Chapter 161 - Albion's Coercion
Fritz Abestel did not stick around and immediately departed the area, taking only his own men with him while the Metti Group's people were left behind.
"Albion Black. I want this person investigated, effective immediately."
"Yes, my lord."
The subordinates quickly complied after Fritz Abestel laid down his order before heading back to his designated accommodation.
The group disappeared from the vicinity of the casino shortly after.
…
Back in the roulette room, the winning guests began to feel uneasy with the presence of Stefano Metti, the boss of the Metti Group.
"Boss Stefano, you're not here to take away our winning, right?"
"Our money was won fair and square."
The guests made their stance clearly with cautious looks as they stood behind Albion, the pillar of support for their resistance.
Otherwise, they would not have the courage to go against the Metti Group's boss even if the person wanted to take away their money.
Nevertheless, with a few hundred thousand to millions of dollars in winning, it was definitely difficult for the slightly above middle-class people like them to part with that much money.
After hearing their words, Stefano Metti's gaze deepened with a cold glint.
However, the room had many watchful eyes, and Stefano Metti could not as he please if he wanted to maintain the good reputation of the Eastern Allure Casino.
After all, it was easy to start a fire but difficult to put one out.
"Since it was won fair and square, it is rightfully yours. Why would I take it away?" Stefano Metti stated before speaking to Albion in a more friendly manner with a smile, "If I can have a word with you in private, Young Master Albion."
"Alright."
Albion agreed after pondering for a moment.
As the saying goes; one should not punch a smiling face—or did he remember the idiom incorrectly? Albion wondered.
With the last bet, his total earning was increased to $1.5 billion. There was not much point in winning any more money from the casino if they cannot afford the payout.
…
On the third floor, Albion took a seat with his legs crossed and leaned on one side with his cheek resting on the back of his palm before gazing back at Stefano Metti, who took the seat opposite of him.
"And so? What would you like to talk about?" Albion asked nonchalantly.
"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Stefano Metti—"
"—Boss of the ya-di ya-da, blah, blah, blah. Just get to the point," Albion interrupted Stefano Metti's introduction with a bored yawn.
Stefano Metti's expression stiffened.
After taking a deep breath and exhaling to calm his nerves and prevent himself from lashing out rashly, Stefano Metti asked, "Has my Metti Group done something to offend you, Young Master Albion?"
"What do you mean? I just came to play and earn some quick change." Albion shrugged with a dumb look.
Stefano Metti's lips twitched.
'Earn some quick change? Well, it certainly doesn't look like some quick change to me! Are you sure you are not trying to bankrupt my business with a sky-high debt instead?!' he screamed in his mind.
"The problem is Young Master Albion has already won $1.5 billion. However, my casino does not have this kind of money for you to withdraw," Stefano Metti explained before suggesting, "How about we both take a step back and just take $100 million as a gesture of our good w—"
"So what you are trying to say is that you have no intention of paying me the $1.5 billion that I won from your casino?" Albion questioned in a low tone.
At the same time, a torrential pressure immediately descended in the area and made Stefano Metti and his nearby subordinate experience a suffocating feeling.
Rumble!
The mountain-like pressure intensified.
The surrounding objects began to shake and rattle vigorously while the weaker subordinates immediately dropped to their knees with a difficult-to-breathe expression.
Stefano Metti was greatly shocked.
He began breaking into cold sweats as he endured the heavy pressure. At the same time, his heart was utterly shaken.
'Suffocating people with just his pressure alone! Just how strong is this person?!'
"I can't breathe…"
"Boss, save me…"
The subordinates' plea for help immediately snapped Stefano Metti out of his thoughts before he dropped to his knees and pleaded, "Young Master Albion, please have mercy! The Metti Group will pay the $1.5 billion debt we owe you!"
"You will?" Albion casually asked.
At the same time, the pressure was withdrawn, giving the Metti Group's subordinate some room to breathe as they gasped for air.
"It's true that the Metti Group does not have the $1.5 billion in cash to pay you..."
"So you were lying when you said you will pay me?"
Just as Albion prepared to pressure them again, Stefano Metti quickly cried, "Wait! Just a moment, please!"
"I beg you for a moment of your time, Young Master Albion! We don't have $1.5 billion in cash, but we can pay you through other means!" Stefano Metti's brain quickly churned for a solution.
"Oh? For example?"
Albion was intrigued.
His lips curved into a cunning smile as if his coercion successfully steered the direction of the conversation to its intended destination.
"The Metti Group has collected many things over the years. I can bring Young Master Albion over for a look. If there's anything you like, you can buy it based on its market value! Also, we are hosting an auction tonight for the Abestel family! I can also show Young Master Albion the auction list if you are interested in participating!"
"Interesting. Sure, a little look won't hurt." Albion agreed to Stefano Metti's suggestion before asking with a cold smile, "But how will you settle the debt if nothing interests me? Or rather, are there enough valuable items in your vault to pay off the debt?"
"This…" Stefano Metti sweated.
Shortly after, he sighed helplessly before answering Albion's question honestly, "To be honest, there are so many items stored over the years, I have lost track of what is inside."
"However, I can assure Young Master Albion that everything is of value. Even if Young Master Albion is not interested in it, we can auction it off for cash to pay the debt."
"You have a good point. What are we waiting for then? Show me the vault right away!"