Chapter 75: Tarasov Rejected, Root Joined (5000 words) (Page 1/2)
"Mr. Burton, how about we talk about The Count of Monte Cristo?"
Tarasov faintly sensed that David was implying something.
But he still maintained a calm expression:
"Edmond Dantès is fascinating, enduring hardships yet remaining unbroken, although he completed his revenge, he still couldn't escape the shadow."
David glanced at Smith on the ground, who had woken up but was still pretending to be unconscious, and decided not to speak in riddles.
"Then what about you? Has your revenge been completed? Charlie? Or should I call you Tarasov?"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Tarasov's face change, but Smith, who was at his feet, also trembled all over.
He was actually brought right to Tarasov by David?
They had been trying to figure out who Tarasov was, and now he could know just by opening his eyes?
Was this David tricking him, or was it really like this?
Smith, whose heart was racing, quietly opened a narrow slit and peeked at the opposite sofa.
Unfortunately, with him lying face down on the ground, he could only see the black dress shoes and a pair of black casual pants.
Other than that, he couldn't see any other information.
If he wanted to see the person's face, he would have to lift his head.
But as long as he lifted his head, his act of pretending to be unconscious would definitely be discovered. Helplessly, Smith could only close his eyes tightly again, pretending the previous tremor was an unconscious twitch.
Across on the sofa, Tarasov could no longer maintain his calm expression. After taking a long breath, he didn't become more flustered, but instead regained his composure.
Since things had come to this, and the person opposite hadn't made a move, there must be something he needed.
So, just like the young man said, let's talk.
He didn't ask about what had already happened, like how did you know, which would be pointless.
Since he knew, he knew. Going back to ask for the reason was meaningless.
So he looked directly into David's eyes and said again:
"What do you want to talk about?"
David chuckled, deliberately stepping on Smith's head forcefully, making his face have intimate contact with the ground.
"Let's talk about cooperation. This is my good faith gesture to you."
"Smith Vitali? I don't want him, I want his corpse."
Bang!
As soon as Tarasov finished speaking, the young man opposite him pulled out a gun without hesitation and shot Smith on the ground in the head.
Bang!
David added another shot to Smith's chest, then looked up and asked:
"Is this acceptable?"
Smith, who had suddenly become a corpse, never expected that after holding on for so long, thinking he wouldn't die anymore, he would suddenly die directly because of a single sentence from Tarasov.
This David not only didn't give him any chance to bargain for his life, but he didn't even give him a chance to resist at the end!
It was as if his purpose was to die right here, right now, in front of Tarasov!
Not just him, even Tarasov, who had arranged countless hits, had his eye twitch slightly after seeing David's decisiveness.
Arranging assassinations and seeing a fresh corpse in person are two different things.
Moreover, he was familiar with this two-shot method; only the group of well-trained assassins under the High Table would strictly perform confirmation shots like this.
So the identity of the person who came was almost obvious.
Tarasov narrowed his eyes, a dangerous light flashing and disappearing in his gaze.
He didn't like the High Table, nor did he like the initiative always being in someone else's hands.
"Are you with the High Table?"
Unexpectedly, the young man opposite denied it without hesitation:
"No, oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?
Let's formally introduce ourselves. My name is David, and I'm an intern at Princeton-Plainsboro.
I am organizing a movement to overthrow the High Table, and I need a lot of help.
And you are the partner I have chosen."
Tarasov was stunned for a moment, then he started laughing, laughing louder and louder.
He had to admit that he hadn't laughed so hard in a long time.
There was actually someone in this world who wanted to overthrow the High Table?
Or did David simply not understand the High Table's influence in this world?
Even he only wanted to use the power of Princeton's underworld as a bargaining chip after gaining control, to negotiate with the High Table and have this territory assigned to him.
After all, there had been precedents before, such as the Bowery King.
So he had never thought about confronting the High Table directly.
Anyone who had learned about the High Table would know that it was like an iceberg.
What it showed was merely the tip.
Therefore, when he heard this guy named David in front of him say such a naive thing about overthrowing the High Table, he couldn't help but want to laugh.
Ridiculous, ridiculous, it was truly too ridiculous.
It was like trying to stop a freight train with your bare hands; nothing could be more so.
David quietly waited for Tarasov to finish laughing before continuing:
"If you're done laughing, I think we can continue our discussion.
The High Table you imagine is an invincible behemoth.
But in my opinion, the High Table with its twelve seats is nothing more than a house of cards that will collapse if one card is pulled out.
The power within the High Table is too dispersed, which means this organization is bound not to last long.
The other seats are happy to see one of the seats suffer, or even completely withdraw from the stage.
That way they can control more and better resources.
So, the Russian Mob incident is just the beginning."
Tarasov looked at the blood on the ground that was gradually soaking the carpet and no longer mocked the young man's naivety.
