Chapter 421: Blackmailer’s demand.

Only then did Achilles let go, giving Logan a polite little pat on the shoulder that nearly knocked the wind out of the man.

Achilles leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. "Let me make one thing crystal clear, Mr. Mayor. I am beginning to think that you have other ambitions, which is ridiculous, considering your age. But, just in case you a certain toad wants to eat swan meat, let me make myself clear. I will not let anyone ruin my brother’s marriage. Keep your devotion, hands_ and shiny stones to yourself."

Logan adjusted his crumpled suit jacket, dusting off his shoulders. He didn’t look scared; instead, he sneered, tossing his head back with a scoff. "Oh, please," He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with shameless ambition. "Zyra is a Soul Maiden. She can have more husbands if she wants. All I want is to be a part of that beautiful family and I am not the only man alive with such ambitions.

Why else do you think every clan has started sending their strongest sons to Beast Valley city? It’s not for the beautiful views. It’s for the woman who owns the city. And funny thing: there is a rumor going around that your cousin’s marriage to Zyra is not registered. I am sure you know what that means." He offered Achilles a smug, triumphant grin, spun around, and marched down the hallway like he had just won an award.

Achilles watched the man’s retreating back, his eyes narrowing into thin slits. What a shameless parasite, he thought, pulling out his phone and cracking his knuckles. "Hunter is out there playing daddy seeker and men are out here laying traps for his wife. If he doesn’t return quickly, his wife will be gone soon."

Logan wasn’t just a mayor; he was the CEO of Craw Automobiles, rich beyond measure, and_ to top it all off_ a fresh, recent widower. The ink on his late wife’s obituary wasn’t even dry, and here he was, trying to leech off Zyra’s power to fuel his own greed.

Achilles scoffed quietly to himself. "Want to leech off my sister-in-law’s power? Over my dead body, you creepy little car salesman." He dialed Hunter’s number.

****

Logan marched out of the building, his face redder than a ripe chili, fussing and cursing Achilles with every single step. "That overgrown brainless muscle-head!" He growled under his breath, stomping toward the waiting beast truck. "If he hadn’t blocked me like a damn brick wall, I would’ve caught up to Zyra and used my charm to get to know her better!"

His hand unconsciously reached into his jacket, fingers tracing the cool velvet of the box containing the rejected necklace. He huffed in annoyance. Why didn’t she want it? It was filled with high grade energy stones! Ah... wait, Logan thought, stopping mid-stride as a light bulb went off in his head. Of course! She’s basically a simple country bumpkin at heart! What does a girl like that care about expensive jewelry?

He stroked his chin, musing aloud. "So what actually impresses a girl like her? Donating to an orphanage? Or..." He snapped his fingers. "The beast sanctuaries! She created dozens of those beast sanctuaries allover the Wildlands."

The more he thought about it, the more his eyes lit up. "Yes! I’ll make a huge, grand donation to her precious beast sanctuaries! She’ll be so moved she’ll fall right into my arms!"

A loud chime from his link band shattered his daydream just as he slid into the back seat of his brand new luxury car. Logan tapped the screen, and instantly froze.

His face went from smug red to pale white, then right back to a furious, vein-popping purple. "Dammit!" he shrieked, slamming his fist against the leather seat.

It was that video again.

The screen played a crystal-clear recording of him in the middle of his dark deed_ the exact moment he personally put an end to Ursula and Lita. And right under the video was the same infuriating, unshakeable text message:

Send 20 million high-grade energy stones, or this video goes live to the entire new world.

With shaking fingers, Logan furiously dialed his newly contracted henchman, Sawyer. The call connected on the first ring.

"Sawyer, you useless pig!" Logan barked into the mic. "Why haven’t you caught this extortionist scum yet?"

Sawyer sounded like he was sweating buckets. "M-Mayor Logan! Please calm down! We’re trying, but the blackmailer is slippery! They’re using old burner phones which are constantly changed. It’s hard to trace him." He gulped nervously before adding, "Boss... maybe... maybe we should just pay the money? 20 million high-grade stones is a lot, but for you, it’s_"

"Are you insane?!" Logan roared, interrupting him so loudly the car driver flinched. "If I pay him once, the bastard will just smell blood in the water and demand 40 million next week! Then 60 the following year. It will never end, unless I end the person myself. You never feed a leech, Sawyer!"

"I know, I know!" Sawyer said quickly. "But hear me out, Boss, I have a plan! You don’t actually lose the money. You just send a message saying you agree to pay. Once we set up the transfer, my team will trace the money trail straight to the blackmailer’s real name account. Then, we ambush them and transfer your stones back!"

Logan paused, his angry breathing slowing down. "Trace the transfer trail..." He rubbed his chin. "Fine. That actually sounds like a plan. If you mess this up, Sawyer, I’m feeding you to my beasts."

Hanging up, Logan typed out a quick reply to the blackmailer: Fine. I’ll pay. But I want guarantee that this won’t happen ever again.

Not even three seconds later, the link band buzzed.

Bring 20 million high-grade stones to Honey Bay this evening. Come ALONE. If I see a single bodyguard, the video gets broadcasted.

Logan stared at the screen, his jaw dropping. "Honey Bay in person and 20 million in hard stones? This person is not an amateur."

Twenty million high-grade stones weren’t just a bag of copper coins_ they weighed as much as a small mountain!

Dragging that kind of wealth to a seaside dock by himself in the evening was practically begging to be mugged by real pirates!

"Curses! Double curses!" Logan yelled, slapping his own forehead. He leaned back, rubbed his throbbing temples, and gritted his teeth as he dialed another number.

"Hello? Manager Calvin?" Logan said, his voice instantly dropping into a fake, overly polite tone while his face twisted in pure agony. "Yes, it’s Mayor Logan... I need to make an emergency, top-priority liquidation of high-grade energy stones worth 20 million right now. Yes, all of them... What do you mean it’ll take four hours to pack?! Hurry it up!"

Hanging up the phone, Logan collapsed against the headrest with a long, miserable groan. Between a stubborn future wife, her nosy brother-in-law, a blackmailer, and a possible loss of twenty million heavy-ass stones, it was going to be a ridiculously long day.