12. Intimate Threats

"Welcome everyone. Once again, we are all back in a meeting for one of Grand Ocean Restaurant's business innovations!"

The flash light from the cameras shone right at Mr. Walter. As planned one week ago, today was a repeat of the meeting to discuss the plans for the Grand Ocean Restaurant.

Since Leo had made a statement through a press conference about the DID Cartel, the news about the DID Cartel had suddenly disappeared. A week passed and many people were no longer talking about the DID Cartel.

In the large company hall room, Mr. Walter faced the guests. This time he only invited a few CEOs of large international companies, well-known investors-including the five heads of the DID Cartel and Leo as the main investor, and journalists from media companies that Leo had paid.

"I know the news about the DID Cartel a few weeks ago shocked you a lot. Ah, it was a very exciting news," Mr. Walter said with a chuckle.

Leo just looked at Mr. Walter seriously. He sat in the very front seat, the main seat as the main investor.

"But it doesn't matter. Because what was in the news yesterday was just a misunderstanding," Mr. Walter said.

At that moment, Leo's eyes accidentally caught the gaze of Jonsen-one of the investors and CEO of Albart JYE Entertainment in France. Jonsen's gaze was very sharp at Leo as if he didn't like his existence.

Since the first time Leo met Jonsen when the five heads of the DID Cartel, he had realized Jonsen hated him. Although the other four DID Cartel chiefs didn't trust him much, it was Jonsen's hatred that stood out the most.

Leo raised both eyebrows as a sign of questioning why Jonsen looked at him like that. But Jonsen just shook his head lazily while laughing sarcastically.

"Now, I stand before you to explain the important parts of Grand Ocean's business innovation..."

Mr. Walter then walked backwards as he turned around and pointed at the large screen behind him. He looked at the screen with an enthusiastic gaze.

Soon the screen changed to display a line structure, on which was written "GRAND OCEAN RESTAURANT INVESTORS". On the topmost position as the main investor, there was only a silhouette image with the name "Mr. Unknown" below it.

"After I've prepared this business plan with some difficulty, let me introduce the people who are the investors for this Grand Ocean Restaurant," Mr. Walter said.

Leo folded his arms across his chest. He remembered the meeting one week ago, he had deliberately asked Mr. Walter to keep himself a secret as Grand Ocean's main investor. Although the truth was that if people knew he was the main investor, it wasn't something that mattered.

"Mr. Leo, are you sure the decision to keep your name as the main investor a secret was the best?" Bram, who was sitting next to Leo asked.

Leo looked at Bram and thought for a while. He was honestly a bit confused as to why Bram seemed to doubt his decision.

"Are you afraid that if it gets out, my reputation will be damaged?" Leo asked.

Bram nodded his head briefly. From the look on his face, he looked uncomfortable saying what he was thinking.

"Yes, although if I think about it, you must have other plans," Bram replied. "It's just that... Mr. Walter is a cunning man."

Hearing Bram's words, Leo was provoked to laugh a little. Leo then looked at Mr. Walter who was still explaining other important points about Grand Ocean Restaurant's business innovation.

"Well, I don't really believe whether he really agreed to cooperate with me, or there are other plans," Leo said with a thinking face.

After a moment of silence, Leo immediately let out a rough breath. Both of his hands were clasped into fists on the thigh of one of his raised legs.

"But if he tries to bring me down with another plan, I already have a way of retaliating," Leo continued.

Bram looked at Leo through a worried gaze. Even so, he tried to believe Leo's words. They had already held discussions with the Holland family for this decision.

"So, after what I've explained, I hope that the public will accept a business innovation that thinks highly of their convenience.

"Grand Ocean Restaurant is a new innovation in the world of F&B and hospitality. What we offer is to give you a new sensation that you haven't found anywhere else," Mr. Walter concluded his presentation.

After Mr. Walter's explanation, the echoing sound of applause immediately filled the room. The flash rays of journalists' cameras shone even brighter as they flocked to take pictures of Mr. Walter.

On the other side, Leo saw Jonsen get up from his chair and walk away. Leaving the rows of VVIP investor guest seats for the way to the stage backstage.

Leo frowned, his curiosity provoked. Unable to contain his curiosity, Leo finally got up from his seat as well.

"Mr. Leo, where do you want to go?" asked the curious Bram. His voice was a bit of a whisper.

While walking, Leo held up his palm as a signal to Bram to keep quiet. Leo hurriedly walked with his head bowed to avoid the paparazzi cameras.

Leo's steps then followed the direction of Jonsen's departure. Leo felt an uneasy feeling about what Jonsen was about to do.

In the hallway to the backstage, Leo saw Jonsen appear to light a match. Jonsen's movements were so fast that Leo almost couldn't catch up with him.

Until suddenly, Leo saw Jonsen turn left at the intersection. Leo was already suspicious because the hallway didn't seem to be used by event staff.

As soon as Leo made the turn, Jonsen strode down the very quiet hallway. The lights were rather dim. This was the way to the warehouse-like room and the evacuation route.

"What are you doing exactly, Mr. Leo?"

Leo's steps immediately stopped after Jonsen said that. He was surprised that Jonsen already knew he was following behind.

Jonsen stopped walking. He turned around and smoked a cigarette, then exhaled the smoke with a sharp look. One hand was stuffed into his pants pocket, while his gesture seemed to challenge Leo.

"I knew you'd follow me," Jonsen said with a grin. The cigarette smoke was exhaled again.

Leo exhaled a rough breath, looking annoyed. From the way Jonsen said it, he had guessed that Jonsen was setting him up on purpose.

"Did you do it on purpose?" asked Leo with a hint of sarcasm.

Jonsen flinched as he flattened the cigarette in the air with his finger. For a few seconds Jonsen looked at Leo sharply. then gradually a grinning smile appeared on his face.

"I've been suspicious of you since we first met. You leaked about the DID Cartel, after which you offered yourself to Mr. Walter," Jonsen said.

Jonsen slowly stepped closer to Leo who was still watching intensely. Jonsen occasionally exhaled cigarette smoke.

"Why do you suspect me after I made all the DID Cartel news disappear?" Leo asked.

"I don't know. Maybe because I often meet people like you," Jonsen replied.

"Like me?" Leo pretended not to understand.

Jonsen was already standing in front of Leo, then flinched for a moment again.

"What is your real goal, Mr. Leo? You can't possibly not have plans for the DID Cartel," Jonsen urged Leo again.

Leo laughed with a snort, not expecting to hear Jonsen's suspicions directly. But the strong intimidating aura Jonsen gave off did not affect him at all.

"I don't know why you're asking that. There's no plan to harm you guys," Leo replied calmly.

"It doesn't seem possible that you would suddenly propose yourself as the main investor, Mr. Leo. Whatever your plan is, don't think you can mess with the DID Cartel," Jonsen warned seriously.

"Mr. Jonsen. Do I need to repeat myself? Why can't you understand?" asked Leo in an exasperated yet calm manner.

Jonsen immediately put his hand on Leo's shoulder, patting it briefly.

"Mr. Leo. Don't put up your mask in front of someone who has already met many masks of falsehood," Jonsen retorted smoothly.

Leo realized what Jonsen was doing now.

"If you have anything planned in your mind, you need to get rid of it immediately. I don't want anything to happen to you," Jonsen said warningly.

Leo gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you for your concern, but do you know you should be the one to be careful?"

Jonsen's eyebrows furrowed. His smirk instantly faded into a wary look.

"What do you mean?"

"When you kill those who stand in your way, shouldn't you think there are others who can avenge you?"