Being able to know that the High Table had twelve seats, this David had clearly come into contact with the High Table's power and had some understanding of it.
It was just that in his opinion, David did not have a correct understanding of the strength of both sides.
He had originally planned to directly refuse David.
But he suddenly wanted to know who had given David the courage to want to overthrow the omnipresent High Table.
"Of course I know. I haven't been doing nothing for the past three years.
But the more I look at this High Table, the more terrifying it becomes. If you look closely, which business here doesn't have the shadow of the High Table behind it?
Which street doesn't have the High Table's stamp on it?
If the High Table's Russian Mob forces in this area hadn't suddenly fallen into chaos,
I'm afraid the pattern here would have lasted for a long time before changing.
But even so, I wasn't arrogant enough to challenge the High Table.
The High Table has twelve seats. Even if they are not united, the strength of any single seat is more than enough to deal with us."
Hearing Tarasov's words, David smiled slightly, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if realizing something:
"Look at my memory, did I forget to tell you something? Pushkin was killed by me, and Tarasov's lieutenant was also killed by me.
The chaos of the Russian Mob in this area was all caused by me.
See, the High Table people aren't gods either, they bleed, and they die."
Hearing this, Tarasov sat up straight, his face showing a serious expression.
If these things were really done by David, then it at least meant that David had a force behind him that was no less inferior to his own.
"These are unsolved cases. How can you prove that you did it?"
David threw out a small USB drive:
"The bribery records from Pushkin's computer, is this enough?"
Tarasov took the USB drive and didn't verify if it was real. Since David dared to produce this, the hits were most likely done by David.
Thinking of this, Tarasov finally lost his dismissive attitude.
Although David opposite him was young, he clearly had the qualifications to be on equal footing with him.
But this was still not enough against the High Table, even with himself added, it was still not enough.
"I admire your courage in taking action against the High Table, but I don't believe you have the strength to overthrow it.
The High Table not only controls underground operations, but also has its presence in fields such as technology, medicine, food, finance, and politics.
What you have proven now is nothing more than having the power to contend with its underground forces.
What if one day, the feds stand against you? Can you still win?"
David smiled. Tarasov's perspective on the issue was indeed sharp.
It was just that David had already prepared for these things.
"They can have their presence in those fields, can't we?
Or do you think we are only fit to stay in the shadows?
Living in this world, one must reach for the light. Those in the shadows are not called heroes."
Tarasov pondered for a while. His operation was not yet fully established, and if the matter were exposed, he would have no leverage to negotiate with the High Table.
So he refused with reservation:
"No, if the High Table truly shows signs of decline, I will know.
Only then will it be time for me to join you."
David shook his head. What a shrewd Tarasov, calculating costs and benefits so clearly.
He really didn't have many bargaining chips that could move Tarasov.
The corpse at his feet, whose blood was almost drained, was just a matter of dying sooner or later for Tarasov.
It really wasn't a good bargaining chip.
His growing power was also not something worth mentioning for now.
So, he could only use other methods.
"Since you are unwilling to join us, I won't force you.
However, in the near future, I will completely eradicate HR's influence in Princeton as well.
When that day comes, I want you to operate according to my rules."
When Tarasov heard the name HR, his interest immediately piqued.
This David knows quite a few secrets.
It seems he wants to strike at the High Table's influence in Princeton in both the underworld and the legitimate world.
This resolve is truly not small, but David's last sentence made him a little uncomfortable.
Is this the tone for discussing cooperation?
This is clearly a naked threat!
He could accept negotiation, but he didn't want to be threatened. Tarasov twitched the corner of his mouth:
"What if I say no?"
David still smiled, but his eyes were full of coldness:
"Then when the day comes that you say no, I'll just have to take you down with me."
Tarasov smiled again. He had probably heard such words so much that he was used to them.
As the boss of a newly rising criminal organization, such scenes played out every day.
But the final result was still that he survived, and others died.
Since David wasn't going to kill him here, David would miss his best opportunity!
"Is that so? Many people have threatened me, but I'm still sitting here just fine."
Having said this, David's purpose for coming today had actually been achieved.
Tarasov's refusal was also within his expectations.
People who are bosses wouldn't want to be subordinates again.
But David had not told Tarasov one piece of information: the High Table was preparing to deal with him.
The Bowery King was just an exception; the High Table wouldn't want another Bowery King to appear near them.
So, when Tarasov suffered losses, he would naturally remember what David said today.
At that time, when Tarasov took the initiative to come to him, the relationship would no longer be cooperation but the relationship between an employee and a boss.
David stood up, ready to leave, but before leaving, he still left three statements.
"Well, Pushkin back then probably thought the same way you do, but he's already dead now.
