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墨書 Inktalez
After Captain Louis led the expedition team back to their country, Qiao Qiang did not hear from anyone named Smith-Tang for a long time, and eventually, he almost forgot about the seemingly joking agreement he had with Captain Louis from Y Country.
The date for deciding who would go to the county to serve as deputy county head was approaching, and Qiao Qiang had no hope for this matter at all. He knew he was merely a pawn being played on a chessboard, or perhaps just the green leaves that complemented the red flowers. His role had been destined to end in tragedy from the very beginning, so he couldn't be bothered to care about it. If they wanted to mess around, let them; he thought of himself as being used without losing anything significant.
One day, while Qiao Qiang was bored in his office sorting through some trivial materials, the phone suddenly rang. He answered, "Hello, City Party Secretary's Office."
On the other end was a strange voice that spoke the language of Heavenly Pride Nation with difficulty: "Are you Secretary Qiao Qiang?" After confirming his identity, the caller said, "I am Smith-Tang, as Mr. Louis mentioned. I'm calling to inform you that your competitor for the deputy county head position has died in a car accident. You are now the only candidate for this position. Congratulations." Although the voice on the phone was congratulating Qiao Qiang, he felt a chill run down his spine; he was both excited and fearful, like a secretive young wife who enjoyed the thrill of an affair but worried about being caught.
Sure enough, news soon came that the nephew of the Director of the Municipal People's Congress had been struck by a speeding car while crossing the street. The vehicle did not stop and fled after hitting him. The nephew was thrown thirty meters away and reportedly died on the spot; his abdomen had been crushed into a pulp, and his death was extremely gruesome. Qiao Qiang knew this must have been orchestrated by Smith-Tang, but it was also for his own benefit. It seemed Captain Louis was fulfilling his promise to him. However, what frightened Qiao Qiang was that he began to doubt the identities of Captain Louis and Smith-Tang. If he guessed correctly, they were sensitive enemy agents within the country at that time. He felt he had been drawn into a huge conspiracy but dared not speak out; who could guarantee that if he honestly revealed what he knew, people would believe he was unaware? Moreover, he had never even met Smith-Tang; what could he say? By then, perhaps he would have already become a victim under Smith-Tang's command before anyone could catch him. Thus, Qiao Qiang could only pretend to know nothing and naturally took up his new position as deputy county head.
Qiao Qiang was indeed an exceptional talent; after becoming deputy county head, his abilities were well utilized, and he managed his responsibilities with great efficiency and flair. His capabilities quickly attracted the attention of the organizational department. After gaining some experience in a position of real power, he gradually learned how to navigate politics—how to deftly grasp certain matters while letting others go. Consequently, he rapidly built connections in officialdom. Whenever he encountered insurmountable challenges, such as political opponents he couldn't handle, Smith-Tang would always provide timely assistance from behind the scenes. He recognized it was Smith-Tang helping him because every time Smith-Tang resolved an issue for him, he would call afterward to inform him that obstacles had been cleared away. Thus, Qiao Qiang's political career became increasingly smooth and expansive; within just ten years, he rose from a small secretary in the city committee to the position of vice governor. It wasn't until then that Smith-Tang seemed to vanish without a trace and no longer contacted him or helped eliminate any opponents. Of course, this could also be attributed to Qiao Qiang's own political acumen improving significantly—many matters no longer required outside intervention.
From vice governor to acting governor and then governor, finally becoming Provincial Party Secretary over ten years of hard work could be considered entirely due to his own strength. During these ten years of struggle, he gradually forgot about Captain Louis's promise and Smith-Tang's assistance in clearing obstacles for him. He believed that either something had changed in their organization so they no longer paid attention to him or they had abandoned their original plan regarding him altogether. He felt fortunate to have escaped that nightmare.
However, not long ago, he received another phone call that made his hair stand on end. The moment he answered it, Qiao Qiang understood that it was finally time for him to repay his debt. But today's Qiao Qiang was no longer that rootless city committee secretary from twenty years ago; he wasn't prepared to fulfill any obligations. He confidently believed that with his current status and position, even if they possessed evidence from many years ago against him, they couldn't do anything to him. Yet Smith-Tang's words acted like a tightening spell that firmly controlled him: "Mr. Qiao is indeed an excellent teacher; not only has your career been successful but your son also possesses your daring spirit from back in the day. At such a young age, he's already taken control of all of Binhai's resources; given time, his achievements might surpass yours! Your son is not only the top figure in Binhai's underworld but has recently partnered with me in arms dealing—he seems even more ambitious than you politically! When you two combine politics and military power together as father and son, you might want to swallow up all of Heavenly Pride Nation!"
