Chapter 385: Extortion

Titus Lowell snorted again at the sight. He reached up and ripped the dirty rag stuffed in Mason Lawson’s mouth.

With his mouth free, Mason Lawson instinctively tried to scream for help.

But just as he opened his mouth, before he could make a sound, Titus Lowell pressed a knife against his neck—

"Don’t make a sound!" Titus Lowell glared at Mason Lawson, a savage light glinting in his eyes. "If you dare scream," he said coldly, "I’ll send you to meet the Grim Reaper this instant!"

Staring into Titus Lowell’s savage eyes, Mason Lawson felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He could feel the killing intent emanating from Titus Lowell—he knew that if he didn’t do as he was told, he probably wouldn’t make it out alive!

So he clamped his mouth shut, not daring to make another sound.

Titus Lowell looked at Mason Lawson’s terrified expression, and the corner of his mouth curved into a mocking sneer.

He lowered his voice and threatened Mason Lawson, "Listen, if you cooperate with us quietly, you might just keep that pathetic life of yours. Otherwise... Hmph!"

The moment Titus Lowell finished speaking, he flicked the knife in his hand!

The cold blade grazed lightly across Mason Lawson’s neck, leaving a shallow, bloody line.

The stinging pain on his neck terrified Mason Lawson, who nearly wet his pants on the spot!

"Don’t!! Don’t kill me!" Mason Lawson’s eyes widened in terror as he jerked his body backward.

His lips trembling, he stammered, "You two... gentlemen... I... I’ll cooperate with whatever you want! Please... Please spare my life!"

Seeing this, Titus Lowell grinned. He said, "It’s good that you’ll cooperate... We’re all neighbors. And since we’re neighbors, we should help each other out, don’t you think?"

Mason Lawson didn’t have time to think about the meaning behind Titus Lowell’s words. Hearing the question, he immediately nodded frantically, muttering, "Yes... Yes, yes! You’re right!"

Titus Lowell continued, "Since you’ve nodded in agreement, we’ll be taking your family’s supplies. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?"

Mason Lawson once again nodded instinctively. "Yes, yes, yes..."

Halfway through his nod, Mason Lawson suddenly realized—’Take our supplies?!’

’That’s unacceptable!’

’This is the extreme cold apocalypse. If our supplies are taken, how will our family survive?!’

Despair filled Mason Lawson’s eyes as he pleaded with Titus Lowell, "No... You can’t! If you take all our supplies, my family won’t survive! I’m begging you, please, have mercy!"

Titus Lowell didn’t say anything. He just narrowed his eyes, staring at Mason Lawson with a sinister gaze.

Titus Lowell’s gaze sent a shiver down Mason Lawson’s spine. He suddenly regretted what he had just said—’These two are vicious, desperate thugs!’

’I refused them. They’re definitely going to silence me!’

’It’s over!’

’The whole family is going to die!’

But unexpectedly, Titus Lowell nodded and said in a low voice, "You have a point... If we take all your supplies, you won’t survive. We’re all neighbors, so that wouldn’t be right..."

Mason Lawson never expected Titus Lowell to say that. He was stunned.

When he finally processed what Titus Lowell had said, Mason Lawson’s eyes instantly lit up, a glimmer of hope bursting forth—

’Have the thugs had a sudden change of heart?’

’Does our family of five get to live?’

Titus Lowell continued, "In that case, we’ll take something else. How much do you have in savings? Hand it all over. As long as you give us your savings, we’ll let you go."

Hearing this, Mason Lawson swallowed hard and replied with difficulty, "...I... Our family has no more money... No more savings..."

At these words, Titus Lowell’s face instantly darkened.

Without another word, he stood up, raised his foot, and kicked Mason Lawson squarely in the stomach!

"AHH!—"

Mason Lawson had just let out a pained cry when Titus Lowell’s foot landed again!

This kick made Mason Lawson’s face turn deathly pale, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead. But before he could even catch his breath, Titus Lowell’s third kick followed!

For a moment, Mason Lawson felt as if his internal organs had ruptured. The intense pain made it nearly impossible to breathe. But Titus Lowell didn’t stop, kicking Mason Lawson a fourth time!

The kicks made Mason Lawson’s vision go black. His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

He was now curled up like a shrimp on the cold floor, his body trembling uncontrollably as excruciating pain wracked his entire being.

Seeing this, Titus Lowell crouched down and asked in a low voice next to Mason Lawson’s ear, "I’ll ask you one more time. Does your family have any savings or not?!"

Mason Lawson didn’t answer right away. The pain was so intense that even breathing hurt. It took him a long time to regain his senses.

After a long moment, his lips trembling, he answered in a weak voice, "...I... I really don’t have any money on me. The money... the money... it’s all with my daughter! ...Go ask her for it... She definitely has money!"

Tied up in the corner, Joyce Lawson shuddered at his words. She looked at her own father in disbelief.

A thought flashed through her mind—’Didn’t my father even consider the consequences of throwing me to them like this? ...’

Joyce Lawson couldn’t put her current feelings into words...

Just then, Titus Lowell walked over to her.

As Joyce Lawson watched with an anxious gaze, Titus Lowell looked down at her and said in a low, threatening voice, "Little girl, I’m going to rip the tape off your mouth now, but you’d better not scream. Understand? Otherwise... I can’t guarantee what I’ll do to you..."

Hearing this, Joyce Lawson trembled slightly. She bit her lip and gave a small nod.

Seeing this, Titus Lowell’s lips curved into a cold smile. Then he reached out and ripped the tape from Joyce Lawson’s mouth.

Joyce Lawson felt a sharp sting as the tape was torn off, but she still forced herself not to make a sound.

Titus Lowell nodded in satisfaction at Joyce Lawson’s cooperation. ’She’s calmer than her father, Mason Lawson. No hysterical screaming. Saves me a lot of trouble.’

He crouched down, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Joyce Lawson, and said slowly, "Little girl, if you want your family to live, you’ll cooperate with us quietly. Got it?"

She was so scared she was trembling all over, but she still gritted her teeth and nodded.

Titus Lowell smiled with satisfaction and continued, "Good. Now, take out your phone and transfer all the money in your accounts to us."

"And remember, don’t get any funny ideas or try to hide anything, because I will check every single one of your accounts. If I find out you’re hiding money... You should be well aware of the consequences, right?"

As he spoke, Titus Lowell’s gaze became incredibly ferocious, enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Looking at Titus Lowell, who was now right in front of her, Joyce Lawson forced herself to remain calm and nodded. "...I understand."