Salute To The General
Chapter 2348

Over the following week, Derrick stuck to the plan and carried it out accordingly.

On Sunday, Nathan and Kylie were playing with Queenie in the backyard when Colin and Thomas arrived.

"Mr. Cross!" Thomas called from afar as he hastened his stride.

Nathan reciprocated the greeting with a nod. "It's been a while, Thomas.

What have you been up to?"

Thomas presented a box in response, still smiling from ear to ear. "I've been in Marsingfill for a trip, Mr. Cross. Here are some caviar and jerky, two of their best exports! I've enjoyed them during my stay and thought to share some with you." Nathan smiled. "How kind of you."

After having Colin put the box away, Nathan turned his attention back to Thomas. "Marsingfill's biggest export isn't food or drink. I think we all know you were there for the casinos, weren't you?" Thomas suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Only expecting to tease his subordinate, Nathan did not expect that to be the very purpose of his visit.

His brow tensed for a moment before relaxing again.

"See to it that Queenie finishes her homework," he said to Kylie.

Kylie nodded and took Queenie indoors.

Remaining in his wicker armchair, Nathan surveyed the other two. Thomas looked embarrassed while Colin narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Nathan took a sip of his hot tea and spoke again when Queenie and Kylie disappeared back into the house. "Why don't you tell me what's going on?"

"Tell you what, Mr. Cross?" Thomas said timidly.

Nathan scowled. "The honest account of how much money you've lost in Marsingfill! We both know you're not here to give me canned goods, so why don't you get to the point?"

Thomas fell to his knees, trembling. "General, forgive me! I must have known better than to lie to you. It is true that I have lost a lot of money in Marsingfill. If I don't replace a way to repay my debt and loans, I might have to auction off all my properties! I would not have come to you if I had any other choice."

As the man on his knees before him had been a brother-in-arms during the war, Nathan recalled how Thomas had been loyal to him over the past few years in Channing. There were times when he had to be admitted to the hospital as a result of being injured in the line of duty.

I'm sure he didn't intend to lose the money. There's no use crying over spilled milk.

With that in mind, Nathan spoke in a calm voice after several moments.

"How much do you owe?"

Thomas took a shuddering breath. "Cash alone is two hundred million. The debts that I owe amount to almost a billion. My debtors over at Marsingfill keep urging me to pay off."

"You seemed to have developed an insatiable appetite to play with such high stakes, Thomas." Nathan shot daggers at him as he remarked.

"I only intended to treat myself," Thomas sobbed. "The boss of the casino told me that Alicia, the world-famous celebrity was there. The price of admission into the exclusive lounge and an autograph cost only a hundred million in chips, so I..."

"I've heard enough," Nathan said as the other's voice trailed off. "I'm only going to ask you this once. If I take care of your debt for you, are you going to go back to your old habits?"

Thomas shook his head earnestly. "No, General. Never again."

Nathan nodded. "I do not wish to watch you being forced to lose all of your assets to settle your debt. If you do, you may never recover from it. I'll lend you a billion, but you will use it to settle your debt instead of gambling it away. I want you to turn over a new leaf from now on, or I'll take away all of your businesses. Do you understand?" "Y-Yes, General," Thomas stammered.

"I will never gamble again."

Nathan summoned Penny. "Transfer a billion to Thomas, will you?"

Though Penny was curious as to why Thomas would need that amount of money, she was tactful enough not to ask why. "Sure. I'll have the staff do it right away."

Within a few minutes, the amount was transferred.

Amid incessant exclamations of thanks, Thomas left.

Nathan frowned as he gazed at where Thomas had vanished, lost in thought.

Colin said in a hushed voice, "Thomas has changed, General. He's a gambling addict now. Out of all the vices, gambling is by far the most difficult to wean off. I have a feeling that he's going to gamble away that billion that you gave him earlier." Nathan's scowl hardened, not because Colin's words were harsh, but because it was exactly what he was thinking.

However, Nathan remained stubborn.

"I don't think he will. He has always been obedient to me. I'm sure he will uphold his promise."

Colin shook his head. "I'm afraid you're wrong this time, General. I bet Thomas will gamble away the entire billion you gave him. While we're on the subject, let's make a wager."

Nathan did not respond immediately. "I choose to believe in Thomas. We'll see what happens."

In less than twenty-four hours after his grim prediction, Colin reappeared at Nathan's home as he and his family were finishing their dinner.

"Something's happened to Thomas, General," Colin whispered.

Despite his careful attempt at being inaudible, Penny and the rest heard the news and displayed similar expressions of shock.

Nathan frowned as he ushered Colin into his study before speaking again. "What happened?"

"Thomas took the billion you gave him and immediately headed for Marsingfill. After an all-nighter, he had managed to lose the entire sum you gave him to clear his debt."

Nathan's anger flared up at the news.

Colin continued after a gulp, "I've also found out that Thomas has lost a hefty amount of money in casinos all around town. The story he told you about owing a billion in debt was a lie. He had lost far more than that." Nathan frowned as he took a sip of tea. "How much has he lost? How much does he owe?"

"As of yesterday when he came to see you, he had lost half a billion and was five billion in debt. Given that he had lost an additional billion over the course of one night, the debt he owes would no doubt have increased." Nathan gaze turned cold. "He

disappoints me."

Colin sighed. "Many of my kins are gambling addicts too. I have seen firsthand how incurable it is. Thomas used to be an obedient soldier, but now he's lying to you. I don't think he's worth helping anymore. Let him pay for his own mistakes."

"He was never an addict of any form," Nathan murmured thoughtfully. "Something must have happened to turn him into such a risk-taker."

"I couldn't replace out much about that, General." "Have him come see me at once." "He can't, General. He's being held over at Marsingfill by his debtors."

Aurum City was one of the top ten casinos in Marsingfill.

One of the most definitive features that distinguished Aurum City from the other casinos was the two bronze statues that flanked its entrance. The statues depicted fierce-looking warriors clad in golden armor.

At that moment, a sedan and two black SUVS stopped outside the open-air parking lot of Aurum City.

Nathan and Colin emerged from the sedan while the Elite Eight emerged from the two black SUVs.

Nathan led the men up the stairs to the entrance of Aurum City.

Colin explained as they made their way in, "The owner of this establishment, Aurum City, is called Jonneth Cross. Also known as Mr. Jon, he's one of the leaders in the underground circles in Marsingfill. Being a relative newcomer, he had the firm backing of a powerful conglomerate in Ariarica before bursting onto the scene in a series of hostile takeovers.

When they entered through the door, Nathan caught a glimpse of the

bronze statues.

Colin chuckled when he saw what had captured Nathan's attention. "The Marsingfillians are superstitious. It turns out that every casino has its own beliefs. The two statues you see here are not ornamental in nature. These statues are said to be able to cause the visitors who enter through these doors to run out of luck and lose all money they have."

"Seeing as Thomas has pretty much given his entire asset away to the extent of being detained here, the statues do seem to work," Nathan said grimly as he led the way into the hotel.