Chapter 88
Hidden Intent
A total victory as they desired; the juniors reach their climax. The deckhands, who have cheated death, are also frenzied with euphoria. Everyone cheers in excitement, their roars echoing across the sea:
- Long live JK!
- Thuong Tung is invincible!
Thuong Tung sternly corrects his juniors:
- Long live JK is correct! - Thuong Tung is invincible doesn't sound right. 'Invincible' sounds grating to the ears. Next time, omit those two words.
The employees nod, signaling they understand their boss's meaning. They split into groups, dispersing to handle the corpses and help the wounded gather in one place. Thuong Tung comes over to shake hands with Vo Than and the silent fellow:
- Without your help, I would spend the whole night sweeping up this trash.
He pats both on the shoulders and formally announces:
- From now on, you two are my comrades-in-arms!
Thuong Tung smiles at the other "beast." It understands the meaning, lowering its head to let its master rub its hair:
- Hyena, top-tier hunting!
The corners of Thuong Tung's mouth quirk into a tight-lipped smile, his narrowed eyes expressing deep satisfaction. The Hyena's voice is hoarse with a mixed accent, like a wild animal learning human language:
- Thank you, Boss!
Vo Than ignores the master and servant. He glances at the silent fellow, his mouth curling slightly at the 'attitude' that remains indifferent in the face of joy... because that blond guy has legalized the appearance of this person of unknown origin.
A previously completely nameless character—no one even knows what kind of wandering fellow Dang Khong is—formally exists in this world from this moment on.
But this has nothing to do with Vo Than. The show-off guy only wants good news after today's impressive debut. He takes out a towel to wipe his blood-stained hands:
- Being friends for over twenty years, every time you speak politely like a gentleman, my ears still itch. Damn it, I just want to punch you in the mouth!
Thuong Tung lets out a laugh, shaking his head, speechless at his crude friend. The blond man follows the captain and crew down to the cargo hold. Dang Khong and Vo Than stay to help the crowd clean the "trash" on the ship.
As they are not yet formal employees of the JK Corporation, it is best not to overstep. Half an hour later, is organized with concise, office-like tidiness. Finishing the inspection of the goods, Thuong Tung announces happily:
- This ship hold is truly the best in the world, bulletproof and impact-resistant. Celebrate, brothers. The cargo is still in its original condition!
Everyone cheers again. From afar comes the howl of sirens; everyone narrows their eyes, hands over their foreheads to block the light on their faces. Thuong Tung sees the Coast Guard arriving to handle the scene.
The team jumps onto the boat frowning at the brutal scene; except for the intact cargo hold, everything is heavily damaged. Not a single corpse remains whole: some are missing legs, some are missing arms; some are decapitated, others are crushed; some are riddled with holes like honeycombs, more terrifying than hell.
The Coast Guard has witnessed countless tragedies, but none turn their stomachs quite like this. They are afraid of Thuong Tung and his crew, who are smiling and saying hello. Smiles more 'cordial' than any gentleman's... send shivers down their spines... it feels as if these 'polite' men... have transformed into... demons in human guise.
The police do not want to see this macabre sight but still must take photos of the entire scene. Only two people—a man and a woman—examine from every angle, meticulously recording every single detail.
The Thuong Tung group is not surprised by the bravery of these two, for these two officers are famous nationwide for their iron spirit.
Since the day that female officer was promoted to Captain, stories of a family tragedy have spread among the people. This tragedy has forged the spirit of these two officers who always fight side by side, as solid as a rock.
Reality proves that, even facing this gruesome battlefield, that iron spirit remains unyielding, as if the hell before their eyes were just an ordinary accident.
Especially that guy with disheveled hair, weather-beaten like a cold-blooded thug. Ignoring the pungent smell of blood and the thick aura of death, he still carefully examines every wound, taking photos, and recording every detail in his notebook.
After observing and finishing his notes, the officer and his colleagues begin to converse. The Thuong Tung group sees that he maintains a serious and dedicated attitude. The female officer is equally strict in law enforcement; she fits the image of a "public servant" even more than her colleague.
