Chapter - 5955

If Tawanna had simply come to Japan for a concert and had been murdered or had disappeared before the event, it would have been a significant embarrassment for the Japanese Metropolitan Police Department on a global scale.

However, if Tawanna went missing during the Mitsui family's party, then the Mitsui family would bear the consequences.

Given Tawanna's international influence, if Charlie did not take action today and allowed Pete Roger and his gang to succeed, the Mitsui family would become a subject of ridicule worldwide, marked as villains in the eyes of Tawanna's hundreds of millions of fans. The damage to the Mitsui family's reputation and business interests would be incalculable.

Charlie believed that this incident would certainly earn him a significant favor from Mitsui Yoshitaka. While he didn't dare claim that Yoshitaka would be obligated to obey him in the future, he was confident that at the very least, Yoshitaka would be willing to respond positively to his requests.

Peter Roger was not foolish; he understood the implications of Charlie's words. He carefully considered the logic and found it sound. If he failed now, he would die regardless of whether he attempted to return. If he did not cooperate with Charlie, his fate would be even worse. Handed over to the Japanese police, he might not face the death penalty, but a life sentence was a certainty. If his boss discovered his location, he wouldn’t let him live anyway, so death was all but inevitable.

Now, the only hope for survival lay in cooperating with Charlie. As long as Charlie spoke on his behalf, the Mitsui family would undoubtedly intervene to save his life. If negotiations fell through, being placed under house arrest was far better than his other options.

After a moment of contemplation, Peter Roger quickly addressed the driver: "Do as this gentleman says and take us back!"

The driver recognized that this was indeed the best course of action. Seeing Peter Roger acquiesce to Charlie's demands, he let out a sigh of relief and asked, "Boss, what about the other brothers?"

Peter Roger turned to Charlie and said, "Sir, apart from the ninjas in the other vehicles, the rest are brothers who have stood by me through thick and thin. If we return with you, they are guaranteed to perish. Can we let them go with us?"

Charlie inquired, "Do you think they will heed your words?"

"Yes!" Peter Roger affirmed, nodding firmly. "They trust me completely. They will follow my every command. If they learn that our operation has been thwarted by you, they'll understand that I've saved their lives."

Charlie nodded in agreement and replied, "Alright, instruct them to turn around and return. I will contact the Mitsui family to make necessary arrangements. When they arrive, everyone must comply and get out of their vehicles. If anyone dares to resist, I will have them eliminated on the spot!"

Peter Roger assured him, "Don't worry, I'll make sure they understand."

Charlie responded, "Good, you handle the communication."

Peter Roger activated the communicator in his ear and announced, "Everyone, pay attention! We will be turning around at the upcoming intersection and returning to the Dome."

Immediately, a voice from the communicator questioned, "Boss, why are we heading back? We were finally successful in getting them out..."

Peter Roger replied calmly, "The plan has failed. There’s someone formidable in our vehicle. The brothers have lost their ability to fight. We are currently in downtown Tokyo; even if you all convene, success is impossible. If the operation fails, you all know what that means. There's no need for me to elaborate. Returning now is our only chance to survive. If anyone wants to abandon ship, they can do so now and hope for the best."

He then instructed the driver, "Turn around now; don’t wait for their response."

The driver complied, slowing down and carefully maneuvering the vehicle back toward the dome.

At that moment, Tawanna and Trevor approached the front of the car, looking shocked. Tawanna regarded Charlie with a conflicted expression. Her once proud demeanor was now subdued as she spoke timidly, "Wade... Mr. Wade, I need to call my family and the embassy. Given how serious this situation is, I must seek assistance from the embassy..."

Charlie replied, his expression unreadable, "No, return to your seat."

Tawanna pressed on, "But why not? These are killers. This matter is serious enough to at least report to the Japanese police, isn't it?"

"No," Charlie's tone remained icy, his voice firm. "From now on, I have complete authority over this situation. Without my permission, you cannot make any decisions."

"But—"

Tawanna attempted to retort, but Charlie cut her off, "No ‘buts’. If you disagree, I will get out of the car and leave immediately. I won’t concern myself with how they treat you, and your life or death will not be my problem! What do you say?"

Tawanna was taken aback by Charlie's assertiveness and the lack of choice he afforded her. She instinctively felt anger rise within her, but the events that had just unfolded quickly quelled that emotion.

Deep down, she recognized that Charlie had saved her and Trevor. However, if she resisted him, and he chose not to intervene on her behalf, her fate would be sealed.

So, with frustration mounting, she acquiesced, "I... I agree..."

"Good," Charlie replied with a nod. "Remember your words; everything is now in my hands."

