The commander's eyes showed not the slightest fluctuation as he lightly waved his hand.
"Pfft!"
A soft popping sound.
The head of a guest advisor elder beside the Zhou Family Head exploded like a waterlon, red and white matter splattering all over the Zhou Family Head.
"Those who disobey orders will be executed without rcy."
The commander's voice was ice-cold. "Zhou Family Head, choose."
The Zhou Family Head looked at the headless corpse still twitching on the ground, and the undisguised killing intent radiating from the military police surrounding him.
All of the Zhou Family Head's wishful thinking crumbled.
He collapsed to the floor, his face ashen, trembling as he pressed his thumbprint onto the asset transfer agreent.
...
Capital, Zhuque Avenue.
Shen Family Mansion.
Inside the study of the Shen Mansion, sandalwood incense smoke curled upward.
Shen Wanshan, a titan of Daxia's shipping and mining industries.
At this mont, he sat facing a special commissioner dispatched by the Internal Affairs Departnt.
He appeared to be around sixty, his hair ticulously combed, his face well-maintained, but deep in his eyes was an exhaustion he couldn't conceal.
The special commissioner's surna was Zhao, a stern-faced middle-aged man.
He directly pushed a docunt in front of Shen Wanshan, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Mr. Shen, I presu you are already aware of the situation. According to the Supre Council's ergency order, ninety-five percent of the liquid assets and realizable assets under your family's na are to be requisitioned for purchasing frontline supplies. This is the list and confirmation form."
Shen Wanshan didn't look at the docunt, taking a deep breath instead.
He had already learned through his own channels about the tragic situation at Snowpeak Fortress and the precarious state of the other border lines.
He had also anticipated that the nation would take major action, but he never expected it to be so severe.
"Commissioner Zhao,"
Shen Wanshan's voice was sowhat hoarse. "Ninety-five percent... this is digging up the very roots of my Shen family. The fleets and mines under my na sustain the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. Once the capital chain breaks..."
Commissioner Zhao interrupted him. "Mr. Shen, frontline soldiers are using their lives to plug the defensive lines. Every day, tens of thousands die. What they are breaking isn't a capital chain, it's a lifeline. If your workers lose their jobs, they can still survive sohow, and so can be conscripted. If frontline soldiers lose their supplies, the next second they could beco scraps in the mouths of monsters. Which is more important, you should understand."
Shen Wanshan fell silent.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, his gaze now filled with resolve.
He picked up the pen, his hand trembling slightly, but in the end, he signed his na on the docunt that ant his family's wealth would be almost completely wiped out.
"I will cooperate with all handover procedures."
Shen Wanshan's voice carried a hint of despondency. "I only hope... these things truly reach the hands of those who need them."
Commissioner Zhao collected the docunt, his expression softening slightly. "Mr. Shen, your profound understanding of righteousness will be rembered by the Council. You and your imdiate family may retain the remaining five percent of assets and will receive Class-A shelter qualification."
Shen Wanshan smiled bitterly.
Profound understanding of righteousness?
It was rely clarity born from having no other choice.
He looked out the window at the Capital, where undercurrents surged.
He knew that an era had ended.
...
Liu Group Headquarters Building.
Inside the chairman's office on the top floor.
Liu Hong, a man who had weathered the storms of the business world for decades and single-handedly built a vast comrcial empire, was currently forcing himself to remain calm as he sat behind his expensive rosewood desk.
Opposite him were two commissioners from the Internal Affairs Departnt, one male, one female, their expressions as cold and hard as icebergs.
"Chairman Liu, this is the asset requisition order signed by the Supre Council."
The male commissioner, surnad Wang, pushed a docunt in front of Liu Hong, his tone completely flat. "Please complete the liquidation and transfer of ninety-five percent of the liquid assets and realizable assets under the group's and your personal na within twenty-four hours."
Liu Hong's eye twitched violently.
He took a deep breath, but didn't look at the docunt. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, forcing a sowhat stiff smile onto his face.
"Commissioner Wang, Commissioner Li..."
He weighed his words carefully. "I understand the nation's difficulties, truly, I understand very well. Frontline soldiers are bleeding and sacrificing. It's only right that we in the rear contribute money and effort. But... ninety-five percent, this is truly... crippling. Our Liu Group has tens of thousands of employees. Once the capital chain breaks, the consequences are unimaginable!"
Commissioner Wang remained expressionless. "The issue of employee resettlent will be addressed by the Council with unified regulations later. For now, please cooperate with our work, Chairman Liu."
Seeing that the other party was completely unmoved, Liu Hong grew anxious and had no choice but to play what he considered his trump card.
"Two commissioners, look, this... this isn't like dealing with outsiders. My son, Liu Ziming, he's currently serving at the southern Iron Wall Fortress! He is a frontline soldier, currently performing ritorious service for the nation! Moreover, he... he and Advisor Su Zhan, they share a life-and-death bond, they are sworn brothers! Advisor Su Zhan, you know him, right? The very Su Zhan who just perford an unparalleled, miraculous feat at the Northern Border!"
"Advisor Su Zhan is a hero of our Daxia. His achievents are rembered by the Council and the people."
The female commissioner who hadn't spoken until now, surnad Li, finally spoke. "But this has no connection to the execution of this requisition order."
Liu Hong's heart sank, but he still refused to give up. "How can it have no connection? Ziming is risking his life at the frontlines! Advisor Su Zhan has also publicly acknowledged on multiple occasions that Ziming is one of his best brothers! Our Liu family can also be considered... considered half military family, can't we? Can't you, considering this relationship, show so flexibility? Can this percentage... be appropriately reduced a bit? Fifty percent, no, sixty percent! Our Liu family will definitely support the frontlines with all our strength!"
Commissioner Wang stared at Liu Hong. "Chairman Liu, please get a few things straight. First, this is a warti order, not a business negotiation. There is no room for bargaining. Second, all frontline soldiers, including your son Liu Ziming, are serving the nation. Their achievents and sacrifices cannot beco bargaining chips for anyone! Third, it is precisely because your son Liu Ziming is a friend of Advisor Su Zhan that we can still have this relatively civilized conversation with you now. Otherwise, based solely on your attempt just now to use frontline relationships as a shield, effectively resisting the order, we could arrest you on the spot for the cri of obstructing the war effort and forcibly take over all Liu Group assets!"
Liu Hong felt as if struck by lightning, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
The other party wasn't afraid to move against him. It was only out of consideration for Su Zhan's face that they were giving him this last chance to cooperate with dignity.
Cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of his shirt.
His hand trembling, he picked up the pen on the desk.
"I... I'll sign."
Liu Hong's voice was dry and hoarse as he signed his na on the asset transfer agreent.
The sound of the pen tip scratching across the paper sounded to him like the mournful wail of his family empire collapsing.
Commissioner Wang collected the docunt and stood up expressionlessly. "Chairman Liu has made a wise choice. The remaining five percent of assets, as well as Class-A shelter qualification, will be retained for you and your imdiate family as per regulations. Please cooperate promptly to complete the asset inventory and handover."
Having said that, the two of them didn't spare another glance at the devastated Liu Hong and turned to leave the office.
In the empty, luxurious office.
Liu Hong sat slumped alone in his chair, staring out the window at the city that remained prosperous but where everything had already changed, silent for a long, long ti.
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