Chapter 23: Chapter23-Who Gave You the Nerve to Rob Me?
"Any punishment?"
Daniel glanced at Lady Claire's beautiful face and well-proportioned figure, then let out a cold laugh. "Your dedication is commendable."
Lady Claire's face instantly turned red.
She could hear the sarcasm in Daniel's words.
But there was nothing she could do, so she silently endured it.
"You knew that Tina had come here and could pose a threat to our transaction. Why didn't you inform me in advance?" Daniel's voice was icy. "Because of that, my people suffered serious injuries."
"I'm sorry." Lady Claire knelt on one knee, humbly apologizing. "I know no amount of apology can make up for the life of your subordinate. I will personally compensate Mr. Bighead Stone's family for his unfortunate passing."
"The person behind Tina is Mr. Dick. He's been running the Lakecity branch of Dragonscale Bank for many years and knows many powerful people. It's said that he even has connections with Tier-Diamond experts."
"I didn't want you to clash with Tina."
"I never expected her to be so reckless."
Claire had already received word that the most severely injured from Crossbridge Academy was someone named Bighead Stone, and she had heard that he was beyond saving.
But now, facing Daniel's cold gaze, Lady Claire realized for the first time just how powerless her words were.
Daniel watched as beads of sweat dripped from Lady Claire's forehead.
After a moment, he spoke, "You should be grateful that Bighead Stone didn't die. Otherwise, there would no longer be a Dragonscale Bank in Riverside City."
"There will be no next time. Anything that could potentially harm the academy must be reported to me immediately."
"Yes." Lady Claire exhaled slightly, relieved.
Daniel's pressure was overwhelming.
She was even worried that one wrong word would result in her being killed on the spot.
But Claire couldn't help but wonder—why hadn't Bighead Stone died? Did Crossbridge Academy have a high priest skilled in healing?
"The transaction will continue," Daniel said. "I'll take care of the other matters."
"Sorry, what other matters?" Claire was suddenly confused.
"Those who hurt my academy will pay the price, no matter who they are," Daniel said calmly. "Get me the magical portraits of Lady Tina from Lakecity and Mr. Dick."
"Ah!" Lady Claire finally understood.
She was too shocked to speak.
Daniel was planning revenge.
"Please think carefully!" Claire hurriedly said. "Tina has likely already fled to Lakecity with all those stolen goods. Mr. Dick will definitely protect her, and there are many powerful people in Dragonscale Bank's office!"
She was truly worried now.
No matter how strong Daniel was, he couldn't possibly take on all the experts in Lakecity.
Lady Claire didn't want to see Daniel lose his cool and rush into a deathtrap.
"Powerful people?" Daniel sneered. "How strong are they? Forget the magical portraits, you're coming with me to identify them in person."
Without giving Lady Claire a chance to refuse, Daniel wrapped a strand of mind power around her.
Lady Claire was unable to move.
The next moment, her vision blurred, and the scenery around her began to spin.
…
Lakecity.
"Hahaha, this feels great," Lady Tina said, admiring the magic chests before her with a seductive smile. "So easy to get so much stuff. These are no longer the bank's treasures, but ours now."
The thought of Claire's reaction when she found out made Tina even happier.
Would she fight back?
Hmph, not a chance. That path would lead only to death.
With the goods stolen, the client would undoubtedly sever ties with Claire.
And when the headquarters held her accountable, Claire would have to personally repay everything that had been taken.
Mr. Dick playfully pinched her delicate cheek.
"You were a bit too harsh this time. Stealing the goods was enough; there was no need to kill anyone."
"So what if I killed them?" Tina said indifferently. "Crossbridge Academy is full of worthless nobodies. Their students are poor orphans, and their new headmaster is a famous weakling! The only reason they could buy so much was because of the old headmaster's inheritance."
"Even if I wiped them all out, no one would care."
She had spent enough time in Riverside City to gather a lot of information, and she thought she knew everything about Crossbridge Academy's situation.
She knew that the new headmaster, Daniel, was just Tier-Iron, which was why she had ordered the attackers to show no mercy.
"They made a big purchase before, buying up all of Dragonscale Bank in Riverside City, attracting a lot of envy," Tina said with a smile. "If we didn't make a move, someone else would have sooner or later."
"Exactly. Sudden wealth makes people like that reckless. They don't know how to hide their strength," Mr. Dick agreed. "Consider this a lesson for them."
To them, a force without solid foundations was like a candle in the wind—easily snuffed out with the slightest breeze.
Neither of them had any respect for Crossbridge Academy.
At most, they thought Claire might face some minor trouble if she insisted on investigating.
"My dear, I've done so well this time. What will you reward me with?" Tina leaned against Mr. Dick, her body soft and alluring. "I want that beauty gem that keeps people forever young."
"Hahaha, anything you want," Mr. Dick laughed. "But you're already so beautiful without the gem. If you used it, those country bumpkins in Riverside City would be so enchanted by you, you wouldn't even need to lift a finger to steal from them."
"Really?" A stranger's voice suddenly cut in.
Mr. Dick was startled.
Both of them turned toward the source of the voice.
In the center of the room, a spinning vortex of wind had appeared, with countless stars twinkling within it. Two figures slowly emerged from the vortex.
One of them was none other than Claire, the very person they had been discussing.
"You bitch! How do you have a spatial scroll?!" Tina screamed in fear. "And who is this man? Is he your lover?"
Mr. Dick's face turned deathly pale, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
His strength was greater than Tina's, so he could see that this was no mere spatial scroll! It was genuine spatial magic! A powerful magic long thought lost to history, said to only be wielded by mages of Tier-Grandmaster or higher.
While Tina was still screaming, Mr. Dick had already collapsed to the ground.
"Forgive me, sir!" he stammered, his voice trembling. "May I ask what brings you to Dragonscale Bank?"
"Are these the two?" Daniel asked.
"Yes," Claire replied, still trembling with fear herself. She had never imagined that when Daniel said he was going after them, he would use this method!
He had asked for the location of the Lakecity branch and obtained some personal items from Lady Tina, then used powerful spatial magic to bring them here.
The entire process had taken less than ten minutes.
Claire silently counted her blessings.
Fortunately, she had shown Daniel enough respect. Otherwise, if she had angered this mysterious and unfathomable man, she wouldn't even know how she died.
"Why are you scared of him?" Tina pushed the kneeling Mr. Dick. "This is that useless fool Daniel I told you about! I've seen his magical portrait. They must have spent the last of their money on a spatial scroll. Call for help and show them what happens to those who trespass in Dragonscale Bank!"
What?!
This man was that Daniel?!
Mr. Dick's eyes widened in disbelief. According to the reports, wasn't Daniel only Tier-Iron? But the man standing before him was clearly of unfathomable power—at least at the grandmaster level.
"Damn it, wait!" Tina gritted her teeth. "I'll call for help myself."
She barely took two steps before Mr. Dick grabbed her.
"Idiot! Kneel!" he shouted, drenched in cold sweat. "Apologize to Lord Daniel immediately. That's not a scroll; it's real spatial magic!"
"How is that possible?" Tina froze. "But everyone in Riverside City said Daniel was just a useless weakling, only here because of his father's legacy!"
Mr. Dick wished he could leap forward and shut the foolish woman's mouth.
If she wanted to die, she didn't need to drag him down with her.
Daniel had come for revenge, and it was obvious!
Gritting his teeth, Mr. Dick suddenly said, "Lord Daniel, I had nothing to do with this! It was all Tina's doing. I was merely momentarily swayed by her! I was just about to report this when you arrived."
"This is all Tina's fault!"
"It really has nothing to do with me."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone