As soon as the man heard Charlie's words, he hurriedly pleaded as he blurted out, “Friend! Friend! I honestly did not mean to do that! I… I was just confused. Please give me another chance!”Charlie shook his head. “Sorry, but there is only one chance! If you have another lifetime, remember not to betray someone who regards and treats you as a friend.”The man turned pale in fright, and he decided to try his luck for one last time as he opened his mouth in an attempt to shout out for help.At this time, he regarded calling out for help as his last chance to survive.If he could attract other people’s attention, he might still have the opportunity to survive, then.The bottom line was that even if he could not live, at the very least, he would be able to cause some trouble for this man in front of him!As soon as his whereabouts were exposed, there would be a high probability that this man would not be able to leave this place alive, then!So, he blurted out immediately, “Help…”
Charlie was finally relieved, and he pointed at the man who was lying on the ground as he said, “Take off his pants and hide his body somewhere. You simply have to make sure that no one will be able to find him tonight.”“Okay!”The other party responded before he immediately stepped forward and took the man’s pants off. After that, he carried him up and hid his body inside a dilapidated house in an abandoned courtyard next to them.Charlie put on the man’s clothes and pants directly. At this time, the man who was under the influence of Charlie’s psychological hints came back and said respectfully, “I have already made all the necessary arrangements according to your instructions!”Charlie nodded before he asked him, “What is your name?”The man hurriedly replied, “My name is Faizal.”Charlie asked him, “Faizal, do you have a mask on you?”Faizal hurriedly took out a black mask which was packed inside a plastic bag from his pocket before he said, “This mask has just been given t
Charlie and Faizal walked past the central square together. The loud roar of the diesel generators was getting more and more deafening.Many ordinary people would have difficulties having a conversation under such a loud mechanical noise, and many other noises around it were also covered up. This was a good thing for Charlie. Even if something were to happen during the rescue and pursuit later, it would be very difficult for an outsider to spot it even if anyone were to shout and yell out loud.So, Charlie asked Faizal who was next to him, “How long would your diesel generators usually be set to work for?”Faizal hurriedly replied respectfully, “As the government has already cut off our electricity supply, all of our electricity is supplied by a set of 50-kilowatt diesel generator sets. It is also equipped with a set of power storage equipment.”“Since the electrical consumption during the day would generally be lower, we usually do not use the generator during the daytime. We will
Charlie asked Faizal, “Don’t you have a unilingual practice here?”Faizal shook his head and said, “If we were to be unilingual, we should be speaking Arabic. However, the composition of the opposition force’s soldiers is more complicated, and many of us do not speak Arabic.”“Some of these people have been living in other countries ever since they were young. Some of them lived in former colonial areas, so they have been speaking English or French ever since they were young. So, the language and communication between all of the soldiers are not entirely smooth and easy.”“Take me for instance. I actually went to the United States with my parents when I was very young, and I even got a green card. I served in the US Army for three years. I only responded to a call and came back to join the Freedom Army just a few years ago. So, my command of the Arabic language is very poor, and I can essentially only communicate in English.”Charlie nodded. This kind of multilingual situation was
Charlie and Faizal followed behind the man as they walked into the cellar, and it was only then that Charlie discovered that this cellar was indeed dug very deep. Even the staircase itself was at least five to six meters deep, and it was about two stories high.As it was the rainy season during winter in Syria, there was a lot of rain, and the staircase was very dark and damp. The soil on both sides of the staircase also revealed a very strong earthy smell.As they were walking down, the person who was leading the way in front said in a flattering manner, “Captain Faizal, can I ask you for your help in regards to a certain matter?”Faizal asked coldly, “What is it?”The man hurriedly said, “Captain Faizal, I would like to apply to join the armored brigade. I can control heavy machine guns!” Faizal sneered as he asked, “I think that the reason why you want to join the armored brigade is because you are afraid of dying, right?”“No, no.” The man hurriedly said, “I simply want to j
As he spoke, a trace of Reiki was transferred into the other party’s body as it headed straight to the other party’s brain.Immediately afterward, just like Faizal, Charlie had already given this person a psychological hint. As soon as he heard this, he hurriedly said, “You are right!”Charlie nodded in satisfaction before he pointed at another person as he spoke up and said, “Brother, you must also feel very dissatisfied, right?”The man hurriedly said, “No, I dare not! I wouldn’t dare to! I will simply do as the commander asks me to. I have absolutely no other thoughts at all!”Charlie smiled before he walked toward the man and patted him on his shoulder as he said, “You have a very high level of understanding! I will certainly put in a good word for you in front of the commander in the future.”After he was done speaking, another trace of Reiki was transferred, and Charlie used the same method to firmly take control of this person’s consciousness.At this time, a man who had a
