Chapter 818 - 816: Removal from Office
Lin Xiaoting is the support personnel for this mission. Clearly, the main controller is already dead, so she’s the most capable of speaking up. If she doesn’t step forward now, she might never be able to command any respect in the Black Alliance.
"Xiaoting, what are you doing? I’m punishing them." The Red-eyed Eagle could be cruel to everyone in the world, but when faced with her best friend, she turned as gentle as a child.
"President, I’m also responsible for this mission. If execution is necessary, I’m willing to be punished along with them." Lin Xiaoting knelt down to the ground with a thud.
"You... Well, forget it."
The Red-eyed Eagle softened again; she had only meant to scare everyone earlier to make them realize the importance of caution in future endeavors.
"Fortunately, the list is safely back in my hands, so you could say you’ve gotten off easy." The Red-eyed Eagle suddenly changed her tone, speaking to the kneeling Lin Xiaoting, "Xiaoting, come to my room later. I have something to ask you."
"Ah? Oh..."
Lin Xiaoting was momentarily stunned and then furrowed her brow. The list was already back in the president’s hands—what was going on? Could it be that the person who killed Sixth-in-Command Songmu was actually arranged by the president?
Could it be that Chen Tianlong’s senior brother was originally from the Black Alliance? Otherwise, how could no security personnel spot anything when he came ashore?
Ten minutes later, Lin Xiaoting entered the Red-eyed Eagle’s room. It was as luxurious as ever, resembling a small palace with two courtyards and four rooms. Opposite the room was a massive floor-to-ceiling window; everything at the dock could be seen from the balcony.
"Xiaoting, have a seat first. I have something to ask you." The Red-eyed Eagle had become gentle and charming, without any appearance of authority.
"Okay, President, go ahead." Lin Xiaoting was still somewhat respectful. After all, she was dealing with someone akin to Huaxia’s Wu Zetian, a person who wielded power in Black Alliance City, and even throughout the entirety of Japan.
The Red-eyed Eagle pondered before speaking again. "I heard you brought back a boyfriend from Huaxia this time?"
Lin Xiaoting furrowed her brow. She had long anticipated this; there are no walls in the world impregnable to the wind, their act with Chen Tianlong might be exposed. But thinking it over, if it truly was exposed, the consequences would be dire. Even if Red-eyed Eagle could protect her, Chen Tianlong would surely perish.
"Yes, his name is Chen Tianlong." Lin Xiaoting affirmed resolutely.
"Xiaoting, be honest with me. It’ll be good for your future. Men aren’t reliable; is it worth sacrificing so much for one?" The Red-eyed Eagle reminded gently.
"President, Chen Tianlong is truly my boyfriend. I like him, and he likes me. I’m not lying to you." Lin Xiaoting stated firmly.
Faced with this best friend, she understood she had to put everything on the line; otherwise, she might fail miserably.
The Red-eyed Eagle stared quietly into Lin Xiaoting’s eyes, saying nothing; she already knew everything, only waiting for Lin Xiaoting to confess.
"Heh, alright, then I wish you happiness. From now on, the matters you were responsible for will be handed over to Second-in-Command Thunder Tiger. I’m giving you a long vacation; go and rest well." The Red-eyed Eagle said with a faint smile.
Actually, Lin Xiaoting understood this was the gentlest punishment her best friend could offer.
"Thank you!"
Lin Xiaoting did not haggle, knowing her friend’s style, preferring not to expose anything further.
Sure enough, the Red-eyed Eagle turned and said, "Alright, I’m a bit tired; you may leave now."
"Okay!"
Lin Xiaoting turned and left, heading straight to the hotel where Chen Tianlong was staying.
Obviously, the Red-eyed Eagle knew Chen Tianlong was the killer. If Chen Tianlong continued to stay at Black Alliance Headquarters, it would certainly be perilous; her best friend’s temperament was somewhat eccentric, and many things might change in a heartbeat, so Lin Xiaoting had to be cautious.
Arriving at the room, Lin Xiaoting knocked gently on the door several times, but strangely, no one came out for a long time.
"Chen Tianlong, are you inside?" Lin Xiaoting felt something was wrong, as if something had happened, and hurriedly shouted.
Still, there was no response in the room. Lin Xiaoting thought for a moment and forcibly pushed the door open, revealing signs of a struggle inside.
"Not good, someone has beaten us to it!" Lin Xiaoting was puzzled. The Red-eyed Eagle had clearly decided not to pursue it, and she’d resigned as a result, so why wouldn’t they let Chen Tianlong go?
In a fit of anger, Lin Xiaoting returned to the Black Alliance Headquarters area.
"President, why did you do this?" Lin Xiaoting was visibly upset.
"Xiaoting, what are you talking about?" The Red-eyed Eagle seemed unaware at first, asking after a short pause.
"What do you mean, don’t you understand? I clearly said he’s my boyfriend, so why not let him go?" Lin Xiaoting’s expression became very serious; even if it meant death, she wanted a clear understanding.
Over the years, she’d dedicated herself to the Black Alliance. Even if she’d concealed the truth, there was no need to hate her so; she’d already withdrawn from Black Alliance’s political realm, but they wouldn’t even spare her boyfriend.
"Xiaoting, you must’ve misunderstood somewhere; I truly don’t know what you’re trying to say." The Red-eyed Eagle replied calmly.
"Why kill him? No matter the reason, I hope out of consideration for me, you spare him; I’m begging you." Lin Xiaoting knelt down suddenly on the floor.
The Red-eyed Eagle was startled, promptly going over to lift Lin Xiaoting up, suddenly reverting to her previous gentleness. Seeing this, Lin Xiaoting furrowed her brow again; it seemed her best friend truly didn’t know about the pursuit of Chen Tianlong.
"Hong, Chen Tianlong is being hunted; I don’t know whose idea it was, I just thought..."
"Oh I see, who dares to act so boldly, wreaking havoc in my territory!" Upon hearing this, the Red-eyed Eagle grew furious too; she’d kept Lin Xiaoting from power because she feared others learning the truth and shunning Lin Xiaoting, out of protection.
But she’d never ordered anyone to pursue and kill Chen Tianlong.
"Whew...so it wasn’t you. Then...could it be one of the other leaders?" Lin Xiaoting suddenly considered this possibility; Sixth-in-Command Mr. Songmu and Fifth-in-Command He Shang had been very friendly, and now that Songmu was in trouble, someone must’ve secretly tipped off about the events on the ship.
Lin Xiaoting realized pretending to be a couple could only temporarily evade danger, but everyone knew she never mentioned a boyfriend beforehand; suddenly appearing on the ship could only mean she was protecting the real killer.
Indeed, He Shang had simply asked his subordinates about any suspicious people on the ship and immediately discerned that Chen Tianlong was the murderer.
In a plot of pine woods in the western part of the Black Alliance.
Chen Tianlong was being hunted by ten masters, and after escaping for a while, he finally hid. It was unbelievable; upon arriving at the Black Alliance, they’d given him such a grand welcome. The ones coming to assassinate him were almost all with strength above the Yellow Dao Seven Stars, catching him off guard.
"Sigh, such a miserable fate, fleeing for my life day after day—from South Sea City to the Black Alliance, still fleeing—living like this is unbearable." Chen Tianlong muttered, yet remained vigilant at all times.