Paul, whose eyesight was poor due to old age, finally got a good look at the visitor’s face.
However, this face was incomparably familiar to him.
As if in disbelief, Paul lowered his head and looked at the file on the desk, only to see that the photo on the file looked the same as the youth before him…
“You’re Chen Chen…”
Paul gradually raised his head and muttered, “You were clearly still in Namibia this morning. How can you suddenly show up here? How is it possible…”
“It’s not impossible, Mr. Paul.”
Chen Chen slowly walked to the swivel chair opposite Paul and sat down nonchalantly. “Weren’t you the one who wanted me here? Here I am. And I even brought you a gift.”
At the mention of the gift, Paul’s face darkened. He drew in a breath and asked in a low voice, “What did you do to my son, Sloane?”
“Be rest assured, I didn’t kill him.”
Chen Chen turned his palms up and looked at the Rolex on his wrist. “In just about half an hour, you’ll hear about him.
“Still, I wanted to give your son a piece of advice — in the future, he shouldn’t fool around so much. You know, doing all that isn’t good for your kidneys…”
When Paul heard these words, he stared at the object within the plastic bag in his hand and his heart sank completely.
At the same time, with his other hand that was under the desk, he gingerly opened a drawer, revealing an intricate, polished pistol.
“Your pupils are dilating.”
Just as Paul was about to take the gun, Chen Chen suddenly spoke again, “Not only that but your breathing has become heavier than before. My, you’re truly tensed up. Let me guess — you’re thinking of taking the pistol in the drawer?”
On the other side of the desk, Paul froze. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Although the room was pleasantly warm because of the fireplace, Paul only felt a chill all over his body. The young man opposite him was not doing anything, yet for some reason, he had the impression that he was faced with an extremely ruthless beast.
It was as if this person might erupt at any second and tear him to pieces…
“Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions. Isn’t that so?”
Chen Chen tapped his head and chuckled lightly. “Since the Als Mutual Aid Association tried to cause me trouble, of course, I had to return the favor. If you want to shoot me, then naturally, you’d have to bear the corresponding consequences — two people tried the same thing once and they both ended up dead.”
Paul’s heart descended into the pit of his stomach.
Right, this young man had the ability to appear in his study room without a warning. Would a pistol save him now?
Not even Paul himself believed that.
“So, what do you want?”
As Paul observed the young man sitting opposite him, he fought down the anxiety rising in him. “I can make up for it. How does one billion USD sound?”
“Do you think you’re trying to send away a beggar, Mr. Paul?”
Chen Chen leaned forward and gazed unwaveringly at the white-haired old man across the desk. “Let me suggest an alternative. I want you to be my dog, serving me unconditionally for thirty years.”
“What did you say?”
Paul’s face turned white, with a trace of fury in his voice. “That’s impossible…”
“Nothing is impossible!”
Chen Chen resolutely cut off Paul. “Paul, you know very well that your body might not last even three years. In that case, if you follow me, I can grant you a long life…”
Chen Chen’s voice suddenly softened enticingly. “Just like the Alexander and the Edwards families who’ve attained young bodies and gained decades of life. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“…”
Paul suddenly hesitated when he heard these words, appearing to be a little swayed. Even so, he whispered, “I will not betray my family, even if that means death.”
“No one’s asking you to betray your family,” Chen Chen said breezily, “not only that, but your family can also rise further in my hands, even reaching the level of the top ten financial groups in the North American Continent.”
Paul fell silent.
“And all you have to do is to be under my restraints. I’ll install a chip in you. After that, I’ll control your every aspect, including your life…”
After Chen Chen finished his speech, he showed no signs of impatience. He simply sat in the opposite chair, serene and composed while his right hand lightly tapped the desk.
“Thump!”
“Thump!”
“Thump…”
The tapping on the desk, to Paul, sounded like the thumping of his own heart.
A few minutes later, the phone on Paul’s desk suddenly rang.
“Ring ring…”
The abrupt phone call made Paul jump in fright. He glanced at Chen Chen reflexively and was about to cut the call when Chen Chen gestured “go ahead”.
After a pause, Paul slowly picked up the phone.
“Master, we’ve found Young Master Sloane!”
The moment he accepted the call, the butler’s flustered voice burst through the receiver. “Young Master Sloane is in the Hilton Hotel near the manor. We’ve found him!”
“What is he doing there?”
Paul shot a look at Chen Chen across the desk. “Is Sloane injured?”
“Young Master Sloane is…”
The voice hesitated. “Someone had operated on him. We’ve just located him and are about to send him to the hospital for an examination.”
“Got it…”
Paul gently closed his eyes when he heard this, then hung up.
“Have you decided?”
Chen Chen said, “If you want to protect your family with your own life, it’s pointless. Don’t forget, I can remove Sloane Blanc from the company building and bring him here, then appear before you anytime I like. In the same manner, I can visit your heir.”
As Chen Chen spoke, he took out a document and tossed it onto the desk. “And what if I say that there’s still hope for Sloane?”
When Paul heard this, he looked down skeptically, only to see that the document was an explanation of various technologies.
There was the anti-aging treatment that he had dreamed of, the taboo technology of human cloning that was banned across the entire Federation, even the drug technology for treating Alzheimer’s…
The more he read, the more astounded Paul became.
By the end, Paul inhaled deeply and slowly looked up. “What price must I pay to access these technologies?”
“As long as you submit to me.”
Chen Chen stood up and spread his hands softly. “Your Excellency Paul Blanc, I admire your talents. It took you and your father a lifetime to turn an ordinary company into a financial behemoth. Although you disrespected me once, I’m still willing to give you a chance. As long as you submit to me, you and your family will thrive and prosper.
“Of course, you may refuse as well!”
Chen Chen changed his tone now. “After you refuse me, I’ll slaughter the entire Blanc family, erasing your family completely from the history of North America. No matter how much glory you’ve achieved before, I’ll wipe out everything!”
As Chen Chen spoke, the corners of Paul’s eyes twitched involuntarily.
“What are you waiting for? You’ve worked so diligently your whole life — for what? For money?
Chen Chen started with his questions. “It’s alright, your money still belongs to you!
“For your family? Your family can become stronger than ever.
“For status?
“You’ll remain the master of the Blanc family. Not only that, but you’ll also gain higher authority, and even command the entirety of North America! And all you have to do is submit to me!”
After Chen Chen spoke, Paul suddenly inhaled sharply and slowly closed his eyes.
A long time passed. When he opened his eyes again, there was no flicker of doubt. He merely stood up, walked toward Chen Chen, then…
He knelt and bowed down.
