Chapter 662: Seizing the Market

"Control your crazy dog!" Jacqueline Spann snapped.

"Who are you calling a crazy dog?!"

Jim Thorne darted in front of Tang Xiaonan, glaring fiercely at Jacqueline Spann. He even rolled up his sleeves. ’How dare she bully my sister right in front of me? This little bitch must be itching for a beating.’

Jacqueline Spann started to regret her words. Jim Thorne was a thug who’d start a fight at the drop of a hat, and she knew she couldn’t beat him. ’I’ll just have to put up with it until I leave Millstone Peak,’ she thought. ’I’ll get my revenge later, once I’m stronger.’

"Your dog barked first," Jacqueline Spann said, her tone softening.

"What damn business is it of yours if my dog barks? It didn’t bite you. You think you can control everything under the sun, even my dog’s barking? My dog needs to take a piss and a crap right now, you wanna control that too?" Jim Thorne sneered. ’So what if it barked? Even if it had bitten her, the little bitch would’ve deserved it.’

As if it understood Jim Thorne’s words, Dollar excitedly ran up to Jacqueline Spann, aimed his rear at her, lifted a hind leg, and peed on the ground. A light breeze carried the pungent smell, which was strong enough to make anyone want to beat the dog.

"Good boy!"

Jim Thorne patted Dollar on the head. The dog happily shook his head, his tail wagging as if it were electric. Jacqueline Spann clenched her fists, her gaze growing even colder. Without a word, she turned and left.

"Hmph. She stinks worse than a dog and has the nerve to talk!"

Jim Thorne’s deliberately loud comment reached Jacqueline Spann’s ears. She faltered for a moment, her expression turning frosty, then quickened her pace and left.

’I’ll remember every single one of these debts,’ she vowed. ’One day, I’ll pay them back a hundred times over.’

’These thugs and bandits from the Thorne family won’t be enjoying their good fortune for long.’

Tang Xiaonan frowned. Maybe it was her imagination, but she felt that Jacqueline Spann now carried a sinister air about her, much like Adrian Hawthorne used to. Adrian had become much more cheerful recently, and much of that dark aura had dissipated. Jacqueline’s, however, was only growing stronger. Even her retreating figure looked ominous.

’That venomous snake will bite again sooner or later. I have to be on my guard at all times.’

「A week later」

Adrian Hawthorne returned from Tristone. Goldie Thorne, however, remained behind. Adrian had gone to Tristone to snatch a piece of the pie from his own father. Since Ethan Hawthorne had been merciless first, Adrian felt no need to honor their father-son bond. His priority was to seize the market first.

Fortunately, a man known as Crazy Feng was willing to help him, prioritizing his supply. Adrian had access to goods that even Ethan Hawthorne couldn’t get his hands on, such as high-end cashmere and mid-range woolen fabrics. As the weather grew colder, the demand for custom-made coats naturally increased. This was especially true in a large city like Tristone, where many people would rather eat less just to maintain a respectable appearance when they went out. The woolen fabrics were selling exceptionally well.

In contrast, Ethan Hawthorne’s business had slowed considerably, but he hadn’t yet figured out why. He assumed the market was simply saturated, which was why he had dispatched Bernice to develop the market in the neighboring Zylos, while he personally went to Strovia Province. He aimed to conquer the markets in both provinces, which would put the entire southeastern market firmly in his grasp.

Ethan Hawthorne, however, still had his worries. Crazy Feng’s inventory hadn’t been updated promptly of late, and supplies were insufficient. Shipments had been delayed multiple times. He knew he had to find a new supplier, but unfortunately, Crazy Feng held a monopoly in Capria, making it incredibly difficult to find new channels. He could only continue his slow search.

Adrian Hawthorne had bought a lot of things: all sorts of candies, several tins of malted milk powder, chocolates, and more—all of Tang Xiaonan’s favorites. There were also gifts for Old Master Tate and Rosalind Green. It was a whole bag full.

"This is all for you. Save it and eat it slowly. You can only have three pieces a day. Any more and your teeth will rot."

Adrian Hawthorne set a limit. Forbidding the chubby girl from eating candy altogether was out of the question; she would definitely crave it. But if she ate too much, her teeth really would rot away. Limiting the quantity was the only solution.