Chapter 42: Final Payment

"That's not strange, okay? Considering his family background, it's normal for his parents to leave him some precious metals and cash. It's a good way to legally avoid taxes. As long as the IRS doesn't know, there's no inheritance tax."

Jeremy continued his explanation: "Now for the second question. First, Andre transferred to Linden only two months ago at the start of the summer semester, and he's been in the college's comprehensive cold weapon combat club for less than twenty days. Second, this student has strong counter-surveillance skills. Three days ago, when he went to the Laurel Street black market, if it weren't for my personal ability and the special artifacts owned by the Eye of Heaven Detective Agency, he would have almost shaken us off."

Dwight crossed his fingers and placed them on his chest, quietly watching Jeremy Burt. Although he didn't know the intent of the latter's last remark or how it related to his question, he knew there was more to come.

"Then during the surveillance, we discovered two other groups also keeping an eye on this Mr. Andre."

Jeremy Burt said this and placed several more photos in front of Dwight: "I've investigated them all. These individuals are from the Razor Mercenary Group, a small mercenary organization with one outlaw. We found that fifteen days ago, they received a commission, with the down payment originating from an account of the Wiltonshire family, suspected to belong to Andre's biological sister, Jennifer Wiltonshire. These people are nothing to worry about; Andre easily shook them off. Then there's this one—"

Jeremy took out another photo and tapped it with his finger: "Look at the side of this big shot. I think you should have some impression now? I recall you were at the Governor's celebration party and had close contact with this person."

"Him?"

Dwight was visibly startled, then frowned: "You mean the old Andre might have been hiding his abilities?"

Jeremy shrugged: "I'm not sure, just speculating it's possible. But what's certain is that this Mr. Andre's weight in the Wiltonshire family exceeds our imagination. The internal war of the Wiltonshire family has already involved him."

Dwight didn't ask further. He closed his eyes in deep thought. After only ten seconds, he turned to his chief assistant: "Carl, later notify the marketing department to provide a generous sponsorship agreement for Andre Lee Wiltonshire until he joins NMOSA. Tell them this is something I'm personally overseeing, and they need to take the right attitude and secure him as quickly as possible. Of course, don't forget to include a priority endorsement signing clause in the contract!"

"Yes, Executive! I'll follow up on this personally."

Carl raised no objection but asked with slight doubt: "If I understand correctly, 'generous' means the best terms within allowable conditions, right?"

"You understand correctly, Mr. Carl. He deserves our courtesy."

Dwight then looked across: "Before that, you can take Mr. Burt here to the finance department to settle the final payment."

"Hey!"

Jeremy Burt laughed: "Sir, I must mention here that in my understanding, the final payment should be five hundred thousand gold shields."

Dwight frowned and cast a questioning glance at his assistant, who immediately flushed: "Sir, the agreement we signed was for fifty thousand gold shields—"

"But Andre is worth that price, isn't he?"

Jeremy Burt interrupted Carl and gathered all the materials on the desk: "I don't think only your Nathan Sports Group is interested in him. What about Arcadis Sporting Goods?"

Dwight couldn't help but take off his glasses, his gaze sharpening: "I believe our agreement should have a confidentiality clause. I doubt Carl would make such a mistake."

Jeremy replied with a grin: "Of course! Your assistant is very shrewd, tough and seasoned in negotiations. But who knows what will happen ten minutes from now? Maybe a little employee at our Eye of Heaven Detective Agency might inadvertently leak it? Fortunately, the penalty clause we both agreed on is only five hundred thousand gold shields."

"This is against business ethics, Jeremy!"

Dwight narrowed his eyes: "You should know the power of Nathan Sports Group. I can guarantee that within a day, the entire Atlanta business community will have a thorough understanding of your agency's credibility."

"That's something you can indeed do."

Jeremy Burt shrugged nonchalantly: "But if our agency can't survive, what use are credibility and ethics? Dwight, this isn't good for you either. He's an opportunity for you. Don't think I don't know you've been trying to create an NMOSA fighting star to compete with that one in the Western District, right? I think this Andre is very suitable."

Dwight fell silent again. After a long while, he let out a snort: "After all this time, you're still this shameless, Jeremy."

"Thanks for the compliment!" Jeremy took it as a compliment rather than an insult, rubbing his hands together with a fawning smile: "Since the Executive says so, does that mean you agree?"

"Carl, have the Integrated Information Department prepare a few commission contracts for them, totaling four hundred and fifty thousand gold shields. And don't forget to amend the previous agreement, setting the penalty at twenty million, with unlimited liability."

Dwight said this while leaning back leisurely in his chair: "Also, for old times' sake, I can now offer your agency another generous commission. Ensure the safety of this Mr. Andre for the next year. Confident, Mr. Burt?"

Jeremy Burt's expression turned slightly serious, a look of contemplation in his eyes.

Dwight didn't wait for Jeremy's answer. He swiveled his office chair to face the window: "Carl, make a slight change to the evening schedule. Also, inform the Information Department to send today's match video footage to my office."

"Match video footage? Sir, are you planning to watch Andre's match? If so, I think it's unnecessary."

Carl, standing nearby, unsurprisingly met his superior's cold stare. He could only respond with a wry smile: "I have no intention of interfering with your schedule, but as far as I know, Andre's opponent today, Mad Bear Bill, was hospitalized this morning with acute hemorrhagic enteritis and can't participate in today's event. He's also one of our sponsored athletes. His father informed the company an hour ago. Apparently, the poor kid went on a wild party yesterday and ate something unclean—"

Dwight couldn't care less about why this Mad Bear Bill was hospitalized. Upon hearing this, he just pursed his lips with slight pleasure: "Is that so? Seems our luck is pretty good."

Jeremy also felt that this former colleague's luck was simply excellent.

Without this match, that rare gem from Linden College would still be buried in the sand, waiting for Nathan Sports Group to pick it up.