Turning on the PA system on the helicopter, Charlie aimed the mic to his mouth directly and shouted, “Everyone in the van, listen carefully, you are being surrounded. Surrender yourselves right now, or I’ll start shooting!”Charlie’s announcement sent shivers down the spines of the seven adults in the Iveco.Gibson was on the verge of collapsing. Even if he murdered someone, why would the law enforcement use such excessive tactics to apprehend him?His family was shaking in terror. Earlier, they were still dreaming about the wonderful trip to the Maldives as soon as they got the money, but they had never expected to be surrounded like rats in a ghastly trap.Max was even more frightened than all of them. He regretted his decision very much!It wasn’t just regret, but there was also panic.However, he blinked as if something struck his mind. Why did he find the voice of the person doing the announcement from the helicopter so familiar? Yet, he couldn’t figure out that it was actua
Gibson’s family shrieked at the top of their lungs upon the horrifying sight!They didn’t expect that the person would literally command his shooter to shoot immediately after three seconds!The victim, who was the eldest son of the Little family, was also the son Gibson’s parents adored the most. As blood trickled down his temple, the parents went berserk and cried devastatingly.Since Gibson was sitting right next to his brother, reddish blood and whitish mushy brain matter was splattered on his face and body.He was also so shocked by the absurd scene that his heart almost jumped out of his ribcage.When he started the trafficking business, he had never thought that it would be so deadly!Charlie’s cold voice sounded again from the helicopter’s PA system. “I’ll give you three more seconds. If you still refuse to get out of the van and surrender, I’ll let the snipers kill the second person randomly!”Losing the courage to resist, all six of them ran out of the van in a hurry.
In Max’s opinion, he would not be surprised no matter who stepped down from the helicopter, but Charlie was totally unexpected that he could only stare in disbelief.However, he was absolutely certain that the tall, handsome man with a cold face was indeed Charlie Wade, the man he grew up with in the orphanage!It was beyond his imagination as to how and why Charlie was so capable to mobilize such a powerful force to pursue them!The helicopters, the former special forces members, and the weapons they carried were definitely not something ordinary people could own, not even the richest man in Aurous Hill!He couldn’t help asking himself, ‘Who the hell is Charlie Wade?’‘Isn’t he an orphan? He is a moocher who lives off his wife! How can he own such a powerful force?’At this moment, Charlie stood in front of the six adults. Instead of looking at the other five people, he glared coldly at Max and exclaimed, “Max Wyatt! How dare you!”Max trembled in horror and cried, “Charlie, it
Gibson knew that Charlie had looked into all his details when he heard Charlie’s remark. He pleaded in desperation, “Boss, this is all a misunderstanding! I have some enemies and that’s why they tarnish my reputation all the time. I’ve never been involved in child trafficking before, it’s all just fake rumors!”Charlie chuckled. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”Gibson pleaded by knocking his head to the floor until his forehead turned bloody. “Please, boss, you have to believe me, this is all Max’s idea! He approached me first, saying that he was involved in some deep shit that he needed money urgently. It was him who told me that there are many children in the orphanage. He had even come up with the whole plan for us to abduct those children!”Charlie said coldly, “Don’t worry, I’ll settle the score with each of you one by one later, but first, tell me, who had you planned to sell these children to?”Gibson hurriedly admitted, “Boss, these children were to be sold to the beggar clan i
Charlie did not expect the Webb family to be involved in this matter to some extent. The vicious Beggar Clan was actually Donald’s brother-in-law’s creation! He bet that they must receive indispensable support from the Webb family.Initially, he was waiting for the Webb family to strike him first instead of him making the first move. But, this time, he had to strike Donald’s brother-in-law first!He glared at Gibson and said, “I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Perform it well or you’ll end up like your brother!”Gibson said with gratitude and excitement, “Boss, I’ll do anything you ask me to! Anything!”Charlie urged, “Now, I need you to call the senior who is supposed to get the children from you. Tell him that your car broke down and you need him to come here in person to take the children.”Gibson hurriedly nodded and said, “Okay, boss, I’ll make the call right now! Since we’re not very far from Sudbury, I’m sure they will come soon.”Charlie nodded. He turned to
When the senior learned that Gibson’s car had broken down, a loud growl echoed from the other end of the line, chiding him for his inefficiency.Gibson said apologetically, “Senior Lance, I’m very sorry, this is indeed my fault. The car I used is quite old, but I’m not very far from Sudbury. I’m about a few kilometers away now, could you come and pick the children up, please?”The other side cursed aggressively, “I wouldn’t have given a f*cking damn if not for the high number of goods you supply this time!”Then, he huffed a breath and said, “Send me your location, I’ll get there soon.”***At this moment, Nelson, the Beggar Clan leader, and his wife, Kelly, had just walked out of the Webb family mansion with their daughter.Today was Alice’s birthday. Alice, who was Donald’s wife, was also Nelson’s sister.Usually, Alice would organize an extravagant birthday party, but due to Kian’s unique condition, she chose to hold a small luncheon at home.She did not invite many guests t
