Chapter 5984

"The second way..." Charlie thought for a moment before responding seriously, "The second option is to find someone with enough influence to completely intimidate the opposing party and force them to retract the hidden funds." Tawanna pressed her lips together, saying with resignation, "Mr. Wade, it might be difficult to find someone who can intimidate them... Even if we do find someone, they will likely have ties to them. It would be a stretch to expect them to assist me." As she spoke, she proposed to Charlie, "Mr. Wade, what if I try to contact the American exec who is doing this and see if I can win his favor to get his help?" Charlie replied, "Show him goodwill? That's possible, but it could come off poorly right now. First of all, if you reach out to him and express goodwill at this moment, he'll only think you’re trying to use him to escape your predicament. Secondly, he hasn't completely transitioned yet, meaning his ability to intimidate isn't at a sufficient level. If he tries to intervene now, the other party may not take him seriously." Continuing, Charlie explained, "Moreover, showing goodwill to him could feel like you’re surrendering in exchange for protection. In China, this would be seen as a pledge of submission. As a businessman, he'll likely expect a significant price for your allegiance." Tawanna looked puzzled and asked, "Mr. Wade, what do you mean by a pledge of allegiance?" Charlie elaborated, "A pledge of allegiance refers to the need to show loyalty when switching sides. To ensure the new camp trusts you and believes you won't return to the old camp, you have to sever all ties to your previous associates completely. If you want to join a gang, you must commit a serious crime; if you wish to join the enemy, betrayal is often expected. If you seek asylum from him now, he will most likely require you to demonstrate your loyalty publicly on social media, making your hundreds of millions of followers witnesses to your submission." Tawanna clenched her teeth, saying, "If there’s truly no other option, I could consider it." Charlie waved his hand, saying, "While I do suggest switching sides, I don't recommend doing so so abruptly. A sharp, fast turn could cause your followers to lose trust, or even worse, they might turn against you. You might wake up to a storm of insults and backlash overnight. That’s why I recommend easing into this transition over at least ten concerts to protect your reputation." Tawanna understood the gravity of Charlie's concerns, but felt trapped. The bounty of 1 billion dollars loomed over her, and even if she emerged unscathed from the night's troubles, more challenges would surely follow. Tears streamed down her face as she voiced her frustration: "Honestly, besides him, I can't think of anyone who could resolve this for me." Charlie replied calmly, "While the situation is complex, tears won’t solve anything. I can help you reach my friend in the United States. He has some influence, and regardless of who is behind the bounty, I'll have him track down that person and compel them to withdraw the funds. Once that's done, you'll be free to leave." Tawanna could not contain her skepticism. "Mr. Wade, those people... they come from extremely powerful backgrounds. Each one has the backing of significant corporations. Even the winner in the United States can't effectively deter them. Can your... friend really handle them?" Charlie's modest description of his friend's power seemed a bit understated, leaving Tawanna unsure. Seeing her doubt, Charlie smiled and explained, "There are variations in the strength of corporations. Some might wield influence only locally and lack any real power beyond that, while some are practically ineffective even within their own territory."

As he spoke, Charlie stole a sidelong glance at Mitsui Yoshitaka, making his point quite pointed. Mitsui could hardly ignore the subtle jab in Charlie's words. Though he led the esteemed Mitsui family, his inability to even challenge an organization like the Yakuza was rather embarrassing. Noticing Mitsui's flushed face, Charlie shifted his focus back to Tawanna, saying, "However, my friend possesses considerable capability in the U.S. I’m confident this situation will be manageable for him." With that, he pulled out his phone and dialed his loyal ally in the U.S., Steve Rothschild, the designated heir of the Rothschild family. Steve Rothschild had been enjoying life lately, having solidified his status as a future leader. During his last visit to China, he grew closer to Charlie, which allowed him to relax as he awaited the elder’s retirement. It was morning in the U.S. at the moment. He had just woken up from a restful sleep, savoring a lavish brunch when Charlie's call energized him. He answered enthusiastically, "Mr. Wade! It's a pleasure to hear from you!" Charlie said, "Steve, I need your assistance with something. Is this a good time?" "Oh!" Steve replied immediately, "Mr. Wade, we have a bond. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best! Even if it’s beyond my means, I won’t hold back!" Charlie explained, "Someone in the U.S. has put up 1 billion dollars on the underground market to kill Tawanna Sweet. I suspect the culprits are connected to the notorious island that was in the news recently. They are powerful factions, and since your Rothschild family is also a major player, I trust you know enough about them?" Mitsui and Tawanna, who stood beside Charlie, initially felt no alarm upon hearing Charlie mention “Steve.” After all, Steve is a common name in the U.S. But upon hearing Charlie mention the Rothschild family, they were both stunned. If it was indeed Steve Rothschild, that meant he was the second-in-command and future head of that influential family. They couldn’t help but wonder how Charlie, an unknown Chinese figure, had woven his connections so tightly with such powerful individuals. While Michaela’s respect for him was already surprising, calling Steve by his first name was utterly incredible to them. Meanwhile, Steve reacted swiftly when Charlie mentioned the island, asserting, "Mr. Wade, I’ve heard of that place, but let me be clear: the Rothschild family would never stoop to engage in such indignities, nor collaborate with those folks. They operate too uncleanly. No matter what, I would refuse any invitation, even if it were to that dreadful island! I swear on my life, I have never set foot there!" Charlie replied, "I don't care whether you’ve been there or not. I don’t even mind if you go there every day. What I need from you right now is to contact those involved and inform them that whoever issued the bounty must retract it immediately. Otherwise, their whole family is at risk." Steve agreed without hesitation, saying, "Mr. Wade, don’t worry about it; I can handle this easily. I’ll make some calls to locate the individual responsible. Even if I can't track him down directly, I’ll find a way to get the message across!" "Great," Charlie responded with satisfaction. "I’ll leave this matter to you and await your updates." At that moment, Steve, filled with curiosity, asked, "By the way, Mr. Wade, why did you suddenly decide to step in for Tawanna? Is there any chance... that you have feelings for her?" Charlie snapped, "Get lost! Stop wasting time and get to work!"