My players are so fierce.

Chapter 1354 1352. To all the strange relatives

This shareholders meeting was very successful.

At the buffet after the meeting alone, Misty Sea Trading Company recovered 70% of today's dividends, and many potential customers who were invited also expressed their intention to invest. With only follow-up, Ivankov can guarantee that the funds can be raised within a week.

It then took another half a month to complete private financing, and the last week to pack up and sell everything.

It perfectly matched the timeline set by Boss Huo and Brother Crow. Ivankov didn't even dare to look at the specific amount of financing. He was afraid that he really couldn't resist the temptation and ran away with the money.

If he really did that, he would not only become the target of the entire Nordtov, but the goddess of wealth would even "remember" him.

After all, I am now a "quasi-clergyman", so I must maintain the necessary purity of mind and abstinence.

Thinking so, he chatted and laughed with various shareholders at the buffet and drank a lot of wine before he excused himself and left. He returned to his luxurious "King Suite" on the top floor of Treasure Bay in a drunken state.

Ivankov, standing outside the door, looked at the luxurious door in front of him.

He knew that his brother and sister-in-law were waiting for him on the other side of the door. He didn't even have to guess why his "brother" came to see him.

As an illegitimate child, he had long been accustomed to the dirty deeds in his family. Although his father was only a colonel, he was also considered a nobleman of the Nordtof Kingdom. He had a wife at home but still had affairs with other women outside. His mother should have been a village woman with a simple and honest life, but she was forced to marry him home by his father because of her beauty and good figure.

It sounds like a tragedy, but in this era, what happened to the mother can even be called "lucky."

At least that's what others say, that's what those idiots say.

Ivankov still remembers that when he was a child, he and his mother lived on the edge of the dilapidated manor. His father's wife was a jealous woman, and his mother was often whipped by her for various reasons. When he was eleven years old, the vicious woman blinded his mother's eyes because she could not stand his father's favor for the mistress.

The following year, my father retired due to excessive drinking and serious illness, and my mother also realized the crisis at that time.

She won an opportunity for herself in a praying manner, and with the help of her father's connections, she arranged for herself to serve in the army, which was also a way for herself, an illegitimate child, to find a way to settle down.

Unfortunately, the mother lived a hard life and passed away early before her son could become successful.

This experience made Ivankov have no feelings for his so-called "family" at all. The only reason he agreed to meet his family was because his brother came with his sister-in-law.

Well, don't get me wrong.

Although Ivankov was once a ruffian, he considered himself a man with moral bottom line and did not have any extraordinary thoughts about his sister-in-law. It was just because the woman his brother married was his cousin, and this kind of family marriage was normal. And that cousin Anna was nice to him when he was a child.

That was one of the few friends he had as a child.

For the sake of friendship, we have to meet today.

"Snapped"

He straightened his luxurious clothes and opened the door, and saw his brother standing up.

The guy had a smile on his face as if he was really going to meet his dearest brother today, completely forgetting how he had viciously forced himself to jump into the river in the middle of winter when he was a child, under the guise of "exercising his will."

But he almost died in the icy water, and from then on he developed a psychological disorder of being afraid of water. It was his cousin Anna who couldn't bear to watch him and pulled him out of the water.

The fellow was wearing his best clothes, but to Ivankov he looked unspeakably rustic.

Thinking about it carefully, his family had never been associated with the word "rich". They simply maintained the so-called "aristocratic" dignity and spent a lot of money on meaningless socializing. However, a colonel's family was nothing compared to the horrible family background of Marshal Heraclius. Only now did he understand why his father always had a gloomy face when he saw him as a child.

He was probably also worried about the prosperity of his family.

It's a pity that the old soldier may be good at fighting, but he really doesn't understand business.

After his death, the family's situation became increasingly dire. Now it seems that my mother would rather endure humiliation and send me to serve in the army, probably because she saw that the family would inevitably fail in the future.

Alas, his mother is really smart. Although she is uneducated, she has always been the "embodiment of wisdom" in Ivankov's heart.

"Ivan! Look at you, you have really made it. I knew my brother would do something great. You are a man who dares to jump into the icy river to take a bath in the cold winter."

Ivankov's brother went forward enthusiastically and hugged his younger brother. He seemed to have drunk some wine and spoke without thinking. As soon as he opened his mouth, he touched Ivan's taboo, which made Ivankov clench his fists.

This bastard!
Does he really think this is something worth bragging about?

However, Ivankov is a professional manager who has been carefully trained by Old Ho and Crow. His life experiences in the past few months have taught him how to deal with these hypocritical people.

So he also laughed and patted his brother on the shoulder and said:

"It's been many years since we last met, Anton. You are still as strong and energetic as before. It's really touching. We haven't seen each other for more than ten years, right? Sorry, I have always wanted to find an opportunity to go home, but I couldn't find a vacation when I was serving in the army, and then I encountered the black disaster. Then, by chance, I joined the Misty Sea Trading Company and have been busy until now.

