Just as the Mayfair family head was still lost in fantasy at her desk.
The elders who truly cared about the family were listening to the news coming through the phone.
“Have you confirmed it’s true?”
The elderly black woman asked the young woman who was answering the phone.
“Confirmed. The recent trouble over there definitely has his shadow in it.”
Hearing this, the many elders beside the elderly black woman all darkened in expression.
One of them, a white-haired old woman with heavy makeup, immediately spoke up, her voice somewhat shrill.
“That kind of business can’t operate without a sufficiently powerful protective umbrella. A small city councilman is just a white glove on the surface.”
“The people profiting from it are, conservatively, high-ranking state government officials.”
“The involvement is this broad, and it’s not even within Louisiana. I think we should stay out of it this time.”
“I think so too.”
Beside the white old woman, another elderly woman dressed in black with a vintage round pillbox hat also spoke in agreement.
“Ever since Rasher died, we’ve extended olive branches to him time and again, but he only passively accepts and has never shown us any goodwill.”
“Behavior like that makes me start to wonder whether our earlier gestures were just wishful thinking.”
“This time is a good opportunity to make him clearly understand that the Mayfair family’s gifts don’t just fall from the sky.”
As soon as she finished, the noblewoman stroking the kitten in her arms picked up the thread.
“He acts too recklessly, relying on being transcendent and not even putting high officials and dignitaries in his eyes.”
“I think we’ve already done more than enough. If we get involved again, we may have to bear serious consequences in the future.”
“Serious consequences?”
Hearing the noblewoman say this, even the elders who hadn’t previously expressed a stance grew curious.
“Beyond the state government, are there other big shots involved?”
“In that estate’s dealings, the son of some high-ranking figure is involved.”
The noblewoman stroking the kitten answered thus.
“Which one?”
“The disappointing second son of some old fellow in the Senate. You should have heard his name.”
Hearing that name, quite a few people’s expressions began to shift.
It wasn’t that they feared the Senate’s reputation, but that everyone’s minds couldn’t help but simultaneously think of one person.
An expert in diplomacy and politics, a favorite of the Donkey Party camp, whose political career had been smooth sailing, becoming a senator at a young age and continuously reelected ever since.
Within his camp, he seemed to have no particular distinguishing traits, yet he was a ruthless man skilled at playing dumb.
A happy family, with a capable eldest son, but unfortunately the second son was a morally bankrupt lunatic steeped in every vice.
Although his deeds were known to everyone at the top levels, his elder brother and father still doted on him, even arranging for him to enter government work.
The old man, shrewd all his life, was not deceived by his son, but acted out of guilt toward his late wife and deceased young daughter.
A car accident years ago had taken the lives of his wife and his one-year-old daughter.
This dealt a heavy blow to the old man who valued family, and made him even more protective.
No matter what unconscionable thing this youngest son did, he would clean up after him.
“So the dealings this time—he was taking a cut from behind the scenes?”
As one of the few people in the entire country with hope of contending for the presidency, the Mayfair family had to weigh the cost of making an enemy of him.
“The situation is already very clear now.”
The white old woman who had spoken first spoke again.
“There’s no need for us to offend this country’s most powerful class for the sake of a transcendent who treats us lukewarmly.”
“This would greatly drain the family’s political resources.”
“Everyone, what do you think?”
Hearing this, and combined with the information the noblewoman had revealed earlier, many of the Mayfair family elders had already begun whispering among themselves.
Based on the current situation, abandoning the continued maintenance of their relationship with Su Fan was the wise move.
“Are you all done?”
The elderly black woman who had remained silent finally spoke.
“If you’re done, then it’s my turn.”
“My opinion is, continue supporting him.”
“Support? Support what?”
“Support that kid who almost went to war with the family?”
The elderly black woman’s words drew dissatisfaction from the old woman who had spoken earlier. In full view of everyone, she aggressively retorted.
The other members of the elder council also looked toward the elderly black woman.
“That’s right.”
The elderly black woman nodded without hesitation.
“You’ve gotten old, Lawrence.”
“Old age has made you incredibly cowardly. If we had all worked together that day, we might not have failed to take down that young man.”
“Once we obtained the secret of his power, the Mayfair family would have soared to the heavens.”
“But at the critical moment, you actually took the lead in seeking peace, even going so far as to kneel along with the clan members present.”
“If I had been there, I would never have allowed such a thing to happen.”
Faced with the white old woman’s confident declaration, the elderly woman called Lawrence merely shook her head.
“If you had been there, the Mayfair family would have been destroyed.”
“You didn’t witness everything on the spot. You can’t understand the weight of the word ‘transcendent.'”
“I still stick to my previous view. No matter what happens, we must firmly support Family Head Ron and help that person clean up the aftermath as much as possible.”
Hearing this, the white old woman flew into a rage. Her powder-caked face twisted with anger as she stood up from her seat.
“Are you saying you’re hung up on the resources and money spent on that person in the past?”
“This is classic gambler’s mentality—using the entire family as a bargaining chip to bet on a future that doesn’t exist!”
The white old woman’s accusation did not shake Lawrence in the least. Instead, she smiled.
She looked around at the many elders present and spoke loudly.
“The Mayfair family has reached a moment where it must make a choice. I know that most members here are thinking of the same old game played in business or politics.”
“Some support one side, others support the opposing side, so that no matter which side wins, the family benefits.”
“But in front of that person, that doesn’t work.”
“Only if we go all out, and without his knowledge, solve his problems for him, is there a chance of earning different treatment.”
“Don’t forget how terrible our relationship with him was at the beginning. The reason so many family members are still alive is all thanks to Ron.”
Hearing this, some of the neutral faction could no longer sit still.
“Lawrence, I can understand your thinking, but don’t you feel this is just too humiliating?”
“The Mayfair family holds weight in both politics and business. Why should we debase ourselves like this to cater to one person?”
No sooner had she spoken than Lawrence berated her head-on!
“Caring about face will only leave you with nothing! Now is the best opportunity. We took the wrong stance before—are we really going to lose a rare good chance over this?”
“Whether we can truly establish a connection with that person all depends on this.”
“Just now Jill said I’m gambling. That’s right, I am gambling.”
“And I’m going all in!”
Hearing this, how could the members of the elder council not understand Lawrence’s stance?
“If you’re happy to flatter that young whelp, then go ahead, but I will not allow you to drag the family down with you!”
Jill’s face was ashen. In her heart, she had already resolved not to let anyone from her bloodline faction participate.
But the elderly black woman Lawrence’s next words directly froze her in place.
“Too late. I’ve already made our stance clear to that side, and I emphasized that this is the Mayfair family’s decision.”
“You!”
Everyone present was both shocked and furious.
But Lawrence only snorted disdainfully.
What did these people understand?
Going all in is a kind of wisdom.