As soon as they heard Charlie’s order, someone immediately took out the key as he prepared to open the iron door inside.Charlie instructed, “You guys will keep guard outside the door later. If someone comes, try to keep him away.”With that being said, Charlie looked at the time before he said again, “I guess that your commander will come here soon. If he wants to come in, let him in. You guys should behave naturally and not let him notice anything amiss.”“Okay!” The five men agreed in unison.Immediately after that, the room door was opened.As soon as the door was opened, there was a strong earthy smell inside the room. Charlie quickly stepped inside, and he discovered that there was nothing in the whole room. There was only a lone lamp that was hung on the top of the room. Not only that, the wattage of the bulb was very low, and the light was extremely dim.Although there were some traces of artificial reinforcement at the top of the room, it was basically simple mud walls s
Charlie smiled slightly before he said, “Miss Hart, you truly have too many questions. However, I can tell you with certainty that I am not from the armed opposition force. Your father entrusted me with the task of rescuing you just a few hours ago. So, I rushed here, all the way from Oskia, in a hurry.”At this time, an Asian male spoke up with an expression filled with shock. “This… this… how could this be possible? We have only been captured for a little more than half a day. So, there is no way that you would have been able to rush all the way here from Oskia within such a short time!”Charlie smiled as he said, “What you feel is impossible might not truly be impossible.”After he was done speaking, he looked at Autumn before he said indifferently, “We are pressed for time. I will prepare a set of the opposition force’s uniform for you shortly. You should leave with me after putting it on.”Autumn blurted out as she asked, “Then… then what about my friends?”Charlie shrugged a
While Charlie was waiting for Claire at the airport, Jacob and Elaine were taken to the traffic police station.But even in the patrol car, Elaine did not stop lashing out at Jacob.As such, the traffic police had no choice but to call up another patrol car to bring them over separately.Charlie was hence left wondering what those two were up to this time as they were nowhere to be seen when Claire's flight was about to land and weren't answering his texts.Fortunately, Charlie never considered them reliable, so he was fine whether they showed up or not.If they did, they could all head home in the same car.If they didn't, he just had to take a cab home with Claire.It was past three when Claire's private jet landed, and Claire herself cleared the checkpoint in just half an hour, wheeling a trolley with her luggage.Seeing Charlie from afar, she couldn't help quickening her pace as she beamed.Charlie hurried toward her as well, and Claire shoved her trolley aside when they w
However, to Jacob's shock, Elaine wasn't misled at all as she growled icily, "Why would I ask anyone else?! If there's someone I must question, it's Matilda! She's getting married, isn't she? Good! I will be there and ask her why she hooked up with my husband!"Jacob turned pale right then.Matilda's son and even some of their old classmates would be attending her wedding.If Elaine went, he would be exposed, and he wouldn't be able to stay in Aurous Hill out of shame!His nerves gnawing at him, Jacob could only plead, "Please, just trust me this once! Anything else aside, she's getting married, anyway—there's no way that I'd have anything to do with her! That alone should prove my innocence!"Elaine snorted. "If Matilda returned when I was arrested, it means she has been back for a while! And you're saying nothing happened since? Hell, even if she's married, it doesn't prove that she wasn't up to some hanky-panky with you! Maybe while I was arrested and refused a divorce when you
The driver was left dumbstruck—this wasn't how it was supposed to go.Still, he blurted, "C-Crashing into a Cullinan? I might end up dead instead…""Fine! Then let's change cars, and you crash into ours—how about that?!" Elaine promptly retorted before continuing, "Or we could just stand right in front of your car while you run into us! I just happen to have a death wish, but if you don't kill me now, I'll kill you! Don't think about getting away either—I know your car plate! I'll sell this car and use the money to put a bounty on your head! I don't care what happens to me now! I'll claw my nails into the devil's face even if he shows up!"The driver was actually quite experienced, but even he had yet to meet someone as ridiculous as Elaine.Barely able to keep his hands steady, he threw them up as he apologized, "I'm so sorry, ma'am—I just lost my cool. I'm merely a humble driver of a Honda Civic while you own a Rolls. Hell, I spent fifty bucks buying that red emblem from Amazon,
