The cold wind in Brot at midnight was like a knife, unbearable. In winter, he surely couldn't survive. The only thing Barak worried about was his wife and daughter. He had sent his dearest ones to the den of iniquity. He once tried to take a peek secretly. When he saw his wife and daughter being held in someone else's arms, his body trembled and he quickly fled. The sense of guilt made him feel that death would be too good for him, but he hoped to do something before he died. Now it seemed that was just a delusion. He was a beggar and could do nothing. Barak huddled in the corner and prayed devoutly to God. "Merciful God, please impose all the punishments on me. I am a sinner, but my wife and daughter are innocent. Please save them." After the prayer, Barak tightened his already shabby clothes that couldn't block the cold wind any more. He thought of the young man in the bar. That was the only warm experience he had. In Brot City, he had suffered all kinds of cold - shouldering and humiliation. Although that young man just wanted to listen to stories, at least he had enjoyed a brief moment of warmth. He didn't dare to expect more good things. With this bit of goodness, he planned to fall asleep, but soon his vision was blocked by a dark shadow from the little light coming out of the opposite residential building. Barak opened his eyes. He still remembered the face under the hat brim. He hurriedly stood up and saluted respectfully. "Mr. Donning, I recognize you." It took Donning a long time to find Barak, but it was worth it. The cold wind made him pull up the collar of his windbreaker. "Mr. Barak, please come with me." Following this kind - hearted young man, Barak didn't know what he was going to do, but it must not be a bad thing. He was a good person. "Mr. Donning, thank you." Inside a large hotel, Donning let Barak take a bath and simply tidy himself up. Finally, he looked a little more presentable, but the scars on his face couldn't be washed away. Starved Barak was so thin that a gust of wind could blow him down. Severe malnutrition made him look sallow and emaciated. Donning sat on a chair. "Mr. Barak, you can enjoy the delicious food on the table to your heart's content." Barak had already seen the sumptuous meal on the table. He hadn't seen such a sumptuous dinner for a long time. He didn't know why the young man did this. Maybe it was out of sympathy for his misfortune and sensing his determination to repent. What a kind - hearted person. Finally, he knelt on the ground and prostrated himself. "Mr. Donning, I am a sinner. All the sufferings I am experiencing now are well - deserved retribution. You should let me fend for myself. I can't repay your kindness." After devouring the delicious food on the table, Barak looked a bit better in spirit. He returned to stand in front of Donning. A sinner didn't deserve to sit with such a kind - hearted young man. He chose to stand, which was also a punishment for himself. Throughout, Donning just watched. When Barak stood in front of him, he looked up at this old man who looked as if he were seventy or eighty years old. "Well, I have to be honest. To tell the truth, I may not be as kind - hearted as you think. To help a gambler who has ruined everything about himself. You're right. You deserve all this." Barak's body was hunched over as if listening to God's judgment. "However, I need you to do something for me. All that happened today needs to be earned by your own hands." Donning was outspoken. "I think you have no choice." Barak knelt on the ground and kowtowed piously. "I'm willing. I'm willing to奉献 everything to you. My life belongs to you from now on. You can even ask me to die." "Well, I have to ask you to go back to the casino and participate in a gambling game." Donning was very satisfied with the attitude of this old man who had endured so much hardship and then enjoyed a brief moment of goodness. Barak's body suddenly stiffened. He raised his head in shock and looked at the young man in front of him. The sinful years in the casino once again flashed through his mind. Coming to his senses, he shook his head. "No, I don't want to go to that place full of pain again. I've sworn that I'll never gamble again." Donning frowned. This old man seemed to be deeply hurt. He would rather die than go to that place again. But he needed someone who was an acquaintance of Alkmarr's distant nephew. He was the only candidate. "As long as you are willing, I can give you a generous reward afterwards to make your life normal." Donning continued to increase the stakes, trying to make Barak change his mind. Barak didn't respond. He was almost like a dead man. "Alright, tell me what kind of stakes can make you change your mind. I need you to gamble for me." Donning was a bit helpless. Barak put his finger into his mouth and stirred frantically, starting to vomit. He wanted to spit out the food he had eaten, but with little effect. He wanted to return all the kindness he had just received. Finally, he stood up crazily, grabbed the fork on the table used for enjoying the sumptuous dinner, and wanted to commit suicide. Donning was worried. Barak's life was worthless, but it was important to him. "Alright, Mr. Barak, I won't force you. You can stay here for the time being. Give me a definite answer tomorrow morning. If you still refuse, I won't make things difficult for you. You can leave." Obviously, he hadn't thought it through thoroughly. He had underestimated the determination of this beggar, who had been robbed of everything by gambling, to quit gambling. He had to come up with a perfect plan to make Barak change his mind. Standing up and walking to the door, Donning looked back, took