Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Emerging from the parking lot, Ao Ting encountered an attendant in the club lobby. The attendant greeted him with a warm smile, asking, "Sir, how may I assist you?"

Ao Ting provided his room number.

The attendant nodded. "Understood. Please follow me."

The club's polished walls gleamed. Ao Ting straightened his posture, adjusting his tie as he followed the attendant. In an unconscious glance upward, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure entering an elevator that was about to close.

…Jessica?!

Ao Ting thought he must have been mistaken, but before he could get a closer look, the elevator doors had already shut.

Yet, his emotions instantly became unsettled at the sight of that suspicious figure.

He had met Jessica a few times during previous cooperation negotiations… and that silhouette was uncannily similar.

But the Angheid District was clearly far from here; how could Jessica be present?

Ao Ting's initial excitement instantly vanished as if doused with cold water.

Upon reaching the room with the attendant, he promptly dismissed him.

Instead of rushing to open the door, he carefully pushed it ajar with a handkerchief, creating a narrow gap.

Inside, seated on the semicircular sofa were many familiar faces: Councilor Andre, Freer from the Special Intelligence Bureau, Jessica, and many others.

"Is Ao Ting about to arrive?"

Andre replied, "He just messaged that he's on his way. He should be here soon."

Jessica commented, "You did well."

Freer took a sip of whiskey, chuckling, "Andre, Ao Ting is your fellow townsman, both from Condor. And you're setting him up like this?"

"Don't try to sow discord in front of Jessica," Andre flicked the ash from his cigar. "XT and I are unshakable allies. It's you who should worry about not messing up when Ao Ting arrives."

To think that Andre, from the opposition, and Freer had both sided with XT!

Ao Ting's mind buzzed with shock.

Freer glanced at Jessica's expression. "Don't worry, I've already arranged everything."

Hearing Freer say everything was arranged, Ao Ting's heart sank.

Freer was the director of the Special Intelligence Bureau, notorious for his ruthless methods.

It wasn't hard to imagine what fate awaited him in Freer's hands.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Unsure if it was an attendant or one of Freer's men, Ao Ting fled without a backward glance.

He ran straight out of the club, only then realizing that his secretary's car was still in the parking lot. But the thought of returning to that terrifying club was out of the question; he didn't have the courage.

Ao Ting stood dazed on the street, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

This area was also under Aflithar's jurisdiction…

Nowhere felt safe to him.

He couldn't help but suspect… was it just a coincidence? He ran into Jessica the moment he entered the club?

Perhaps they had deliberately herded him here like a rat, wanting to enjoy his panic.

Damn it, for all he knew, his every move was already under their control…

Ao Ting looked around frantically and spotted a wide, bustling street—a gift shop street, full of people. This gave him a slight sense of security.

He straightened his collar, walked into a random gift shop, pretended to browse, and messaged his secretary on his communicator.

Anxiously awaiting his secretary's reply, he didn't notice the gift shop staff and customers quietly contacting someone on their communicators.

A minute or two later, several off-road vehicles screeched to a halt outside the gift shop. Ao Ting quickly reacted, wanting to run, but the vehicles were parked right at the entrance, blocking his escape. He was caught red-handed by the group.

As he was being apprehended, he overheard other customers in the gift shop talking.

An old man, barely able to walk, hobbled over with his cane and spoke to the group: "I've been watching him since he came in."

A harmless-looking student also said, "He looks exactly like the person on the wanted list, so I reported him."

In Aflithar, known for its simple customs and no idlers, nearly half the residents had participated in underground activities. Everyone's communicator had special contact channels, allowing them to constantly monitor individuals wanted by underground forces.

Even those who appeared to be ordinary residents… living in Aflithar meant they were anything but ordinary.

Defeated, Ao Ting was dragged into the off-road vehicle.

The atmosphere inside the off-road vehicle was eerily silent. Ao Ting clamped his legs together, feeling utterly helpless.

He watched as the scenery outside grew increasingly desolate, until they drove into barren mountains, littered with discarded industrial materials and bizarre, terrifying graffiti.

After nearly an hour of driving, the off-road vehicle finally stopped. He was dragged out of the vehicle.

Before his eyes was a container made of aluminum and plastic panels, its entrance cluttered with various discarded items and chemical barrels. The doorframe was covered in reddish-brown stains, whether rust or dried blood was unclear.

Ao Ting was initially puzzled, until he recalled the rumors about the Red Mill, and his entire body began to tremble as if in a fit.

Inside the container was a hidden world, much larger than it appeared from the outside.

The container was filled with chairs, each occupied by a person. Their heads hung low, dried reddish-brown liquid flowing from their necks or heads, congealed on their chests. All had their heads bowed, clearly deceased.

Seeing this scene, Ao Ting was scared out of his wits. He didn't even hear footsteps. His hands and feet were bound, and he wriggled backward like a fat worm, using his arms to push himself along the ground until he bumped into something.

He turned his head to see Samuel looking down at him impassively.

