At 7:30, Darnell returned to Woodsea. Soon, he heard a noise. It looked like a big celebration, full of cheering and chanting, balloons and confetti. Everyone, including Noemi and Leroy, was there to welcome him.
Garrett, who had been released half an hour earlier, along with Lillian, were among the crowd, all in high spirits, shouting words of welcome to Darnell.
Garrett was excited. “Mr. Halford, you’re back!”
A group of people rushed over, surrounding Darnell with immense happiness. Many held their phones up to capture the scene.
Darnell was puzzled. “What are you all doing?”
Lillian shouted joyfully. “Darnell, they’re welcoming you.”
“Come on, come on.”
Noemi hung a large red flower on Darnell like she was bestowing a medal. “You drove away the Apex and toppled James. You eliminate the two dangerous threats that jeopardize the peace of Woodsea. You’re a great hero.”
“Everyone is as happy as I am. We decided to appoint you as our lifelong security consultant.”
“Additionally, the village committee unanimously decided to give you half of the shares in the village.”
Noemi patted Darnell on the shoulder. “From now on, you’re also part of us. This is your home and your root.”
Darnell’s mouth dropped open. “Giving me half of the shares? Ms. Sotheby, are you kidding me?”
Half of the shares meant at least several million dollars a year.
“Do I look like I’m joking? And in front of so many people?”
Noemi scolded unceremoniously. “Remember, from now on, if someone bullies you, use our name. Of course, if we get bullied, you have to step up too.”
Leroy and the others shouted happily, “Yes, yes, from now on we’re family. Darnell, why not recognize me as your godfather?”
Noemi looked dissatisfied. “If he’s going to recognize someone as family, it should be me. I’m the village chief and I have more houses than you. I’m a better backer.”
“Ms. Sotheby, you already have dozens of godsons and goddaughters. Why compete with me?”
Leroy protested, “I have no children. Recognizing Darnell as my godson is perfect for me. If you don’t let me do it, I won’t vote for you as the village chief next term.”
Seeing their argument, Darnell couldn’t help but laugh. It was like a divorced couple fighting for custody of the children.
“Here, take this check for good luck.”
Noemi ignored Leroy and nudged him aside with her hip before pulling out a check and stuffing it into Darnell’s hand. It contained at least ten thousand dollars.
“This is everyone’s goodwill. Don’t refuse it. The village has nothing but money in abundance. Take it. Woodsea will rely on you in the future.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sotheby, Leroy.”
Darnell didn’t refuse and put the checks in his pocket before thanking everyone repeatedly.
“No need to thank us.”
Noemi waved her hand grandly. “You’ve been busy at the police station all day. Go back to your rental house and have a rest. Tonight, we’ll have a big feast.”
“I’ve already arranged for twenty pigs and sheep to be slaughtered and fifty tables set up for a grand celebration. You can also announce Darnell’s Elite…”
Garrett quickly added, “Darnell’s Elite Force!”
“Yes, announce that Darnell’s Elite Force will cooperate with Woodsea and will be responsible for the village’s security.”
Noemi added approvingly, “Garrett told me about your idea of forming Darnell’s Elite Force. I think it’s great.”
“Instead of wasting time and effort recruiting security guards for the village, it’s better to hand it over to your security company for more professional management.”
Darnell smiled and agreed readily, “Alright! Thank you, Ms. Sotheby.”
Noemi looked disdainful. “There’s no need to be polite among family members. Even if you don’t recognize me as your godmother now, you’ll eventually be my son-in-law.”
At that moment, Darnell felt a warmth he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Lillian looked at Darnell with a charming smile and kept rubbing against him as if she wanted to hug him publicly.
“Mr. Halford!”
At this moment, more than twenty men and women appeared at the entrance. Noemi and the others looked over to see Luca leading a group of people and approaching them.
Behind him were Callum, Gisselle, and Hugo.
Seeing their arrival made Noemi’s group tense up immediately. They surrounded them while some villagers called for reinforcements.
Garrett and six others stood by Darnell’s side vigilantly, ready to act at any moment.
In an instant, nearly a hundred people gathered in the square.