He then promptly pulled out his phone and called Michaela.

Michaela was in the middle of a conversation with Claire when she received Charlie's call. Immediately, she stepped aside and whispered, "Mr. Wade, what can I do for you?"

Charlie informed her, "There's an assassination attempt on Tawanna happening in the car, but I have subdued the attackers. I instructed them to drive back now. Please tell Mitsui Yoshitaka to clear all irrelevant individuals from the internal parking lot and prohibit party members from coming out."

Michaela was taken aback and quickly comprehended the gravity of the situation. She replied hurriedly, "Wait, I'll be right there."

With that, she ended the call and rushed to find Mitsui Yoshitaka.

At that moment, Mitsui Yoshitaka was still unaware of the severity of the situation. His daughter, Mitsui Shinmei, felt something was amiss and inquired, "Father, why did those American agents take Tawanna away? I feel like something's not right."

Mitsui Yoshitaka offered a gentle smile and explained, "Oh Shinmei, you may not fully grasp the intricacies of politics. While Tawanna is indeed a beloved star, she has become entangled in matters unsuitable for her status and made a miscalculation. To quote an old Chinese saying, the winner is the king, and the loser is the outlaw. She has now become part of the 'outlaw' category, and her liquidation is merely a matter of time."

He continued, "The victor was dissatisfied with her previous actions and publicly declared intentions to investigate her after the win. Moreover, he is someone who doesn’t delay in seeking revenge, so it’s anticipated that an investigation into Tawanna will commence immediately. He may possess substantial evidence unknown to the public, and once that evidence surfaces, Tawanna’s career may be in jeopardy."

Mitsui Shinmei hesitated, before voicing her concerns, "But father, if the other party truly delights in revenge, then why don’t they simply bring Tawanna back to the United States publicly? If she is taken back for investigation before the concert, it would become major news and shock the world. This would undoubtedly harm Tawanna's reputation, since failing to appear before tens of thousands of fans would be significant in any country."

Mitsui Yoshitaka seemed momentarily stumped by his daughter’s observation. He believed he was correct in his assessment and casually replied, "Perhaps it’s just a way to leave room for negotiation. They might be trying to speak to Tawanna privately. If she can redeem herself, it would benefit all parties involved. Politics is complicated, akin to a fierce business competition. Two companies may engage in a bitter fight one day and merge contracts the next. You’re still young; there will be ample opportunities to learn about these complexities in time."

Mitsui Shinmei contemplated her father’s words but refrained from arguing further. Instead, she suggested, "Father, there are only three hours left before the concert. Why don't you take a moment to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and inquire about the situation? They may help you ascertain when Tawanna can return. Delaying the performance by half an hour is manageable, but if it extends to an hour, it could trigger trouble among the audience."

Mitsui Yoshitaka smiled reassuringly, saying, "They just departed a while ago and haven't even reached the embassy yet. Do not worry. I will call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in half an hour to get a clearer picture."

"Okay," Mitsui Shinmei responded, choosing to remain silent afterward.

At that moment, Michaela approached Mitsui Yoshitaka and urgently whispered, "Mr. Mitsui, I have something critical to discuss with you."

Mitsui Yoshitaka promptly nodded, gesturing for her to continue, "Miss Joules, please, go ahead."

Michaela glanced at Mitsui Shinmei and her mother before murmuring, "Let’s step aside to talk."

Perceiving the importance of the matter, Mitsui Yoshitaka quickly moved aside with Michaela.

Mitsui Shinmei rose to follow but was promptly held back by her father, "Shinmei, odosan has important matters to discuss with Miss Joules. You need not accompany us."

Mitsui Shinmei pressed forward, asking, "Miss Joules, may I inquire if this is related to Tawanna?"

Observing the concern on her face, Michaela decided not to hold back any information. With no one else around, she explained to them, "Mr. Wade just informed me that the individuals in the car are assassins sent from the United States to kill Tawanna Sweet!"

"Ah?!" Mitsui Yoshitaka's expression turned to one of shock, and he exclaimed, "This... How can this be possible...?"

Witnessing his bewilderment, Michaela shook her head with a sense of resignation, "Mr. Mitsui, today has been a fortuitous day for you. If it weren’t for Mr. Wade's intervention, Tawanna and her boyfriend would likely be dead. Had that occurred, your Mitsui family would have been vilified in the media worldwide for years. Tawanna's fans would have boycotted everything associated with your family globally. As the head of the Mitsui family and the organizer of this event, you would have been condemned to live as a pariah. With the Western media's fervor, you would undoubtedly have been branded as the shame of Japan, leaving over 100 million Japanese citizens embarrassed because of you. You would never be able to hold your head high again!"