The moment Simon accepted the duel, all the members of the Iron Fangs released sighs of relief.
They were worried that he was going to refuse the duel and that they would be the ones to suffer the consequences.
Although Simon had gotten revenge for them, many of them still feared the factions.
And for a good reason too.
Simon was definitely powerful and talented, but he was still too weak compared to the factions.
Akaza was also relieved that Simon accepted the duel since he too had no desire to suffer for what Simon did.
Simon did not care about the thoughts of Akaza and the Iron Fangs, his mind was on several other things he needed to do to prepare for the retaliation of the factions.
Waves upon waves were rising and falling in his sea of consciousness as he expended a lot of mental energy on numerous simulations and calculations.
He looked at Akaza.
"Do you have something I can write on? I want you to get me some things so that I can heal these fools."
He gestured briefly at the poisoned Iron Fangs on the floor, and Akaza’s eyes flickered with surprise.
"You can heal them? Are you well versed in medicine and poison?"
Simon rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"I have a little bit of knowledge."
Akaza’s lips twitched.
’If it was little, then why is it that nobody has been able to find the cure to your damn poison?’
"Akaza. Something I can write on." Simon said while stretching out his hand and opening his palm.
Akaza glanced at Simon’s hand, then he brought out a book and pen and handed it over to him.
Simon grabbed it, scribbled on it for a few minutes, then he handed it back to Akaza.
Akaza took a glance at it, but when he went through what Simon wrote, his expression became slightly strange and full of confusion.
He looked at Simon, and his mouth parted open to speak. However, Simon raised a finger and waved it, signalling for Akaza to keep quiet.
"Don’t ask me any questions. Just get everything I told you to get for me on that list."
He then pointed at the poisoned members of the Iron Fangs.
"After they’re completely healed, we’ll collect the money we spent buying all of those things from their pockets. And we’ll collect ten times the amount."
The expressions of Akaza and the Iron Fangs drastically changed the moment they heard Simon’s words.
They all understood that this was punishment for the twelve attempting to betray Simon and the Iron Fangs, but the punishment was frightening.
Akaza understood why Simon gave such punishment, but he could not help but ask.
"Isn’t ten times too much?"
Simon looked at Akaza, and to Akaza’s surprise, Simon’s gaze was sharp and cold.
"Are you questioning me, Akaza?"
The entire building became dead silent the moment everybody heard the coldness and sharpness in Simon’s tone.
Akaza remained silent and just stared at Simon with a baffled expression.
Simon took a step forward and stood closer to him.
"I understand that you want to be a good leader, but do not forget, I’m the boss. I’m the leader. My word is final. And I don’t take things like betrayal lightly."
He pointed at the twelve Iron Fangs on the floor.
"These fools should be thanking their lucky stars that I’m not leaving them to die because they deserve it."
"If this had not happened, they could have caused serious damage to the Iron Fangs by acting as spies, they could have caused my death..."
He pointed at Akaza.
"... your death."
He pointed at the Iron Fangs behind him and Akaza.
"And their death."
He lowered his hand, narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, his aura became overwhelming for the Iron Fangs and even Akaza to handle.
They subconsciously began to hold their breath.
He shifted his cold, sharp gaze from Akaza to the Iron Fangs.
"Betrayal is normal in any organization, but for me, just make sure that you don’t fall into my hands after betraying me."
"You’ll regret it."
Nobody said a word or dared to breathe loudly.
Simon scoffed, then he looked at the twelve traitors.
"If they don’t have enough merits, sell their properties and belongings, if they still do not have, then they’ll have three months to pay off their debt."
"If they’re still not able to pay after three months, then I don’t mind using them as examples like I did earlier today."
Everybody’s expression changed the moment and they could not help but recall the nine victims of Simon.
Even some of the twelve traitors tried to look at Simon in fear, but the pain from the poison made them to shift their attention away from Simon.
However, what Akaza and the Iron Fangs did not know was that everything Simon did was all an act.
Why would he care that some insignificant members of the Iron Fangs betrayed him?
The Iron Fangs were disposable tools that he needed for now, and even if Akaza were to betray him, he would not care.
From the very beginning, he already expected some members to betray him, so it wasn’t surprising and it did not cause a ripple in his heart in the slightest.
However, he had to do something and give out a punishment so that the other members of the Iron Fangs would know the consequences of betraying him.
If they all believed that he would do nothing and let it slide whenever they betrayed, the Iron Fangs would crumble much faster than he would like.
’This should make them more fearful to join the factions or other gangs.’
He shifted his gaze to Akaza.
"Akaza."
Akaza looked at him with a slightly distant gaze.
"As usual, you’ll give me a detailed account of everything you’re going to buy, and you’ll also give me a detailed account of how those fools paid their debt."
Akaza slowly nodded, and Simon nodded too.
"Good."
He paused for a moment, then he pointed in a particular direction.
"By the way, Akaza. Is that Initiate a new member of the Iron Fangs? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before."