Chapter 309: Mr. Lin Indeed Has Information
Elizabeth cautiously asked:
"Officer, all the files regarding Grand Duke Andrei's case have been taken by the Security Bureau. Where are we going to find evidence?"
George sat on the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I was really holding it in at Brigadier General Cunningham's place just now."
"The Empire's generals are truly reckless."
Elizabeth suggested:
"Officer, why don't we report it to our superiors?"
George looked at Elizabeth with a strange expression:
"Report it to our superiors?"
"That's not a good idea."
"Do you believe that if we report it to our superiors, we'll disappear?"
Elizabeth was slightly stunned:
"Disappear?"
George nodded heavily:
"Exactly, disappear!"
"A physical disappearance."
Elizabeth was startled:
"How is that possible?"
George shook his head with a smile:
"Impossible?"
"Brigadier General Cunningham comes from a prestigious military family in the Empire, with deep-rooted power. Although the Empire's navy is far from what it once was,"
"We are an island nation, and the most powerful branch of our military is the navy."
"If you report Brigadier General Cunningham... how is that any different from suicide?"
"Didn't you hear what the General said?"
"Previous actions by other Garrisons have already alarmed the higher-ups, and the Cabinet sent a special commissioner to investigate."
"What happened to that special commissioner?"
"He encountered an accidental attack and died."
Elizabeth's face was deathly pale:
"The special commissioner is so pitiful."
George looked at Elizabeth strangely:
"Do you really think it was an accidental attack?"
Elizabeth's face was ashen, like a vampire's:
"Could it be?"
George said bluntly:
"That wasn't an accident. The special commissioner was killed by the local Garrison."
"Those overseas Garrisons have become warlords, too big to control."
"Anyway, the emperor is far away, and who would know what happens in the local Garrison?"
"The local Garrison uses such incidents to convey their attitude to the Anglo-Saxon homeland."
"Such investigations are then left unresolved."
Elizabeth swayed, almost fainting.
George sighed:
"This is the reality of the Empire."
"If we don't work harder, what will become of the Empire?"
"You and I bear a heavy responsibility!"
Elizabeth said with a bitter smile:
"Officer, the Empire has already reached this point. Can the two of us still save the Empire?"
George said righteously:
"I don't know if we can save the Empire, but we wear this uniform. If we don't do anything, how can we expect others to save the Empire?"
"Are we really hoping for a Superman to emerge?"
"Superman isn't Anglo-Saxon; he's from America."
Elizabeth's expression became firm again:
"The officer's lesson is well-taken."
George said indifferently:
"You heard my conversation with General Cunningham just now, didn't you?"
Elizabeth said cautiously:
"I heard it in the tea room."
George sneered:
"Grand Duke Andrei went out twice, both times to receive bribes from Tycoon."
"That was fifty million pounds!"
"Converted to hong kong dollars, it's several hundred million!"
"No wonder Grand Duke Andrei escaped our protection twice."
"If this matter were to leak out, he would lose his ducal title."
"It might even implicate Mrs. Thatcher."
"Mrs. Thatcher's approval ratings are at an all-time high due to the victory in the Falklands War, but I dare say, if this matter reaches the mainland, she will definitely be implicated and forced to step down."
"What we need to do is save Mrs. Thatcher."
Elizabeth's face was filled with reverence:
"Yes!"
George instructed:
"Go contact Lin Ho-lung of Chung Yee Shun."
"Note, we are to cooperate with them, not threaten them with superior orders."
"As for the evidence of Grand Duke Andrei accepting bribes, you don't need to worry about that."
"I'll find it myself."
Elizabeth was full of admiration:
"The officer always has a way."
George's mouth twitched slightly; he had no way at all.
But he had to maintain his dignity in front of his subordinates.
"Go get to work quickly."
Elizabeth left with a seductive stride.
George smiled bitterly and shook his head. Where was he going to find evidence?
However, he had already made a big statement to Cunningham, so he had to follow through.
George immediately recognized Cunningham's attitude: the face of an old warlord obsessed with money.
The Anglo-Saxon gentleman's demeanor had no effect on him whatsoever.