Thuong Tung and his accomplices are not surprised by the police presence here, even though the "White Zone" is quite far from Cloud Sea Port. Cloud Sea belongs to The Dragon Descends City; the traffic here runs through various cities, connecting with Eternal Capital to become the nation's major artery.
To facilitate management, handovers, and criminal investigations, the government has restructured the system. The Police Captain and Vice Captain of Eternal have the right to participate in and command all police stations and personnel from Eternal to The Dragon Descends. A few days ago, the two went to Cloud Sea for work to discuss the action plan for the New Year.
The female officer waits for the Coast Guard Captain to finish introducing himself before she speaks:
- Hello everyone, I am Phuong Hoang.
The weather-beaten fellow then says:
- My name is Kim, from Investigation Unit Three.
Thuong Tung group welcomes them warmly and introduces their own names. Kim and Phuong Hoang nod. Although they have the power to interrogate and solve cases, the two do not want to abuse their authority to overshadow or surpass the Coast Guard Captain, who is the primary person in charge.
- The laws of the Prehistoric Kingdom allow for self-defense. If you accidentally kill someone, you can still enjoy amnesty. Preventing robbers, organizations, or individuals from killing criminals—none of these will be prosecuted. But... - the Captain frowns - for it to reach this level, it is simply unimaginably devastating...
He forcefully swallows the word "cruelty," replacing it with "devastating" to avoid unnecessary controversy, while omitting the rest of the sentence. He does not say everything, but everyone understands the hidden intent in that sentence. Thuong Tung sighs:
- Being kind to the enemy is being cruel to oneself! - Thuong Tung smiles gently, showing a refined and polite manner - Moreover... we are forced to be cold to intimidate the others... in order to... fix their predatory nature. This is also a warning: if criminals remain cruel, this devastating death will end the lives of those who didn't study when they were young and grew up to be robbers!
Thuong Tung expresses all his meaning, acting like a friendly Chairman welcoming honored guests:
- Do you comrades have any more doubts, or feel that anything has been handled improperly?
The actions of the Thuong Tung group are brutal but "legal." The police cannot refute them; the entire team completes the necessary formalities and tidily processes all the corpses. Kim coldly reminds them:
- Not all criminals are equally ferocious. Next time, you should control your emotions and handle the situation appropriately!
Vo Than twists the corner of his mouth slightly, hands in his pockets. Kim does not lower himself to notice such rude behavior. Thuong Tung ignores Vo Than's contemptuous appearance. The flat-topped fellow is belittling those types who love to play with hidden intents deep within their polite language. After the police leave, Vo Than sneers:
- Full of clichés, still trying to hack each other's brains!
Thuong Tung has no time for bickering. He calls a ship anchored nearby to move in and transfer the cargo. Everyone enthusiastically moves the goods and assists the wounded onto the new ship.
An hour later, the ship docks and clears customs smoothly. The victims are transferred to another vehicle to be taken to the hospital, while the medicines are loaded into containers to be driven back to the Corporation. JK, his son, and their trusted subordinates are already there waiting warmly. Thuong Tung immediately reports on the process of protecting the cargo:
- I should have shot all the bandits instead of fighting and causing the deaths of many brothers. I take full responsibility!
Thuong Tung has countless reasons for defense, yet he bluntly admits his mistake. He bows deeply, maintaining that posture without daring to move; his submissive attitude is like that of a subject kneeling before an Emperor. However, the only response to such humility is dead silence. The air seems to freeze, everyone's heart nearly stops beating, and the juniors tremble with fear.
The suffocating air chokes Vo Than's breath. He steals a glance at Hero, finding that the "Crown Prince" is not worried for Thuong Tung at all. He is ice-cold, as if he never knew this so-called real friend.
Hero pushes up his glasses; his classic half-smile no longer appears. His glacier-like face is cold to the bone… making… the other feel that if Thuong Tung is punished, this real friend will be turned into a stranger by his best friend in an instant.
The father is profound. The son is unpredictable. It should be a moment of celebration, yet the masters use an indifferent attitude that no one dares to look at directly to create a dark pressure.
