Free Web NovelChapter 286: The Hidden Exchange
The Hidden Exchange
In the eager anticipation of Dario Ashbourne, the Black Ghost and White Ghost finally delivered the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
The atmosphere inside the Ashbourne family villa instantly became lighter.
For the past several days, Dario had been counting the hours almost obsessively. Every delay felt unbearable, and every update from Steffan’s people had only increased his anticipation. Now, seeing the precious medicinal ingredient finally arrive before his eyes, he felt as though a massive stone had been lifted from his chest.
The specially designed freezer sat on the table like a treasure chest.
Inside it rested the hope he had been desperately chasing for two years.
His gaze lingered on it for several moments before he turned toward the two brothers.
"Thank you for your hard work, brothers. Here’s a little something for your trouble, the password is six ones."
As he spoke, he quickly handed over a prepared bank card.
His tone was generous and sincere.
The card contained a total of twenty million Euros.
To ordinary people, such a sum would be enough to change their lives forever.
But for the wealthiest man in Silverhaven City, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
Money was meaningless if he couldn’t solve the problem that had haunted him for years.
Black Ghost and White Ghost exchanged glances.
Neither immediately reached for the card.
Although they were tempted, they understood the hierarchy of their group.
Without Steffan’s approval, they wouldn’t casually accept rewards.
The two men instinctively looked toward Steffan. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Steffan was seated comfortably nearby, appearing calm and composed as always.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Since it’s a reward for you, don’t be shy."
Only after receiving his permission did the two brothers finally relax.
White Ghost quickly accepted the bank card with both hands.
A grin spread across his face.
"Thank you, Patriarch Dario."
Black Ghost also nodded politely.
The reward alone made the dangerous mission feel worthwhile.
Of course, neither brother knew that the treasure they had risked so much to obtain was already at the center of another scheme.
Dario’s attention had already shifted elsewhere.
His eyes returned to Steffan.
Excitement could barely be concealed within them.
The thing he wanted most wasn’t the ginseng itself.
It was the recovery that would follow.
For two years, he had suffered humiliation, frustration, and despair.
Now salvation seemed within reach.
"Steffan, shall we start the treatment now?"
His voice carried unmistakable urgency.
The impatience of a drowning man who had finally seen land.
Steffan smiled calmly.
His confidence only further increased Dario’s trust.
"Alright, I’ll have someone start preparing the medicine."
He stood up and walked toward the table.
The medicinal ingredients had already been prepared beforehand.
One after another, he carefully gathered them together.
The room filled with the distinct fragrance of various rare herbs.
Some smelled earthy.
Others carried a faint sweetness.
The mixture created a strangely soothing aroma.
Steffan casually handed the ingredients to a servant standing nearby.
"Put these herbs in the pot and simmer them on low heat for two hours. Once done, bring the decoction over."
"Understood, Young Master Steffan."
The servant accepted the ingredients respectfully.
During his stay at the Ashbourne family residence, Steffan had frequently instructed the servants to brew medicinal soups for Dario.
Each batch produced visible improvements.
As a result, nobody questioned his methods anymore.
Once this batch was consumed, combined with his Acupuncture Theropy, Dario’s little problem would naturally be resolved.
At least, that was the image Steffan intended to present.
As his thoughts drifted forward, another figure quietly entered his mind.
His gaze subtly shifted across the room.
Not far away, Felberta Ashbourne sat on a sofa.
A book rested in her hands.
The soft afternoon sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating her long black hair with a gentle glow.
Her striking red eyes moved calmly across the pages.
Her expression remained cool and distant.
The surrounding noise seemed unable to affect her concentration.
The scene was elegant and beautiful.
Steffan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This woman was truly a rare beauty.
With such a fiery figure and an aura of icy aloofness that kept strangers at bay.
Once conquered by him, the contrast would be simply delightful.
As the Martial Art King of Africa, his veins coursed with the desire to conquer!
The thought caused a faint smile to appear on his lips.