George sighed inwardly.
He still had to ask Lin Feng for help.
Gritting his teeth, George finally called Lin Feng:
"Lin, I need your help."
Lin Feng smiled:
"You owe me thirty million pounds, and you still dare to ask me for help?"
George said with a bitter smile:
"I'm working hard to repay the debt, and I've already made some progress."
"But now, I lack an opportunity."
Lin Feng said amusingly:
"What opportunity do you need to find with me?"
"Let me think... You wouldn't be trying to confirm some information with me again, would you?"
George was silent for a long while:
"I can't hide anything from Mr. Lin."
Lin Feng was very straightforward:
"I am an intelligence merchant. If someone comes to buy information, I naturally won't refuse."
"The problem is..."
"Do you have money?"
George understood; Lin Feng was teasing him.
"Mr. Lin... can I run a tab?"
Lin Feng laughed:
"Of course you can. Anyway, you already owe me thirty million pounds, so a little more won't hurt."
George gritted his teeth tightly.
This feeling of being underestimated was really annoying.
But there was nothing he could do; the fact was that he owed Lin Feng thirty million pounds and couldn't produce the cash.
The fact was that Lin Feng held his IOU, and he could ruin him at any time.
George sighed inwardly and immediately said:
"Can I buy two pieces of intelligence from you?"
Lin Feng chuckled:
"You're truly lazy. Relying on how much you owe me, you actually dare to make such a big demand, asking for two pieces of intelligence at once."
"Alright, let me see how big your appetite truly is."
"Tell me, what information do you want to obtain?"
George immediately said:
"First, I want to know if Cheuk Tze-keung is dead or alive? If he's alive, where is he now?"
Lin Feng said casually:
"Cheuk Tze-keung caused such a huge incident, do you think he could still be in Hong Kong?"
"He's in his Mainland."
"If you want to catch him, you'll have to send an official letter to his Mainland for help."
"However, I doubt you'll be able to get him."
George was startled:
"What do you mean by that?"
Lin Feng explained:
"The Deputy Director of the Security Bureau in the Golden Club has already sent a letter to his Mainland requesting Cheuk Tze-keung's arrest."
"He's your direct superior; can you compete with him?"
"As for who is behind this, I don't need to explain that, do I?"
George clenched his fists tightly.
He, of course, knew who was behind this.
No one but Tycoon.
Lin Feng said indifferently:
"This is a small business, I'll charge you one million hong kong dollars."
"No problem, right?"
George blurted out:
"One million hong kong dollars?"
Lin Feng said strangely:
"Do you think it's too much? Or how about two million hong kong dollars?"
George quickly said:
"No, no, no, one million hong kong dollars is fine."
George wasn't complaining about it being too much; rather, Lin Feng was asking for too little.
Heaven help him, when the other party discussed "business" with him, the unit was always pounds. When had it ever been hong kong dollars?
Lin Feng then said:
"Anything else?"
"I'm busy here."
George quickly said:
"There's one more thing."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"Just say it."
George didn't dare to delay and quickly asked:
"Who was the person who transacted with Grand Duke Andrei... I mean, the one who directly transacted, not the Tycoon behind him."
"Were there two people? What were their names?"
Lin Feng said amusingly:
"I understand. You want to go after Tycoon."
"That's right, in the short term, only Tycoon has that much money for you to extort."
"However, you'd better think carefully. Tycoon has already formed an alliance with the Golden Club. If they find you out, you won't have a good outcome."
George was numb.
Who exactly was Lin Feng?
He had just discussed going after Tycoon with Cunningham today, and this person already knew about it.
George could only say with a bitter smile:
"I can't hide anything from Mr. Lin."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"For this information, I want one million pounds."
"The person who transacted with Grand Duke Andrei twice was the same person."
"However, this person never met Grand Duke Andrei directly; he was simply a delivery man."
"This person's identity is quite unusual. If you don't take some special measures, you really won't be able to catch him. He is Zhuang Qing, the Vice Chairman of the Electric Light Telephone Company, and he is Tycoon's confidant."
George sneered:
"I will find him."