I feel relieved to see that you are all right.

Look how cute these two girls are, are they your children?"

He let go of his brother, then bent down and waved to the two little girls who were hiding behind their mother and looking at him. The two children's clothes were a little worn out, and they fully experienced what a mess Anton, the idiot, had made of the family after taking over.

Finally, Ivankov's eyes fell on his sister-in-law.

Cousin Anna was as gentle and pretty as she remembered, and now she had a bit of the charm of a mother. However, there was not much smile on her face. Unlike Anton who was trying to please her, Cousin Anna kept avoiding Ivankov's gaze. She seemed ashamed to come to see her cousin whom she hadn't seen for many years at this time.

However, Ivankov keenly noticed that there was a small bruise on his cousin's neck, which was covered by a scarf.

This made him narrow his eyes.

His father was an alcoholic. When he was drunk, he would use some of the Yankees' "traditional" entertainment to vent his dissatisfaction. His mother was a victim of this tradition. Even Anton's mother, the matriarch of the family, would occasionally appear with panda eyes.

Now it seems that this idiot Anton has indeed inherited his father's "virtue".

Damn it!

"Have the children eaten yet?"

Ivankov took off his coat, handed his cousin Anna an ID card and said:

"Cousin, take the children to the restaurant for a midnight snack. With this VIP card, you can taste all the food in the VIP lounge for free. The children have come from afar, and as their uncle, I should treat them to a big meal.

There are also delicious velvet cakes there, which are said to be a craft learned from foreigners.

Cousin, you look very tired. Maybe you can take your children to have a massage after dinner to relax. The service staff here are very professional. "

"It's okay, I'll stay here."

Anna whispered something, but Anton scolded her:
"You tactless guy, don't you see that the men want to talk about something? Why are you staying here with the child? Go, go eat something. Ivan is your cousin, we are all family, why are you being so polite?"

These words made Cousin Anna lower her head.

She gritted her teeth and was obviously angry, but in order to maintain the dignity of the man in her family in front of her cousin, she took the card and left the room with the children. However, after walking out, Anna looked at the note under the VIP card in confusion.

It looked like Ivan had written it before he entered the room.

Cousin Anna was invited to wait in the restaurant box for a while. It was obvious that Ivan wanted to talk to her alone about something.

This made Anna hesitate. As the hostess of a small noble family, such behavior seemed a bit immoral. However, considering the current poor financial situation of the family and looking at the two children who were eager to eat something good, she finally did not throw the note away but held it in her hand.

In the room, Anton took out a bottle of Fiery Sun wine from the Songhai Empire from the wine cabinet and wanted to drink with his brother.

Ivankov did not intend to tell his brother that the wine in the room had to be paid for after opening a bottle, and the price of this bottle of Pharaoh's century-old cellar could probably buy his poor and run-down manor twice.

"Tell me, Anton, why are you here?"

After cousin Anna left, Ivankov was no longer so polite. He sat on a chair and said to his brother:

"If you are here for investment, then I will not accept your investment." "Why?"

Anton, with a smile on his face, screamed:
"You have made a fortune with most of the owners of Kafhoka's manors. Everyone else has made a fortune, but you have excluded your family? The Misty Sea Trading Company's office in Pamo County has accepted investments from three manors near my home, but only rejected my investment application.

It must be you behind this!

Oh my god, Ivan, we are brothers! We have the same father! How could you do this to your family?

Do you still have a conscience? "

"I don't want you to invest because I have a conscience!"

Ivankov was also annoyed.

He cursed:
"You don't know at all. Forget it, there's no point telling you this, Anton! I have never neglected my family. When I sent people to Pamo County, I specifically asked someone about the situation at home. I know that your investment a few months ago failed and you lost most of your family's assets."

"That wasn't a failure at all! That was just bad luck on my part."

Anton took a big gulp of wine and cursed:

"The farm I chose could definitely make a lot of money, but the damn Su brought a cold wind that froze the entire area, and those stupid soldiers were unwilling to compensate. I could have taken this opportunity to make a fortune, but I could only watch a whole year's hard work go to waste."

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"Don't blame the gods for your failure! I participated in that battle, Anton, and I won't allow you to insult my comrades like this!"

Ivankov scolded:
"Besides, even if there was no Su, don't you know what was planted on your farm before? How dare you get involved in the damned soul-loving grass business? Fortunately, the God of the North Wind descended from the sky and froze the entire area, otherwise you would be hanged on the gallows now!
You money-hungry bastard!
Facts have proven that your investment vision is terrible, Anton, don't get involved in these things, just go home and run the family estate. Although the land there is not good, you can always make a living if you cultivate it carefully."

"But I don't want to be well fed! I want to be rich!"

Anton, who had drunk a few more glasses, stared at his brother with red eyes. He stared at the decorative pearl collar button on Ivankov's shirt. He guessed the price of that thing and then confirmed that no matter how much it was, he could not afford it.

