CHAPTER 988: CHAPTER 988: HE APPROACHES AGAINST THE LIGHT

At both ends of the long corridor, Shang Yu and Xiao Hongdao faced each other.

In terms of imposing presence, the over-fifty, mobility-impaired Xiao Hongdao was clearly a step lower.

He lowered his gaze to hide the ferocity in his eyes, clenched his fists slightly, veins bulging, "You came quickly."

Shang Yu’s expression was cold and stern, his gaze deep and imperious. He stepped over the ruins steadily towards the Earthen Building stairs.

Xiao Hongdao’s face twisted, giving a signal. Dozens of his confidants swarmed forward.

The man ignored them, his footsteps resounded as he ascended the stairs.

As the confidants closed in on Shang Yu, ropes descended from the helicopter hovering above, and several men in black combat suits slid down from the cabin.

Other heavy Plunderer vehicles opened their doors one by one. Though fewer in number than Xiao Hongdao’s hundred-odd confidants, each was agile, well-trained, and moved in perfect synchronization.

Xiao Hongdao squinted at the insignia on their uniforms, a faint calculation in his heart.

The largest local organization in Aida State, the Black Hawk Party.

On the other hand, the group that disembarked from the Plunderer vehicles were not Black Hawk Party members.

Yin Zhihong stood behind Xiao Hongdao, scrutinized them for a few moments, then bent down and said in alarm, "Sir, those people... seem to be the International Special Police Force."

Xiao Hongdao pursed his lips profoundly, saying nothing.

The International Special Police Force belongs to an international organization with higher authority than Interpol, possessing cross-border law enforcement powers. Their deployment usually signifies a crackdown on terror attacks or related terrorist organizations.

The Charlman Family has been maneuvering power for years; Xiao Hongdao naturally knew what the appearance of the International Special Police Force represented.

Xiao Hongdao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and after a long while, he murmured, "Shang Shaoyan, do you not care about Li Qiao’s life?"

The man paused on the third level step. His physique was long and imposing, and he turned his gaze to the distant Xiao Hongdao, extremely cold.

At this time, the sound of a wheelchair came from outside the Earthen Building, and Xiao Hongdao turned toward the sound, his expression changing immediately.

In the chaos ahead, Xiao Yehui sat in the wheelchair, with the vacant-staring, unsteady Xiao Yeyan and the bewildered Xiao Yening behind him.

Further behind, dozens of servants from Charlman Manor and Xiao Hongdao’s confidants were all brought into the courtyard.

Shang Yu’s voice was low and unperturbed as he stated, "If she loses a single strand of hair, your entire Charlman Family will pay with their lives."

Xiao Yehui let out a hoarse laugh, "Are you sure... he would care?"

Xiao Hongdao, who had always been above all, had never felt so restrained.

Especially when he heard his son, in whom he had high hopes, mocked him, his face turned angry, and he coldly reprimanded, "Useless, if not for you, Charlman wouldn’t be in this mess today."

As the road comes to an end, all grievances erupt.

Xiao Yehui’s eyes were void, as if covered by a thick cloud, "Dad, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today..."

All the darkest days of his life were brought by the Charlman Family.

He had hated, resented, struggled, but still couldn’t escape manipulation.

Xiao Yehui had thought more than once, if three years ago in the border chaos he had died in that incident, maybe that would have been his most perfect ending.

The Border Seven Sons brought him not only light but also hope and attachment.

For the first time, he realized that brotherhood and life-and-death companionship truly existed.

If not for the shackles of Charlman binding his future, Xiao Yehui believed he could stand in the sunlight.

At this time, Xiao Hongdao looked at the defeated Xiao Yehui, almost shattered, "Ah Hui, you disappoint me greatly."

"Perhaps," Xiao Yehui sighed with a sense of loss, "I also thought about taking up the responsibility of Charlman, but... it’s too hard. Bringing Xiao Yeyan back to the family was also to stimulate my fighting spirit, right? Now I think, you might as well have chosen him initially."

Xiao Hongdao’s cold eyes fell on Xiao Yeyan, "The child of a prostitute can’t bear the title of Duke Charlman."

This is Xiao Hongdao, to whom offspring are always just pawns to be manipulated at will.

If disobedient, they are abandoned without hesitation.

Xiao Yehui closed his eyes, "What about my mom? You caused her death, didn’t you? What did she do wrong..."

"She was just as foolish as you!" Xiao Hongdao’s expression was icy, laced with ridicule.

As the father and son exchanged words, Shang Yu had already reached the top floor.

The knight’s confidants intended to block him but didn’t receive Xiao Hongdao’s approval, so they relented.

At this point, everyone understood that further resistance and conflict were merely efforts on a burnt bow.

The appearance of the International Special Police Force already spelled the end for Charlman.

Not to mention, there were likely more people outside the Earthen Building. Shang Shaoyan could single-handedly bring every living person from Charlman Manor to Myanmar; victory and defeat were already determined.

Meanwhile, in the sealed room on the top floor, Li Qiao was wiping rice grains off a watch, which had been smuggled inside a rice bowl.

A mobile phone, hidden in a dish of braised fish, had also been smuggled in.

Li Qiao put the watch back on her wrist, wiped the sauce off the phone with a tissue, and upon powering it on, immediately accessed the built-in system to check Shang Yu’s vital information.

But... the page was gray; all records stopped at 8 PM last night.

Shang Yu had taken off the watch.

Li Qiao lowered her eyes, her fingers curling slightly, and after a few seconds of silence, exited the system.

"Buzz buzz——"

In a short moment, countless messages and missed call reminders flooded the phone.

Li Qiao hadn’t yet checked them when a call came in from a blank number.

She pressed the answer button, and a deep voice spoke, "Xiao Qi?"

Li Qiao responded, "Yes, it’s me."

The other end fell silent for three seconds, then scolded sharply, "You’ve got some nerve. I told you M and I would ensure their safety, and yet you..."

Li Qiao, her shoulder holding the phone, slowly and meticulously wiped her watch with a tissue, "If I hadn’t come to buy some time, they’d be dead by now."

Bo Tingxiao suddenly fell silent.

Li Qiao faintly curled her lips, "Bai Mingyin can turn your entire execution team, but Bo Tingsu and Xi Luo alone can’t handle a battalion."

Bo Tingxiao tightly gripped the phone, and after a long while, croaked out, "When will you learn to think for yourself?"

"I was confident, so I came." Li Qiao looked at the braised fish and rice on the table, lowered her eyes, and softly asked, "Were my parents harmed?"

Bo Tingxiao paused, then sighed deeply, "No, Boss Bai led a team to forcibly break through Liao Mountain’s armory this morning. Your family and the three teachers have been rescued. Xi Luo sustained minor injuries; it’s nothing serious."

If not for Boss Bai’s team’s aggressive entry, the armory wouldn’t have exploded.

The destruction of the entire Liao Mountain armory caused a major incident, and Bai Mingyin bears significant responsibility. It was inevitable that he’d end up in military court.

Li Qiao sighed in relief, "Thank you."

As her words faded, the room door opened.

Li Qiao, holding the phone, turned her head. In the dim corridor light, Shang Yu approached against the light.