After arriving at the original destination, the security bureau branch, we waited half a day. Gao Shusen, the deputy secretary as well as a 1st-grade police superintendent of the Guangzhou Security Bureau, finally showed himself around sunset.
“Sorry for being late. It took quite so ti to clean up the reactionary riot that happened this afternoon, and thanks to you all saving my reputation, there were many places I had to show my face. I hope you understand.”
I set down the teacup I was holding and simply answered while still seated.
“Don’t worry about it. Since this extended your and your subordinates’ lifespans by several days, wasting a few hours is acceptable.”
“Haha.”
Despite responding sharply on purpose to establish relations with the party cadre who had spent half his life tyrannizing and lording over others, the loose-jawed Gao Shusen didn’t get angry. Instead, he exchanged a friendly greeting with Park Miju behind and addressed with a smiling face.
“Chairman Li… Even if that’s an alias, you must be that person. The owner of my old friend who gave a second life and left this world, and the CEO of the ‘Naless Company’ renowned for headhunting and arms smuggling.”
Naless Company. So that was what they called my company here.
“My old friend often said he was alive thanks to you. I’m surprised you look so young. I imagined soone around my age at least.”
He seed suspicious I might be an imposter, but such suspicion was actually beneficial, so I returned an appropriate response.
“I’m still older than that Gabsoo guy.”
“Huh? So you’re not just extraordinarily skilled!”
Thud. As Gao Shusen, whose cheeks shook, snapped his fingers, the secretary in a short skirt brought over his share of tea. As if it was natural, he patted the secretary’s butt as she leaned forward. After she left with an amused smile, he asked ,
“I had instructed to provide special hospitality, preparing to welco my esteed guest, but upon arrival, Chairman imdiately rejected it in a single stroke. They say you were so firm that it left the child feeling emotionally hurt. Could it be that her appearance did not suit your taste?”
“I ca here for business, not to play. Even if I had turned a blind eye to such matters, I wouldn’t have co out for a job like this.”
Even for , who didn’t consider relieving sexual desires a troubleso task, entering into dealings with soone like this was inconceivable. On the other hand, it was a cunning move that made uncomfortably recall the vanished Guan Xi, who disappeared due to past espionage issues.
“Hmm, you are indeed a man of integrity that your subordinates would follow.”
Gao Shusen nodded in understanding, his voice becoming more serious.
“Now let’s get to the point… I knew your company used to hunt down Korean con artists here in China. Sotis your expert tracking and evidence elimination worried the officials, but still, it benefited us too. Unlike other greedy hunters, your company never failed to show appreciation when successful, after all.”
“That’s right.”
Korean con artists who ca to China usually sent a large portion of the funds earned through their scams to third countries outside China and Korea. With officials and rich n so anxious about not being able to smuggle their assets out, who’d foolishly bring everything into China?
Therefore, our human hunting was beneficial even from the perspective of the Chinese authorities. How much benefit did it bring them? They might have eventually stepped aside and started hunting on their own, risking the possibility of diplomatic issues. This was the reason why the organization’s human hunting business in China had sharply shifted since the mid-2010s.
‘If possible, I want to bring it back this ti.’
After killing the Communist Party’s watchdogs, filling the vacant positions with our company’s operatives would be ideal.
In the days when China’s surveillance system was lacking, there was no need for gestures of gratitude. However, now, it had beco necessary to deposit the insurance provided by the authorities for a secure environnt.
“I was an indirect beneficiary of those profits.”
Being an indirect beneficiary ant he wasn’t in a position to directly receive the payoffs back when our headhunting in China thrived. That was only possible thanks to his uncle’s influence.
“So I thought your company’s experience and secrets could help track down the Black Children’s Party too. We find and you catch. That was the extent I expected.”
With a deep sigh, Gao Shusen continued in a more serious tone.
“But the abilities your side showed today were truly, truly unbelievable.”
At a glance, it sounded like praise, but it wasn’t difficult to realize it was a barbed statent.
“Does it seem suspicious?”
“I don’t want to doubt a benefactor, but yes. How can re civilians possess such capabilities? What if I’m involving foreign powers? I can’t shake off the concern that I may truly beco a traitor rather than face false accusations.”
We’re outstanding, but you fools are even more incompetent you pig. As these thoughts swirled in my mouth, I showed understanding outwardly.
“I understand. Given China’s circumstances.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Gao Shusen revealed a weary appearance.
“What makes my concerns heavier is the decisive betrayal your holand recently showed. Didn’t Korea throw away the friendship and dedication built with our great nation and take the imperialists’ side? Even considering it’s a survival strategy for a small state, it still can’t be described as anything but an ungrateful villainy. Our great nation has given Korea so much favor…”
Betrayal. Betrayal. The so-called betrayal here referred to Korea’s decision to beco a founding mber of the new massive military alliance at Arica’s behest.
That military alliance was the “Pacific-Rim Treaty Organization.” Shortened to “PARTO” or “PARTREO.”
The Pacific-Rim Treaty Organization’s birth was the result of Arica forcing its allies and associates in the Pacific region to choose one or the other. Arica or China. No neutrality. Like the deranged declaration to impose economic sanctions on the level of China on any nation refusing or delaying joining. But on second look, this wasn’t simple madness. With the increasing number and strength of awakened primitive magic users, a population now guaranteed asymtric warfare capabilities. China’s ergency backed by 1.44 billion people had to be desperately obstructed by any and all ans.
