Surviving In This Filthy World As A Novel Villain - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: After Taxes

“I’m offering… One hundred thousand.”

“Cough! Cough! Cough!” Ethan had barely regained his composure when he heard Alex’s outrageous offer. His breath caught in his throat. His chest tightened, his vision blurred for a moment, he was so enraged he almost passed out on the spot.

It took him several moments of violent coughing before he could steady himself. Even then, his face was flushed with anger, and his body trembled with suppressed fury.

“You bastard! Are you fucking kidding me?!”* Ethan’s voice was hoarse, his eyes burning with rage as he glared at the man before him.

“I invested seventy million into this place—fucking seventy million! And it’s only been half a damn month!” His hands clenched into fists, his entire body tense with frustration.

“Now, with a fully built production line, already stockpiled raw materials, and a factory that’s practically just started aka brand new, you have the nerve and audacity to offer me fucking one hundred thousand dollars?!” His voice dripped with disbelief, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Are you treating me like a fool? Or do you just enjoy screwing me over?!”

But Alex’s face remained as calm as ever. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his expression. He didn’t even seem mildly amused—just completely indifferent.

With a casual shrug, he let out a light chuckle. “If that’s how you see it, then by all means, hold on to your factory, Mr. Ethan.”

He adjusted the cuffs of his suit and sighed, as if this entire conversation was nothing more than an inconvenience to him.

“I just hope…” He took a step back, his smirk barely visible. “That when my special drug hits the market, your factory is still worth something.”

With that, he turned, heading toward his car. But before he could do that…

“Wait.” Ethan’s voice cut through the air, sharp and urgent. Before he could stop himself, he stepped forward, blocking Alex’s path.

Alex turned his head slightly, the smirk never leaving his face. “What is it now, Mr. Ethan?”

Ethan said nothing at first.

He just stood there, his chest rising and falling with deep, labored breaths.

Inside, his mind was spinning, wrestling with this whole situation nowhere.

If he refused to sell now, what would happen in a few weeks?

Alex’s special drug would flood the market. Ethan’s factory, designed specifically for producing the now-banned version, would be completely useless.

The machinery? Worthless. The raw materials? Unusable. The investment? Gone.

At that point, forget one gundred thousand—even if he begged someone to take it off his hands, they wouldn’t want it.

That bitter realization hit him like a dagger to the chest. His jaw tightened. His nails dug into his palms.

Forcing down the rage that threatened to explode, Ethan finally spoke through gritted teeth…

“Fine.” His voice was low, hoarse, filled with bitter resentment.

“One hundred thousand. And The factory will be yours.”

“Hahaha! Now that’s more like it, Mr. Ethan!”

Alex let out a hearty laugh, his tone filled with amusement. He didn’t bother with any unnecessary words—he simply flicked his wrist, gesturing toward Mr. Waters, his ever-reliable aide.

Mr. Waters, already prepared for this moment, immediately stepped forward, presenting a stack of neatly prepared contracts.

The sight of the documents made Ethan’s heart sink. His eyes darkened as he turned to Alex, his voice low and biting.

“These contracts… they were ready before you even spoke to me.” A realization dawned on him, his chest tightening.

“Alex, you planned this from the very beginning, didn’t you?”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Alex suddenly began applauding, slow and deliberate.

His smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he looked straight at Ethan.

“Now that’s the kind of insight I expect from Mr. Ethan.” His voice was light, almost playful. There was not the slightest attempt to hide his intentions.

“That’s right. I knew this day or to be exact this situation would come. And I was ready for it.” Hearing this, Ethan felt a surge of fire rise in his chest.

He had been tricked. Completely, utterly played.

“This bastard set me up from the very start!” His fingers twitched at his sides, itching to land a punch on that smug face, but he forced himself to keep his composure.

He took a deep breath, swallowing the bitter taste of humiliation.

His gaze locked onto Alex’s, cold and unyielding.

Without another word, he grabbed the pen, barely sparing the documents a glance, and signed with a sharp, forceful stroke.

The second he was done, he thrust the contracts toward Mr. Waters turned on his shoes, ready to walk away.

But just as he took his first step— A casual conversation between Alex and Mr. Waters drifted into his ears.

“Sir, the contract is signed.”

“Good. Eighty Thousand dollars to him.”

Ethan’s steps froze mid-stride. His head snapped back, his face twisted in disbelief.

“Wait… what?! What… did you just say?” Ethan’s face froze. His breathing hitched, and a deep frown etched itself across his forehead.

“Didn’t we agree on a Hundred Thousand just now!” His voice rose with urgency. “Why am I only getting eighty?!”

His fingers tightened into fists, his knuckles turning white as he glared at Alex, demanding an explanation.

But instead of answering, Alex simply gave him a bewildered look, as if he couldn’t understand why Ethan was even asking.

Then, with a slow, almost lazy motion, he pointed at the contract in Mr. Waters’s hands.

“Didn’t you read before you just signed?” His voice carried a hint of amusement. Tapping the document lightly with his finger, he continued, “It’s all written right here.”

Then came the final stab—delivered with the same casual tone.

“Transaction taxes of the total amount are your responsibility. After deductions, you’re left with exactly eighty thousand.”

BANG!

The words had barely left Alex’s mouth when Ethan’s world started spinning.

His vision blurred, his breath caught in his throat, and his chest tightened like a steel band was crushing it.

“You… you…!” His lips moved, but no sound came out. A wave of dizziness crashed down on him like a tsunami.

Then… his knees buckled. With a heavy thud, Ethan collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.

Alex glanced down at him, expression completely indifferent. Then, turning to Mr. Waters, he adjusted his cuffs and spoke as if nothing had happened.

“Alright. Let’s go. We’ve got a factory to check and take over.”

With that, he stepped into the car, the deal sealed—on his terms, and his terms alone.

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(A/N: Next Chapter Soon! Some Golden tickets guys!!!)

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