Chapter 501: Nails and Domination (Combined)

A little later, in the suite on the east wing of the main building of the Laien Manor.

"Lord Thomas."

After bowing respectfully to the middle-aged man with golden hair, the butler responsible for hosting Li Ang and his companion began his report:

"After the two guests entered the exhibition building, they first tied up the third person and placed him on the sofa, then immediately entered the Genealogy Hall, where they stayed for nearly six hours.

We tallied the records they flipped through according to your requirements; there were about seventy books, mainly covering the last sixty years, involving six aspects: chronologies, annals, genealogical records, lists of missing and dead persons, and industrial reports..."

The others were fine, but why were there lists of missing and dead persons?

"Wait!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man with golden hair frowned, raised his hand to signal the butler to stop reporting, and took the initiative to ask:

"Are you sure they were on the first floor the whole time, and didn't go upstairs or leave halfway?"

"Yes."

The elderly butler nodded and said:

"After learning of their intentions, I locked the second and third floors, kept the keys on my person at all times, and had two maids serve in the pantry. I also assigned a servant to sweep fallen leaves in the courtyard. If they had left, it would have been discovered immediately."

Then they really shouldn't have left...

Looking at the old butler's certain expression, the middle-aged man with golden hair couldn't help but frown tightly.

So... did I overthink it? Are they really here to claim kinship? But if they were just here to claim kinship, isn't this combination of theirs too strange?

After thinking for a long time without figuring out what these three people were here for, the middle-aged man had no choice but to lower his head and look at the visitor registration form at his hand with a locked brow.

The daughter of the Minister of National Defense, a newly hired employee of the Cleanup Bureau, and a rebel who participated in the assassination of the Princess—none of these three families were on good terms with his own.

Especially that daughter of the Minister of National Defense; her father was a reformist in the military and the first high-ranking military official to lean toward the Princess. Before coming to power, he had always been thinking about prying open his family's arms business.

In this assassination incident, those damned rebels specifically used weapons that flowed out of his family's arms company, most likely because they saw this contradiction and wanted to hand a knife to the Minister of National Defense.

And the situation was just as he expected. Under his family's influence, the people on the task force were originally prepared to ignore this clue, but after the daughter of the Minister of National Defense joined, she immediately proposed to investigate along the source of the weapons.

Fortunately, Lord Bobby reacted quickly, using his wife's birthday as an excuse to invite a large number of old nobles to attend a banquet, and at the banquet, he framed the investigation as a signal that the Princess was preparing to take action against the old nobles, temporarily suppressing the progress of the investigation.

And if it weren't for him playing such a hand to drag down the daughter of the Minister of National Defense, leaving enough time to clean up evidence and people, his family's arms company would definitely have been bitten hard this time, and a large piece of fat meat would have been torn off!

Thinking of the female police officer who had sent more than a dozen investigation letters and insisted on biting his family and not letting go, the complexion of the middle-aged man with golden hair couldn't help but darken slightly.

Her father was a fierce and dark old dog, and this woman's style was inherited from him; once she bit someone, she would never let go!

As for the remaining two, the rebels were even less to be said. Their original slogan was just to drive the incompetent royal family off the stage, cede major rights, and incidentally limit the power of the nobles and their seats in the parliament.

But recently, I don't know what happened, these rebels suddenly became ten times more radical, even claiming that the royal family and nobles were lice in the crotch, and would sooner or later be caught and pinched to death! Now they are already his family's mortal enemies!

And the Cleanup Bureau...

Tapping his finger on the registration form on the table, after drawing a heavy mark with his fingernail on the name Li Ang Laien, the middle-aged man with golden hair waved his hand to signal the butler to step down, then took the registration form and left the suite, passing through the connected archway to the manor's main building.

"Thomas?"

After hearing the knock on the door, the young man who was facing the report on the desk raised his head in surprise, and said to the middle-aged man at the door with a smile:

"It's so late and you haven't rested yet? Were you originally such a diligent person?"

"Lord Bobby."

After greeting him, facing the young man who looked to be about twenty-something and at most no more than thirty, Thomas, whose eye corners already had many wrinkles, bowed and saluted with unusual respect:

"You flatter me. Compared to you, my diligence is truly insignificant."