Lin Feng thought for a moment and said,
"Forget it. After all, you owe me money. To ensure you can repay it smoothly, I'll give you a piece of information for free."
George quickly said,
"Mr. Lin, please speak."
Lin Feng said indifferently,
"The briefcase Zhuang Qing gave to Grand Duke Andrei contained unregistered bonds. These weren't prepared in advance; they were purchased somewhere."
"Tycoon's public funds were used."
"So, you can check the surveillance footage from that location."
"Now, you still have nine days until the repayment date for the five million bounty."
George was overjoyed:
"Thank you, Mr. Lin. I will definitely repay my debt on time."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"I hope so."
"Alright, work hard and earn money quickly."
George then hung up the phone and vigorously pumped his fist.
Mr. Lin indeed had information.
Fortunately, Mr. Lin had information. Otherwise, just the relationship between Zhuang Qing and Tycoon, and the source of the unregistered bonds in Zhuang Qing's hands, would have caused them a lot of trouble.
George was excited for a while, then suddenly froze!
What was he sighing about here?
Was Mr. Lin impressive?
Indeed impressive!
But now, he was essentially working for him.
So why was he so excited?
Excited that Mr. Lin had another source of income?
Damn it!
George immediately calmed down.
After thinking for a moment, he pressed the red button on the table.
"Officer."
A team of agents walked in.
George said with authority,
"Go to a certain bank and check the surveillance footage for a guy named Zhuang Qing."
"Once you find him, go to the Telephone and Telegraph Company immediately and bring him back."
"Remember, the other party is the Vice President of the Telephone and Telegraph Company, so you need to bring all the necessary documents."
"Before you leave, go find Isa and have her prepare all the documents for you."
"Our opponent this time is very powerful."
The agents were dismissive.
George slightly raised his voice:
"The other party is Tycoon's confidant!"
The agents immediately straightened their attitudes:
"Yes, Officer!"
George waved his hand:
"Go, don't disappoint me."
The agents scurried out.
George sat down, pulled out a cigar, and, imitating Lin Feng, slowly savored it.
He wasn't like this before.
He liked to cut beef in front of his subordinates.
Ever since witnessing Lin Feng's demeanor, George felt quite ashamed of his previous behavior.
It was too embarrassing!
What kind of person cuts beef all day? Either a chef or a butcher.
He was a rising star in the Anglo-Saxon military, personally confirmed by Brigadier General Cunningham.
How could he do such an unseemly thing?
Smoking cigars and tasting red wine, that's what he should be doing!
A hundred-dollar cigar, it certainly tasted good!
George leaned back in the sofa, crossed his legs, a cigar in his mouth, his other hand resting on the armrest, surrounded by smoke, feeling very relaxed.
"Officer is so handsome!"
Elizabeth came in after finishing her work and was stunned to see George like this.
George keenly noticed Elizabeth's reaction and secretly felt satisfied.
"Is the matter handled?"
Elizabeth reported:
"I have already contacted Lin Ho-lung. His tone was very arrogant."
George chuckled:
"That guy is a fierce person who can fight a hundred. A little arrogance is normal."
Elizabeth added:
"I've processed the special documents for George and his team… Officer, Zhuang Qing is the Vice President of the Telephone and Telegraph Company. I checked, and he even has an in-law relationship with Tycoon."
"Can we really go after him?"
George sneered, "If not for the in-law relationship, if not an absolute confidant, how else could that Zhuang Qing do such an important thing for Tycoon?"
Elizabeth diligently performed her secretarial duties:
"But… if it really is related to Grand Duke Andrei, we must guard against Grand Duke Andrei launching an attack on us from the Governors Office."
"No matter what, he is an Imperial Duke."
George gently shook his head:
"That's simple."
"How did you report to George and his team?"
Elizabeth immediately said:
"I told them to report their work to me at all times."
"Report when they find a clue, report when they find the person, and report when they apprehend the person."
George patted the backrest with his hand:
"Well done. Now, let's relax and enjoy a glass of red wine, shall we?"
Elizabeth was surprised:
"Officer!"
They were in the middle of a big operation; what was this for?
George gently shook his head:
"Don't worry."
"You've arranged everything very well."
