Chapter 5906

At this moment in the food factory, over 10,000 people were lined up waiting to receive the antidote that would eliminate the toxins from their bodies. After witnessing the situation in Cyprus, Charlie observed once more the remarkable discipline exhibited by these dead soldiers, cavalry guards, and their families. Even though they were eagerly awaiting the antidote, everyone adhered to the rules and stood in line in complete silence. Their leader had instructed them to remain quiet, and so, there was not a single word spoken; not even a whisper could be heard. The only sounds in the air were of clothing brushing against each other and the soft patter of feet as they slowly queued up. In order to prepare the antidote for them, Charlie had nearly exhausted all the pills he had brought with him. If he were to calculate the worth of these pills, with each rejuvenation pill valued at over 100 billion US dollars, he could easily imagine the world’s wealthiest individuals willing to pay trillions or even more. However, for Charlie, the cost or potential gains were not his concern. Pills could always be refined again, but the opportunity to save over 10,000 lives might never present itself again. Once the Warriors Den executed the significant blood exchanges among the various garrisons, most of the Cavalry Guards would likely fight fiercely against the invaders to protect their families. Even if the invaders brought the antidote to save them, they would probably not abandon their families to live alone. After receiving the antidote, everyone took it on the spot as required. It remained unclear whether this was a prearranged plan or a spontaneous decision. After taking the antidote, they returned to the queue and knelt down on one knee, remaining silent. Once all received their antidote and consumed it, the entire factory area was filled with people kneeling in a square formation. In unison, they knelt down, looking up at Charlie with eyes brimming with gratitude and respect. Chance Yarrow, the commander of the Cavalry Guard, stepped forward, knelt on one knee before Charlie, and solemnly stated, "Mr. Wade, all of us—my brothers in the Cavalry Guard and the dead soldiers—are willing to follow you to the end in this life and will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!" Charlie smiled and replied, "I am not a warlord or a leader of bandits. If it weren't for the Warriors Den taking my parents from me, I wouldn't want to be embroiled in such matters. It's the same with all of you; had you not been forced by the Warriors Den for generations, you wouldn't have had to become killers. Starting tonight, we will send you to safe locations in batches. If one day I, Charlie Wade, need your assistance, it will be to confront our common enemy. Once the Warriors Den is eradicated, you and your families will be entirely free. You can go wherever you choose and do as you please; I will not interfere." There was no one who did not wish for an army composed of Cavalry Guards and dead soldiers. They had been hardened and trained, even in inhumane ways. They were true killing machines, capable of generating a continuous stream of wealth if turned into mercenaries. Yet, Charlie felt no greed for such an army. Once the Warriors Den was eliminated, he had no intention of retaining the Dragon Temple. At that point, he would grant these Cavalry Guards, dead soldiers, and even the Dragon Temple and its tens of thousands of soldiers complete freedom. Moved, Chance Yarrow respectfully said, "I have instructed everyone not to speak, so I will articulate everything on your behalf. Mr. Wade has given us a new life. Regardless of whether you can employ us, we will always heed your commands. In all matters and at any time, if you direct us, we shall not disobey! This promise is not only ours but will also be upheld by our descendants!" With that, he clasped his hands together and raised them high above his head. In the factory, a gust of wind arose. It was the powerful wave produced by everyone simultaneously raising their hands above their heads. Charlie understood the weight of this promise—heavier than Mount Everest. Although he knew he likely would not make use of them, he was still touched and did not shy away. He nodded slightly and expressed, "Then I thank you all in advance!" He then turned to Chance Yarrow and instructed, "Commander Yarrow, please compile a list of the first batch of evacuees tonight and have it ready by dark." Chance Yarrow immediately responded, "I will follow your orders!" At that moment, a soldier from the Dragon Temple rushed in and informed Charlie and Jack, "Mr. Wade, Inspector Lee, there’s a car approaching, and there’s only the driver inside." Jack immediately questioned with caution, "Are you certain only one person is in the car?" The soldier confirmed, "Yes, our sentries are positioned at the commanding heights and can see everything within a ten-kilometer radius. There is indeed only one person and one vehicle." As he spoke, his satellite phone buzzed, and he promptly activated it, receiving a photo transmitted via satellite. The image displayed the driver’s face, captured by the sentry using a high-powered camera. Jack glanced at it and sighed in relief, stating, "This man is the former owner of the food factory. He’s probably here to check on the progress of the upgrades." Then, Jack instructed, "Inform the crew outside. If he’s merely observing, let him be. If he tries to peek within, don’t let him in. If he asks to see me, I’ll step out to meet him." "Understood, Inspector Lee!" The Dragon Temple soldiers quickly relayed Jack’s orders. Meanwhile, the factory director was behind the wheel, humming a cheerful tune.