off his hat and bowed. "Good night, Mr. Barak." When he took a step, Donning saw the female waitress in the corridor. Suddenly, two characters in Barak's story came to his mind, the two characters that Barak felt most guilty about. He turned around and re - entered the room and closed the door. Barak's fork was still pressed against his neck, and blood had already flowed out. "I won't change my mind, Mr. Donning. I hate that place more than hell. I can only repay your great kindness with my life." Barak held the fork tightly against his neck and slowly inserted it into his throat. "Really? Mr. Barak. At first, I had a little sympathy for you, but now I think you're hypocritical and cowardly instead. You sent your wife and daughter into the den of iniquity, but you are willing to sacrifice your life without hesitation for someone else's little kindness. Isn't my kindness less important than the countless breakfasts your wife once made for you and your daughter calling you father? Then go ahead and die. I won't stop you." Barak's pupils dilated, and muddy tears of regret flowed from his eyes. The fork in his hand finally stopped going deeper. His knees bent and he knelt on the ground, crying bitterly. "But I can't save them." Donning breathed a sigh of relief. He had found the other's weakness. There was nothing more important than family. He walked up to Barak. "I don't think so. This is just your selfish and cowardly excuse. You've suffered enough and want to end it all by dying, but they still have to keep suffering. Unless you can rescue them from the den of iniquity and give them freedom, otherwise you don't even have the right to die. Your life doesn't belong to you, you selfish person." "No... it's not like that." Barak hugged Donning's calf and shook his head frantically. "It's not like that. I love them more than myself." The other's defense was broken. At this time, everything became smooth. Donning bent down and proposed the final condition. "Well, then do something to prove it. You gamble for me. After it's done, I'll redeem your daughter and wife. The opportunity has come. After all this is done, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Be a man, Barak. Don't let me down." Using Barak's daughter and wife's freedom as a deal, Donning made Barak break his gambling vow. However, a beggar suddenly having money to gamble overnight would attract some people's attention. He had to make these things as reasonable as possible. Let Barak change into clean clothes and leave Brot City. Three days later, Donning's carriage re - entered Brot City. Barak visited those pubs that had once insulted him. When people saw Barak's change, they were all astonished. "What happened? The beggar has become a rich man again. This is too strange." "Damn it, what on earth is going on? Why is this? I must be seeing things." "No, you're not wrong. I saw it too. Barak is hugging a young girl and spending money like water. See the ring on his finger? It must be very valuable." "Maybe this old guy just designed a scam. That ring must be fake too. Just wait and see. I don't believe it." This matter soon spread in all the bars in Brot City. Those bars that had once been disrespectful to Barak were now fawning like lapdogs. The situation had changed too fast. Soon, those farms mortgaged to the bank were redeemed and returned to Barak's hands. He became rich again. Everyone no longer doubted it. Barak had made a comeback. Sitting in the bar, many customers who had once insulted him came up to him, trying to get some inside information. "Mr. Barak, look, what happened? The noble you are back. Congratulations. I think we should have a drink, forget those unpleasant things, and by the way, talk about your comeback. It must be a great feat." "I remember you didn't want to listen to my stories. You didn't even want to offer a glass of wine." Barak held a wine glass and casually took out a stack of banknotes and stuffed them into the cleavage of the girl next to him. "That was a misunderstanding. Forget those unpleasant things." Barak squinted his eyes and looked down at the person who bent over to strike up a conversation. Their change made Barak feel disgusted. "Well, I need a woman there. What I like the most are those married women. Their sexual skills are pleasing. I can pay ten thousand Caesars." Those who had once laughed at Barak for selling his wife and daughter immediately crowded around, eagerly talking about their wives' sexual proficiency and those tempting postures. For ten thousand Caesars, they could sacrifice their wives and also get in touch with such an important person. Most of the people who came to this small bar were wage - earners. Ten thousand Caesars was not easy for them. What an ironic scene. Barak was not very happy. When he came out of the bar, he fled back to his large apartment like a madman. "Mr. Donning, why? They don't cherish their wives so much." "Barak, they don't have the same experience as you. They don't understand the beauty of a wife. The dirtiest thing is not hell, but the human heart. Don't test it, or it will disappoint people like you who have suddenly come to their senses." Donning was not at all surprised. "Before long, you will see your old friends. They will come to visit you." Donning gave a reminder and then quickly left. At this moment, in the office of a casino in another part of Brot City. "Mr. Varen, you can't imagine what news I've heard. This news has recently spread in all the small pubs in Brot City." In the dim - lit office, someone said excitedly. Varen was wearing gold - rimmed glasses and a brown suit. His refined face made it hard to associate him with the casino owner and the