"Everything is under our control."
"As a superior, one must know how to control the overall situation."
Elizabeth said helplessly:
"Yes, Officer."
George thought to himself:
"I wonder how much my current demeanor resembles Mr. Lin's."
He swore to God, he had never met anyone as composed as Lin Feng.
It was as if everything was within his grasp.
Even his sneak attack seemed to be within Lin Feng's predictions.
The result was naturally obvious.
George was truly subdued by Lin Feng, as if he could never win against that man.
The other party didn't care about his nationality, his position, or his power.
It was as if as soon as the other party made a move, all those things would vanish into thin air.
It was simply outrageous.
George believed that even facing Tycoon, he wouldn't feel such a powerful sense of oppression.
In contrast, the murderous aura Wang Jianguo gave him was not worth mentioning.
George was very puzzled as to how this situation came about.
With Elizabeth as company, time seemed to pass especially quickly.
The two sipped red wine, occasionally chatting and laughing.
Anyone who didn't know would have thought they were a couple.
Elizabeth cherished these moments. In her impression, her officer was either wielding a knife or wielding a knife.
Such an officer was truly good.
One thing that annoyed Isa was that her phone kept ringing.
"Officer, George has arrived at the bank."
"Officer, George has retrieved the surveillance footage."
"Officer, George has departed for the Telephone and Telegraph Company."
"Officer, George has found Zhuang Qing."
"Officer, George has returned."
Isa wished she could punch George hard enough to make him collapse and fall asleep. He was too annoying, interrupting her date with the officer.
However, when George's final report came in, Isa still fulfilled her secretarial duties.
"Officer, we need to be prepared to face accusations from those important figures."
"Zhuang Qing is Tycoon's confidant."
"His apprehension by us will inevitably alarm Tycoon."
"I think Tycoon will use his connections to pressure us."
George was confident:
"Don't worry…"
"Connect me to Brigadier General Cunningham."
Elizabeth immediately connected the call.
"General, I have found the key person who delivered the bribe to Grand Duke Andrei. As we expected, he is Tycoon's confidant."
Cunningham's spirits lifted:
"George, you are indeed a good lad."
"What do you need me to do now?"
George immediately said:
"I need time!"
"I need to pry open Zhuang Qing's mouth and make him accuse Tycoon."
"However, Tycoon might not give me time."
Cunningham sneered:
"You are my cash cow now, and I won't let anyone disturb you."
"Don't worry, I'll call that old good-for-nothing Grand Duke Andrei to the barracks immediately."
"I will send you a squad of soldiers."
"To express my stance."
George was greatly surprised:
"General, you're sending soldiers over? Is that appropriate?"
Cunningham suddenly said:
"Grand Duke Andrei being attacked in Hong Kong greatly shamed our Anglo-Saxon Empire. As the highest-ranking general of the Garrison, I must be responsible for the Empire."
"Naturally, this matter must be thoroughly investigated."
George was dumbfounded. Cunningham would be responsible for the Empire? Go to hell with that!
After coming to his senses, he frowned and said,
"I'm afraid the Governor will protest to you."
Cunningham mocked:
"The Governor is an old fox; he won't do such a thing."
"Others won't speak up for a while either."
"At least not within twenty-four hours, he won't speak up."
"So, you now have twenty-four hours to pry open Zhuang Qing's mouth."
"Whether we can get rich depends entirely on you."
George replied earnestly:
"Don't worry, General, I will definitely satisfy you!"
+++
Chapter 310: The Magic of Money (Requesting Monthly Votes at the Beginning of the Month)
Cunningham was truly dedicated; he said he was going to reprimand Grand Duke Andrei, and he actually called Grand Duke Andrei.
The G4 Special Police of the VIP Protection Unit answered the phone:
"General, Grand Duke Andrei is in the hospital."
Cunningham didn't care about that:
"I heard from the media that Grand Duke Andrei was just dizzy. Is that why he's in the hospital?"
"Tell him I invite him to the military camp for a talk."
"If he doesn't come, he will bear the consequences."
The G4 Special Police were very helpless and had no choice but to push open the hospital door with the phone in hand.