Jealousy burned his heart like a flame, causing him to roar without thinking:

"I also want to live in a mansion like you, drink good wine, and play with those money-worshipping bitches who don't even look at me! I also want to make a lot of money like you and chat and laugh with those upper-class people. We have the same father, why can't I do what you can do?
Give me a chance! Ivan.

I know that I did some not-so-nice things to you when you were a child, and I also know that your mother didn't have a very happy life at home, but your mother's last wish was to be buried with your father, right?

I am the head of the family!

Only I have the power to decide this matter.

伊万
I just want one chance!
Besides, I had already sold the manor when I left, so the money is here. I won’t leave unless I get an investment opportunity!”

"You're crazy about riding a horse!"

Ivan jumped up and punched Anton in the face, causing the latter to fall to the ground. He shouted loudly:

"If you sell the manor, what will happen to cousin Anna and the children? Your pitiful money can't even cover a week's expenses in Booty Bay! Damn it! Do you want them to live on the streets like you? You lunatic."

"Ha, cousin Anna. Haha, aren't you here?"

Anton, who was lying on the ground, laughed:

“The only person you saw when you left home for service was Anna, and I knew then that there was something damned going on between the two of you.

Do you want Anna?

That unlucky woman!
I suspect that it is because I married her that I am so unlucky. Do you want her? I can give her to you."

"boom"

Before Anton could finish his words, Ivan kicked him in the chest and he fainted.

The old soldier didn't want to say another word to this disgusting guy. He even wanted to call the mountain security guards to come over and drag this guy into the Cadman River to fake an accident of "falling into the water and dying".

Anyway, he drank so much wine, and the Cadman River was quite cold at this time of year.

But in the end he didn't.

He was very familiar with cousin Anna's stubborn character. Once he did this, he would no longer have any relative he could trust.

However, the problem is that I really can't help with this.

He will close the net in a month, and Anton coming to "invest" at this time is simply courting death, just like those retail investors who bought stocks at high prices in the otherworldly stories told by Boss Huo. Isn't this just asking for trouble?

"Just get some sleep, asshole."

Ivan grabbed his coat and left the room.

He walked quickly to the restaurant's private room, where he saw his two nieces sharing a velvet cake and their cousin Anna, who was accompanying them with a maternal look on her face.

"Why don't you guys go out and play? Uncle and your mother have some adult matters to discuss."

Ivankov took out a bunch of candies as if by magic, and distributed them to his niece with a smile on his face. He then called his shadow elf secretary to accompany the two girls to the amusement area specially set up for children in the casino.

When only he and Anna were left in the box, Ivan sat down under Anna's resistant gaze. He lit a cigarette a little irritably, took out a Halfling Bank passbook from his pocket and handed it to Anna, saying:
"You must take your child back to Palmer County immediately, buy back the manor, and live a good life there in the future. No, no! You can't go back. That idiot Anton will surely spread the news of my relationship with him to everyone in the world. If you really go back, hell will be waiting for you.

Let me think about it.”

Ivankov narrowed his eyes, took out a map he carried with him and looked at it carefully. Finally, under Anna's surprised gaze, he pointed to a sea area in the Great Reef Province and said:

"Here! There is a paradise island here, a tourist area managed by foreigners. Bring your money and children with you and go there! I will arrange for someone to send you there. Once you are there, you must hide your names and do not reveal your identities and origins.

I still have some savings, which should be enough for you to live on for the rest of your lives."

"Ivan!"

No matter how stupid cousin Anna was, she realized that her famous cousin was doing something fishy. But she did not scream at the first time. Instead, she said to Ivankov nervously:
"Can you spare me now? How about we go together?"

"Me? I can't leave."

Ivan smiled, and calmly stroked the holy emblem of the Goddess of Fortune in his hand, saying:
“At first I thought it was a bad thing, but later I found it was a good thing. At first I thought I was a bad person, but later I found I was just called. I was just doing what I should do, and my end would be protected by the gods.

You don’t have to worry about me.”

He stretched out his hand and touched his cousin's scarf as Anna stepped back in resistance. He gently pulled it open and saw the bruise but did not take any further action. Anna also saw that there was only pity but no lust in her cousin's eyes, which made her realize that the things in the past were really over.

This made the conservative Mrs. Anna feel relieved but also a little strangely lost.

Ivankov took out the potion from his bag and handed it to his sister-in-law, sighing and saying:

"Honestly, you should have been brave enough to come with me. I would never have treated you like this even if I was in such a miserable state. But it's no use saying this now. You and the children should not go anywhere for the next few days. Just stay here and wait for the ship to set sail.

remember!

Don't tell, don't ask, don't look!

For your and your children's safety.

Anton is a problem, but I will solve it, don't worry, I don't need you to give me anything, and I don't have any desires that need to be fulfilled by borrowing you.

This is just because of your protection for me in my childhood and the feelings that I never expressed in the end, but those are all in the past, cousin.

you.
Probably my last relative.”

(End of this chapter)