Sitting atop the imposing boss chair, his face marked with scars, he glanced disdainfully at Liu Yong. The intense stare seemed to convey a clear message, a silent warning that echoed in his eyes: "Boy, if you dare set foot in our territory, be prepared to face excruciating pain or even death."
He didn't budge an inch, merely fixing Liu Yong with a disdainful look.
Inside the office, Scar, accompanied by a group of robust men who undoubtedly served as his subordinates, exuded an aura of power.
Following an established protocol, one of the subordinates stepped forward regardless of the situation and delivered a resounding slap across Liu Yong's face. It was the customary way they operated in this domain.
But could Liu Yong stand idly by and let himself be struck? That was clearly an impossibility.
With his hand mere inches away from Liu Yong's face, his attempt to land a blow was abruptly halted. Liu Yong exerted a fraction of force, causing the other party to emit a pained grunt.
"Go!"
A gentle yet forceful kick propelled Liu Yong's leg forward, sending the towering man, who stood at over 1.8 meters tall and weighed more than 200 kilograms, flying several meters away before crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. He lay motionless, unable to rise for a considerable time.
"Stay put!"
"Don't move!"
The other two muscular men displayed swift reflexes. The muzzles of their pistols were instantly aimed at Liu Yong while two additional strong men rushed in from outside the gate, their assault rifles trained on Liu Yong as well.
Meanwhile, sporting a composed expression, Liu Yong paid no heed to the imminent threat and advanced steadily toward Scarface.
"The purpose of my visit is simple," Liu Yong stated, his voice calms and collected. "I seek information regarding a person—Alfred, a prominent member of Rhodes' armed forces. I wish to discover his whereabouts."
Scarface, slightly taken aback, found it hard to fathom Liu Yong's unfazed demeanour when four guns pointed directly at him. Though briefly surprised, Scarface had encountered many individuals throughout his life, some of whom merely feigned courage and met a tragic end. He immediately categorized Liu Yong as one of those individuals.
Eyeing Liu Yong with a contemptuous gaze, Scarface leisurely retrieved a pistol from his desk drawer. Methodically, he disengaged the safety, inserted a bullet into the chamber, and aimed the gun at Liu Yong.
"I have no knowledge of Alfred's whereabouts," Scarface uttered, his tone laced with a hint of menace. "What I desire most at this moment is to reward you with two bullets."
Liu Yong responded with a smile.
In an instant, Scarface's vision blurred, leaving him utterly unable to react. The pistol he held tightly moments ago now rested in Liu Yong's hands.
His mind seemed to stutter, much like a computer malfunctioning, struggling to process the situation. Scarface, a renowned figure in the world of mercenaries, had ascended to his current position based on sheer strength. He considered himself highly skilled and capable of easily handling three or five self-proclaimed "kings" of warfare. Yet, before Liu Yong, he couldn't even retain his grip on the firearm.
Though his face registered a slight change, Scarface remained steadfast. "I have over fifty individuals under my command, all professional mercenaries. With four guns pointed at you, I suggest you obediently drop the weapon."
"Do you think I require a gun to deal with you?" Liu Yong retorted, his voice unwavering.
As soon as the words left his lips, Liu Yong exerted a slight force with both hands, causing the pistol to crumple like a piece of soft clay, transforming it into a twisted mass of metal.
This, this, this...
Scarface's countenance shifted dramatically, his expression morphing into one of horror. Had the gun belonged to Liu Yong, he might have questioned its authenticity, suspecting it to be a prop or some ruse. However, the firearm was undeniably Scarface's own.
Oh God, could such an individual genuinely exist in this world?
Liu Yong paid no mind to Scarface's terror-stricken face, nonchalantly dragging a chair from the side and seating himself. He propped his feet up on Scarface's desk, an audacious act that rendered Scarface incapable of uttering even a word of protest. The thoughts racing through his mind undoubtedly revolved around whether Liu Yong was Captain America himself or a member of the X-Men, for only such beings could possess such unfathomable power.