Elaine may have led a life as if she was above the rules, but beneath that tough exterior lay crippling insecurities and a horrific inferiority complex.She was always afraid of being belittled—but more than that, of being ostracized and betrayed.Over the years, the greatest source of her complexes could all be traced back to Matilda.After all, Matilda had been a star back in their school days. Because Elaine was a close friend of hers, many boys would get chummy with Elaine, but only because they were interested in Matilda.Being from a poor farmer's family, Elaine had been scorned plenty and therefore felt exceedingly inferior around Matilda.It was from that sense of inferiority that Elaine had inadvertently developed a one-sided rivalry against Matilda, and she believed her greatest triumph over Matilda in this life was the moment she had stolen Jacob from her.However, while Elaine presumed that she could hold that victory over Matilda's head, Lady Wilson had soured that v
Moreover, given Elaine's ridiculous temper, Jacob knew she would definitely go overboard and destroy him.He wouldn't even have a place to live at that point, and it would really be game over if she held a grudge and stormed the Calligraphy and Painting Association!Under such circumstances, he couldn't ask for a divorce—hell, he might even refuse a divorce if Elaine asked for one!However, that was when Elaine laughed coldly. "Oh, my… You're really not going to divorce me?""Come on—how long were we married?" Jacob quickly reasoned. "Getting divorced at our age? People would laugh at us."Elaine scoffed. "Now I'm curious… Matilda's quite old too, and she's a divorcee marrying again. Won't people laugh at her?""Technically, she's a widow—"Jacob blurted out, but soon turned pale, tensing up again not a second after he had just calmed down, asking gingerly, "W-Why would you suddenly mention her?'Elaine stopped pretending right then and snapped, "It's actually impressive that y
Horrified, Jacob promptly grasped the steering wheel and brought the Cullinan back under control while not hesitating to snap, "Are you crazy?! We're on the highway—that could have killed the both of us!"However, Elaine ignored him and seized the moment to open the armrest box, pulling out the large white envelope.As she opened it, she muttered, "So, it really was a wedding invitation… You really are a terrible friend, Jacob Wilson, hiding a wedding invitation like this! What's the point? Just look at that nervous face of yours—would I suspect you of having an affair with the bride-to-be?"She flipped open the card and was experienced enough to check the names first while disregarding the usual preamble. She wouldn't care about the venue or the time either, focusing solely on the professor who had somehow made Jacob very nervous.That was how Elaine found the names in less than a second: Yolden Hart and Matilda Hall.Matilda?!The name could well be knives stabbing Elaine in th
Jacob's brain blanked out, leaving only a dull hum as soon as Walker mentioned 'Professor Hall'.Already feeling nervous in the first place, he quickly said, "Okay, okay—I got it. Anyway, I'm hanging up if there's nothing else!"With that, he promptly pressed the button to hang up.Nonetheless, Elaine was soon asking in curiosity, "Who's Professor Hall?"If Jacob had any semblance of composure, he would have said 'a colleague at Senior University' as if it was perfectly natural, and the matter would have been forgotten.But the reality was that he didn't—in fact, he was the champion when it came to dropping the ball as a casual question from Elaine left him sweating all over his brow.Even as he slid nervous glances at her face, he stammered uncontrollably, "N-Nobody…"Elaine promptly noticed his strange reaction and frowned. "I'm talking about Professor Hall. What do you mean, nobody? Who are they? And what's this about an invitation? Inviting you for what?"Seeing that he was
Jacob had really had too much to drink and couldn't remember the later parts of what had happened last night—even how he had gotten home was a blur.Naturally, he also forgot that Walker had brought Matilda's wedding invitation, and therefore didn't hesitate to answer the in-car answer button.Over the phone, Walker was positively fawning as he asked, "Mr. Wilson? It's Walker. Why didn't you come in today? Had too much to drink last night?""Uh-huh," Jacob grunted, lethargic. "I did—my head still hurts now… Anyway, what's up? Trouble at the association?""No, of course not," Walker quickly said. "I was just worried you're still hungover, so I called to ask. If you need a driver or anything, you just need to ask!"Then, before Jacob could answer, he continued, "By the way, my wife is somewhat knowledgable in Oskian medicine, and she has recipes for brews that cure hangovers and nourish the liver. I'm sure you'll need the latter since you're always drinking at social events, so I as
Fortunately, Elaine and Jacob's bickering never escalated.Even though Elaine was winning, Jacob found it tolerable.After Jacob finished his lunch and cleaned up, he never looked up as he said, "Charlie sent a text, saying Claire's flight would touch down earlier at three. We will leave at two."Elaine grumbled. "Why leave so early? She's coming back from abroad, and there'd be checkpoints she has to clear—she'd be lucky if she could leave by half past three. I'm sleeping a few winks now, and we'll leave at half past two."As she left the dining room, she didn't even look back as she said, "Clean up for me too."Jacob had a million complaints but said nothing as he kept his head down, throwing Elaine's lunchbox in the trash can as well.With Elaine gone, he sat on the couch as her hangover slowly cleared while his mood soured with the lack of alcohol.In the end, the pleasure of being fawned over at the Diamond Room was but temporary—the pain of his beloved leaving with someone