Xia Lei thought of two possibilities for Ahn Suhyeong’s sudden appearance.
The first was that they’d left some clue behind and Ahn Suhyeong had brought men with him to chase a lead.
The second was that no clues were left behind and Ahn Suhyeong had just used the opportunity and brought men to make more trouble for him. It was possible that he would do so in order to increase his chances with Shentu Tian-Yin and get back some of the lost pride from the duel. This was South Korea, his stomping grounds. He did not have to be on his best behaviour like he had in China!
As one of Shentu Tian-Yin’s suitors in China, Ahn Suhyeong had not dared to go up against Gu Ke-Wu for this reason. It was China, Gu Ke-Wu’s place of power and Ahn Suhyeong had too many limits on what he could do. And here? There was practically no limit!
Xia Lei could not think of any other reasons; it was trouble for him either way.
Ahn Suhyeong walked over as Xia Lei analysed the situation, and sneered, “You sure are in high spirits, Mr Xia, still in the mood to accompany Tian-Yin for tea at this time.”
Xia Lei put a smile on his face. “Has what happened at your home affected the South Korean president? Implementing a curfew now? How does it concern you who I have coffee with?”
Shentu Tian-Yin nudged Xia Lei’s toes under the table to warn him against provoking Ahn Suhyeong. She’d smelt trouble from the uniformed policemen.
Unfortunately, Xia Lei’s barb had pricked Ahn Suhyeong and he slammed his palm into the table as he said angrily, “Xia Lei! I suspect that you’ve stolen my family’s antiques worth two billion! Come with us!”
The smile on Xia Lei’s face disappeared and his tone turned frosty. “Watch your words. You say I’ve stolen your family’s antiques? Do you have proof? Witnesses or evidence?”
“Proof? You want proof?” Ahn Suhyeong gave a smile of anger. “I’ll give you proof!”
One person stepped out of the group of underlings - the Ahn family butler, Choi Myeongho. “I saw you enter our chairman’s study. You stole the antiques away.”
This was Ahn Suhyeong’s proof. He could just make something up even if he didn’t have proof!
This was an obvious ploy to frame him but it made Xia Lei relax. Choi Myeongho coming forward to act as witness meant that the police and the Ahn family had not found anything. Ahn Suhyeong had brought men over to make trouble for him!
“I get it.” Xia Lei stood. “You’re trying to frame me, aren’t you?”
“Whether I’m framing you or not you’ll have to speak with the police and the judge. You’re to come with me now,” said Ahn Suhyeong.
Xia Lei took out his phone. “I’m calling our consulate right now.”
Ahn Suhyeong shot a policeman a look before Xia Lei could dial and he rushed forward to shout in Korean, “Put down your phone, or I’ll shoot!”
The policeman drew his gun speedily and had it pointed at Xia Lei’s head before a single number was dialled.
XIa Lei put his mobile phone down and quickly swept the cafe with his gaze. He saw everything in those two to three seconds; the passages on both sides and the people in the cafe watching the scene. The number of people in the cafe, their expressions and the directions in which they looked were all clear as 3D images in his head.
His brain projected this ‘3D simulation’ and also calculated the best escape route at the same time. This analysis was not a surface analysis but a deep one too! For example, he could smack away the gun-wielding policeman’s gun then charge out by him, and push a woman standing next to a wall-table at the people who would rush to catch him. Three steps more and he could snatch up the steaming-hot pot of coffee and hurl it at Ahn Suhyeong…
These scenes played out automatically in Xia Lei’s head and settled upon the best escape route in the blink of an eye. He was surprised to find that his brain functions increased rapidly in dangerous environments and when he was highly focused. Matched with his left eye, this was nothing short of miraculous!
Did his left eye or the AE capsules affect his brain?
This question had been haunting Xia Lei for a while and he had mulled over it, guessing at it with no proper conclusion. However, his brain had suddenly displayed an astonishing ability to compute and analyse - this was not guessing anymore but the first visible signs of some development!
“Hands in the air!” ordered the gun-wielding policeman.
Xia Lei stopped using his left eye. He was calm.
Shentu Tian-Yin, on the other hand, could not hold back any longer. She snatched up the coffee cup from their table and smashed it on the floor. “That’s enough, Ahn Suhyeong!” she said angrily.
“Tian-Yin…” Ahn Suhyeong had never seen Shentu Tian-Yin display such anger before and he was abashed.
“Xia Lei is my friend and a benefactor to our Shentu clan. How am I to take a neutral position when you’re treating him like this?” Shentu Tian-Yin had lost it a little and she raised a finger at Ahn Suhyeong. “I’m giving you two options now. One, you take your men and leave. I’ll pretend nothing happened. Two, you take Xia Lei away but I pull out of my investments. Our project collaboration will cease immediately.”
Ahn Suhyeong stared blankly and he didn’t speak for a while. “Tian-Yin, you actually… for a thief like this? You’ll pull out of the project? It’s a billion US dollars. Are you sure?”
Shentu Tian-Yin spoke frostily, “You know my personality. I will not change my mind once I’m decided. Two options. You have one minute to think about it.”
