Chapter 6118

Though the leader dressed in black was reluctant to accept Charlie's claims, he was acutely aware that all his subordinates had vanished without a trace. The fact that one of his men had just been executed on the doorstep confirmed that Charlie's assertions had merit. Nevertheless, he could not bring himself to believe that Charlie alone had dispatched all of his men. He suspected that Charlie must have had some accomplices awaiting outside. At that moment, he refrained from shooting at Charlie immediately. Instead, he contemplated the situation for a moment and addressed Charlie, “Brother, we’re all out here just trying to make a living. There’s no need to escalate things. You’ve already taken so many of my brothers, and I acknowledge that. I won’t demand anything outrageous. If you let us go, I can guarantee that all the hostages will be handed over to you unharmed!” Charlie responded coolly, "You aren't in a position to negotiate with me." With a dark expression, the leader in black retorted, "Brother, that’s rather ungrateful, isn’t it? If you truly intend to kill us, even if I can't escape, I’ll make sure to take these people down with me! Our guns aren't exactly inconspicuous. You know these people, don't you? Do you want to collect their bodies afterward?" Charlie scoffed, "You're the one who's looking to collect the bodies of your men!" With that, he suddenly waved his hand and shouted, "Thunder come!" In the next instant, the bar was enveloped by ominous clouds, as thick, dark clouds rapidly filled the ceiling, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder, as though everyone had been transported thousands of meters upward to witness a close-range storm! At this point, Charlie no longer intended to disguise his capabilities in front of them. Whether it was the mercenaries impersonating members of the Dragon Temple or Hamid, Tawanna, and Bernard Arnault, he was determined to stop concealing his true strength. He needed to ensure that these individuals were entirely submissive to him, not only to resolve the current crisis perfectly but also to assert control over these three in the future. Having already taken so many lives, he realized he could not keep this under wraps without the cooperation of Hamid, Tawanna, and Bernard. It would be impossible for White Horse Island to manage the aftermath of dozens of corpses quietly. If these people suddenly disappeared, the Blackwater Company would surely investigate the situation thoroughly. Moreover, many people—including their in-laws—had memories of this terrorist attack. While erasing memories individually wouldn’t be too difficult, if the incident became public, erasing memories would become pointless. Instead, it would only lead the Blackwater Company to uncover more details during its investigations. Therefore, he had no intention of concealing this event. He desired these people’s collaboration. Not only did he want to manage the aftermath perfectly, but he also aimed to place all the blame on the Blackwater Company. The Blackwater Company was currently colluding with the opposition; this time, he intended for it to be utterly ruined on a global scale while simultaneously sending a powerful message to the opposition, ensuring they wouldn’t dare entertain any malicious ideas against Hamid and the Dragon Temple in the future. As the dark clouds loomed above the bar and lightning crackled fiercely, Charlie coldly regarded the leader in black and stated, "I’m granting you only one chance!" The man in black trembled in fear, having no inkling of how Charlie was orchestrating this spectacle, nor what his intentions were. Just then, Charlie raised his hand and pointed at the floor beneath him. At that moment, the lightning and thunder converged into a formidable bolt that struck the wooden floor with an explosive bang, shattering it into a gaping hole, leaving behind the acrid scent of burnt wood. The leader in black felt his hair stand on end from the energy of the lightning! The others looked at Charlie in astonishment, never having encountered anyone capable of controlling lightning before!

Tawanna and Hamid had always known that Charlie was extraordinarily powerful, but they never imagined he could wield such incredible, near-magical abilities. In that moment, the leader in black finally understood that the young man in front of him was on an entirely different level, existing in a realm beyond his comprehension. Faced with such overwhelming power, he realized he had no hope of winning. In a moment of submission, he tossed aside his pistol, knelt on the ground, and proclaimed reverently, "Mr. Wade, if one doesn’t recognize a mountain, it’s natural to misjudge their situation. However, you’ve not yet committed an unforgivable mistake. I humbly request a chance to atone for my actions." Without missing a beat, he turned to his remaining subordinates and shouted, “You fools! Why aren’t you putting down your weapons? Do as Mr. Wade does—beg for mercy!” Only then did the others snap back to reality, quickly discarding their firearms and kneeling in submission. Charlie nodded approvingly and said calmly, "I appreciate those who understand their situation." He then asked the leader, "Now, tell me everything you know in detail." The leader in black replied respectfully, “Mr. Wade, my real name is Flint Calder. I am Australian, with mixed Chinese and Japanese ancestry. I have been with the Blackwater Company for ten years and hold the rank of a level seven mercenary, primarily managing operations in the Southern Hemisphere.” Charlie inquired, "What exactly does being a level seven mercenary entail?" Flint Calder elaborated, "Mr. Wade, for clearer internal management, the Blackwater Company employs a rigid promotion system. Combat roles are ranked from levels one to ten, with level ten being the most elite. Management roles follow a similar structure but are designated with ‘M’ prefixes, ranging from M1 to M10." Charlie furrowed his brow and replied, “That system sounds oddly similar to many internet companies.” "Exactly!" Flint Calder affirmed. “The Blackwater Company has undergone management reformation over the years and has adopted a structure akin to that of a large multinational corporation." Charlie probed further, “As an Australian in charge of Southern Hemisphere operations, what brought you here? The Maldives is usually considered a Northern Hemisphere country, isn’t it?” Flint Calder quickly explained, “Mr. Wade, most mercenaries at the Blackwater Company are European, American, or African. There is a smaller representation of Asian mercenaries. This time, the Blackwater Company mobilized a group of Asian operatives from around the world, which is why I was temporarily dispatched here.” Charlie nodded and continued, “The Blackwater Company sent you here to assassinate Commander Hamid, correct?” “Exactly!” Flint Calder confirmed emphatically. “The opposition has always received covert support from the U.S. government, and the higher-ups at the Blackwater Company have long coordinated with the Syrian opposition. As the Dragon Temple had allied with government forces, it was seen as an enemy of both the U.S. and the opposition. The two sides have effectively collaborated in secrecy." Flint Calder elaborated, “The opposition had two primary objectives: to eliminate Hamid and seize his territory, and to drive the Dragon Temple out of Syria. The Blackwater Company also aimed to bolster its influence in the Middle East. Once they became aware that Hamid was vacationing in the Maldives, they resolved to have us pose as Dragon Temple mercenaries to stage a terrorist attack. This way, they could execute Hamid without revealing their involvement, masquerading as a terrorist incident to frame the Dragon Temple.” “At that point, the U.S. government would likely use the UN to label the Dragon Temple as an international terrorist organization, leading to their expulsion from Syria, with the Blackwater Company taking over the Dragon Temple's base in Syria…”