Alright, that's all I'll say. I hope you like the gift I gave you.
Oh, right, if you want to inform the High Table, I suggest you think about why I was able to find you."
Seeing David truly leave with his people without any hesitation.
Tarasov's expression was somewhat unreadable.
This was the first time he had encountered such a negotiation.
On his face, who was determined to become the underground boss of this area, there was a look of hesitation for the first time.
He was actually threatened with his life by a young kid.
And what was even more terrifying was that he actually felt this kid in front of him could easily kill him.
Just based on his psychological composure of shooting someone without blinking, this is definitely a very dangerous young man.
If it wasn't for David's opening statement being about overthrowing the High Table, he would probably have considered cooperating with David.
He lacked such talent; having David work for him should have been the best arrangement.
It's a pity, going against the High Table, he didn't think David had much chance of winning.
But since David threatened his life, he had the intention of having his people take David out.
But just as David said, he had actually always overlooked the reason why David was able to find him.
Because he had always focused on the correctness of the result, but now that he thought back, this was the question he should have been thinking about the most.
Living under an assumed identity as a high school history teacher, he spent most of his time remotely controlling the organization's actions.
So where did David get his information?
Was it an insider? Was his cover blown? Or was it some unknown reason?
At least David seemed to know him very well, but conversely, his impression of David was still only based on the information David revealed.
As for the team behind David, he had no clues at all.
As someone who deeply understood the principle of knowing yourself and your enemy, he naturally knew how dangerous this situation was.
His willingness to teach for three years was also to figure out the weaknesses of all his enemies.
It was clear that his weakness had also been figured out by someone.
Anyway, no matter what, before this problem was solved, he couldn't take any countermeasures against David.
This was the first time he had felt a sense of helplessness in the three years he had been strategizing.
Even when facing the High Table, he knew exactly what he was up against.
But facing David, this guy who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, he truly knew nothing.
Not knowing what David really wanted, not knowing David's weakness, not knowing David's true nature.
How was he, who knew nothing, supposed to deal with this David?
This guy wouldn't really come out on top, would he?
Tarasov shook his head, removing this absurd thought from his mind, took out his phone, and called his only completely trusted subordinate—Scarface.
"Help me investigate someone named David, he should be an intern at Princeton-Plainsboro. I'll send you a sketch later."
"No, don't take any action. I need to know who he's connected to."
"Yes, keep it quiet, don't let him notice. Set the priority to the highest. When my new order comes down, everyone is to go dark."
Tarasov, who had hung up the phone, walked to the window and looked at the river not far away, lost in thought.
...
Root, who had left the apartment building, asked with interest:
"Aren't you afraid of him? I've heard his name quite a lot recently. I didn't expect him to be such an ordinary middle-aged man."
"Afraid? If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come here. Besides, aren't you here?"
When Root heard that she was trusted, she immediately laughed:
"Me? Heh, how do you know I would save you?
Your relationship with the Machine is so good, to be honest, I'm very jealous.
Shooting you and then replacing you would be more in line with my interests."
David glanced at Root, who was speaking without conviction, and gave an explanation:
"Because you are the Machine's most loyal follower, and I am its chosen representative.
You wouldn't just stand by and watch God's avatar die, would you?"
After being called out by David's words again, Root's expression clearly showed frustration.
"David, has anyone ever told you that you are really too confident?"
David raised an eyebrow, turned his head, and looked at Root's delicate face, saying:
"Oh? Did I say something wrong?"
Root couldn't help but roll her eyes again:
"No, that's the most annoying part. You seem to see through everyone's personality.
Just like that Tarasov, even though he tried hard to maintain a calm expression, I read it through his micro-expressions.
He is wary of everything you said."
David nodded, not surprised by this at all:
"That's normal. Everything he wants can never be achieved on his own.
In the future, he will understand that the earlier he chooses to cooperate with me, the wiser the choice will be.
So, are you willing to join us?"
Root chuckled softly, as if she had finally won a round, because she knew David would invite her.
Otherwise, there would have been no need to bring her to see Tarasov.
Those words were spoken to Tarasov, but also to her.
Joining a team led by the Machine, to fight against America's largest criminal organization, the High Table, why would she refuse?
"Of course I'm willing, but before that, didn't you forget something?"
"I didn't forget. Look, aren't they here?"
David waved at the two people who were deliberately sitting low in the SUV by the roadside to avoid David's notice.
Reese and McCall, who had been discovered, smiled awkwardly and got out of the car.
"Uh, allow me to explain, we weren't here to follow you, we were here to check on an irrelevant..."
David waved his hand, interrupting Reese's explanation:
"Alright, no need to explain. Finch is worried about my safety, I understand.
Come on, give me and this lovely Root a ride. She will be our new member."
"Finch? Harold Finch? He's really still alive!"
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