Grand Duke Andrei was particularly irritable:
"Is this how Hong Kong treats an Imperial Duke?"
"Are you treating me like a patient?"
"Surrounded three layers deep inside and three layers outside?"
"This is clearly treating me like a prisoner!"
The G4 Special Police thought to himself, if it weren't for you constantly sneaking out and getting injured twice, implicating our Police Station and the Security Bureau, we wouldn't bother arranging so many bodyguards for you.
But there was no other way; after all, he was an Imperial Duke.
The G4 Special Police opened his mouth to speak.
Grand Duke Andrei loudly declared:
"You can't treat me like this. I've become a puppet at your mercy."
"You have the right to manipulate me, but I also have the right to refuse. I won't answer anyone's call."
The G4 Special Police was greatly astonished and advised with some difficulty:
"Grand Duke, you should answer it. This is a very important person."
The G4 Special Police was also being mischievous.
Grand Duke Andrei had a short temper and would curse at the slightest provocation.
They were only ordered to protect Grand Duke Andrei's safety, not to be his babysitter.
What decent person could tolerate such abuse?
Originally, they felt quite honored to receive the mission to protect Grand Duke Andrei; after all, he was an Imperial Duke.
After these past two or three days, the glamour had completely faded.
This rotten mission, they'd endure it one day at a time. Once the mission was over, who cared about some damned Imperial Duke?
So, unknowingly, he sabotaged him.
Grand Duke Andrei became even more irritable:
"Who in Hong Kong is important enough to disturb my rest? Tell him to scram!"
"You're not leaving yet?"
"Tell me who he is, and I'll make sure he understands that an Imperial Duke cannot be insulted."
The G4 Special Police said "helplessly" into the phone:
"You heard him, General. Grand Duke Andrei doesn't want to see you."
Grand Duke Andrei paused at these words:
"General?"
The G4 Special Police shrugged:
"That's right, General Cunningham!"
Grand Duke Andrei was greatly surprised:
"Cunningham..."
His face instantly changed color.
Just as he was about to take the phone, Cunningham's roar came through the receiver:
"You damn Grand Duke Andrei, if I give you face, you're a Duke; if I don't give you face, you're just a piece of shit!"
"I'm giving you two choices."
"Either you damn well get your ass to the military camp obediently."
"Or I'll send people to invite you to the military camp."
"The choice is yours, you decide!"
Grand Duke Andrei snatched the mobile phone from the G4 Special Police's hand, pointed a finger, and said with a red face:
"Get lost!"
The G4 Special Police loudly excused himself, and when he turned around, his face was already full of smiles.
His colleagues around him all gave him a thumbs up.
Well done!
Cunningham was furious:
"You're telling me to get lost, you damn bastard?"
"You don't want to go back to the Anglo-Saxon homeland, do you?"
"No one dares to insult any Cunningham!"
"Andrei, you're so damn capable, you just wait!"
Grand Duke Andrei panicked, sweating profusely, and quickly explained:
"General, it's a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding."
"I was talking to that Special Police officer."
"If I had known it was you summoning me, no matter how seriously injured I was, I would crawl there."
Cunningham panted and said:
"You damn well get over here immediately!"
"Hurry!"
Grand Duke Andrei bowed and flattered:
"Yes!"
"I'll be right there!"
After hanging up the phone, Grand Duke Andrei suddenly realized that his entire body was drenched in sweat!
Cunningham exerted too much pressure.
Although they were both Dukes, the value of their titles was not the same.
Grand Duke Andrei's dukedom was bought with money, while the Cunningham Family also had Dukes, but they had commanded the navy for generations.
Anglo-Saxon was an island nation, and its influence was maintained by its vast navy.
Although the Anglo-Saxon navy's power had weakened, no matter how much it weakened, it was still a permanent fixture of the Imperial Navy.
They held real power.
How could he, Andrei, compare to a powerful naval family like theirs?
Even if Cunningham was only a brigadier general and not a direct descendant of the family, anyone who could reach the rank of brigadier general at his age was bound to become an important member of the Cunningham Family in the future.
Grand Duke Andrei truly couldn't afford to offend him.
