Chapter 5700

Quickly, Jiro Kobayashi ascended the sinking corridor, his heart pounding with anticipation. Spotting Charlie and Don Albert, his face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly bowed to greet them. "Hello, Mr. Wade, Don Albert!" Jiro Kobayashi couldn't help but be intrigued by the unfamiliar face of Steve Rothschild, with his distinct Caucasian features. But he knew his place and didn't dare pry. As a semi-free person in the dog breeding farm, he understood it wasn't his business to be nosy. So, he politely addressed Steve, "Hello, sir!" Steve, deducing from his name that Jiro Kobayashi was Japanese, was also curious about his identity. He was even more intrigued by this place they were in. Charlie, observing Jiro Kobayashi's beaming face, smiled and inquired, "Jiro, how have you been faring here lately?" "It's been good!" Jiro Kobayashi replied, his smile radiant. "Everyone has been kind to me, and everything is going well." Jiro Kobayashi now enjoyed a modicum of freedom within the confines of the dog breeding farm. Although he couldn't leave, he had some liberties in other aspects. Charlie patted Jiro Kobayashi on the shoulder and gestured towards Steve with a smile. "Jiro, this is Mr. Rothschild from the United States' Rothschild family. He's the guest I've invited today. I plan to take him down for a visit. I'll have you introduce him later." Upon hearing the name Rothschild, Jiro Kobayashi was taken aback and muttered to himself, "Roth... Rothschild family?!" The Rothschild family had a prestigious reputation in Japan. In the Japanese consciousness, the three most famous English surnames were MacArthur, Soros, and Rothschild. MacArthur's fame was self-explanatory. After Japan's defeat in World War II, this five-star general became the de facto ruler of Japan. He was even considered the "Japanese Emperor Emeritus" and had the audacity to act arrogantly, repeatedly humiliating Emperor Showa. When he left Japan, a million Japanese people bid him farewell, a puzzling sight indeed. Soros gained notoriety in Japan due to the financial giant's strong-arm tactics. He caused the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and occasionally manipulated the yen, causing great suffering for the Japanese people. Formerly successful individuals in Japan would occasionally bang on tables at izakayas, exclaiming, "Damn you, Soros! If it weren't for Soros, I'd be a second-generation rich and wouldn't have ended up working at a 7-Eleven!" As for Rothschild, they were considered true demonic figures in contemporary Japanese society. Every time Japan was exploited by the United States, the shadow of the legendary Rothschild family loomed large. While Soros only plundered cash from the pockets of the Japanese people, the Rothschild family would bring American tanks and demolish half of the Japanese people's homes. Even three-year-old children in Japan knew that the Rothschild family was the undisputed number one family in the world. Jiro Kobayashi couldn't fathom why Charlie would bring someone from the Rothschild family here, nor did he understand the family's intentions. Amidst his confusion, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he whispered to himself, "Damn it! When the Hogwarts father and son first arrived, they kept claiming to be relatives of the Rothschild family. Could it be that this Mr. Rothschild is here to take them back?" Noticing Jiro Kobayashi's bewildered and shocked expression, Charlie inquired, "Jiro, what's on your mind?" Jiro Kobayashi snapped out of his thoughts and quickly replied, "It's nothing, Mr. Wade, nothing at all..." Afterwards, he respectfully said, "Mr. Wade, Mr. Rothschild, and Don Albert, if you're ready, let's head down together!" Charlie nodded and said, "Lead the way." Jiro Kobayashi bowed ninety degrees and turned to descend the stairs, with Charlie following closely behind. As they made their way down, Charlie waved at Steve and grinned. "Let's go, Steve. I'll introduce you to a couple of people." "Meet someone?" Steve asked, surprised. "Mr. Wade, who am I meeting?"

Charlie smiled enigmatically and replied, "You'll find out when we get there." With that, he proceeded down the stairs. Steve hadn't anticipated this sudden visit, leaving him little time to ponder. He hastened his pace to catch up with Charlie. Upon reaching the basement level, Steve realized it was a miniature prison. Before him stretched a long corridor, lined with rooms enclosed by reinforced concrete walls and iron bars. Each room had no wall facing the corridor, only iron bars that allowed a full view of the interiors. Even the modest toilets inside had low walls, exposing the occupant's head when in use. Though completely underground, the air and temperature were no different from above. Charlie had expected a peculiar odor, but he felt no discomfort whatsoever. Don Albert, standing beside him, explained, "Master Wade, we installed a fresh air system when constructing this place. The air inside circulates twice an hour, and we have central dehumidification, so it never feels damp even underground. We also have central air conditioning, ensuring warmth in winter and coolness in summer, making it quite comfortable." With a smile, Don Albert glanced at Steve and added, "There's an American word, right? Something about humanity, I believe?" Steve casually responded, "Humanitarian." "Yes, exactly," Don Albert chuckled. "We've incorporated many humanitarian aspects here." Afterwards, he hurriedly approached Charlie's ear, whispering, "Master Wade, ordinarily I don't activate the fresh air and air conditioning here. I prefer not to provide those scoundrels with too much comfort. As for last night, I mentioned your impending arrival, prompting Jiro to open them ahead of time. Once you depart, I instructed Jiro to close them." Charlie nodded approvingly, offering a smile as he commended, "Impressive, Don Albert. Your thoughtfulness is truly commendable." He then leaned over, patted his jacket pocket, and whisper in Charlie's ear, "Master Wade, I've also brought the equipment for human calligraphy. If you wish, I can write a few words on their foreheads, even if they're from the Rothschild family!" Charlie smiled and replied, "There's no need for that today. No bloodshed." Saying so, he turned to Jiro Kobayashi and instructed, "Jiro, lead the way. Let's go see that father and son." "Alright!" Jiro Kobayashi eagerly stepped forward and halted in front of the third cell. Turning around, he announced, "Mr. Wade, they're in here." Charlie had already arrived by the time Jiro Kobayashi finished speaking. Upon seeing Charlie, Walter, lying on the sickbed, turned pale with fear, trembling involuntarily. Equally anxious, his father had no idea what Charlie's sudden appearance meant. At that moment, Steve Rothschild arrived, his gaze falling upon the disheveled father and son within the cell, momentarily taken aback. Truth be told, he was unfamiliar with the pair, lacking any recollection of either. The extensive Rothschild family boasted numerous relatives, with main family members like Steve often keeping their distance from others, including distant kin. While Steve had perused information and photographs of the father and son prior to his arrival, seeing them detained before him left him momentarily at a loss. Yet, even though he didn't recognize them, Walter's father recognized him. It's common for a master not to recognize their servant, but what servant doesn't hold their master dear? The instant he identified Steve, he froze, as if struck by lightning. After a brief pause, he regained his composure, believing Steve had come to their rescue. Hope surged within him and his son, clinging to the belief that the Rothschild family would send aid. Finally, Master Rothschild had arrived! With a resounding thud, he dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he beseeched Steve, "Mr. Rothschild, you've come to rescue us at last! Please, make the decision for us, father and son! Let's ensure that bastard named Wade faces justice!"