Chapter 84: Family and Family Members: 6661 Votes

Smiles vanished from the faces of these young people, replaced by complex expressions.

Some had fury in their eyes, others showed pity, and some simply wore curious stares.

Because of their varying degrees of involvement, they held different positions, views, and opinions on this execution.

Haylam stepped forward at this moment, “This is my issue. I need to apologize to everyone.”

Lans did not stop him this time.

Haylam briefly explained the situation, since some were unfamiliar with the details.

They worked for others, but because they were illegal immigrants, these people refused to pay wages and threatened to kick them out.

Lans helped them call their manager; the man not only refused to communicate but also cursed them, so Lans decided to teach them a lesson.

So they planned to move the alcohol from the warehouse—and they succeeded—but someone refused to join the family and left with the money.

By this point, some neutral observers had already begun siding with Lans—not because they hadn’t supported him from the start, but because they doubted whether “executing someone who made a mistake” was too harsh.

Since no one could guarantee they’d never make a mistake, yet now they largely understood the specifics and recognized the gravity of the matter.

Especially when they heard Lans had paid these people their wages according to his rules, and that Elvin and others were willing to deposit surplus funds into the company account, the impact of “I’m also a beneficiary, my interests were harmed” began truly guiding their thinking.

They felt they were one with Lans—they were family!

Lans’s act of letting Jason leave with the money completely erased any lingering resentment in people’s hearts.

He was a man who kept his word—that was enough.

The aftermath became even simpler: if anyone investigated Jason, and if Jason were captured first and broke under pressure, everyone here would be finished!

By now, there were no more issues. Elvin had already retrieved the oil drums. Alberto asked not a single question about what Lans intended to do with them.

Aside from holding gasoline, their only use was to be thrown into Angel Lake.

It was said that manufacturers now coated oil drums with waterproof paint so they could remain submerged longer without being corroded by the lake water.

This place was by the sea, and the lake water had some corrosive power.

Lans led the group into the warehouse. Jason, half-asleep, was startled when he saw so many people enter, but quickly realized what was happening and began begging desperately.

“Mr. Lans, Mr. Lans, spare me! I don’t want to die!”

“I haven’t done anything to harm you. No one knows you’re behind this. If I leave, no one will ever know!”

“I’m young—I have parents to support, and I haven’t done half the things I wanted to do. Lans, please, spare me!”

Seeing Lans remained unmoved, and all those eyes fixed on him, the pressure of death mounted—he realized begging was useless.

After a brief silence, he tried to lunge and kick Lans—but he couldn’t even manage it, only flailing his legs like a clown in place.

“You son of a bitch, you’re just a cowardly worm—what right do you have to decide if I live or die?”

“You’re not a judge—you’re a thief. You’re no different from me at heart!”

“Today you kill me, tomorrow someone else will kill you. We’re the same—you’ll die like this someday, Lans, I swear it!”

“You’ll die worse than I did!” He exhausted himself, stopped thrashing, but kept cursing.

Haylam whispered two words to Lans; after Lans’s approval, he used a cloth strip and a rag to gag Jason.

He’d tried everything. Now, he accepted his fate, hanging there.

Elvin spread a tarp across the ground to prevent blood from splattering, then stepped aside.

Lans picked up his pistol, took a few steps forward, “Jason, I’ll send your family your money in installments. They’ll know you lived well in the Federation.”

“As for your claim that I’ll die—I don’t deny it.”

“Everyone dies, Jason, but whether death has meaning matters to us.”

“Whether I die chasing my dream or protecting my family, to me, both are meaningful.”

“In the future, people will chat and say, ‘Ah, once in Jincheng there was a Lans—he did some bold things.’”

“Even if I’m just a meteor streaking across the night sky, at least for one moment, I illuminated this era!”

The young people behind Lans heard these calm words—and felt their blood boil!

He raised his pistol, aimed at Jason’s forehead. Jason, who had been cursing, went limp—his crotch dripped. He’d urinated.

“Die like a man. Leave us with a better impression.”

“And next life—don’t be disobedient again.”

But it was clear he couldn’t. Lans shook his head and pulled the trigger.

The bullet pierced Jason’s skull, spraying blood across a wide area. Two girls screamed—but quickly silenced themselves.

Elvin walked to Lans’s side, took the weapon from his hand, and without expression, fired another shot into Jason’s chest.

Then came Ethan, Mo Lisi, Enio, Merro—even the two girls, under everyone’s gaze, picked up pistols and fired one bullet each into Jason!

Looking at Jason, riddled like a sieve, Lans exhaled deeply, “We are family. I will fight anyone to protect you.”

…

“I think we should pour some cement first. Otherwise, if he’s at the very bottom and the drum breaks, part of him might float up.”

Watching them prepare to toss Jason in directly, Lans raised objections. Elvin, in his raincoat, paused, “You’re right. Ethan, pour some cement first!”

Lans placed two wooden boards at the bottom so Jason wouldn’t sink to the lowest point. Ethan pushed a cart over and poured in some cement, then they dropped Jason in and filled the rest.

Summer weather was especially hot—just one night would harden the outer layer. The drum’s lid was sturdy and tightly sealed.

It consisted of rubber and multiple mechanical latches, but Lans told them not to lock it yet.

That night, everyone’s mood was heavy, but this was a process each had endured—some things still struck them deeply.

Seeing their low spirits, Lans decided to say something uplifting.

“We’ve been talking about the company account. Many may not understand what this account is for. Since everyone’s here today, I’ll explain simply.”

“For example, our new clothes—this cost will be deducted from the company account. I intend to make this a standard practice.”

“Each year, we’ll get three sets of spring-summer wear, two sets of autumn-winter wear, and one winter set.”

“Besides, I plan to buy some houses. We’re growing larger—we can’t all sleep in the living room and hallways, especially since we have women among us.”

“Whether renting or buying, these costs will come from the company account—you bear none of it.”

“From now on, all medical expenses for anyone injured will be covered by the company account.”

“The vast majority of expenses are borne by the company—you don’t pay for any of it.”

“I know some will think it unfair: why do I fight up front while others enjoy the same benefits?”

“But as we’ve said—we are a family. You don’t count whether your parents gave your brother more or less than you. You’ll find we may have no blood ties, but our hearts are always together…”

The next morning, the cement inside the drum had hardened somewhat. Lans ordered the lid sealed and locked, then loaded it onto a cart.

After a night’s reflection, Lans believed most had already “awakened”—so today, everyone could smile.

The scenery of Angel Lake was truly beautiful!

Amid lush forests lay a vast blue lake; sometimes, standing at its edge, you couldn’t tell whether what you saw was water or sky.

Quiet, fresh, the sunlight seemed less harsh. Amid the crowd’s gaze, the drum containing Jason and everyone’s resolve was cast into Angel Lake.

Lans smiled, “Experts certainly won’t know—we’ve contributed to this year’s lake level rise.”

A joke only Jason could understand—hellish.

Next came camping, grilling. For the young, eating meat was always the happiest thing. Large chunks of meat roasted over charcoal sent an irresistible aroma into the air!

The boys stripped off their clothes and swam in the lake. They’d already forgotten Jason lay beneath the surface. As for whether he’d become another Jason, Lans felt no psychological burden.

The two girls grew lively again, even brought swimsuits—causing the boys to whistle loudly.

Sitting on a small hill, feeling the breeze, the lake surface rippled, reflecting the blazing sun and illuminating the smiles on everyone’s faces.

They didn’t pack up and leave until evening.

They took everything with them—except their troubles, left behind, sinking deep with Jason into the bottom of Angel Lake.