In response, China warned Korea there would be consequences like a second Hanjin Incident, referring to various forms of retaliation. But at the crossroads, Korea ultimately chose Arica. Superficially it seed to submit to Arican pressure, but in reality, it was due to the geopolitical position leaving them no choice but to feel China’s threat more keenly than Arica’s. If Arica failed to contain China, the consequences Korea would face then would be on another dinsion. ( )TLN: The Hanjin Incident or the 2010–2011 Hanjin Heavy Industries strike was a strike in South Korea and the Philippines from 28 December 2010 to 10 November 2011, resulting from the layoff of 400 Hanjin Heavy Industries employees.
That was why so Chinese people poisoned by distorted patriotism these days referred to Koreans as Hanjian, using the sa characters as the traitors cooperating with Japan during imperial tis, albeit with different pronunciation and tone. ( )TLN: Hanjian (韩奸) can be translated as “Korean traitor”. And for the Japan one, it’s Hangan (漢奸).
While mulling over the foolish mob ntality and the Communist Party’s survival strategy exploiting it, I spoke.
“I understand, but it’s useless worrying.”
“Is that so?”
“Even if I’m a death rchant bribed by foreign powers, I’m still the best choice for you, Deputy Secretary. Worrying about unsolvable problems is worse than not worrying at all.”
“What if it’s not the optimal but the least bad option?”
“When the choices are only worst and least bad, the least bad is the optimal. Am I wrong?”
“…….”
“Although it was a chance opportunity, I’ve already provided free services to you. Frankly, didn’t you enjoy this afternoon quite a bit? For a mont, you forgot the crisis of being purged anyti and wandered around showing your face everywhere as the hero of the glorious party and nation fallen into decline.”
“It was enjoyable. Thanks to you.”
As Gao Shusen readily admitted with a smile, I casually shrugged my shoulders at him.
“Let’s stop wasting ti. I will bring you survival and honor in the hunting grounds you open, through which you can beco an exceptional ‘friend’ providing differentiated intimacy. Any profits occurring in the process can be divided by considering safety and each side’s contributions. What do you think about my proposal?”
The “friend” I spoke of was a conventional term indicating a spy’s depth. While Gao Shusen pressed his lips and looked up in thought, Park Miju interjected calmly.
“Deputy Secretary, may I have a mont?”
“Ah, Mrs. Park. Please speak.”
“I won’t take long. The late Departnt Head Seo Gabsoo owed his life to Chairman here and vowed to repay that debt by dedicating the rest of his life to serving him. And he fulfilled that pledge through action in this city. Literally with his life.”
“…….”
“In other words, Chairman holds so equity in you still being alive now. Our Chairman is very strict about promises and credibility, so please place your faith because of Departnt Head Seo and myself.”
After silently watching Miju, Gao Shusen deeply nodded as if dropping his head.
“Entrusting the life I owe thanks to my old friend Seo to my old friend Seo’s company is reasonable.”
He then turned his gaze to .
“I’ll stop wasting ti as you say.”
“You thought it through well.”
“Then tell . Where and how will we start?”
“That depends on how much influence you have left… But judging from the trip here, your relationship with the military seems non-existent, and other departnts of city administration or security don’t seem much different either.”
If not, there would’ve been no need to et directly. Which other departnts would provide cooperation and intel to a detached man like him? Gao Shusen made an uncomfortable expression.
“That’s too blunt.”
“Then please correct . We need to build plans reflecting that part. But don’t forget your information’s accuracy will determine your life.”
In short, I was telling him not to bluff out of pointless pride. Though pride and bluffing seed ingrained in the Chinese identity, he was soone who reached the municipal party standing committee, essentially the core of the Communist Party itself which was a den of power addicts. So this much discernnt was probably possible.
‘Or I should shelve making a spy of him. Scout soone else or give up altogether.’
Although securing military funds was possible even with fake identities, that alone was still a profitable business. But fortunately, Gao Shusen complied with my expectations with an irritated sigh.
“……Damn, you’re right. Whether it’s the Politburo or the cyber police squad, the security managent squad, criminal investigation squad, they’re all ignoring without exception. I can’t even fully trust the patrol squad I’m still in charge of.”
The cyber police squad handled cyber cris, the security managent squad monitored anti-governnt social activities, and the criminal investigation squad responded to cri and terrorism. Add the army to that, and it ant Gao Shusen and the patrol squad chiefs were isolated from all related intel, left to be petty lackeys of other departnts before being gradually sacrificed as political scapegoats.
“In short.”
I raised my chin.
“You’re saying we have no choice but to start chasing from scratch at the bottom, gradually hoping for chance etings like this afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that is the textbook way to hunt, but at that rate, how long will it take to yield aningful results…? Will you be okay with that?”
The question of whether he’d still be breathing by then. Gao Shusen’s face distorted even more severely than before.
“I can only believe in your company’s abilities. Or is there another alternative?”
“There is. One huge deal that will imdiately extend your lifespan.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s take down the triads in this region. It’s been long since those bastards have pretended to be the party’s dirty errand boys, so even soone ostracized like you should have so intel related to the Guangdong triads. Like the profiles of frontline chiefs, the structure of subordinate organizations, where businesses are located, etc.”
“No, but why the triads who have no relation with the Black Children’s Party-“
“Don’t pretend to be naive.”
I cut off Gao Shusen’s bewildered words and tapped the table.
“We can manufacture the connection.”
Author's Thoughts
Disclair:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elents inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find so error in translation please do let know by tagging (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)
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