A helicopter, carrying Suming, Tony, and Amir, took to the skies and headed towards Maoxi County;
Down below on the winding mountain road, Su Lijun drove with an uneasy mind, his thoughts racing throughout the journey.
Antonio's decision instinctively made him feel uneasy.
Since Antonio and his backers planned to rely on Su Lijun becoming the town mayor to provide protection, Su Lijun had a rough idea of their true purpose in coming to Sun Town.
What they valued was not Sun Town itself, but rather sothing in the mountains, and although he did not know what that thing was exactly used for, Antonio's family showed great interest—from sending Antonio with two bodyguards from the headquarters in Italy to take the risk of coming to Huaxia personally, this could be seen.
Characters like Antonio, who were of such a high level, usually manipulated from behind the scenes and rarely showed their faces, let alone co to Huaxia.
Investing in Sun Town was rely a guise to distract attention, using construction as a pretext to use Sun Town as a transit station for a significant period, evacuating its residents to facilitate their people's movent into the mountains and transfer operations.
If it weren't for the need to use Su Lijun to run for town mayor to provide cover for subsequent plans, even Su Lijun would not be privy to their actual agenda.
One thing was certain, within Huaxia territory, what Antonio planned to do was absolutely not aboveboard.
Such crucial core secrets—why was Antonio willing to share them with Suming, what exactly was he plotting?
Was he taking the risk of exposure to win over Suming with high profits, drawing him into this deal to share in the profits, genuinely courting him?
Or was he feigning sincerity to deceive Suming into joining, and once Suming agreed to help him run for mayor, disposing of him after he ceased to be of any use?
If it's the latter, then that's still manageable, but if it's the forr... Su Lijun felt a chill while driving.
Once Suming agreed to join, with his resources and influence in the country, far stronger than his own, how would his importance diminish and how should he deal with himself then?
Suming would certainly not be content to be subordinate to him, and since Antonio would have a better agent, there would certainly be no need to spend double the money for two agents on one plan.
Su Lijun was all too familiar with Antonio's way of doing things; he might look polished like a gentleman from high society, but at his core, he was cold-blooded and ruthless, discarding those without utility like worn-out shoes, with no regard for gratitude or friendship.
If Suming were willing to work with Antonio, with Suming's background and energy, he could bring far more benefits to Antonio than he could, where would that leave him then?
The best outco for him would be to beco Suming's subordinate, all of Antonio's promised benefits falling through, his decade-long efforts ending up in vain, still the insignificant lackey who must stay hidden, but the most likely outco—a sacrifice for secrecy and gaining Suming's trust.
When there are too many people to share the money, it is the least capable of self-preservation, the least contributory to the team, who will undoubtedly be the first to be ousted.
Su Lijun felt that he was in such a predicant now, the upcoming eting between Antonio and Suming, and their conversation could very well determine his future.
At that thought, Su Lijun broke out into a cold sweat. If it wasn't for his years of developing a suspicious nature, he might have unwittingly dressed the bride, not even knowing how he'd been tricked.
"Damn it, dare to play for a fool!" He hit the steering wheel hard, turned the car's air conditioning to the max, unbuttoned his collar, and let the cold air blow fiercely on him, anwhile pondering his next course of action in his mind.
Su Lijun had a ruthless streak, but having mingled in society for many years and seen much of the world, he also had a restrained side.
But even he wasn't aware that, owing to his poor background, a deep sense of inferiority had always been buried within him, with a casual glance or a joking word from others able to touch the sensitive nerves deep in his heart. To earn money, he could play the toady, but he could not stand being 'deceived' or looked down upon.
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Throughout the journey, Su Lijun's resolve had turned ruthless. With caution, he adopted a reactive strategy, thinking, "If you show no benevolence, do not bla for not being righteous. I cannot simply wait for death."
No matter what, Maoxi County was his ho turf, and it was anyone's guess who might outsmart whom.
...
"Good day, Mr. Antonio."
Suming entered the hotel room with a smile, and imdiately noticed an old man sitting by the window, engrossed in a large, sowhat ancient-looking to, with a steaming cup of coffee and a small plate of pastries on the tea table beside him.
On the other side of the room, on the sofa, two stern-looking young foreigners were seated. As soon as they saw Suming enter, they simultaneously stood up and fixed their gaze on him.
Amir, who had been following a step behind, quickly stepped in front of Suming.
"Mr. Su, I am truly delighted that you could honor us with your presence."
Upon hearing his voice, the old man put down his book and got up from his rocking chair, revealing a warm smile as he walked briskly towards Suming. At the sa ti, he waved at the two bodyguards who were clearly professionals: "Lads, relax a bit, Mr. Su is my guest."
At first glance, anyone would perceive the old man as a gentleman enjoying his afternoon tea, utterly incapable of associating him with a 'bad person'.
Mr. Antonio was not tall, but he wore a well-fitted suit with not a wrinkle to be seen. His spine was straight, his silver hair ticulously combed, and despite his age, he couldn't avoid the fine wrinkles on his face, yet he looked very spirited.
Moreover, Mr. Antonio spoke Chinese with a clear and round accent, in absolutely standard Mandarin pronunciation.
"There's a Huaxia saying, 'One must not refuse the invitations of one's elders and friends,'" Suming nodded and smiled, shaking hands with Antonio.
Upon the brief touch of their hands, Suming sensed that the old man's hands did not have the 'thick calluses from years of handling firearms' as described in novels, but were quite soft.
"Oh? Is there such a saying? Haha, it seems my Chinese is still lacking. Please have a seat, young man."
The old man glanced at the bodyguards and then at Su Lijun at the back, "Alright, you can leave now. Let spend so ti alone with the young man."
The two bodyguards, akin to thoughtless robots, heeded the command and left the room without hesitation. Su Lijun hesitated for several seconds before ultimately turning and leaving.
Suming nodded at Amir, who then, along with Tony, walked out into the corridor and casually closed the door.
"Please take a seat, young friend. I have a little item to show you that you might find interesting," Mr. Antonio signaled Suming to sit down and then dragged a black leather suitcase out from under the bed, opening it in front of Suming.
Inside the black leather suitcase was a sealed black bag about one ter long.
Mr. Antonio took out two pairs of sterilized gloves from his pocket, put them on, and then unzipped the bag.
A pungent sll of li imdiately filled the air, and the overpowering scent of li could not mask a hint of foul odor.
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