52. Bussiness Competition

A large ship carrying a container of goods arrived at the port of destination. The atmosphere in the harbor was even more chaotic as Eston's bodyguards, who had been waiting all along, rushed to the ship. Others were making preparations for heavy equipment to unload the large container from the ship. After the special stairs appeared and stretched out as a path, Matteo appeared with three bodyguards. They descended the stairs, with the three bodyguards occasionally keeping Matteo's body balanced. "Don't forget to make sure the container doesn't fall and damage the goods inside!" Matteo warned the crew and some of Eston's bodyguards. Once he was fully disembarked, grounded in the harbor, Matteo walked a little as he watched the heavy equipment begin to transport the container. Matteo was a little worried as he watched this scene. "If any of the goods are damaged, I will cut your pay!" Matteo threatened with a louder and more emphatic call than before. There was no resistance or rebuttal from Eston's guards. Matteo stood with his three guards, as well as a harbor guard, while placing one hand over his eyes. Covering the side of his face from the sun's reflection. Matteo simply could not remove his surveillance gaze from Eston's guards and the crew working to unload the containers. "Are you sure the machine can withstand the weight of the goods?" Matteo asked the harbormaster beside him. The harbormaster simply nodded his head. "Of course, Mr. Matteo. This harbor has often been a place for transactions or smuggling of goods. As you are doing now." Matteo turned his gaze to the harbormaster. In the heat, with both eyes squinting suspiciously and in the heat, Matteo looked at the harbormaster for a split second. "Then you can guarantee security and privacy about this, right?" Matteo asked, trying to be sure. The harbormaster instantly felt nervous as he received a suspicious look from Matteo. Matteo's intimidating aura was so strong that the harbormaster could not move. "Y-yes, you can trust me. Otherwise, you would have stopped at this harbor anyway, right?" "Yes. But it doesn't matter if I've already stopped and you spill the beans," Matteo said in a low tone. "As long as you can accept my retribution for your actions." After Matteo said that brief threat, the harbor guard finally just nodded quickly. He did not dare to look into Matteo's sharp, threatening eyes. "Very well, Mr. Matteo!" said the harbormaster in an obedient manner. Then a few meters from where Matteo was, Diego and Eston walked hand in hand. Diego saw Matteo, who was seriously supervising the smooth unloading of the container. "Matteo!" Eston called out. Diego and Eston stopped at the end of the asphalt bridge. They were not far from Matteo. Eston's call could be heard by Matteo. Suddenly Matteo averted his eyes with a surprised expression and immediately gave the harbor guard the code of goodbye. After turning around and taking a step with his three bodyguards, Matteo only raised one hand briefly. It was a sign of greeting. Diego returned Matteo's handshake, while Eston watched thoughtfully. He put both hands in his pants pockets and raised his chin slightly. Matteo had no problem noticing the sharpness of Eston's eyes. Because Eston was going to be like that from the beginning. Therefore, when Matteo stopped two steps before Diego and Eston, he bowed to both of them. Both gave a sign of respect. Diego took a deep breath, then exhaled. A curved smile spread across his face, returning Matteo's hospitality. "I'm glad you arrived safely, and that you got your stuff," Diego said as he patted Matteo's shoulder twice. He knew very well what was inside the container that the ship was carrying. Matteo glanced at Diego's hand on his shoulder. He flinched for a moment, then Matteo smiled wryly and nodded his head. "Thank you for waiting for me," Matteo said to Diego and Eston. "I have been looking forward to arriving and bringing these smuggled goods." Eston looked at Matteo intensely and curiously. "Have you brought all the necessary items?" he asked. "You should not bring anything useless, Matteo." Hearing Eston's words made Matteo laugh briefly. Matteo nodded calmly in Eston's presence. "Of course, Mr. Eston. I brought many valuable items that can bring us great sales profits," Matteo replied with enthusiasm in his words. As usual, Eston only nodded his head briefly. He simply wanted to know whether Matteo could do a good job or not. "I do not want the slightest loss, Matteo. If you lie to me..." Matteo immediately felt stunned as the smile from his laughter gradually subsided. For a moment, Matteo felt awkward because of Eston's sudden threat, even though Eston's tone was not particularly frightening. Matteo immediately felt stunned as the smile from his laughter gradually subsided. For a moment, Matteo felt awkward because of Eston's sudden threat, even though Eston's tone was not particularly frightening. "No, Mr. Eston. I assure you there is no loss as you expect," Matteo replied with a sense of conviction in his words. Diego, on the other hand, listened silently to the conversation beside him. His eyes did not move from Matteo's suspicious gesture. Diego knew very well what might be the reason for Matteo's awkwardness. Diego secretly smiled wryly as he pretended to bow his head while rubbing his face. If Eston did not understand, then Diego already knew what Matteo was doing. "Are the items you brought good quality?" Diego asked, breaking the silence of Eston and Matteo's conversation. Matteo sighed heavily. "Well, why would I bring poor quality goods?" He asked back, then shifted his gaze to Eston. "For Mr. Eston, I feel it is appropriate to provide quality goods." Diego nodded in understanding. On the other hand, he already knew Matteo's words were lies. How could Matteo dare to guarantee that the goods in the container were of good quality, when one of the paintings was a fake? But Diego did not say much about it. As Matteo and Eston continued to talk, Diego picked up his cell phone and checked his