Donald’s wife, Alice, was a woman who devoted herself to supporting her younger brother.Based on her identity and family background, it would have been completely impossible for someone like her to marry into the Webb family.However, the reason why Donald had married her and brought her into the Webb family was entirely because Donald really loved her.After marrying into the Webb family, Alice began to do everything possible to help her brother, Nelson.Nelson did not have much abilities. He did not study much and his abilities were simply not good enough. When he was younger, he had taken a lot of money from Alice to start his own business but all of his businesses failed.When there was no other way, Alice had begged from her husband, hoping that her husband could give her younger brother a little part of the Webb family business. This would definitely help her younger brother out greatly. Although Donald looked down on Nelson, he helped him a few times on his wife’s accoun
When he really could not tolerate it anymore, he finally came out to help Nelson several times.When other people discovered that even the heir of a top and influential family such as Donald would step out to help Nelson and back him up, the other beggar clans naturally did not dare to offend Nelson anymore.Therefore, Nelson began to use his powerful connections to intimidate others and he eventually brought all the beggar clans and forces in the South Region into his own hands.He was now the leader of the famous Beggar Clan in the entire South Region.Nelson was also very proud of this as it was really very easy for him to make money in this industry. They did not even need to put in much effort at all. He simply had to arrange for his people to be scattered all around. After finding a place to set camp, they would lie down on the ground and write a miserable and pitiful message on a piece of white paper. After that, they would begin earning money just by lying down on the groun
Charlie chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Hart. There are plenty of business folk who got so used to their comfort zone that they became caught in the illusion that they can be successful in anything they do. It's a mindset that leads to them blindly developing new projects and new competition, and then they end up losing big."If memory serves, there have been real estate businesses that started mineral water brands, search engines that tried the car industry, e-commerce sites attempting social media, and vice-versa. All of them are multi-billion-dollar companies venturing into new frontiers, but all to unimpressive outcomes."Pausing, Charlie then continued, "You've mentioned rising above the competition amidst the development of the new energy industry. That would get anyone's attention, and it is why I believe that you definitely will make a strong impression with your strategizing and knowledge of the basic principles."Yolden found it hard to refuse, seeing that Charli
Having lost it all, Jacob really looked like he wouldn't be getting back up.But fortunately, he had a pillar in the form of Elaine.In fact, Elaine would serve to be a container, whipping Jacob into shape if he got too full of himself.But on the other hand, now that Jacob was utterly despondent, she would be forcing him to smile and function in general.Elaine's attitude to the entire issue was clear as well. Even though Jacob had just lost his job, she would make him go shopping with her in Dubai even if he fell into a coma. Even if he was dead, she'd just cremate him and bring his ashes along.Hence, with Elaine's firm grip around Jacob's leash, he went on strolls, going shopping and taking selfies with Elaine everyday, eventually easing the toll on his mood and spirit.-Back at Aurous Hill, Charlie was preparing for Yolden Hart and Matilda Hall's wedding as it approached.Yolden was a schoolmate of his mother, Ashley Layna Acker, as well as Charlie's elder.And while Cha
"See you." As soon as Charlie hung up on Matilda, Don Albert's call came right after.He sounded nervous as Charlie answered the phone, saying, "Master Wade, I think I might have gone too far…""Wait, what's this about?" Charlie asked."Your father-in-law, of course…" Don Albert sighed. "You asked me to leave him hanging for a while, so I did. I even refused when he asked to book a room in Heaven Springs.""Well, that's not a problem, is it?" Charlie shrugged. "He and Zachary ganged up for some real mischief. As you are Zachary's boss, it's right that you refused him because you didn't appreciate what he did.""That's just it. I thought that approach was just right as well," Don Albert quickly said. "I wasn't playing nice when Mr. Bay of the Calligraphy and Painting Association called me either. That's when he said he'd try to save Jacob's position as vice-president, but I told him it's none of my business."I then hung up on him without much thought, only for Zachary to tell m
