Chapter 501: Nails and Domination (Combined)

It was a bit late, in a suite on the east wing of the main building of the Bobby Laien Manor.

"Lord Thomas."

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

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

We tallied the records they flipped through as per your request; there were about seventy books, mainly covering the last sixty years, involving six aspects: chronologies, annals, genealogical records, lists of missing and deceased persons, and industry reports..."

Other things were fine, but why were there lists of missing and deceased persons?

"Wait!"

Hearing this, the blonde middle-aged man 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, without going upstairs or leaving?"

"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, and had two maids serve in the pantry, while also assigning a servant to sweep leaves in the yard. If they had left, they would have been discovered immediately."

Then they really shouldn't have left...

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

So... did I overthink it? Were they really here to acknowledge their kin? But if they were just here to acknowledge kin, 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, frowning as he looked at the visitor registration form at hand.

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

Especially the daughter of the Minister of 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 been eyeing their family's arms business.

In this assassination incident, those damned rebels specifically used weapons that flowed out of their own arms company, most likely targeting this conflict to hand a knife to the Minister of Defense.

And the situation was as he expected; under his family's influence, the special investigation team had been prepared to ignore this clue, but after the daughter of the Minister of Defense joined, she immediately proposed investigating along the source of the weapons.

Fortunately, Lord Bobi reacted quickly, using his wife's birthday as an excuse to invite a large number of old nobles to 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 investigation's progress.

And if he hadn't pulled such a stunt to stall the daughter of the Minister of Defense, leaving enough time to clean up evidence and people, their family's arms company would definitely have been bitten hard this time, having a huge chunk of fat torn off!

Thinking of that female police officer who had sent over a dozen investigation letters and was determined to bite their family and not let go, the blonde middle-aged man's face darkened 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 worth mentioning. Their original slogan was just to drive the incompetent royal family off the stage, cede major power, and incidentally limit the power of nobles and their seats in the parliament.

But recently, for some reason, these rebels had suddenly become ten times more radical, even claiming that the royal family and nobles were lice in the crotch, sooner or later to be picked out and crushed to death! Now they were already his family's mortal enemies!

And the Bureau of Cleanup...

Tapping his finger on the registration form on the table, after making a heavy mark with his fingernail on the name Li Ang Bobby Laien, the blonde middle-aged man waved his hand to signal the butler to withdraw, then took the registration form and left the suite, going to the manor's main building through the connecting archway.

"Thomas?"

After hearing the knock, the young man who was looking at reports 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 always such a diligent person?"

"Lord Bobi."

After greeting him, facing the young man who looked about twenty-something, at most no more than thirty, Thomas, whose eyes were already lined with wrinkles, bowed respectfully:

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

"Hehe, it's different."

After inviting him in, the young man said with a smile:

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

And you, currently holding a seat as an elder, managing one-sixth of the family's wealth, and also serving as a representative for foreign affairs—being able to hold onto these is already beyond the limit of your ability. Why work so hard?"

"..."

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

"Thomas, the things you've been responsible for recently seem to have had quite a few mishaps? And now you're working so late... Is the task I arranged for you too heavy? Do you need me to help you lighten the burden?"

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

After tasting the deep dissatisfaction from the other's words, the blonde middle-aged man hurriedly said:

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

It's just that no one expected Old Charle to come up with this merchandise compensation scheme, tying those victims who should have been attacking the department store to his side, making the municipal side afraid to take action.

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

As long as that Holy Spirit caused a large-scale casualty incident, the Road Administration Bureau would have an excuse to intervene and stop Charle Department Store's promotion, but that Bureau of Cleanup 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 indifferently:

"Of course I know you're just having bad luck, not really stupid beyond saving, otherwise you wouldn't even have the chance to stand here and explain to me."

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

"But regardless of whether you have extenuating circumstances or were forced, you still messed up the task I entrusted to you!

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

"Soon! I'll get it very soon!"

Looking at the young man's narrowed eyes, Thomas felt his expression tighten and said with cold sweat on his forehead: "The Holy Spirit of the Chengjin Sect was dealt with by the Bureau of Cleanup, and other similar existences were also scared off and didn't dare to take action, so we changed to using ordinary people's methods to solve the problem.

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

"Is that so?"

After identifying the blonde middle-aged man's expression and confirming he wasn't lying or stalling, Bobi Bobby Laien nodded and said plainly:

"Thomas, I said before, dealing with a merchant who climbed up from the wind and waves like him, whether it's commercial means or administrative suppression, is not as useful as the most direct violent means.

It was you who coveted Charle Department Store's assets and worried about the backlash 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 a sense of boredom:

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

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

"You'd better be able to."

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

"By the way, you came to find me late at night, what exactly is the matter?"

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

Hearing the young man's inquiry, the blonde middle-aged man finally remembered his intention, hurriedly stepped forward carefully, and placed the registration form on the table with both hands.

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

A new employee of the Bureau of Cleanup?

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... Bobby Laien? That woman from the Bureau of Cleanup actually hired a new employee from our family?"

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

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

"But this person visited today, saying he suspected his ancestor might have some connection with the Bobby Laien family, and seems to have the intention of acknowledging his kin.

And your 'that' ability 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 Bureau of Cleanup!"

An employee of the Bureau of Cleanup... coming to me to acknowledge kin?

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

After all, an employee who had just joined the Bureau of Cleanup and whose strength was not yet strong, taking the initiative to come to the door to acknowledge kin and stepping into his "power" range, was simply a pie falling from the sky; the opportunity was a bit too good.

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

Recalling the terrifying battle record of a certain red-haired woman, the young man couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly, mocking his own suspicion and wild imagination.

Setting a trap... why had he been so honest for so many years, almost never using his ability outside the Bobby Laien family?

With that woman's strength, as long as one was suspected by her, or even targeted by her, even a descending True God would be beaten until their head was covered in bumps; if they were unlucky, they might even be killed directly! With his current level, was he even worthy of having someone spend the effort to set a trap?

"Fine, mark you for a merit!"

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

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

Except for not being able to give you a youthful appearance, a healthier body, stronger functions, and even extra lifespan—these can all be given!"

"Thank you, Lord Bobi! Thank you, Lord Bobi!"

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

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

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

After staring at the blonde middle-aged man 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, acting as the 'middleman' between him and me.

From now on, the intelligence he obtains from the Bureau of Cleanup will be organized by you and presented to me alone; no one is allowed to see it... Oh, and one more thing."

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

"I just gave your soul a new order; once you reveal my existence, your soul will immediately self-destruct.

So when you communicate with that Li Ang, you'd better pay attention to your words; I don't want you to turn into a lump of rotten meat that can't be distinguished in shape because of such a stupid thing as a slip of the tongue!"

Hearing the young man's warning, Thomas felt his expression tighten and hurriedly agreed.

"I... I know... Lord Bobi, don't worry, I will definitely..."

"Enough, no need for 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 away! This time I definitely won't let you down!"

Not only successfully escaping a disaster but also gaining a great benefit, the blonde middle-aged man, whose eyes were full of joy, hurriedly made a guarantee, then returned to his room to call the butler, and went to find the clan 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 floated all the way to the fifth floor from the shadow of the outer wall, taking advantage of the night's cover, then strangely opened the locked window from the outside and entered the blonde middle-aged man's bedroom directly.

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