Composing himself, Grand Duke Andrei loudly said:
"Someone!"
The G4 Special Police pushed the door open and came in:
"Grand Duke, what are your orders?"
Grand Duke Andrei said:
"I need to visit General Cunningham. Prepare quickly."
The G4 Special Police felt very awkward:
"Grand Duke, the Security Bureau has already instructed that you should not go out… You can go out, but you must report it to the Security Bureau."
Grand Duke Andrei immediately vented his anger on him:
"Since when could the small Security Bureau of Hong Kong interfere with my movements?"
"I'm going to visit General Cunningham, not to do anything else."
"You hurry up and make the arrangements."
"If the General is not satisfied, his soldiers are not as easy to talk to as I am."
The G4 Special Police was helpless:
"Then I must follow the prescribed procedures."
The implication was that he had to report it to the Security Bureau.
Grand Duke Andrei waved his hand:
"Hurry up, don't delay General Cunningham's business. Otherwise, if he blames us, I can't protect you."
The G4 Special Police thought to himself,
You've been scolded like a dog, so naturally, you can't protect me.
Once the information was relayed, the Security Bureau naturally dared not obstruct it.
That was General Cunningham.
Besides, there was no way to obstruct such a matter.
The Cunningham surname carried much more weight than Grand Duke Andrei, and what Grand Duke Andrei dared not do, the Security Bureau naturally dared not do either.
So, the group majestically headed straight for the military camp.
Not long after Grand Duke Andrei left, someone went straight to the hospital, only to find it empty.
Thirty minutes later, Grand Duke Andrei and his entourage had arrived outside the military camp.
What he hadn't expected was that his car was stopped.
"Military restricted area. Only Grand Duke Andrei may enter; everyone else will wait here."
The G4 Special Police looked at Grand Duke Andrei with difficulty:
"Grand Duke, what do you say?"
Grand Duke Andrei smiled bitterly:
"This is General Cunningham's temper."
"You wait in the car; I'll just go in with the soldiers."
The G4 Special Police were more than happy about that!
So, the group stayed there.
What was even more unexpected for Grand Duke Andrei was that the military camp was so large, yet Cunningham hadn't arranged a vehicle for him to enter.
Having no other choice, he had to follow the soldiers, step by step, to Cunningham's office.
Grand Duke Andrei was furious:
"Cunningham, I am an Imperial Duke after all. Even if the value of my title can't compare to your family's, you can't treat me like this, can you?"
Cunningham sneered:
"Treat you like this?"
"According to what you've done, if I just shot you, the Anglo-Saxon homeland would still promote me!"
Grand Duke Andrei was startled:
"What do you mean?"
Cunningham kept sneering:
"You've been in Hong Kong for three days, and you secretly snuck out twice."
"The first time you evaded the G4 and your private bodyguards and were attacked."
"The second time you learned your lesson and even brought a bodyguard, but your bodyguard died, and you survived again."
"If I report to the homeland that you've amassed fifty million pounds in Hong Kong, do you think those old men in the homeland, who are crazy for money, would send you to the gallows?!"
Hiss!
Grand Duke Andrei's complaints vanished into thin air, and his body almost collapsed.
However, the next moment, he quickly said:
"I merely offended you with my words. Why are you pinning such a huge accusation on me?"
"You, Cunningham, are from a prominent family, but aren't we as well?"
"Don't think you can just casually frame me!"
Cunningham looked at him with a chilling gaze, making Grand Duke Andrei break out in a cold sweat.
"Do you think no one knows what you've been doing?"
"Is there anywhere in this world where walls don't have ears?"
"You, a Foreigner, on the Hong Kong people's territory, trying to do things without anyone knowing, do you think that's possible?"
"That's far too fanciful."
"Do you really think that tens of millions of pounds from the Tycoon are easy to take?"
As soon as the Tycoon's name was mentioned, Grand Duke Andrei felt dizzy.
He almost fainted to the ground, looking at the constantly sneering man opposite him, and blurted out:
"I haven't received any money!"
As the words left his mouth, Grand Duke Andrei's head buzzed, and he felt it was bad.
"No, someone is framing me!"
