Chapter 126: Chapter 126 Meeting With The Guest 10

Sometimes they twisted their emotions, amplifying every negative feeling until bloodlust and violence became almost irresistible. Other times, they simply refused to let both wolf and human counterpart rest, keeping their mind in a perpetual state of agitation and exhaustion. Years of enduring such torment had left scars on both wolf and human counterparts alike.

Now that those demons had finally retreated into the shadows, granting it a rare opportunity to rest, the last thing Xiberius wanted was to waste its time answering the same ridiculous question for the hundredth time.

Ironically, the one who had been tormenting Gideon earlier was Xiberius itself.

The wolf had spent hours pestering him with its overwhelming attraction toward Ashley, constantly flooding their shared mind with distracting thoughts and desires until even Gideon’s legendary self-control had been stretched to its limits.

By now, however, Xiberius had exhausted most of its energy. The rare sense of tranquility Ashley brought had soothed the restless beast, leaving it feeling unusually drowsy and content. All it wanted was to curl up within Gideon’s consciousness, enjoy the lingering traces of Ashley’s scent, and sink into a peaceful sleep for as long as possible.

As a result, Xiberius had finally quieted down.

Unfortunately, Gideon chose that exact moment to become the troublesome one.

The moment the wolf settled down, Gideon began bombarding it with questions, repeatedly circling back to the same topic that had been driving him crazy all day.

Even Xiberius, despite being a wolf and not particularly complicated in its way of thinking, couldn’t help but suspect that Gideon was getting revenge.

After all, who had spent the entire afternoon filling Gideon’s head with inappropriate thoughts and making it nearly impossible for him to focus on anything else?

Who had constantly pushed him toward the edge of his restraint while he sat beside Ashley?

The answer was obvious.

Xiberius.

The wolf suddenly found itself in an awkward position.

It wasn’t as though it didn’t understand how difficult things had been for Gideon. The man had been forced to endure relentless temptation while maintaining a calm facade in front of Ashley and her brother. More than once, Gideon had nearly lost his concentration because of the wolf’s incessant nudging and interference.

Now that Xiberius had finally found a precious moment of peace, Gideon seemed determined to return the favor.

The realization made the wolf’s ears flatten in annoyance.

"You’re definitely doing this on purpose," Xiberius grumbled inwardly.

And judging from Gideon’s persistence, he probably was.

"So what if I am?" Gideon retorted smugly.

"You—!" Xiberius snarled, nearly choking on his own indignation.

Before the wolf could continue its tirade, a voice suddenly cut through their mental exchange.

"Mr. Walker, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard a great deal about you." The businessman seated in the middle offered a polite smile. "I do apologize for keeping you waiting for an hour. I hope you won’t hold it against us."

The words immediately drew Gideon’s attention back to reality.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze from his teacup and looked directly at the man across from him. His expression remained unreadable, but his sharp eyes missed nothing.

The businessman wasn’t even attempting to conceal the smugness lurking beneath his courteous facade.

In fact, it almost seemed intentional.

The subtle curl of his lips, the confidence in his posture, and the glint in his eyes all made one thing abundantly clear, and that is, they had delayed their arrival on purpose.

The three businessmen had deliberately kept Gideon waiting for an entire hour to establish their position from the very beginning. They wanted to remind him who currently held the advantage in this negotiation. More importantly, they wanted to put him in his place.

After all, Gideon’s temper was infamous. Nearly everyone in the business world knew stories of partnerships being terminated over the slightest sign of disrespect. Yet these men had chosen to provoke him anyway.

The reason was simple.

Gideon was the one who had approached them first.

He needed something from them.

And in their eyes, that fact alone shifted the balance of power.

Making him wait was merely the opening move.

A test.

They wanted Gideon to prove his sincerity by enduring the insult without complaint. Then, little by little, they intended to push his buttons further, probing his patience and temper to discover exactly where his bottom line lay.

Unfortunately for them, they were so focused on testing the monster that they failed to notice something unusual.

Today was perhaps the calmest Gideon had been in years.

And that made him far more dangerous than when he was angry.

"Ha..." Gideon let out a cold chuckle, the sound low and devoid of warmth. His sharp, eagle-like eyes settled on the man before him, their piercing intensity making the atmosphere instantly heavier.

Under that predatory gaze, those harboring hidden schemes felt as though every secret thought and ulterior motive had been laid bare, exposed and dissected like an open book before a hunter.

It was a look that seemed capable of seeing straight through flesh and bone and into the darkest corners of one’s heart.

"You do?" Gideon asked lightly. "I thought you did it on purpose."

His tone was calm, almost casual, yet that only made it more unsettling. Slowly, he swirled the tea in his cup, watching the amber liquid circle the porcelain as if he were deep in thought.

Whether he was considering an appropriate punishment or contemplating how to return the favor, no one could tell. What everyone did know, however, was that Gideon had never been the type to silently endure injustice.

If someone struck him once, he would repay it tenfold. Mercy was a virtue he rarely extended to those who crossed him, and his ruthless tendency to return every slight with overwhelming force was precisely why so many viewed him as a devil wearing the face of a gentleman.

"O-Of course." The man forced a smile and quickly gathered himself despite the immense pressure radiating from Gideon. His heart was pounding, yet years of experience in negotiations allowed him to regain his composure and steer the conversation back on track.

"You must understand that our city is currently undergoing significant changes. Because of that, many business tycoons and major corporations have been reaching out to us with the same objective."

"Lately, our schedule has been packed with meetings, discussions, and negotiations, often requiring us to travel from one place to another. As a matter of fact, several parties have already begun bidding for the distribution rights."

He paused briefly before continuing in a measured tone.

"However, as you can see, our city used to be relatively small. We simply do not have the resources or infrastructure to accommodate everyone. Naturally, we can only choose the partner we believe is the most suitable. After all, if we make the wrong decision and fail to fulfill our obligations, we will be the ones paying the price."

On the surface, the man’s words sounded reasonable, even logical. Yet everyone present could hear the message hidden beneath them. He was subtly reminding Gideon that they had no shortage of options.

Whether they chose to cooperate with him or one of his competitors was entirely at their discretion.