Meanwhile, Charlie was downstairs in Claire's office, waiting to pick her up and head home.That was when Matilda called him, asking as soon as he answered, "Charlie, do you know how Jacob is doing? He never answered any of my texts—is he going to be alright?""I wouldn't know," Charlie replied. "Both he and Elaine are in Dubai on a trip… What's wrong?""He resigned," Matilda sighed. "I only saw the public statement that the Calligraphy and Painting Association posted this afternoon. It says that he tendered the resignation himself, but it doesn't really feel that way. I wonder if he's at odds with other members of the association…"Charlie was actually surprised to hear that Jacob had resigned.He had told Zachary to expose the truth of the bronze sculpture fraud case to teach Jacob a lesson so that Jacob would understand the meaning of true pain.However, he anticipated that Mr. Bay would at least keep Jacob around with an unimportant job even if Jacob did lose some money and e
Falling apart in both mind and spirit, Jacob was crying as he disembarked and took a cab to the hotel.Elaine, who had been lying around for 24 hours, was stunned speechless as she watched him enter, crying like a child.In contrast, Elaine looked like a mother to Jacob just then as he threw himself into her arms and bawled, "Darling… That prick Mr. Bay screwed me over… I have nothing left now…"Taken aback for a moment that Jacob would bawl in her arms like that, Elaine soon came to her senses and patted his back as she comforted him, "Oh, stop crying already. Who cares about some Calligraphy and Painting groupies? We certainly don't! Just hear me out and don't ever go there again!"Jacob kept sobbing, "But I care… I want to go…"Annoyed, Elaine's hand that had been patting Jacob a moment ago slid down to his hip and pinched him viciously before he noticed."Ow!" Jacob yelped in pain, and he demanded indignantly, "What was that for?!""Shut up!" Elaine snapped, glowering. "I wa
Jacob couldn't even be bothered by the looks others were giving him, and he called Mr. Bay immediately.Mr. Bay had already gone home and was seated on the couch with his wife, watching his phone and waiting for Jacob to call and demand an explanation.Mr. Bay knew that he had to answer for this and that if he avoided Jacob, it may well be a confession that he had screwed Jacob over.So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, he decided to come clean with Jacob.Naturally, by coming clean, he meant passing the buck as his wife had suggested.Hence, as he answered Jacob's call, he immediately sighed in embarrassment, "Hey, Jacob. I'm so sorry about that…"However, Jacob was so furious he immediately started bellowing, "Mr. Bay! Are you fucking with me here?! You said that the resignation letter was more of a formality, but you just made it public instead! So, all those things you said about helping me were just a trap, was it?! You're despicable! And to think I've been so good to you, even
The repeated flights had left Jacob tormented.Even before he actually had the time to enjoy Dubai, he had already gotten sick of the place and didn't want to ever return.And on the flight, he couldn't stop his thoughts from going astray.Now that he was not getting back the money he had lost, his only hope was Mr. Bay.Fortunately, Mr. Bay was serious about his promise that he would at least save him a job as department head. That was why, despite his thoughts running astray, he never considered the thought that he would be kicked out of the Calligraphy and Painting Association.As soon as his flight landed, he didn't wait to turn off his phone's flight mode, waiting for the internet connection to return so that he could ask Mr. Bay about the meeting.Once he did, he received a ton of messages from public accounts to acquaintances—many had already found out that he had resigned from the post of administrative vice-president and wanted to ask how he was doing.And Matilda was
The Calligraphy and Painting Association was certainly efficient—soon after the meeting was dismissed, the news that the administrative vice-president had resigned was posted on their official page and social media.The notice was simple and never mentioned what Jacob had done, only that the administrative vice-president had asked to resign for personal reasons. The request had since been voted upon, and all members had agreed to it.And that was how a simple and short message kicked Jacob out of the Calligraphy and Painting Association entirely.In the city, other associations closely connected with the Calligraphy and Painting Association were the various cultural societies and circles of antique enthusiasts and the Senior University. In fact, most fans of the public page of the Calligraphy and Painting Association were from the Senior City, and every lecturer, student, and even guest lecturer were subscribed.As a matter of fact, that was entirely Jacob's doing. After his lect
There weren't that many members in the Calligraphy and Painting Association—just a handful over twenty.Hence, at Mr. Bay's request, everyone showed up at the conference at 1 pm.He chose the afternoon as there were a handful who were away on outreach, including Walker, who was subbing for Jacob's lectures.Once the entire Calligraphy and Painting Association save for Jacob was informed of the mandatory meeting, every member was there on the hour, seated primly and in attention in the huge conference room.Mr. Bay didn't waste his breath on the preamble either—as soon as he saw that everyone had arrived, he announced, "Everyone, I've gathered you here today because our administrative vice-president, Jacob Wilson, has been alleged to be involved in a certain malicious scheme."Last night, Mr. Wilson submitted his resignation to me, and after a discussion with my vice-presidents, we've all decided to hold a vote. It will be open to every member in the association as we will be decid