Cunningham said coldly:
"Why are you putting on an act in front of me?"
"We're all old Anglo-Saxon nobles; who doesn't know what each family is like?"
"Is there still a need to pretend?"
Grand Duke Andrei still wanted to argue, when Cunningham slammed a Browning pistol onto the table.
"Getting some money while on an overseas assignment, that's an old rule for our noble families, but if you dare to lie, then there's no problem."
"I will definitely let you taste what a bullet is like."
Grand Duke Andrei cowered, and said with a tear-streaked face:
"No, no, no! "
"Can't I just tell you?"
The Cunningham Family has been the power holders of the navy for generations, a standard military strongman.
These guys are ruthless even among the dukes, perfectly embodying the Anglo-Saxon image.
As for the elegance of a naval frontman… screw that.
Such things are only used to deceive outsiders.
Grand Duke Andrei, after all, still harbored a glimmer of hope:
"I just received hundreds of thousands of pounds in bearer bonds, that's all!"
Cunningham sneered:
"Oh, hundreds of thousands of pounds. If you hadn't been attacked, that briefcase wouldn't have contained hundreds of thousands of pounds, but fifty million pounds, right?"
Grand Duke Andrei froze, then slumped to the ground.
If other things could still be argued about.
The specific figure of fifty million pounds truly stunned him.
Cunningham clicked his tongue and sighed:
"Fifty million pounds!"
"The Queen's annual income doesn't even reach that figure."
"No, it would take her several years to reach that amount."
"Yet you, you made so much on a single official trip."
"If I were to send this news back to the ancestral home, I don't know how you would face that group of Grand Dukes."
Grand Duke Andrei exclaimed in horror:
"You can't harm me!"
The Anglo-Saxon dukes are like hyenas; they swarm in frantically at the sight of profit, feeling cheated if they get even a little less.
As soon as Grand Duke Andrei's matter gets out, everyone is guaranteed to move against him.
What noble dignity.
Is noble dignity as enticing as financial gain?
The current situation for the Anglo-Saxons is not good; many Grand Dukes are only left with maintaining a semblance of noble dignity.
Noble airs and dignity all require money.
Without money, you are nothing.
Grand Duke Andrei was utterly panicked and flustered, looking at the Cunningham Family's young man with a tear-streaked face.
This young man was clearly not of the direct lineage, yet at his age, he was undeniably a powerful figure in the military, and would certainly be an important person in the Cunningham Family in the future.
This was also why, despite being a Grand Duke himself, he had to eagerly come and pay his respects to this fellow.
"I really want to kill him!"
Grand Duke Andrei's heart turned vicious, but after mulling it over, he dejectedly realized that he truly had no way to deal with this young man.
Especially in a place like Hong Kong.
Conversely, it would be very simple for the other party to kill him.
Cunningham said unhurriedly:
"Grand Duke, you really are capable. You go on an official trip and fifty million pounds ends up in your pocket."
"It's also simple if you want me not to send this news back."
Grand Duke Andrei forced a smile and said:
"What do you want?"
Cunningham shrugged:
"It's very simple."
"Give me half!"
Grand Duke Andrei stamped his foot and said:
"I didn't receive the money."
Cunningham said amusingly:
"You twice evaded the protection of bodyguards and G4 Special Police, yet in unfamiliar Hong Kong, you acted as if you were in your own backyard."
"You say you didn't receive the money?"
Grand Duke Andrei was frantic, frantically pointing at his face:
"I was attacked!"
"Twice!"
Mentioning this made Grand Duke Andrei feel very aggrieved.
Who the hell would have thought, he originally thought he was going to get rich overnight.
He never imagined he would be attacked twice.
It was simply ghostly!
Cunningham looked at him with amusement:
"Do you think I believe you?"
Grand Duke Andrei was furious:
"I was attacked, didn't you see my condition?"
"Am I crazy to be acting here?"
Cunningham mocked:
"We are all nobles; there's no need to play a noble's petty tricks in front of another noble. Who are you trying to scare with a self-inflicted injury?"
"Self… self-inflicted injury?"