"Hehe, it's different."

After greeting him to come in, the young man said with a smile:

"The reason I am diligent is because I am preparing to take another step up, not only to inherit my eldest brother's title, but also thinking about sitting in the seat of the head of the family.

And you are currently sitting in the elder's seat, managing one-sixth of the family's wealth, and also serving as the representative for foreign negotiations. Being able to hold onto these is already beyond the limit of your ability, so why are you still working so hard?"

"..."

Looking at Thomas, whose brow was gradually breaking out in cold sweat, the young man said with a smile:

"Thomas, it seems that quite a few mishaps have occurred in the things you are responsible for recently? And you are still working so late... Is the task I arranged for you too heavy? Do you need me to help you unload the burden on your shoulders?"

"Lord Bobby... Lord Bobby... please listen to my explanation..."

After tasting deep dissatisfaction from the other party's words, the middle-aged man with golden hair hurriedly said:

"Regarding the Char Department Store, I have really tried my best. Under normal circumstances, that company would definitely have been dragged down.

It's just that no one expected that Old Char would come up with this set of compensation for selling goods, tying those victims who should have impacted the department store to his side, making the municipal side not dare to take action either.

And after discovering that the situation was wrong, I didn't just wait, but immediately contacted the other two families to respond, and even found a way to invite a Holy Spirit.

As long as that Holy Spirit causes large-scale casualties, the Road Administration Bureau has an excuse to intervene and stop the promotion of Char Department Store, but that Cleanup Bureau just happened to..."

"Enough, don't explain."

Curving his knuckles to knock on the table twice, after stopping Thomas's explanation, the young man said with a calm expression:

"Of course I know that you are just too unlucky, and not really stupid enough to be hopeless, otherwise you wouldn't have the chance to stand here and explain to me at all."

Looking at the middle-aged man with golden hair who subconsciously let out a long breath, the young man narrowed his eyes slightly and emphasized with a cold voice:

"But no matter if you have a justifiable reason or are forced to do so, you still messed up the things I entrusted to you!

Thomas, tell me, how much longer will it take for you to take down Char Department Store and get the things I want?"

"Soon! I'll be able to get it soon!"

Looking at the young man's narrowed eyes, Thomas couldn't help but tighten his expression and said with cold sweat all over his head: "The Holy Spirit of the Chengjin Sect was dealt with by the Cleanup Bureau, and other similar existences were also scared and didn't dare to take action, so we changed to solving the problem in the way of ordinary people.

The only daughter of the boss of Char Department Store has been kidnapped by us and is now locked in the Rose Manor of the Ma Sai Ni family. Although that old man is still holding on, he estimates that it won't be long before he surrenders and hands over the things you want!"

"Is that so?"

After identifying the expression of the middle-aged man with golden hair and confirming that he was not lying or stalling, Bobby Laien nodded and said with a flat expression:

"Thomas, I have said before that for dealing with merchants who climbed up from the wind and waves like him, whether it is commercial means or administrative suppression, neither is as easy to use as the most direct violent means.

It was you who coveted the assets of Char Department Store and worried about the counterattack from the Chamber of Commerce and councilors, so you requested me not to take action first, but after you went around in a big circle, the result actually returned to the starting point..."

Looking at Thomas, who was shaking again, the young man couldn't help but shake his head and said with some lack of interest:

"Fine, considering that you have been quite useful all these years, I forgive your stupidity this time, but you had better ensure that you can do what you say, otherwise... don't blame me for not thinking about the friendship of these years."

"I... about two weeks... No! One week! At most one week, I will definitely bring back the things you want!"

"You had better be able to."

After beating his subordinate who failed to handle the matter well, the young man lowered his head and continued to flip through the reports of the arms company, then asked:

"By the way, you came to find me in the middle of the night, what exactly is the matter?"

"Ah? Good news! It's good news!"

After hearing the young man's inquiry, the middle-aged man with golden hair finally remembered his intention, hurriedly stepped forward two steps carefully, and placed the registration form on the table with both hands.

"Lord Bobby, the person marked on this is a newly hired employee of the Cleanup Bureau."

A new employee of the Cleanup Bureau?