“Luca! You promised yesterday that you wouldn’t cause any more trouble for Woodsea. Why are you here today? Do you really want to fight till the end?”
Noemi walked forward boldly, holding a club and asking coldly.
“No…”
Luca’s face still showed signs of swelling, but he smiled gently, saying, “Ms. Sotheby, you misunderstood us.”
Then he turned slightly towards Gisselle and Hugo, ordering sternly, “Apologize!”
Thud!
Gisselle and Hugo took several steps forward then knelt before Darnell, slapping themselves hard four times while crying bitterly,
“Mr. Halford, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gone against the boss’s orders and framed you.”
“I was wrong, I really was. I shouldn’t have yielded to James and plotted against you.”
“Mr. Halford, please forgive me. Please, I beg you.”
Darnell looked at Gisselle and Hugo, then turned to Luca with a smile, “What does this mean, Luca?”
“First, it’s to make them apologize for their foolishness, and second, it’s to express my regret.”
Luca chuckled, “I heard James wanted to take revenge on you, and I knew Gisselle and Hugo were conspiring with him, so I brought them here to apologize.”
“They violated the rules of the Apex. Mr. Halford, you can punish them however you see fit. I won’t complain.”
Noemi and the others were taken aback. They hadn’t expected Luca and the others to be there to apologize.
At that moment, Gisselle and Hugo raised their hands and slapped themselves repeatedly, the sound of the slaps echoing. Their cheeks quickly swelled.
Blood trickled from the corner of Gisselle’s mouth. “Mr. Halford, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have yielded to James.”
Hugo shouted as well, “Mr. Halford, I’m sorry. I won’t go against you again. If I provoke you again, just kill me!”
Noemi and the others were indeed angry about Gisselle and Hugo’s previous behavior, but seeing them like this, they felt a bit of sympathy. After all, they were James’s relatives and found it hard to refuse his demands, so deep down they forgave them to some extent.
However, they didn’t voice their thoughts. They just looked at Darnell.
Darnell maintained his smile, looking at the humble and polite Luca, and asked leisurely, “Luca, do you have any rules for those who refuse to heed the advice and tarnish the reputation of the Apex?”
Darnell curiously inquired, “In their situation, how would you handle it in your gang?”
Luca paused for a moment, then smiled and replied, “Thirty lashes with a stick, then break one hand.”
Darnell chuckled lightly, “Then let’s break one finger. This matter ends here.”
Without hesitation, Luca shouted to the ten or so people beside him, “Did you hear what Mr. Halford said? Get to it.”
Callum drew his axe, raised it, and brought it down. In the flash of the blade, blood spurted.
“Ah!”
Gisselle and Hugo both let out a scream, clutching their hands as they writhed on the ground, but they quickly held back their pain and bowed to Darnell.
“Thank you, Mr. Halford. Thank you, Mr. Halford.”
Compared to thirty lashes and a broken hand, just losing a finger was much better.
“No need to thank me. This is just a lesson for you.”
Darnell coughed and then pulled out two pills, offering them to the two. “Let’s call it even for past grievances.”
As soon as they swallowed the pills, the bleeding from Gisselle and Hugo’s wounds stopped, and the pain eased. Their expressions brightened. “Thank you, Mr. Halford.”
Darnell patted their shoulders and then turned to Luca with a smile. “Luca, you’re a real man.”
“Though I’m in the underworld, I still have a bit of credibility. I said before, we may not be friends, but we are certainly no longer enemies.”
Luca gently fanned himself with a white fan and smiled, “They provoked you, so of course, they should pay the price for their actions.”
“Rest assured, I’ve sent word throughout the gang. No member of the Apex is to provoke Mr. Halford or cause trouble for Woodsea. And from now on, if you need anything, just say the word.”
“If the Apex can help, we will do so. If we can’t help, we will still do our utmost.”
Darnell laughed heartily, “Luca, since Woodsea is hosting a grand feast today, why not stay and have a couple of drinks?”
Luca was momentarily stunned, then beamed with joy. “Callum, send thirty cases of red wine from the gang’s cellar.”
“Today, I’ll drink with Mr. Halford!”