Zorn's face looked sour. He had been waiting for Asher to make a fool of himself, only to be slapped in the face instead. His hand on Juliana's waist tightened without him realizing, and she winced. Maria Scurr stood nearby, watching Asher's back. A small smile curled at her lips. The knot in her chest finally loosened, and admiration flickered in her eyes. The more she learned about this man, the more mysterious he seemed. Propped up by Eddie, Kevin eased onto the sofa. He rested for a while, then inclined his head to Asher, gratitude thick in his voice. "Mr. Jauncy, words can't repay this. If not for you, this old life of mine would've ended here today. Whatever you need in the future, if it's within the Warth family's power, there'll be no hesitation." Asher waved it off. "I only need the Warth family to agree to lend the Warmthborne Jade." "No problem!" Kevin agreed without a second thought. "Compared to your saving my life, the Warmthborne Jade is nothing. Anyone who dares to block it is making an enemy of the Warth family!" Murphy Scurr and Maria Scurr both let out a breath. Kevin Warth served as the Chamber of Commerce's vice chairman; his status was only slightly beneath Murphy Scurr's. If the two reached a decision together, even Andrew Zorn and Cody Looske would find it hard to stop. Cody Looske's face tightened. "Brother Warth, you can't put it like that. The Warmthborne Jade is the Chamber of Commerce's common property, not something our family can decide on alone. Even if you agree, we still have to-" Asher stepped forward and planted himself in front of Cody. He looked Cody up and down, a playful curve at his lips. "Patriarch Looske, you'd better worry about yourself first." Cody blinked, frowning. "About myself? I'm perfectly fine. Don't try to change the subject." "Is that so?" Asher smiled and pointed at Cody's waist. "Every morning, does the left side of your lower back hurt so much you can't straighten up, and you need a servant to rub it for half an hour before you can move? And when it's damp and rainy, it hurts so badly you can hardly walk, and at night you can only sleep on your stomach?" Cody's face changed, and his hand flew to his left waist. "How… how did you know?" He had never told an outsider, not even his brother Zion Looske. He thought back pain was a small matter that would make him lose face if it got out, so he had been secretly seeing private doctors for half a year with no improvement. He never expected Asher to see through it at a glance. The onlookers stared at Cody's waist, trying to see if there really was a problem. Under their gaze, Cody bristled and forced himself to bark, "Stop talking nonsense. There's nothing wrong with me." "Is that so?" Asher's tone was almost teasing. "It's a herniated lumbar disc compressing a nerve. Drag it out any longer and you could end up paralyzed. Those private doctors of yours only hand you painkillers. They can't fix the root, can they?" Cody's face drained. That was exactly what his private doctors had told him, even urging surgery. He had feared the risks and never dared. Now that Asher jabbed his sore spot, his bravado collapsed, and his voice softened without him noticing. "You can treat it?" Asher nodded. "Three silver needles are all I need to guarantee you won't hurt again. However…" He let it hang. Cody was no fool; he caught on at once. "The Warmthborne Jade. I agree. I'll sign right now. As long as you can fix my back, forget signing-if you ever need anything, the Looske family will help too!" Zion Looske stood to the side, his chin almost buried in his chest. He had been butting heads with Asher moments ago; now his older brother was begging for treatment. What face did he have left to speak? Ramon Scurr was even more dumbfounded. He had thought the Three Major Families joining hands could crush the Scurr family. But now the Warth and Looske families both stood with Asher. Only the Zorn family remained. How was he supposed to seize power? He stood there like a post, at a loss. Andrew Zorn shook with rage as he watched. It had been such a promising start; the Scurrs were about to bend. He never imagined Asher Jauncy would pop up and flip the board with ease. But with Warth and Looske both agreeing, his lone objection meant nothing. He couldn't very well tear his face with them, could he? The four major families were practically equals. Just as three could suppress the Scurrs, those same three could press down on the Zorns. Andrew Zorn ground his teeth, his face so dark it could drip water. "Fine. Since Mr. Warth and Mr. Looske have both agreed, I won't get in the way. But Old Su, don't celebrate too soon. We'll hand over the Warmthborne Jade, but whether the Scurr family lasts long enough to use it is another question." With that, he didn't stay another second. He turned and strode out. Just past the door, Andrew Zorn pulled out his phone and made a call. "Albert Lawes, our plan failed…"

Chapter 8: Unbelievable

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