Samuel waved a hand. "Tear off the tape. It's no fun if he can't make a sound."

A man in black strode over and yanked the tape from Ao Ting's mouth.

The tape was extremely adhesive. When it was torn off, Ao Ting writhed in pain on the ground.

"D-Don't touch me… I'm, I'm the Chairman's man." Ao Ting was already somewhat delirious from the continuous shocks. He mumbled incoherently, "The Chairman will save me, he will save me."

"Do you know what happened to Thompson?" Samuel asked.

Ao Ting slowly raised his head.

Samuel, as expected, provided the answer: "Last night, he and his priceless art collection were consumed by fire."

Ao Ting's expression instantly froze.

Things had indeed turned out as he had guessed.

Thompson had failed to deceive Samuel. Those famous paintings had long been coated with flammable paint and rigged with explosives. The moment he acquired the paintings was the moment he and those long-coveted masterpieces were engulfed in flames.

Ao Ting was sick with regret. If only he hadn't broken the contract back then, but had cooperated with XT as agreed, he couldn't even imagine how triumphant he would be now.

The arrogance and conceit he displayed when he abruptly breached the contract were now matched only by his remorse.

"I, I have a lot of money. We can reach some kind of agreement…"

Samuel paid him no mind. He slowly took off his jacket, raised his hand, and a man in black placed a golf club in his palm.

The cold metal club touched Ao Ting's neck, sending sweat pouring down his body instantly, his face turning ashen.

Drenched in sweat, Ao Ting's mind had never worked so fast. He babbled incoherently, "You have a child too. What would they think if they knew what you're doing…?"

"They won't know."

If possible, he would never let his little one find out.

The friendly chat ended there.

Samuel raised his muscular arm, making a few practice swings with the metal club. "I hear you and Thompson both enjoyed golf. Such a refined hobby…"

Ao Ting shook his head frantically.

Five minutes later, the blood-stained metal club was tossed aside. Samuel walked out of the Red Mill, his gaze fixed on the distant, empty mountains, lost in thought.

William approached, handing him a document.

Samuel murmured, "Robert, Thomas, Watsulensa… These names are still on the list."

William: "Yes, the ones marked in red have already been dealt with."

"Not many left. You've worked hard; just tie up the loose ends," Samuel patted his shoulder.

"Yes, sir." William bowed deeply. As Samuel was about to step into the helicopter, he hesitated and asked, "Sir… those famous paintings—were they really all burned?"

Samuel paused, tilting his head. "How could they be? William, I still have a child to raise now."

***

Green Isle.

Luo Ci, with bare feet, carried a small pail and ambled along the beach, followed by a group of bodyguards.

By now, he had grown accustomed to having bodyguards accompany him everywhere.

Suddenly, his foot stepped on something hard. He squatted down, extended his small hand, and dug away the sand. He vaguely saw a glittering golden treasure chest buried in the sand.

The sand was very soft, making it easy to pull the treasure chest out.

Opening it, he found many beautiful small jewels inside.

He quickly waved to Sang Xi. "I found another treasure chest!"

Sang Xi: "Yes, this is the little master's thirty-ninth treasure chest."

Luo Ci loved collecting treasure chests by the sea in games. After Samuel found out, he had custom treasure chests made and buried in the sands of Green Isle.

With real treasure chests to open, the little one had indeed not felt bored these past few days, spending all his time digging for treasure chests on the beach with his small pail. Besides various jewels and gemstones, the chests also contained little trinkets the young one liked, and he had already collected a large pile of them.

Luo Ci puffed out his cheeks. "Brother said if I find sixty treasure chests, I can make a wish, right?"

Sang Xi nodded. "That's correct."

Luo Ci grinned. "Then I wish for brother to come pick me up soon."

Unbeknownst to them, the sun slowly set in the west, casting a golden-red glow on the clouds above the sea. A cool breeze swept through as fiery sunset clouds slowly spread across the sea.

Sang Xi said, "It's starting to get cold, little master. Let's go back."

"No…" Luo Ci shook his head. "I'm just one short of completing the set!"

He pulled his little feet out of the mud like pulling up radishes, and inadvertently noticed something sparkling under a reef.

He had found the last treasure chest.

Hearing the sound of helicopter blades, he handed his pail and treasure chest to a bodyguard and pitter-pattered towards the sound.

The helicopter door opened, and he ran straight into the arms of the man still wearing a helmet, his soft, plump little face breaking into two dimples as he smiled.

Samuel stroked his little head. "Did you have fun?"

Luo Ci nodded cheerfully, looking up at him from his embrace. "You came to pick me up!"

Samuel took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent that slowly calmed his restless heart. During their time apart, his heart had always felt empty, but at this moment, it was filled.

"Yes, it's time for us to go home."

Luo Ci comfortably swung his little feet and wrapped his arms around Samuel's neck.

When he first heard that folk song, he had made a wish.

A hundred days and nights later, Samuel appeared before him.

And this time, his wish had also come true.