Vo Than casts his gaze toward Dang Khong, finding that the other is slightly frowning. Such a subtle expression is extremely unusual on the face of this silent fellow, appearing as if even a person with a tightly-sealed mind is experiencing psychological fluctuations.
That is the fear everyone feels from being careless… fearing… they might disturb JK. Hero and his father see that although the Thuong Tung team dares not even breathe—their skin turning pale and purple from fear, sweat droplets streaming down their temples—the whole team still maintains their formation.
Facing the ones who hold the power of life and death, they bow in submission, ready to accept any punishment. In their servant-like appearance, they do not lose their fiery aura.
Hero and JK glance at each other and nod. Father and son are clearly satisfied… with… the posture of these people who are ready to risk their lives for the boss at any moment.
This intuition tells them that this group of people never dares to betray the JK and his son.
Hero walks forward and embraces his real friend. He pats the other's back, then pushes the shoulders that are still worried about being punished. The father's laughter immediately rings throughout the entire Corporation:
- Just a joke to make the house more lively, why so tense!?
The juniors finally breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads. JK is hearty; the old man does not hide his joy when seeing everyone prostrating themselves before the master's authority.
Hearing the old man's joke, Vo Than's spirit is finally released from that invisible pressure.
In the past, he always had to exert himself to flex his muscles to mold himself into the image of a "Ferocious God." Now, facing a man who can radiate majesty without needing to show off, he is still restless, afraid of losing a chance to prove himself.
Fear makes him feel like he is just a humble subject… fearing the majesty… of the master who tramples the whole world under his feet. Vo Than is afraid the JK and his son will discover his instability, so he slips into the crowd before being noticed.
A man who craves fame cannot stand the humiliation of showing weakness before the strong. He frantically scans around, hoping to find someone of his own kind.
The first person he looks at is Dang Khong. The silent fellow looks unchanged, but his throat moves slightly… like… forcefully swallowing saliva.
Vo Than's mouth opens slightly, a fleeting smile crossing his face… as if… it had never appeared. It turns out this silent fellow is not bottomless after all. Vo Than stops searching; the motivation he discovered from Dang Khong is enough to help him overcome his psychological weakness.
Vo Than confidently faces the JK and his son. At that moment, the silent fellow suddenly shifts his dark centers toward him. The back of Vo Than's neck itches; he stares straight to the left, only to see that Dang Khong is still the Dang Khong he has seen through. Vo Than no longer cares and focuses on listening to JK's hearty words:
- If you win in such a shameful way, you all will tarnish the reputation, prestige, and face built over many years—like a river flowing into the sea, never to return!
JK's words get drives the point home, letting his subordinates understand that hardships forge success. Countless fanatical admirers will surely praise today's bloody victory.
Everyone applauds for the wise and brilliant boss. JK offers a few words of encouragement and praise before addressing Thuong Tung and his gang. The blond man introduces everyone and the two new members in turn:
- Sir, Vo Than has been my good friend since childhood and is also my comrade-in-arms. - He turns to the silent fellow - This is Dang Khong, a newcomer who just joined the company.
JK takes the initiative to raise his hand, and the two shake hands with the boss in turn. Vo Than is excited. Dang Khong opens his mouth slightly, responding to JK's hospitality with a smile. JK narrows his eyes slightly, looking at that smile forming a sharp contrast with the expressionless face. Dang Khong slowly explains:
- I am sorry, I am not good at expressing my emotions. If I am inadvertently impolite, please forgive me, Sir!
JK utters an "Ah," signaling his understanding. The old man laughs heartily, waving his hand to indicate that everyone should not dwell on small details. After expressing his gratitude, Dang Khong walks toward Hero along with Vo Than. The three men shake hands and greet each other. Thuong Tung waits for this social scene to end, then introduces the final person to JK:
- Sir, this is Hyena, my trusted comrade-in-arms. This time, he, Dang Khong, and Vo Than, along with the bodyguard brothers and the sailors, risked their lives to protect the cargo. Without their help, I fear it would have been difficult to avoid failure!