Smith-Tang's move was quite cunning; as Qiao Qiang's political capital grew stronger and stronger, he realized that direct control over him might no longer be possible for Smith-Tang. Therefore, targeting his son became a means of coercing Qiao Qiang into submission—and undoubtedly it worked well. Qiao Qiang recalled how Josen had started meddling in Binhai’s affairs several years ago without encountering any setbacks; at first, he thought it was due to his own status providing protection but now realized there must have been support from Smith-Tang’s side behind it all. It turned out that Smith-Tang’s plan to control Josen and thereby threaten him had been in motion for many years already—who could devise such long-term strategies if they were easily let go? Yet for these past ten years, he'd naively believed he'd escaped their control; thinking back on it now felt utterly foolish.
Thus resigned to fate, Qiao Qiang knew there was no way for him to resist given his capabilities; as long as they could arrange a safe exit for him and his family, whatever they needed him to do would be fine—much better than facing disgrace or imprisonment or worse.
After Josen's incident occurred, Qiao Qiang sought out Smith-Tang for help knowing full well that Smith-Tang wouldn’t refuse since they were now tied together by fate; if something happened to the Qiao Family after twenty years of planning together would come crashing down too. As expected, Smith-Tang readily agreed to assist but proposed a plan that left Qiao Qiang momentarily unable to accept it. Originally intending for someone to destroy evidence and kill witnesses just enough to ensure Josen wouldn’t be convicted—Smith-Tang argued this wouldn’t solve fundamental issues but rather escalate matters beyond control until no one could manage them anymore.
Smith-Tang’s proposal offered a permanent solution—not only saving Josen but also framing their common enemy instead. Of course, Qiao Qiang understood that one major goal behind this approach was getting Josen out of the country ultimately turning him into their hostage so that he'd obediently follow their orders. At this point did Qiao Qiang still have any room for choice? Certainly not! So all he could do was watch helplessly as his son became an identity-less “dead man” under Smith-Tang’s arrangements.
Tonight marked Josen’s departure orchestrated by Smith-Tang; first secretly transported by car toward Heavenly Pride Nation’s southwestern border before being sent out through their clandestine channels—once reaching Lusang Nation they would provide Josen with a new identity along with citizenship there granting permanent residency rights.
After finishing all this explaining with a sigh of resignation about how everything stemmed from his minor greed for power two decades ago leading him unknowingly into meticulously laid traps—now finding himself deeper than ever with no chance left except death ahead! He Zhixiang and Josen listened in shock realizing how absurdly unbelievable everything unfolded—the group led by Smith-Tang must surely be backed by some so-called superpower whose ultimate goal could only be earth-shattering!
He Zhixiang, although skilled in navigating the political arena, was nonetheless a product of the new society, having been raised under the red banner and educated by the Party for many years. She would never dare to commit acts that in feudal society would lead to execution and the extermination of one's clan. After hearing the news, her legs trembled with fear, nearly causing her to lose her balance. It took her a while to regain some composure before she shakily said to Qiao Qiang, "Old Qiao, we should turn ourselves in. There’s no good outcome from opposing the Party and the state... At worst, we’ll die, but at least Kosen... Kosen can still live on! That way, our Qiao Family can continue its lineage..."
"Sigh... Zhixiang, I also wish for our Qiao Family to have descendants," Qiao Qiang replied. However, he glanced at their son lying on the bed in a daze and continued, "But I fear that Kosen may not have a chance to survive either. You may not know what Kosen has done over the past few years, but I am all too aware... Sigh, it's hard to turn back now!"
At this moment, Josen also regained his senses. After hearing his parents' words, he recalled his own situation—having lost his ability to father children. With nothing left to preserve the Qiao Family's legacy, he thought it might be better to seize this opportunity for revenge against those who had caused him lifelong suffering. Gritting his teeth, Josen declared, "Mom, we can't just turn ourselves in like this. I agree with Dad; if we have to go abroad, then so be it. One day I will return and make those who harmed me pay dearly!" At that moment, Josen's eyes glimmered with a predatory light.
"Sigh, it's hard to turn back now..." He Zhixiang murmured as she looked at her husband and son.
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