"Yes," Xavier nodded and left.
Seeing this, Deanna couldn't help but ask, "What was Mr. Nelson talking about with that assassin organization?"
"It's an enemy of our Mercer family. They hired an international organization to target me, which led to my previous attack. Later, when you were kidnapped, it was also their doing," Lance explained briefly.
Deanna was stunned, her worldview shattered. "Is the business world really this dangerous?"
Lance smiled at her incredulous expression. "It's not dangerous; it's just that wealth attracts trouble."
He sighed, "There are always people who, despite having enough wealth, want more. And the Mercer family is a prime target for such people."
Deanna listened, unsure of what to say.
The two little ones looked left and right, not understanding the adults' conversation.
Lance noticed their puzzled looks and smiled gently, beckoning them over.
They immediately approached. "Uncle, what's going on?"
"Did you understand what I was saying to your mommy just now?" Lance asked softly.
They shook their heads. "Not really."
"It's okay if you don't understand now; you'll get it in the future."
Lance didn't intend to expose them to the darker side of human nature just yet.
Watching their interaction, Deanna stopped worrying.
That evening, Xavier returned to the hospital room to report.
"Mr. Mercer, the leader handed over the person and provided information about the mastermind."
"Was it Alonso?" Lance asked calmly.
Xavier nodded. "Yes, and the leader gave me a recording of his conversation with Alonso and a transaction record."
He then displayed the recording and transaction record for Lance to see.
Lance glanced at them without looking closely and instructed, "Now that we have the evidence, you know what to do."
"Understood," Xavier responded solemnly.
Lance nodded in satisfaction and issued another cold order. "Explority Group has struggled long enough; it's time to let it fall."
...
At Explority Group, early in the morning, Alonso accompanied his father to the bank for a loan.
Due to pressure from Mercer Group, their company's finances were already in deficit.
Without new funds, Explority Group faced imminent bankruptcy.
Even though Chace had prepared for the worst, he still wanted to save the company. After all, it was the result of three generations of the Valencia family's efforts. If it failed under his watch, he wouldn't be very guilty.
"Mr. Valencia, please don't make things difficult for me. Mercer Group has spoken; we can't offend them. Maybe you should try elsewhere," the bank manager said with a forced smile as he returned the loan documents.
Chace's face darkened considerably.
Alonso's expression was equally grim. This was already the third bank they had visited today, all with similar responses.
Unable to contain his anger any longer, Alonso stood up abruptly and glared at the bank manager. "I didn't know a bank could be a lapdog for Mercer Group! If Lance told you to die, would you?"
The bank manager's friendly demeanor vanished instantly.
Chace realized things were going south and scolded Alonso angrily, "Shut up!"
He then turned back to the bank manager and pulled out a property deed from his briefcase. "My son misspoke. This is a small token of our appreciation; I hope you'll accept it."
The bank staff looked at him and then at the deed on the table but remained unmoved.
"Mr. Valencia, I can't accept this. Don't waste your time here; if we say we can't process your loan, we mean it. Please leave."
"We'll leave! Don't come begging us for business later!" Alonso snapped as he grabbed the deed and stormed out.
The bank manager smirked coldly at Chace and taunted him. "Mr. Valencia, instead of begging around town, maybe you should educate your son better. I heard Mercer Group is targeting Explority Group because your 'good' son provoked them."
This remark ignited Chace's simmering rage into an explosion.
With a dark expression, he left the bank.
Outside, he saw Alonso smoking by the street and couldn't contain his fury any longer; he kicked him hard.
"You fool! Do you think you're still the pampered heir of the Valencia family?"
"Dad! What are you doing?!" Alonso hadn't expected his father to suddenly attack him and almost fell from the kick. Especially with passersby watching, he felt utterly humiliated.