Chapter 507
“Let’s begin,” Mike declared. “If you’ve been doing dirty work but haven’t crossed the line into heinous crimes, I’ll cover for you. But if you hide it and I find out myself, don’t expect any mercy. And anyone caught covering for someone else will face the same punishment p>
Dead silence answered him. Everyone clung to the hope that they could fly under the radar, unwilling to throw the first stone.
Suddenly, Barnard cleared his throat. “Boss, I’d like to report Zachary for contract killing and sheer disregard for human life. People are tortured and murdered in his casinos daily. Furthermore, I have reliable intelligence that he’s running an illegal organ trafficking ring. I urge you to investigate him so this parasite doesn’t walk free p>
Gasps echoed across the room. While everyone else was trying to protect their own necks, Barnard had gone straight for the jugular.
Camilla stared at him. Calvin, Barnard’s father, had died working at Zachary’s casino. This was calculated revenge. She hadn’t expected him to be bold enough to make himself a target in front of everyone.
Sensing her stare, Barnard shot her a smug, victorious look, practically showing off.
Zachary’s face turned purple. “You’re full of shit!” he roared.
“Am I? Then tell me, Zachary, how exactly did my father die working for you?” Barnard asked smoothly.
“He was old! He had a sudden heart attack! Accidents happen. Trying to pin organ trafficking and murder on me over a natural death is completely psychotic!” Zachary snarled, glaring daggers at Barnard.
Their circle was built on mutual favors and deeply intertwined interests. Barnard’s blatant betrayal was a fast track to becoming a pariah.
“Psychotic? I have proof. Boss, take a look. My men staked out his casino for a month. These are his official ledgers. But his loan sharking operations bleed massive amounts of cash daily—far more than these ledgers can support. And those desperate gamblers in debt? They vanish. Their families just assume they ran away to dodge the collectors. No one ever knows they’re dead. By the time anyone gets suspicious, the trail is cold. Very clever, Zachary. But I happened to rescue a runaway from your underground ring recently, and he told me everything. Associating with scum like him will drag us all down. I leave it in your capable hands, Boss p>
Barnard clapped his hands. His bodyguards dragged in a frail, emaciated man. Right on cue, the man pointed a trembling finger at Zachary, accusing him of murder and harvesting organs. He claimed his friend had died on their operating table and that he had narrowly escaped with his life.
“Bullshit! Lies!” Zachary panicked. “Barnard, I told you, your father’s death was an accident! Blaming me and hiring some actor to frame me is a joke! Boss, please, this kid is just using you for a personal vendetta! If we’re talking dirty money, The Williams Group is the filthiest operation here! Clement might be in jail, but you don’t clean up decades of rot overnight! Investigate him first p>
Barnard remained completely unbothered. “If the Boss wishes, my doors are wide open. But the police have already thoroughly audited my company. Clement confessed to his crimes. The only reason The Williams Group still exists is because the authorities didn’t want thousands of innocent employees losing their jobs. My company’s innocence has already been proven by the law. Can you say the same about your casinos, Zachary? Are you brave enough to open your doors to an investigation p>
Zachary’s aggressive momentum vanished instantly. Barnard was right. Clement had taken the fall for everything, and the police had practically scrubbed the company clean. Barnard’s confidence was entirely justified.