The door to Lopez Mining Group creaked open, pushed by a single hand.
At the sound of the familiar voice, Angus' tense expression relaxed, as though salvation had arrived.
Finally! he thought. While Catia might insist on feeding him vegetarian dishes every day, whenever Matthew was around, the table somehow managed to include a few meaty options.
Matthew strolled in with a friendly smile, his gaze immediately falling on Angus, who looked utterly defeated, and Catia. "I could hear you two from a mile away," he teased.
Angus opened his mouth to greet him, but Catia beat him to it.
"Mr. Larden, you're knowledgeable about so many things. Why don't you talk some sense into our boss here? Eating all that heavy meat all the time—what's the point? It just harms your body and packs on the pounds."
Matthew chuckled. "A balanced diet with a mix of meat and veggies is the way to go."
He had already figured out what Angus' earlier look of despair was about. Taking a seat across from Angus, he turned to him and asked, "Mr. Lopez, how's the mining operation progressing?"
Angus' previously relaxed demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. "The quality of the ore in that vein far exceeds any iron deposits I've seen before. The distribution is incredibly dense, and we've got workers running double shifts to keep up with the excavation."
"As per our agreement, I've already sent half of what we've mined so far to Larden Island," he added, his tone measured.
Matthew nodded in approval. When Angus had first mentioned Larden Island, Matthew had been puzzled. It wasn't until Angus explained that it was a newly named location, complete with signs set up across the island, that everything made sense.
"Mr. Lopez, now that everything here has been taken care of, I should—"
Before Matthew could finish, the door to Lopez Mining Group was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang. A man with flaming red hair and a face covered in pockmarks strutted in, his expression oozing arrogance and disdain.
Redwood's eyes gleamed with malice as he interrupted, his tone sharp and mocking. "Do you think I care about your feelings? Look at you—do you honestly think you can satisfy this fine lady every night? Why not let her come with me? I guarantee she'll be left utterly fulfilled every single day."
Angus' expression hardened further, his usual calm and scholarly demeanor replaced by a steely resolve. "The five tons of ore—I'll agree to that, out of respect for the Viper Crew. But your other demand?" His voice dropped, sharp and unyielding. "That's not happening. If you insist on this… then no one here is walking away today!"
His words rang out with conviction, a thunderous defiance that shattered the quiet dignity he usually exuded.
Catia, standing to the side, watched Angus with a newfound admiration, her lips curving into a faint smile. It was as if the man before her had transformed into someone entirely new—a force to be reckoned with.
Meanwhile, Redwood's face twisted into an ugly grimace. He hadn't expected a mere mining boss to stand up to him, let alone throw down the gauntlet with such audacity.
To Redwood, this wasn't just a refusal—it was an insult to him and to his boss.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)