Unedited
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Harringfort leaned back, his posture languid as he smiled at Zhou Jingren. “True.” But this victory was enough to show him that Zhou Jingren does not have what it takes to win this game. Harringfort started thinking about the other possible consequences that he could add to make this game spicier, more enjoyable. “I think you are not taking this game seriously, President Zhou.”
Zhou Jingren scoffed but never responded.
“How about we… increase the risk? Five hundred million was too small. How about we add something… something very important to us?”
“What is the purpose of this game?”
Harringfort gave a half shrug. “Just for fun.”
“First you came here to talk about a certain organization. When I refused to join you… you challenged me into a game. Why?”
“Nothing important. Just in a mood to gamble.” Would he really miss the opportunity to show the council that letting Zhou Jingren in was the worst decision that they could make? Aside from this, he wanted this man to know that he is a senior. Someone who needed to be respected. After all, he had been in the organization for more than three years.
At thirty-three, he was one of the youngest in the organization. But, he should not be underestimated. Being the messenger of the Spectre is not a job for the faint-hearted. Now that he thought about it, these people… even the people who had been members of the organization for tens of years should respect him. He is, after all, the face of the organization.
He stared at the distrust swirling in Zhou Jingren’s eyes as he wondered why he could not spot any anger in his opponent’s eyes. He let out another grunt. This man…
Since knowing that Lily had been married to Zhou Jingren, the hatred in Harringfort’s heart against this man started to grow. The fact that Lily— his Lily married someone else, had become one of the things that kept him awake since last year. He, a prince by blood, should be the one who was supposed to marry Lily, the granddaughter of the late Friedrich, the rightful Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Since knowing this, Harringfort had been angry, to say the least.
He felt that the world was not fair. Lily was supposed to be his. She was supposed to become his fiance. This was even confirmed by his father who knew about Friedrich’s ties to the Luxembourg royalty. Now, he was reduced to someone like Eliza. A woman who seemed not to know what she wanted in life.
A woman who can’t even choose between her happiness and her responsibility. Weak-willed and pretentious! The thought of his own fiance made him want to puke his guts out. Imagining himself beside Eliza is… nauseating. How could he associate himself with a dumb woman like her?
Compared to Lily— ugh! Are the two women even comparable? Lily was akin to a shining star, while Eliza… is nothing but a stone in the river! Ordinary, forgettable. Without her label as a princess, Eliza is just one of the passersby that he saw in Belgium. He gritted his teeth. He really should stop thinking about that woman.
He had been avoiding her call for weeks now. He could only hope that she would cancel this engagement and save him the trouble of convincing his estranged father to cancel this deal— whatever this is. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He should stop thinking about things that would reveal his real intentions.
He held his breath before he faked a smile, hoping it was enough to mask the anger that he felt towards Zhou Jingren. “Next?” the latter nodded in response. “The Spectre… is not just any organization President Zhou.” He started. “We are not some organized crime groups like the Mafia or Yakuza or the triad. We are nothing like those… criminals.” He watched as the dealer started to open another box of playing cards— something that they agreed before starting to play the game. He then gestured for one of his men to get him a bottle of water.
“Wine? Coffee? Tea? Or water?” he asked.
“Water.”
“You heard him,” he nodded at one of his men before turning his attention to Zhou Jingren. “As I said… we had been around for tens of years. It all began after Plato wrote his book, The Republic.”
“Is it better to be just or be unjust?” Zhou Jingren stated. “In the end, he concluded that it is better to be just than be unjust. Are you telling me that this organization is based on justice?” he scoffed.
Harringfort shook his head before he laughed. “No. You got it wrong. Our principle is based on the fact that justice in this world… does not exist. There is no just or unjust. There is only… the present.” He continued. “Your justice is different from my definition of justice. You see? Everyone’s definition of justice is different. Surely, the privilege like us has a different meaning of justice than the people living in the slums, no?”
“What is your point?” Zhou Jingren asked. The rich have always had privilege while the poor do not. This is something that he knew since he was a child. “What is the point in talking about this? Are you trying to tell me that this organization does not care about justice? That this organization does not care about being just or unjust? If that is the case… then why does this organization exist?” He made a deliberate pause for a few seconds. “Does… Does the Spectre exist to control the world?” With the absence of justice and ethics, an organization with brains, brawns, and money could surely rule the world, he thought.
“Bingo!” Harringfort beamed. “Now… you get it. Without considering what is wrong and right, we rule the world and maintain its status quo. To maintain… the power.”
“So… you are telling me… that The Spectre does not care about slavery, child pornography, and other issues. Instead… you care about maintaining the stability of power.”