local gang leader. He played with a gold Caesar in his hand. "Tell me." "That beggar who had lost everything, Barak, has made a comeback. He has redeemed his farms. It's unbelievable. There have been a lot of rumors about him these days. It seems that he is even richer than before." The man's eyes showed greed. He bent over like a monkey. Varen was a bit shocked. The name Barak was no stranger to him. He was once a regular in the casino. In order to pocket Barak's money, Varen had planned that series of things and finally turned this small capitalist in Brot City into a beggar on the streets. He didn't expect that Barak had made a comeback and had become even richer. This was beyond his expectation. How could a beggar make a comeback? It was not in line with the norm, but the facts were right in front of him. "What a lucky guy. What kind of good fortune did he encounter to be able to make a comeback?" Varen couldn't figure it out, but his mind started working again. "A beggar who has made a comeback. So interesting. You go and keep an eye on him. I have to ask for instructions from above on what to do." The southern district of Brot City was home to many wealthy people, almost all of whom could be related to the Alkmarr family in some way. There were many large apartments here. Looking through the window of a large apartment in the rich area, the lights were bright. A lively cocktail party was being held there. The organizer was, of course, Zahavi Alkmarr, a distant nephew of the Alkmarr family. Those who could come to the cocktail party were at least the young and prominent people in Brot City. This banquet did not welcome the elderly. As a distant nephew of the Alkmarr family, his identity was enough to make those young people bow and scrape, but those respected elderly obviously wouldn't buy the account of this once - idle young man. Inviting those elderly would only make his noble identity lose its luster. He enjoyed being worshiped. The idle Zahavi was once regarded as a disaster for the Alkmarr family. However, later this young man successfully rose to power, gradually controlled some small gangs in Brot City, expanded his power, and took over many casinos and brothels, accumulating basic wealth. He claimed it was his own merit, but most people knew that it was the Alkmarr family who had stepped in to eliminate his opponents in the start - up stage, some idle young hooligans, third - rate small gambling houses and brothel owners. With the accumulated initial capital, Zahavi began to grow savagely using some underhanded means. For example, he lured some small capitalists with a little property into his casino, gave them some small favors, and finally took away their wealth from the gambling table. Those small capitalists were trapped without realizing it until they lost everything and were driven out of the casino before they suddenly realized, but by then it was too late. Their lost wives and daughters were taken to brothels to receive customers, continuing to earn wealth for Zahavi. Barak was just one of the victims. For those small capitalists who resisted the temptation of gambling, he used some even more despicable means to attack them, using his hooligans to disrupt their business, force them to give in, or even assassinate them. And the police station simply investigated briefly and then declared the case closed. At that time, there were many unsolved cases in Brot City. Zahavi's cleverness made his wealth expand further. Until now, he had controlled all the casinos and brothels in Brot City and had also become the biggest leader of the underground forces in Brot. These things had once caused some dissatisfaction, but in the end, they were all suppressed by the Alkmarr family's public relations. On the surface, the Alkmarr family still had to maintain their positive image. They announced through the newspaper that Zahavi Alkmarr was removed from the family. He was no longer a member of the Alkmarr family. In fact, all of this was the intention of Alkmarr himself. He needed someone to manage some underground businesses in Brot City. But these highly - profitable underground businesses were not glorious after all. It was not good for the Alkmarr family's reputation to take over these businesses openly. So they deliberately staged such a play, making this distant nephew the agent of the underground business. Every year, he would get a lot of profits from this nephew. Those bars that had once been disrespectful to Barak were now fawning like lapdogs. The situation had changed too fast. Soon, those farms mortgaged to the bank were redeemed and returned to Barak's hands. He became rich again. Everyone no longer doubted it. Barak had made a comeback. Sitting in the bar, many customers who had once insulted him came up to him, trying to get some inside information. "Mr. Barak, look, what happened? The noble you are back. Congratulations. I think we should have a drink, forget those unpleasant things, and by the way, talk about your comeback. It must be a great feat." "I remember you didn't want to listen to my stories. You didn't even want to offer a glass of wine." Barak held a wine glass and casually took out a stack of banknotes and stuffed them into the cleavage of the girl next to him. "That was a misunderstanding. Forget those unpleasant things." Barak squinted his eyes and looked down at the person who bent over to strike up a conversation. Their change made Barak feel disgusted. "Well, I need a woman there. What I like the most are those married women. Their sexual skills are pleasing. I can pay ten thousand Caesars." Those who had once laughed at Barak for selling his wife and daughter immediately crowded