Chapter 426: Richer than ever. "I am no monster. That’s rude of you to say," Noah replied flatly, his tone making it clear he found the comment more annoying than offensive. He then turned toward Sand and gestured for him to explain. "Tell your father everything. What happened at the dojo, what happened in the warehouse, and what terms we agreed upon." Sand nodded painfully and began recounting the entire sequence of events to his shocked father. He explained how he’d tortured Master Tanaka looking for Noah, how Noah had brutally defeated him despite Sand’s apprentice-rank abilities, how he’d offered the partnership deal to save his life, and how Noah had proven to be a genuine practitioner whose power exceeded anything their family had ever encountered. Jake listened with growing horror, his face going progressively paler as he realized the magnitude of his mistake. He’d attacked someone who could have killed both him and his son without breaking a sweat. Someone who had shown mercy when annihilation would have been easier. When Sand finished, Jake immediately stood from his chair despite his exhaustion. "We are sorry, forgive us, old master," Jake said with genuine contrition. "We didn’t know the height of Mount Everest and foolishly tried to measure it with our limited perspective." Noah cringed inwardly at the phrasing. ’Is this the Western version of ’not recognizing Mount Tai’? I thought that kind of thing only happened in cultivation novels, not real life.’ He kept his expression neutral despite the internal eye-roll. "I told you," Noah said coldly, "that if you failed to scratch my clothes, I would take more than what I came for." Jake’s face went from pale to ashen, understanding that the original terms were about to become significantly worse. "I want ninety percent of your net worth for wasting my time," Noah stated flatly, his tone brooking absolutely no negotiation. "Sign the deal now. I have other things to attend to today and you’ve already delayed me enough." He paused, then added the critical detail. "I also want at least twenty percent of that total in cash or immediately liquid assets. Not tied up in properties or long-term investments. Actual money I can access within forty-eight hours." Noah knew exactly what he was asking for. Ninety percent of a billion dollars was nine hundred million. Most of that would indeed be tied up in real estate, company shares, investment portfolios, and other illiquid assets that took time to convert. But twenty percent of that 900 million in cash meant one hundred eighty million dollars in immediately accessible funds. That was an enormous amount of liquid capital, but for a family with their resources and advance warning, it would be doable to gather without triggering financial collapse. They’d have to liquidate some positions quickly and take losses, but it was possible. Jake’s face showed clear hesitation. Ninety percent of everything his family had built over generations? That was catastrophic. It would reduce them from billionaires to merely very wealthy, stripping away most of their financial power and influence. Seeing the hesitation, Noah didn’t argue or threaten verbally. He simply raised his hand and summoned fire. Flames erupted from his palm with casual ease, the fire element responding to his master-level manipulation as naturally as breathing. The flames grew rapidly, expanding from a small flicker to a roaring inferno that filled several cubic meters of space in seconds. The temperature in the already-damaged study skyrocketed. Jake and Sand both stumbled backward from the intense heat, their faces reflecting the glow of flames that could incinerate them both in moments. The fire continued growing, approaching the ceiling and spreading outward, demonstrating power that went far beyond anything Jake’s rank 4 abilities could ever produce with mere mana let alone fire. This was elemental mastery at a level that shouldn’t exist on Earth. Then Noah clicked his fingers once. The massive inferno vanished instantly, dissipating into nothing as if it had never existed. The temperature dropped back to normal. No smoke remained, no scorch marks on the ceiling, just the sudden absence of overwhelming destructive power. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂 The casual display of control was somehow more terrifying than the fire itself. Noah’s eyes locked onto Jake’s with absolute finality. "Choose well."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Jake’s hands shook as he immediately moved to his desk, pulling out legal documents from a secured drawer with trembling fingers. The display of elemental mastery had shattered any remaining resistance. "I’ll sign immediately," Jake said quickly, his voice hoarse. "The full transfer agreements will be prepared by my lawyers within twenty-four hours. All ninety percent of assets, with one hundred eighty million in liquid funds transferred to accounts of your designation." He began signing preliminary documents, his practiced signature looking unsteady for the first time in decades. Noah watched impassively, then asked a critical question. "What’s the monthly profit from these holdings? Not revenue—actual profit after all expenses, operational costs, and overhead." Jake paused in his signing, doing mental calculations while still clearly shaken. "The family’s assets generate approximately eight to nine million dollars in monthly net profit currently. That’s across all holdings—real estate rental income, dividend payments from company shares, private business profits, investment returns, everything combined." He swallowed hard before continuing. "Ninety percent of that would give you roughly seven to eight million dollars per month in passive income. The exact amount fluctuates based on market conditions, property occupancy rates, and quarterly dividend schedules, but that’s the realistic average." Jake pulled out a detailed financial breakdown to show Noah wasn’t being deceived. "Our real estate portfolio—commercial buildings, luxury apartments, industrial properties—generates about four million monthly after maintenance, taxes, and property management. Company shareholdings provide approximately two and a half million in dividends and profit distributions. Private business ventures, investment funds, and other assets account for the remaining one and a half to two million." He looked up at Noah with defeated resignation. "Your ninety percent stake would translate to approximately seven point two million per month in reliable passive income, with potential for growth as properties appreciate and businesses expand." ’Not bad at all!’ Noah thought internally, carefully keeping his expression neutral despite his satisfaction.