"I have come here for one purpose alone—to learn the whereabouts of Alfred," Liu Yong declared, his voice devoid of any aggression. "This man abducted two members of my crew and demanded a ransom of 50 million dollars. I intend to claim his head and also teach Rhodes a lesson."
Struggling to regain his composure, Scarface managed to utter a few words, his voice strained, "Alfred is one of Rhodes' top leaders. His location has always remained unsurprisingly, and I am unaware of his whereabouts."
Liu Yong's gaze remained fixed on Scarface, his scarred face betraying a hint of surprise. Scarface, the boss who commanded respect and fear, was rendered speechless by Liu Yong's unyielding presence, even in the face of four guns.
Liu Yong continued, "I will grant you 24 hours. I shall return tomorrow. I expect you to have the information regarding Alfred's whereabouts. Furthermore, anyone who can provide me with the exact location of Alfred shall receive a reward of 10 million US dollars."
Ten million dollars—a sum that tantalized Scarface and his fellow mercenaries, who risked their lives for wealth. The prospect of acquiring such a substantial reward for divulging Alfred's precise location without the associated risks of executing the man himself sent their hearts racing.
"If we can provide the exact whereabouts of Alfred, can we also receive the 10 million US dollars?" Scarface inquired, his voice laced with hope.
"Yes, but only after I have eliminated Alfred," Liu Yong affirmed.
With his statement delivered, Liu Yong rose from his chair, strolled toward the exit, and said, "I shall return tomorrow. Should you acquire any information, kindly forward it to the Isaiah Hotel, where I reside."
Scarface knew the Isaiah Hotel, renowned as the city's finest establishment.
Liu Yong departed, descending the stairs and climbing into an off-road vehicle. Not a soul dared to hinder him throughout the entire encounter.
Scarface remained motionless, his face a mask of blankness. It took him considerable time to regain his senses. Retrieving the mangled iron lump from the table, he found it impossible to quell the unease that enveloped him.
Liu Yong and his three companions had taken up residence at the Isaiah Hotel. By local standards, the hotel might merit no more than three stars, yet it reigned as the city's grandest and most luxurious accommodation.
Safety was also paramount at the Isaiah Hotel. Armed guards stood sentry at the entrance, their weapons loaded. The hotel's security appeared to be top-notch.
Word spread rapidly. The offer stood: 10 million US dollars for anyone providing accurate information leading to Alfred's location and his subsequent demise.
The ten-million-dollar bounty proved irresistible, capturing the attention of numerous mercenary organizations.
Within the hotel, Liu Yong received a call from Qiu Yang, reporting that the two abducted crew members had been recovered. However, both had suffered injuries, one of them even having an ear severed.
Upon concluding the call, Liu Yong experienced a mixture of relief and fury. While his life was no longer in immediate peril, he was incensed by the audacity of the perpetrators. Despite paying the demand of 50 million dollars in full, they had maimed his crew members, severing their ears as a gruesome warning.
Unreasonable, to say the least!
Lifting the hotel phone, Liu Yong dialled the number left by the abductor. The call connected swiftly.
Without waiting for the other party to speak, Liu Yong warned, "Tell Alfred to wait for me. I will find him and ensure his demise."
Ending the call, Liu Yong pondered, hoping that the promised 10 million dollars would yield results. This time, Alfred must meet his end.
The following day arrived.
Early in the morning, a leader from the Wolf Mercenary Group named Gilsnut arrived at the hotel. Scarface, likely intimidated by yesterday's encounter, did not dare to show himself.
They had uncovered Liu Yong's true identity as the boss of the Global Shipping Group, a fact not difficult to ascertain.
"Mr. Liu, I have provided you with the information you requested," Gilsnut informed Liu Yong.
Liu Yong was mildly taken aback, not expecting Gilsnut to speak Mandarin fluently.
...
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