Chapter 368: Murder the Heart! I Sent the Vice Prime Minister into a Faint!

In the office, a death‑like silence.

Lu Qingjun opened his mouth wide, feeling his brain completely useless, like a lump of paste being kneaded over and over. He stared at his brother, feeling that he was no longer a man but a deity‑demon perched atop the nine heavens, using heaven and earth as a board and all beings as pieces, casually manipulating the winds and clouds.

At the corner, David Cohen this time did not immediately shout; he just froze in place, eyes wide, mouth opening and closing unconsciously. After more than ten seconds, he grabbed the completely stunned Li Junjie beside him, his voice hoarse and trembling, with a tone both mad and reverent: "Did you see it… kid… did you see it… this is what the hell you call capital operation! This is what the hell you call… the hand of God! The boss isn't just doing business; he's orchestrating a dynastic turnover! He used a war to replace the heir of a London financial family! He's giving the British Empire a new heart!"

Li Junjie didn't drop anything in fright as before; the notebook in his hand was clenched tightly. He suddenly lowered his head, the Parker gold‑plated pen frantically scratching across the paper, emitting a neurotic "shashasha" sound. He wasn't recording; he was exerting all his effort to carve this miraculous logic into the depths of his soul! Fear and a feverish thirst for knowledge intertwined on his face.

James Reed collapsed onto the sofa, feeling as if all the bones in his body had been taken apart, lacking the strength even to move a single finger.

He finally understood completely.

From start to finish, he—the Vice Prime Minister of the British Empire, the No. 2 figure at Downing Street—was merely a pawn crossing the river in Lu Qingshan's hand.

Lu Qingshan used him to force the entire London Financial City to foot the bill for the war.

He then used him to prop up a new Shason Family king who was more obedient and aligned with his own interests.

And he, James Reed, personally signed that agreement, becoming the most crucial yet most ridiculous link in this "Great Plan."

He felt his political career, even his entire life, had become a huge, absurd joke.

Lu Qingshan stared quietly out the window, watching the Thames River flow placidly. His face remained as calm as a still well, yet deep inside a cold voice began to echo.

Replace the heart? No, this is only the beginning.

The old‑era vampires need to be replaced. And I am merely the one sent to clean the house.

Lu Qingshan turned, looking at the now‑hollowed Reed, and for the first time his face showed an almost gentle expression.

He stepped forward and personally handed the already signed memorandum into Reed's hand.

"Mr. Reed, now, do you think there's any problem with me having Wilson handle the handover?"

Reed trembled as he took the document; the thin sheet of paper felt as heavy as a mountain in his hand.

What could he say?

Say there's a problem?

Say he refuses to cooperate with Lu Qingshan to carry out the internal purge of the Shason Family?

That would be telling Lu Qingshan that he, James Reed, and the Downing Street behind him are on Henry Shason's side.

He dared not contemplate the consequences, nor could he recall them.

His brain had already become a wasteland.

He slowly, laboriously shook his head, the motion as stiff as a marionette.

Lu Qingshan nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer. He turned and instructed Ye Ning: "Notify Wilson, and have him come tomorrow morning to discuss the specific Settlement process with Mr. Reed. After all, this is the Empire's glory; sooner is better than later."

"The Empire's glory…"

James Reed heard those words and could no longer hold himself together, letting out a strange sound somewhere between a whimper and a grim laugh, his whole body collapsing completely.

"Then, enjoy the cooperation."

Lu Qingshan glanced at the German grandfather clock on the wall; the hour hand had just passed eleven.

He set down the memorandum, now slightly wrinkled from James Reed's fingerprints, and then made a "please" gesture toward the Vice Prime Minister of the British Empire.

"That's all for today's tea. Mr. Reed surely still has many important tasks to report to the Prime Minister, so I'll stop serving."

Eviction order.

Bare, with no concealment.

James Reed's body seemed to have its last ounce of strength drained by those words; he leaned on the sofa, struggled twice, and still could not stand.

Those legs that once surveyed the entire Parliament building were now as limp as two boiled noodles.

"Mr. Reed!"

Prime Minister's secretary Allen shouted, rushed over, and almost had to hoist the imperial minister off the sofa.

The two moved like soulless husks, shuffling step by step toward the office doorway under Ye Ning's expressionless "escort."

Each step felt like walking on a blade's edge.

Each step felt like treading the road to the guillotine.

The others in the office—Lu Qingjun, David Cohen, Li Junjie—held their breath, watching this arguably historic scene.

David Cohen, trembling with excitement, grabbed the arm of the now‑completely stunned Li Junjie beside him, lowered his voice, and shouted in a tone both mad and reverent:

"Kid! Did you see it… did you see it… what's called killing‑the‑heart? The boss pulls the opponent's heart out, then disdainfully tells them, 'Your heartbeat is too loud, it's disturbing my tea!'"

Li Junjie's mouth formed an "O," his notebook already fallen to the floor; he stared blankly, feeling his worldview being smashed and re‑forged hammer by hammer.

Just as James Reed's hunched, desolate silhouette was about to vanish outside the door, Lu Qingshan's voice sounded again behind them, unhurried yet steady.

"Oh, right, Mr. Reed."

His body froze; he stopped, daring not to look back, fearing—truly fearing—to hear any more news that would shatter his heart.

"As a cooperating partner, I'd like to give a friendly reminder."

Lu Qingshan's voice drifted leisurely, tinged with a chillingly playful nuance.

"My storage fees aren't cheap, charged per day. If you want your navy's actions to speed up, know that my patience is limited; I especially dislike being owed money, even if it's just a day."

Reed's shoulders collapsed dramatically, and Secretary Allen could even hear his teeth chattering.

Where is that a reminder?

It's clearly a debt collection! Said in the most elegant tone, uttering the most humiliating words!

Yet this isn't over.

"Also," Lu Qingshan paused, his gaze falling on the Zisha Tea Set, "please also convey this to the Prime Minister."

"If there's another similar cooperation opportunity, I hope she herself will come to my office."

Lu Qingshan lifted his tea cup and gave it a gentle blow.

"After all, the tea leaves I brought from my hometown aren't for just anyone to taste."

"And not everyone is qualified to sit at my card table."

"Isn't it?"

"Thump!"

From outside the door came a muffled thud of a heavy object hitting the ground, accompanied by the panicked scream of Prime Minister's Chief Secretary Allen.

James Reed, the Vice Prime Minister of the British Empire, at the very last moment of leaving the office, finally could not hold on and completely fainted.

The office door was gently closed by Ye Ning, cutting off all the outside clamor.

A death‑like silence.

"Huh—"

Lu Qingjun exhaled a long, long puff of foul breath, then his legs went weak and he slumped onto the carpet, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling.

"Brother… I… I just now almost thought I was about to die…"

David Cohen, like a madman, slapped himself hard, producing a crisp "Snap!" sound.

"Oh! My God! This isn't a dream! This isn't a dream!" He clutched his head, babbling incoherently while spinning in place, "He told the Vice Prime Minister to get lost, and even challenged the Iron Lady! I… I must record today in my family history! The most glorious day for the Cohen family!"

The whole office, only Lu Qingshan remained calm.

He walked to the massive floor‑to‑ceiling window, overlooking the city beneath his feet that once was the center of the world, and the gray sky reflected on the distant Thames River.

The wind has already arrived.

And he is the very force that raises the storm… Dongfeng Missile.