Winner Takes All

The noise of the sudden fall attracted Jack and the youth's attention. Both of them looked towards the middle-aged man. The youth quickly went over and helped the middle-aged man and said sarcastically, "Master, this chap can really put up an act. He even took out a status insignia saying that he is an elder pioneer. I've never seen one in my life!"

Smack!

The middle-aged man slapped the youth and the youth was immediately stunned. The middle-aged man yelled, "Kneel and bow down to apologize!" The middle-aged man did not dare to even verify the status insignia. He would equally be in trouble if he verified the status insignia and it was genuine. By making the youth apologize by kneeling and bowing would reduce the offense. It was worth the effort but the youth was dumbfounded as his face stung painfully.

But under the stern glare of the middle-aged man, the youth did not dare to disobey and could only do as he was told. He walked slowly towards Jack. The youth was a lowly member and had to do as instructed by Master. He had to kneel, bow and beg for forgiveness as ordered.

"No need to apologize. The matter is urgent. Are you the Master here?" Jack stopped the youth from apologizing. He came to mobilize the prowess of the Grand Freemasons at great risk to himself. Any delays would expose him to more risks. He would not take the youthful naive disrespect to heart. As he said, he handed the status insignia to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man reached out with both of his hands to respectfully receive the status insignia. He solemnly looked at it and suddenly his expression turned into terror. The status insignia was genuine!

The next moment, the middle-aged man quickly knelt and bowed as he said, "I'm Cheer Leigh, the Master of the Grand Freemasons of South Maine. Elder pioneer, I'm at your service!"

Kaboom!

The youth looked on in shock as if he was struck by a clear day thunderbolt. His entire body instantly turned numb. Terror overwhelmed him and he felt like he was going to blackout. His body went limp and he also knelt and bowed.

"Elder pioneer, I'm so sorry. I've wronged." The youth lamented.

Smack smack smack... The youth started to ruthlessly slap himself.

"Cheer Leigh? Very well. I'm Jack Hughes. I will not be offended by what just happened. But now I need your help." Jack was really in a hurry.

"The wishes of Elder pioneer are my command!" Cheer kept his head glued to the ground. At this point, he was so terrified that he was no different from the youth.

There were only two Elder pioneers in the entire Grand Freemasons. Even the Mafia boss of three thousand six hundred regions was ranked number three. Jack was like a deity to him and he felt as though he was insignificant as an ant.

"Cheer, you are to mobilize in full force all you have in this region to protect me for a couple of days," Jack said calmly.

"Mobilize in full force?!" Cheer was stunned as he raised his head.

"Any problems?" Jack asked.

"No no no, Mr. Jack Hughes is the Elder pioneer and can certainly utilize this region's full resources." Cheer quickly explained, "But I need to report this development to the headquarters." "Sure." Jack nodded and raised his right hand with three fingers extended, "I'll give you three minutes to make the report, mobilize the force and come with me to the hospital."Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

"Yes Elder!" Cheer was relieved that Jack would not pursue the incident just now and sprang into action. Now the fear turned into excitement and zeal. Instead of serving Elder Yales, now he was able to serve the newly ordained Elder Hughes. It was a heaven-sent opportunity to protect the Elder pioneer for two days!

If he could get into the good books of Elder Hughes, then the future would be very bright for him! As the Master, he was aware of how powerful the Grand Freemasons were!

"Master, there are many guests in the tea house." The youth followed behind Jack. His face was pale as though he just walked through the gates of hell.

"Compensate them and let them leave. Then go and gather the members and I will inform headquarters. Remember that this is a rare opportunity for both you and me. That person out there is a genuine Elder pioneer. Even Mafia boss has to listen to him!" Cheer's eyes lit up and spoke with enthusiasm.

The youth was smart and understood what he meant. He nodded quickly and then went to mobilize the forces. There were other members present and none of them had ever seen Cheer behaving in that manner. Once the youth spread the message, everyone became excited and fired up.

Cheer walked hastily towards the back of the building. He did not contact the headquarters immediately but went into his bedroom. He quickly lit up a bunch of incense and offered them to a pair of ancestral tablets which commemorated his parents.

Thud! Cheer knelt, tears fill his eyes and he said emotionally, "Dad and mom, your son has an opportunity now. Thanks for your protection and blessings. Thanks to the ancestors. Elder Hughes had arrived and wants your son to protect him for two days. Please protect your son and allow me to perform to my best abilities."

Thud thud thud! He bowed firmly and struck his forehead onto the ground in full submission.

Cheer quickly got up, wiped his tears, and contacted the headquarters. The call was answered within three rings.

Cheer regained his composure and said calmly, “This is Cheer, the Master of South Maine, reporting to Mafia boss. The newly ordained Elder pioneer Jack Hughes had arrived at South Maine region and has mobilized the entire resources here to protect him for two days." The report was concise and did not mention any request because he understood that the Mafia boss could not change the order made by the Elder pioneer. But because Jack was a newly ordained Elder, he thought that he had better report to the headquarters. Had it been Elder Yales, then there was no need to do a similar report.

"Hang on, the Mafia boss has an order for you." The person said and was silent for a minute.

When the voice said again, Cheer stood upright to receive the order as it was said by the Mafia boss, "Jack had arrived at your place?" Isaac asked.

"Yes, Mafia boss, Elder Hughes had ordered to mobilize fully to protect him for a couple of days."

"Hmm..." Isaac paused for a couple of seconds and then said, "If he were to ask, then it must be a huge situation. Cheer, you are ordered to carry out whatever Elder Hughes asks of you. When required, you may mobilize the forces of the regions around South Maine and all of the resources will be under your direct command."

"All the forces around South Maine?" Cheer was startled, "Ma... Mafia boss, the surrounding regions inclusive of South Maine total seven regions. All of them are under my command?"

"Yes, for this mission, you will command the seven regions on my behalf as Mafia boss!" Isaac's voice was like a clear day thunderbolt that struck Cheer...

As Mafia boss? That meant that he had the authority over the lives of the seven regions!

To put it simply, when the crunch comes, all the people in the seven regions must protect Jack with their lives...