The young man behind the table raised his eyebrows, picked up the registration form and took a look, then said with some surprise:

"Li Ang... Laien? That woman from the Cleanup Bureau actually recruited a new employee from our family?"

"No, that person has black hair, and his ancestral home is Laien County, so it should just be the same surname."

After briefly explaining Li Ang's situation, the middle-aged man with golden hair said with some excitement:

"But this person visited today, saying that he suspected his ancestors might have some connection with the Laien family, and it seems he has the intention of claiming kinship.

And 'that' ability of yours happens to be able to absolutely control your own bloodline and subordinates, so as long as I list him in the genealogy, you can bury a nail in that Cleanup Bureau!"

An employee of the Cleanup Bureau... came to me to claim kinship?

After hearing Thomas's words, the young man's brow frowned again, and his fingers began to subconsciously tap the registration form on the table, starting to suspect whether the Cleanup Bureau side had discovered something.

After all, an employee who just joined the Cleanup Bureau and whose strength is not yet strong, took the initiative to come to the door to claim kinship and stepped into the range of his "authority"—this is simply a pie falling from the sky, and the opportunity is too good to be true.

But could this good opportunity delivered to the door actually be a trap aimed at him? For example... um... this possibility seems even lower...

After recalling the terrifying record of a certain red-haired woman, the corners of the young man's mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, mocking his own suspicion and whimsical ideas.

Setting a trap... Why have I been so honest for so many years and almost never used my ability outside the Laien family?

With that woman's strength, as long as one is suspected by her, or even targeted by her, even a true god who has descended would be beaten until their head is covered in bags, and it's even possible to be directly killed! With my level now, am I worthy of having her spend the effort to set a trap?

"Fine, I'll record a merit for you!"

After mocking his own suspicion, a slight smile finally appeared on the young man's face, and he said to the middle-aged man with eyes full of joy:

"If this matter can really be accomplished, allowing me to bury a nail in that Cleanup Bureau, besides stabilizing your position, I can also give you some rewards beyond imagination.

Except for a young appearance, a healthier body, stronger functions, and even extra lifespan—these can all be given!"

"Thank you, Lord Bobby! Thank you, Lord Bobby!"

"Don't thank me, this is what you deserve."

Looking at Thomas, whose complexion was flushed red and whose face was full of ecstasy, the young man smiled:

"If you make a mistake, you have to accept punishment, and if you do the right thing, you should naturally have a reward... But regarding this matter, I am not prepared to come forward directly."

After staring at the middle-aged man with golden hair for a while, the young man curled his lips and said with a smile:

"The fewer people who know about my ability, the better, so I am prepared to give you a portion of the power of 'domination', allowing you to have the ability to control that Li Ang, and act as the 'middleman' between him and me.

From now on, the information he obtains from the Cleanup Bureau side will be organized by you and presented to me alone, and no one is allowed to look at it... Oh, and one more thing."

After raising his hand to his mouth and making a gesture of pulling a zipper, the young man looked at the cannon fodder in front of him who was overjoyed, and added with a smile:

"I just gave a new order to your soul. Once my existence is revealed, your soul will immediately self-destruct.

So when you communicate with that Li Ang, you had better pay attention to your words. I don't want you to turn into a lump of rotten meat without a shape because of such a stupid thing as a slip of the tongue!"

After hearing the young man's warning, Thomas couldn't help but tighten his expression and hurriedly agreed.

"K... Known... Lord Bobby, don't worry, I will definitely..."

"Enough, there's no need to say nonsense."

Finally hearing a piece of good news, the young man, whose mood was still quite good, lowered his head and continued to work at his desk while asking:

"Thomas, is there any other news? If not, then you should go do your work."

"I'll go right now! This time I definitely won't let you down!"

Not only did he successfully escape a disaster, but he even obtained a great benefit. The middle-aged man with golden hair, whose eyes were full of joy, hurriedly made a guarantee, then returned to his room to call the butler, and went to find the elder who managed the family members' identities overnight, preparing to record that guy named Li Ang into the register.

However, less than five minutes after he left, a figure wearing a black coat, taking advantage of the cover of night, floated all the way to the fifth floor from the shadow of the outer wall, then strangely opened the locked window from the outside and directly entered the bedroom of the middle-aged man with golden hair.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 502 =====