Shentu Tian-Yin seemed like a queen in that moment. Her aura was so strong that none could compare.
Xia Lei couldn’t help looking at her with his feelings in a complicated tangle. He and Shentu Tian-Yin had differing ideas and positions on matters but he was fairly touched by her willingness to lose a billion US dollars for him.
“Tian-Yin, calm down. I have proof.” Ahn Suhyeong did not give up.
“I said you have one minute,” said Shentu Tian-Yin, “Ming-Mei, start the timer.”
Fu Ming-Mei raised her wrist and stared pointedly at her watch.
One minute, no discussion and no quarter - this was how aggressive Shentu Tian-Yin was!
Just then, Ahn Suhyeong’s gaze went to another area in the cafe.
What was he looking at at this time?
Xia Lei was struck by a thought, and used his left eye to trace his gaze and look at his target with his peripheral vision.
An old man sat in a corner of the cafe. He was bald and the few remaining sections of golden hair looked like a top-less hat on his head. He was expressionless and had deep eye sockets. Rimless spectacles sat on his nose but the lenses could not hide the sinister look in his eyes.
This old man had a normal body and even looked rather skinny and weak but he gave one the impression of danger just sitting there.
Who was this old man?
Peripheral vision was not enough. Xia Lei adjusted his gaze to look straight at that old man and his left eye twitched.
The old man was armed with a gun and a transmitter. He also had a receiver in his ear. Interestingly, the bits of hair on his head were fake and the baldness was fake too.
Xia Lei’s X-ray vision revealed the old man’s identification documents. CIA, Goodson.
Xia Lei instantly understood that Ahn Suhyeong was not here to make trouble for him, and that framing him was also a sham - all this was being orchestrated by the CIA!
The situation which Xia Lei had been worried about most had happened. He had not expected tha CIA to be so quick, and to involve Ahn Guengan and Ahn Suhyeong too!
With the CIA in the game, whether Ahn Suhyeong had proof or not was not important anymore. The stolen sword of Attila could be ignored too because the aim of the CIA was him!
As Xia Lei observed Goodson with his left eye, Goodson made a small nod.
This was a signal.
Ahn Suhyeong then said, “I’m sorry, Tian-Yin. South Korea is a country governed by laws and the price has to be paid, no matter who it is. Xia Lei is your friend but he must come with the police to assist in their investigations. You are a reasonable person - I believe you will understand me.”
“Looks like you’ve made your choice. Good. I’ve made my decision too. The collaboration between Vientaine Group and Shinyeok Group is hereby annulled.” Shentu Tian-Yin had a terrible look on her face. No one had ever rejected her this way before, but this Ahn Suhyeong did!
But Xia Lei knew the truth behind the matter. Ahn Suhyeong would probably have given up and looked for other ways to frame him if not for the CIA’s involvement. Doing things that way would leave Shentu Tian-Yin with a better impression of him and he could also recoup some of Shinyeok Group’s losses. However, the CIA had become involved and the CIA did not care about a billion-dollar project!
Countries like Japan and South Korea were heavily influenced by the USA*, and the CIA had a high level of mobility in South Korea. This included the use of police, weapons, equipment, intelligence networks and so on. In other words, Xia Lei was in more danger right now than he was in Afghanistan because he at least had his personally-modified sniper rifle with him in Afghanistan, and Tang Yu-Yan and the Bureau 101 agents. Here, he had nothing!
“Take him away!” ordered Ahn Suhyeong.
A policeman unclipped handcuffs from his belt and went forward to cuff Xia Lei.
“Lei, I’ll call our consulate right now!” Shentu Tian-Yin took out her mobile phone.
“What are you doing!” A policeman came forward and snatched the phone out of Shentu Tian-Yin’s hands.
Fu Ming-Mei was enraged and made to hit that policeman.
Xia Lei stopped her. “This doesn’t concern you. You two, leave. Go back to China.”
“You…” Shentu Tian-Yin did not expect Xia Lei to say that and she felt like her heart had been pricked by a needle.
“He doesn’t even appreciate it, Big Sister Tian-Yin!” Fu Ming-Mei got angry. “He’s just telling us to leave like this. See, he’s the super powerful Monkey God, Sun Wukong. He’ll fly back on his own. We don’t have to worry about him.”
“Go! Why say more?” Xia Lei shouted. His face was a cold mask devoid of feeling.
Shentu Tian-Yin and Fu Ming-Mei exchanged looks, then turned and left. They did not know what trouble Xia Lei was in, nor who his enemy was. Xia Lei telling them fiercely to leave was actually just him trying to protect them, because the CIA would not care who she was if she fell into their hands, Shentu Tian-Yin or not! If she got in the way of the operations of the CIA, then even the Heavens wouldn’t be able to help her!
Shentu Tian-Yin and Fu Ming-Mei walked off and left the cafe.
Ahn Suhyeong laughed. This was not scoffing but a full bellow, straight from the heart. “You sure are tactful.”
Xia Lei laughed too. “I’ve always been tactful.”