Since selling the factory, he had truly embraced the joy of retirement. He no longer needed to rise early, liaising with suppliers, or struggling to oversee employees to deter them from laziness or theft. It was no wonder everyone enjoyed relaxation; it turned out that lying down was far more comfortable than standing when there was no lack of food or drink. However, he still had many final payments to collect and was curious about the progress of the factory’s upgrades and transformation. Moreover, Jack had left him a stipulation: should Jack's capital chain fail and default, he could seize a deposit of $100,000 without issue. Thus, he was in a rather conflicted state; on one hand, he wished Jack would settle his final payments quickly, but on the other hand, he hoped for a total default. These contrasting feelings were advantageous to him; no matter how things unfolded, he likely stood to benefit. His only worry was that events might cease progressing. For this reason, he felt compelled to see the situation firsthand and determine if the transformation and upgrade were proceeding smoothly. Initially, he expected the factory to be bustling with activity, but upon arrival, he found the entire factory gate locked, with no vehicles in sight. It appeared that operations had been halted. He parked at the gate, got out, and paused to listen but heard no commotion coming from inside. Feeling pleased, he pondered: "Could it be that the guy’s capital chain has genuinely collapsed? After all, there’s no reason he hasn't started working after all these days. Even if he had to wait for equipment, dismantling the old machinery and renovating the infrastructure should have begun." With that doubt in mind, he quickly approached the door and discovered it locked from within. He crouched by the iron gate to peer inside. At that moment, a man stepped out and furrowed his brow, asking, "What brings you here?" The boss hurriedly replied, "I’m the previous owner of this place. Your supervisor still owes me a substantial amount in final payments, so I came to check on things." The man responded, "You want to see the person in charge, right? Please wait a moment while I call him." After saying so, he turned and went back inside. Shortly after, Jack emerged. Seeing the boss, he inquired curiously through the iron gate, "What brings you here?" The boss smiled and explained, "I was out and just stopped by to see how the progress is going. After all, this was my life's work." He asked Jack, "By the way, why has work not yet begun? I thought the upgrades and renovations were already in progress." Jack feigned disappointment, replying, "Don’t even mention it. One of my partners ran into some issues and wanted to back out. I’ve been juggling his responsibilities these past couple of days. Also, I’ve been reaching out to see if I can find a new partner. But there’s no need to worry; our contract is for two months, and I promise to pay you the balance within that timeframe." "Absolutely," the boss said, smiling. "I’m not worried about you making the payment. I just wanted to see how the transformation of the place would turn out." Jack nodded, pretending to be calm while appearing uncertain and responded, "If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to start construction in three to five days. I’ve allocated all the flexible funds I have, and now it’s merely a matter of waiting on the funds from our partners to kick off construction. After the payments settle, I will gradually invest in other projects. I believe we shouldn't encounter any issues." With that, Jack added, "But don’t forget; I’ve already given you $200,000. If we can't resolve the funding issue, $100,000 of that will serve as your liquidated damages." The boss detected Jack's apprehension, sensing that the situation was more complicated than Jack let on, which only heightened his excitement. The factory had changed hands only a few days prior. He smiled and said, "You’re quite capable; I believe there will be no problems. This reassures me." Not wanting to linger any longer, he told Jack, "I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave. I really only stopped by today out of curiosity. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out, and I will do what I can to help." Jack nodded, responding, "Alright, wait for my update regarding the funds. Regardless, I can make an escape, but I can't flee just yet. The factory hasn’t been fully transferred. If you can't collect the balance, the factory is still yours. So rest easy." Upon hearing this, the boss felt as though Jack was facing significant difficulties. Elated, he remarked, "I’m relieved to hear that! I’ll be sure to keep my spirits up about it! That will be all for now; you keep busy, I’m off!" As the boss drove away, Charlie stepped out of the factory and stood beside Jack, commenting, "Inspector Lee, that guy seems quite pleased." Jack nodded, saying, "He likely thinks I'm in a bind. I mentioned we’d be able to start work in three to five days, so he’ll probably remember and come back to check on us. If we can evacuate before then, by the time he returns, this place will be completely empty. He’ll likely be grinning from ear to ear!" Charlie smiled, adding, "Your strategy is truly brilliant. With our sudden disappearance, he's managed to secure an extra $100,000 in benefits. by then, he will undoubtedly keep this tight-lipped." Jack grinned, stating, "Don’t worry, Mr. Wade. He’ll keep this to himself and won't let his father know, even if he returns. The moment we leave, he will arrange for the workers to resume their responsibilities. At that point, he will have no worries whatsoever!"