Grand Duke Andrei only felt dizzy,
"How noble is my status? Am I using a self-inflicted injury?"
Cunningham became even more mocking:
"If it's not a self-inflicted injury, then you've been played!"
"And you're still a Grand Duke, truly embarrassing!"
Boom!
Grand Duke Andrei felt as if he had been struck by lightning. After reacting for a long while, he quickly asked:
"What did you say? I've been played?"
Cunningham asked curiously:
"It really wasn't a self-inflicted injury?"
Grand Duke Andrei said angrily:
"How noble am I, to use my health for a self-inflicted injury?"
Cunningham unhesitatingly splashed dirty water:
"Then congratulations, you've been played!"
"Think about it, how secretive was your transaction with a certain Tycoon? Basically, no third person knew."
"To maintain secrecy, you even ditched your security team."
Grand Duke Andrei said angrily:
"Money moves hearts, and this isn't a small sum. Once you obtain that money, you'll definitely become a rich person."
"How can I trust my subordinates?"
"Can't I only go myself?"
Cunningham said amusingly:
"Yes, yes."
"Fifty million pounds is enough for an ordinary person to live lavishly for a lifetime."
Grand Duke Andrei corrected him:
"It's enough for a genuine rich person to live lavishly for a lifetime too."
Cunningham said amusingly:
"Alright, let's say you're right."
"With such a large sum of money involved, you definitely wouldn't feel at ease."
"You made thorough preparations for this, even ditching your security team."
Grand Duke Andrei emphasized:
"My security team is actually very dedicated, but I had prior orders, otherwise, I would never have been able to shake them off."
"Being attacked was my fault, not theirs."
Cunningham spat:
"I don't give a damn whose fault your attack was."
"We're all nobles, why are you putting on an act? This hypocrisy is truly disgusting."
Grand Duke Andrei rolled his eyes, secretly thinking, 'Crude barbarian.'
Cunningham snorted coldly:
"However, your words just now indicated one thing: the leak didn't come from you."
"At least your bodyguards and G4 Special Police were unaware."
Grand Duke Andrei was stunned.
"Then the matter is very clear."
"This kind of transaction is extremely covert."
"Under normal circumstances, only a handful of people know, after all, it's not a good thing, and once exposed, it would cause a huge uproar."
"If it's not your problem, whose problem is it?"
Grand Duke Andrei was both shocked and angry:
"You mean… the Tycoon sold me out?!"
Cunningham snorted, thinking, 'This fool, he's confessing without me even needing to trick him.'
"The Tycoon didn't sell you out; he was just playing you."
"I've checked the information. The Tycoon has never been to the location where you were attacked."
"Didn't you say that this money could make anyone rich?"
"Pity you're still an Imperial Duke… yet you can't compare to a local rich man in Hong Kong."
Grand Duke Andrei suddenly shivered, subconsciously struggling and saying:
"No way!"
"The Tycoon wouldn't harm me!"
Cunningham deliberately fanned the flames:
"Did the Tycoon harm you?"
"Didn't he give you hundreds of thousands of pounds?"
"Honestly, that's already fair to you, isn't it?"
"Anyway, you were only unconscious for two days, and hundreds of thousands of pounds is already enough compensation."
"When you wake up and think of those fictitious fifty million pounds, you must feel very guilty, right?"
"After all, you were only attacked, while the Tycoon genuinely lost fifty million pounds."
Grand Duke Andrei said angrily:
"That was my fifty million pounds!"
Cunningham shrugged:
"Alright, let's just say it was your fifty million pounds."
"You fully expected to get fifty million pounds, but then you realized something was wrong."
"The fifty million pounds were gone."
"You don't have much time left in Hong Kong, and it's even more impossible to tell the Police Station or the Security Bureau to thoroughly investigate this matter."
"You can only suffer in silence, swallowing your bitterness."
"But the fifty million pounds the Tycoon gave you weren't given for free; you have to do something."
"Think about it, after this whole performance, who gained the most?"
"He only used those non-existent fifty million pounds to make you willingly be driven by him."
"You idiot, you can only dutifully do his bidding…"
"How dare an old geezer like you call yourself an Imperial Duke?"