messages. [FABIAN: Sir, Mr. Finnigan has arrived to fulfill your call] Diego arched a satisfied smile. Soon he typed a reply to Fabian. [Please accompany him to the room where the painting will be placed. Wait at the mansion, I will be there with Eston and Matteo] Diego immediately put the phone back into his pocket. Looking ahead, Diego saw that the container had been unloaded to the left of where they were. Eston's guards began to open the container together. "The painting will be taken to a room in your mansion, Mr. Eston." Matteo told Eston with a bow at the end of his sentence. After that, Diego, Matteo, and Eston walked to the room where the painting would be placed. The painting was carried by Eston's bodyguards very carefully to a special box car to transport the painting. Its large size required the strength of eight men. After the port, Diego, Matteo, and Eston rushed to the mansion. The journey lasted almost two hours with a tight escort behind the painting box truck and the box truck for the other contraband. When they arrived at the mansion, everyone moved quickly to their respective positions. Diego got out of the car, followed by Eston and Matteo. Diego walked first with Eston and Matteo to the entrance of the mansion. He followed the red carpet that would lead to one main focal point. The painting Matteo had brought would be placed there to make it easier for other visitors to see. "I did not know you could bring such a beautiful painting, Matteo," Eston said as he stopped walking and stood next to Diego and Matteo. Matteo only gave a formal smile. "I should have done my best for you, Mr. Eston. This painting is expected to bring in a large profit." Then Eston's eight bodyguards arrived at the main focal point of the mansion, where the painting would be displayed. They immediately got together to carefully prepare to hang the painting. The moment the cloth covering the painting was lifted, there was not a single eye that did not marvel at its beauty. Everyone was astonished, including Eston and Matteo. Even Eston's bodyguards who stood guard around the perimeter. It was like a grand masterpiece shining in front of everyone. Diego, however, was not. Seeing the painting displayed so clearly in front of his eyes did not inspire awe in Diego. Since he already knew the truth behind the painting, Diego simply folded his arms across his chest and watched intently. There was no expression on Diego's face. 'Did Matteo deceive everyone on purpose? Does he think everyone is stupid?' Diego wondered as he looked at the painting and Matteo in turn. Diego smiled sarcastically. At that moment Matteo looked very satisfied as if he felt that his plan had succeeded. "What a beautiful painting," Eston commented. Soon Eston was laughing proudly and clapping his hands. "Hey, everyone, look at this painting! Are you thinking the same thing as me?" Eston's bodyguards also smiled and laughed briefly when they saw Eston's happiness. They whispered to each other in admiration. Although Eston's bodyguards weren't very good at expressions, they looked at first glance like spectators who weren't expecting the surprise in the show. Diego was still watching them, but he had no reaction. For him, there was nothing to be proud of. "At this rate, we'll make a lot of profit. Look... how expensive that aura painting is," Eston once again commented, this time holding out both hands. Matteo simply nodded his head and couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Yes, that's right, Mr. Eston. I also admire how beautiful the painting looks," Matteo replied to Eston's praise. "You..." Eston let out a long sigh before putting his arm around Matteo. "You did your job very well. It was not in vain that I asked you to hold this job." Matteo occasionally looked down in shame at Eston's praise now directed at him. Meanwhile, behind Matteo and Eston, Diego was disgusted inside. Diego knew that Matteo was only pretending, and Eston was deceived. Look at it now. Matteo was really infuriating Diego. "Mr. Diego," came a voice from behind. Diego flinched slightly when someone touched his shoulder. When he turned around, it was Fabian who had brought Finnigan. Suddenly, Diego's smile of satisfaction curved in that instant. The arrival of Finnigan, who worked as a painting appraiser, was the very thing Diego had been waiting for. It was the perfect moment to give Matteo a little jolt. "You're here," Diego said, giving Finnigan a welcoming smile. "I'm so glad you agreed to come." Finnigan chuckled. "As your best friend, what's to keep me from taking the time to come?" Diego just patted Finnigan's shoulder. Then the direction of his gaze changed to where the painting was displayed. "Finnigan, we have a new painting. What do you think, it's pretty, isn't it?" Diego asked, pretending to give a bait. Finnigan shifted his gaze to the direction Diego was staring at. She furrowed her brow. The longer she looked at the painting on the wall, the more Finnigan's enthusiastic smile faded. "Is that your new painting, Diego?" asked Finnigan. At that moment Eston and Matteo realized Finnigan's presence behind them. Matteo immediately looked at Finnigan confused because he didn't really know him. But the two of them did not have time to say anything because Finnigan had silenced them. "Hey, why did you display that fake painting in the main focal point?" Finnigan said originally. Suddenly Eston and Matteo were surprised simultaneously. So was Diego who pretended to be nervous. Diego showed awkwardness while rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, Finnigan, you... it's possible that you misjudged. Let's just go, let's talk since we haven't seen each other in a while." Diego deliberately invited Finnigan to leave, because his main purpose was already completed. Finnigan just nodded, but the gaze of surprise and disgust at the painting still did not fade. Even as she turned around and wanted to follow Diego, Finnigan was still focused on the painting. Diego's departure with Finnigan left Matteo who immediately stiffened.