Hyena bows in greeting. JK, Hero, and their inner circle look Hyena up and down. No one blinks at that bizarre-looking "creature." The reek of fresh blood radiating from the beast makes everyone frown and wrinkle their noses. JK remains enthusiastic about welcoming talent:
- This guy is so cool; it seems the Thuong Tung company is truly not simple...
Vo Than is long since tired of those who like to use metaphors to show off their superior methods. But he dares not be disrespectful; instead, he flatters and highly praises the company to win the hearts of both sides. Thuong Tung scoffs at his opportunistic friend and expresses his thanks to JK:
- We still have many flaws; should there be any shortcomings, I hope you will give us more guidance and warnings, Sir!
Hero has his hands in his pockets; his mouth, still biting a toothpick, is slightly upturned in a smile. Thuong Tung feels a surge of joy in his heart because his best friend is implicitly signaling:
"My father isn't acting; he is very satisfied with your polite style and humble demeanor, like a gentleman!"
JK has found someone cut from the same cloth, from the luxurious and elegant demeanor... to... a perfect image exactly like his own; the old man appears very happy. Thuong Tung feels the boss regards him as a long-time friend, secretly rejoicing and dreaming of a brilliant future.
The conversation, reeking of self-interest, comes to an end. JK reminds them to go and greet Dragon Claw and Saja—two of the bodyguards among the Four Dogs. Both sides shake hands, exchange a few polite words, and take their leave. Thuong Tung and the entire team respectfully bid farewell to the JK and his son. The old man nods and says:
- Everyone gets seven days off. After seven days, you officially come to work at the Corporation! Tomorrow, I will hold a press conference to tell the families of the fallen that their elderly parents still have their children to care for; I will send someone to serve them every day. For those lonely elderly people who no longer have anyone to rely on, if they wish, I will take them to the "Respect for Elders - Longevity Haven" nursing home belonging to the JK Corporation. For the wives and children of the fallen, the Corporation will provide a monthly allowance. If the children are in school, the Corporation will pay the full tuition. In any case, the Corporation also creates jobs for the widows and blood relatives of the dead. Whoever is talented can directly become an employee of the JK Corporation. Every wounded warrior, depending on the severity of the injury, enjoys different favors. For those who died in battle without a wife or children, these rights switch to their siblings; if there are no direct blood relatives, then the cousins will inherit!
JK pauses for a moment, waiting for the thunderous applause to subside before saying to the deckhands:
- From today, you officially become members of Spirit of the Sea maritime fleet!
JK Corporation does business and participates in has a stake in every industry and field of life, with a network spread across the globe. Spirit of the Sea not only trades, deals, and transports leased cargo at sea; this team is also the apex of that "centipede leg" network.
The Captain and every deckhand, even those who know nothing about the sea, dream of joining this prestigious place—where authority ranks second among all branches, status being only after the Corporation. The Captain and deckhands all think they are dreaming, each reaching a fever pitch of excitement, cheering loudly:
- Long live JK!
JK lowers his hand, meaning to say it's fine to be happy, but don't be too happy, lest it make the eyes of those who shouldn't be touched "itchy". Everyone laughs, understanding that JK refers to the upper echelons of power; the higher the power, the more envy, fear, and suspicion there is, especially toward someone like JK, who was once a congressman.
Although not every official is petty-minded, as long as one official becomes resentful, JK will have a headache cleaning up the aftermath. They suppress their excitement; the crowd and the Thuong Tung group bow in thanks and bid farewell again. Hero waits for them to drive away, glances at his father, and asks probingly:
- Who left the deepest impression on you, father?
JK raises the corner of his mouth in a half-smile:
- If I say I like that beast, would you believe me, my son?!
Hero is half-joking, half-serious:
- Whether I believe it or not, I must believe it!
Hero pauses, feeling the cold, sharp gaze JK casts at him… making… him feel as if his words are being… torn to pieces, just like back then. He smiles and pushes up his glasses:
- From childhood until now, has there been any time father said something but I didn't believe it?
JK smiles faintly at his son's classic habit. The old man enters the Corporation, remaining silent, not answering the hidden meaning or the induced meaning of the words… and only the father and son know whether this is… a joke… or… the truth.