around, eagerly talking about their wives' sexual proficiency and those tempting postures. For ten thousand Caesars, they could sacrifice their wives and also get in touch with such an important person. Most of the people who came to this small bar were wage - earners. Ten thousand Caesars was not easy for them. What an ironic scene. Barak was not very happy. When he came out of the bar, he fled back to his large apartment like a madman. "Mr. Donning, why? They don't cherish their wives so much." "Barak, they don't have the same experience as you. They don't understand the beauty of a wife. The dirtiest thing is not hell, but the human heart. Don't test it, or it will disappoint people like you who have suddenly come to their senses." Donning was not at all surprised. "Before long, you will see your old friends. They will come to visit you." Donning gave a reminder and then quickly left. At this moment, in the office of a casino in another part of Brot City. "Mr. Varen, you can't imagine what news I've heard. This news has recently spread in all the small pubs in Brot City." In the dim - lit office, someone said excitedly. Varen was wearing gold - rimmed glasses and a brown suit. His refined face made it hard to associate him with the casino owner and the local gang leader. He played with a gold Caesar in his hand. "Tell me." "That beggar who had lost everything, Barak, has made a comeback. He has redeemed his farms. It's unbelievable. There have been a lot of rumors about him these days. It seems that he is even richer than before." The man's eyes showed greed. He bent over like a monkey. Varen was a bit shocked. The name Barak was no stranger to him. He was once a regular in the casino. In order to pocket Barak's money, Varen had planned that series of things and finally turned this small capitalist in Brot City into a beggar on the streets. He didn't expect that Barak had made a comeback and had become even richer. This was beyond his expectation. How could a beggar make a comeback? It was not in line with the norm, but the facts were right in front of him. "What a lucky guy. What kind of good fortune did he encounter to be able to make a comeback?" Varen couldn't figure it out, but his mind started working again. "A beggar who has made a comeback. So interesting. You go and keep an eye on him. I have to ask for instructions from above on what to do." The southern district of Brot City was home to many wealthy people, almost all of whom could be related to the Alkmarr family in some way. There were many large apartments here. Looking through the window of a large apartment in the rich area, the lights were bright. A lively cocktail party was being held there. The organizer was, of course, Zahavi Alkmarr, a distant nephew of the Alkmarr family. Those who could come to the cocktail party were at least the young and prominent people in Brot City. This banquet did not welcome the elderly. As a distant nephew of the Alkmarr family, his identity was enough to make those young people bow and scrape, but those respected elderly obviously wouldn't buy the account of this once - idle young man. Inviting those elderly would only make his noble identity lose its luster. He enjoyed being worshiped. The idle Zahavi was once regarded as a disaster for the Alkmarr family. However, later this young man successfully rose to power, gradually controlled some small gangs in Brot City, expanded his power, and took over many casinos and brothels, accumulating basic wealth. He claimed it was his own merit, but most people knew that it was the Alkmarr family who had stepped in to eliminate his opponents in the start - up stage, some idle young hooligans, third - rate small gambling houses and brothel owners. With the accumulated initial capital, Zahavi began to grow savagely using some underhanded means. For example, he lured some small capitalists with a little property into his casino, gave them some small favors, and finally took away their wealth from the gambling table. Those small capitalists were trapped without realizing it until they lost everything and were driven out of the casino before they suddenly realized, but by then it was too late. Their lost wives and daughters were taken to brothels to receive customers, continuing to earn wealth for Zahavi. Barak was just one of the victims. For those small capitalists who resisted the temptation of gambling, he used some even more despicable means to attack them, using his hooligans to disrupt their business, force them to give in, or even assassinate them. And the police station simply investigated briefly and then declared the case closed. At that time, there were many unsolved cases in Brot City. Zahavi's cleverness made his wealth expand further. Until now, he had controlled all the casinos and brothels in Brot City and had also become the biggest leader of the underground forces in Brot. These things had once caused some dissatisfaction, but in the end, they were all suppressed by the Alkmarr family's public relations. On the surface, the Alkmarr family still had to maintain their positive image. They announced through the newspaper that Zahavi Alkmarr was removed from the family. He was no longer a member of the Alkmarr family. In fact, all of this was the intention of Alkmarr himself. He needed someone to manage some underground businesses in Brot City. But these highly - profitable underground businesses were not glorious after all. It was not good for the Alkmarr family's reputation to take over these businesses openly. So they deliberately staged such a play, making this distant nephew the agent of the underground business. Every year, he would get a lot of profits from this nephew.