Fortunately, he hid it quickly.
Nobody noticed the ambition concealed beneath his calm exterior.
Meanwhile, the servant carrying the herbs headed toward the kitchen.
"Okay."
A maid in her forties nodded, taking the herbs into the kitchen.
The kitchen was spacious and spotless.
The scent of fresh ingredients lingered in the air.
Several staff members moved about quietly while attending to their duties.
The maid appeared completely ordinary.
Her face carried the traces of middle age.
Her movements were steady and professional.
Nobody paid special attention to her.
After all, she had worked there long enough to blend naturally into the background.
Once back in the kitchen, the maid placed the herbs one by one into the pot for brewing.
Steam slowly began rising from the heated water.
The aroma of medicinal ingredients gradually spread throughout the room.
Everything appeared perfectly normal.
After putting in the other herbs, the last one was the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
At this moment, the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng was still in a specially made small freezer.
The small freezer was about the size of a tablet.
Because it had its own battery, it could run without being plugged in.
The maid quietly approached it.
Her heartbeat remained steady.
Not a trace of nervousness appeared on her face.
After opening it and taking a look, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the plan went as Julian D’Aurelius had anticipated.
This maid, who appeared to be in her forties, was actually Lina Ashford in disguise!
The realistic disguise completely concealed her true identity.
No one in the Ashbourne family suspected a thing.
Not even Steffan noticed anything unusual.
A faint smile flashed across Lina’s eyes.
Everything had proceeded exactly according to plan.
Julian D’Aurelius had predicted Steffan’s actions long before they happened.
The moment he learned about the scheme involving the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng, he had already begun preparing his countermeasure.
Not through force.
Not through open confrontation.
But through deception.
Julian, noticing Steffan’s actions, decided to send her over as part of his plan.
Now that plan had reached its most critical stage.
After closing the freezer, she took out a regular snow ginseng from her pocket.
The ordinary herb looked convincing enough at first glance.
Only a true expert could identify the difference.
With calm precision, she sliced the ordinary snow ginseng and put it in, then began brewing the medicinal soup.
The replacement was completed flawlessly.
No alarms.
No witnesses.
No mistakes.
The genuine thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng remained safely hidden.
The fake ingredient slowly dissolved into the brewing medicine.
Several minutes passed.
The kitchen staff remained busy.
Nobody paid attention to the seemingly ordinary maid.
Taking advantage of no one noticing, she took the small freezer, climbed out the window, and silently left the Ashbourne family villa, blending into the darkness.
The movement was smooth and graceful.
Like a shadow disappearing into the night.
Once outside the estate grounds, she didn’t stop.
The cool evening breeze brushed against her face.
Streetlights illuminated the quiet roadside.
After leaving the Ashbourne family, a motorcycle was parked by the roadside.
She hopped on the motorcycle, revved the throttle, and sped onto the road.
The powerful engine roared to life.
The motorcycle shot forward like an arrow.
City lights blurred around her.
Buildings flashed past.
Traffic became streaks of color beneath the night sky.
Her disguise fluttered slightly in the rushing wind.
Yet her movements remained steady.
The precious treasure hidden inside the freezer never left her grasp.
After riding for over twenty minutes, she arrived at a five-star hotel.
The towering building sparkled brilliantly against the night skyline.
Without hesitation, Lina rushed inside.
She ignored the luxurious lobby and headed directly toward the elevators.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
The numbers climbed rapidly.
Floor after floor passed.
Finally, the doors opened on the top floor.
A powerful wind greeted her immediately.
The rooftop lights illuminated the area.
There, waiting silently beneath the night sky, was a helicopter.
Its rotors spun slowly.
The sound echoed across the rooftop.
The one piloting the helicopter was Liza Voss.
Her long black hair moved gently in the wind as she sat inside the cockpit.
The moment she saw Lina appear, a smile spread across her face.
Seeing Lina return, she smiled and asked,
"You Got ginseng?"
