Absolute Safety

The area outside the embassy was bustling with noise.

Police and counter-terrorism forces were on high alert, the government was in a state of chaos, the public celebrated all night, and speculations about the incident abounded, but only a very small number of people knew the whole truth.

It was not simply a terrorist attack.

Rather, there are deeper reasons and motivations, secrets that must never be exposed to the light of day.

With the help of Horus's optical components, Kang De looked out over London through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. The beautiful scenery stretched endlessly, and London's melons were sure to be sold out.

He had just finished communicating with the United Kingdom Prime Minister and was waiting.

Just then, Ian said quietly, "Your target is the Round Table? No, your target is those two China girls—you're China?"

Kang De raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.

"I see... Did your government send you, the superhuman from China?"

As a high-ranking official in Military Intelligence Section 5, Ian was undoubtedly a wise man. Now that his body had been usurped and he had transcended the physical body, his perspective on issues had become more objective and comprehensive. After the initial numbness of utter despair, he became extremely calm. It wasn't until the devil presented his conditions to the Prime Minister that he understood the other party's true intentions.

All the logical threads from beginning to end are connected.

Because the devil's demand of the prime minister was to force him to pressure the Round Table to release the two China girls, and for "himself" to return the two China girls to China as a favor, in exchange for the China taking in and settling "his" wife and daughters and providing some protection.

The logic behind this plan is very smooth.

To relocate his wife and daughters abroad and evade potential retaliation and repercussions from the Britain government, the chosen country must be outside the Five Eyes Alliance, and it must be tough enough not to succumb to pressure from the Anglo-Saxon states. There are very few countries in the world with such backbone.

On this basis, the country must be strong, the people's living standards must be higher, public security and political situation must be stable, and social opinion and cultural environment must be tolerant of foreign women. China best meets all these conditions, while Russia is relatively less suitable, but still quite good.

--Yes, this plan also fits the thinking logic of Ian, a high- Military Intelligence Section 5 official. After all, the West is so democratic and free, and the people are also democratically and freely brainwashed into stupidity by the media and public opinion [beep--]. However, the elites, represented by government officials, business people, and scientific researchers, know better than anyone else that the West is not as good as the media portrays it, and the East is not as bad as the media reports it.

China and Russia are the top choices, but the problem is that while their security is secure, they don't accept people for no reason. Therefore, the only option is China.

Because China has a reason to accept Ian's wife and daughters.

This reason was created by Ian – he rescued and returned two kidnapped China citizens in exchange for the protection of his wife and daughters; this was a favor and a human kindness, a case of returning a favor.

So after breaking out of Military Intelligence Section 5, he sped all the way to the American Empire embassy, kidnapped diplomats, caused a huge scene, threatened the prime minister, and forced him to pressure the Round Table to release them in order to secure a way out for his wife and daughters.

This is the cause, effect, and underlying logic of Ian's actions.

It was so flawless and reasonable that even a political hero like Grand Secretary Yue was deceived without a second thought, and even admired the other party's decisiveness, determination, and love for his family.

But apart from the real Ian, no one knew that this was not a desperate husband and father's final act of love and protection for his wife and daughter, but rather a pleasurable game played by a devil who manipulated conspiracies and played with people's hearts. From beginning to end, the one who did all these great things was not the real Ian at all.

"You cold-blooded, heartless demon, you ruined my life and everything, so why would you care about the lives of my wife and daughters? Why would you go to such lengths to save them?"

Ian numbly replied, "So, by reversing cause and effect, we can deduce your true purpose—not to save those two China people to save my wife and daughter, but to save my wife and daughter to save those two China people."

His tone was wooden, chillingly cold.

"You've been watching me since the time we were at the Viking Skull's hideout, haven't you?"

He said slowly, "Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence. You must have been searching for those two China girls when you found that Albania gang... and just happened to run into us."

"Correct answer."

The demon finally spoke, but his tone was no longer strange, distorted, and low; instead, it became cheerful and gentle, and his voice was much younger than one might have imagined.

He laughed and said, "You're quite the clever one, guessing the truth so quickly."

Ian was silent for a few seconds.

Then, his mental world erupted once again like a raging volcano. He roared, "You damned chink! Are the lives of you China people precious, but mine isn't? Just to save you China people, you can manipulate me with impunity and destroy my entire life's efforts and everything I've achieved?"

He roared and howled, even uttering provocative words, fully prepared to face the wrath. But unexpectedly, the demon did not become angry; instead, it remained silent.

A few seconds later, he heard laughter.

"Ha, ha, ha ha ha ha."

The China demon spoke in a strange tone, his laughter was inexplicable, and there was even a hint of sighing in it.

Ian said bitterly, "You're still laughing! Oh my god, you're human! Don't you have a shred of pity, morality, or remorse? You've hurt me so badly, and you're still laughing at me?"

Kang De's laughter subsided, and he said calmly, "Are you in such a sorry state? I don't see it. You're still able to go crazy here. You haven't been beaten, slashed, or killed, and you haven't even suffered any hardship. Your wife and daughter are currently under tight protection, and if all goes well, they'll soon be able to board a plane to China."

"They are safe and sound, except for being a little frightened. No one forced them to sell themselves, no one raped them, no one tortured them. Don't you think that's a blessing?"

Ian roared in fury, "You're still threatening me! What kind of happiness is this! They were living happily in London with me, without any worries or sorrows—that's happiness! And you've destroyed all of that! You've forced them to leave their homes and live in fear, and you call that happiness!"

Kang De paused for a moment, then sighed, "I thought I knew long ago what shamelessness is, what it means for human joys and sorrows to be uncommon, and what it means for some people to be inherently incorrigible."

"... But I still learned something new today."

He said, "Ian, Ian, you must know that there is no effect without a cause. The fact that I have targeted you today and that you have suffered such unbearable burdens is not without reason."

The fact that the other party spoke so politely made the United Kingdom somewhat uneasy, "... What do you mean?"

"Think again, think some more," Kang De said calmly. "If you can't figure it out, then you deserve it."

Ian was overwhelmed with grief and anger, and was in no condition to calm down and think things through.

Besides, he had already resigned himself to his fate.

"It's pointless now. Do you think you'll let me go just because I've figured it out?" He sighed. "I knew all along that you wouldn't let me live."

Kang De raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you expose my identity?"

"I just want to talk to you, and I need to ask you for one thing," Ian said bitterly. "I've resigned myself to my fate, to being controlled by you, to being your tool and puppet, to help you achieve your goals. Although you forced me, I've also given you a lot of useful information, and this body has done a lot for you."

"I don't deserve credit, and I never expected you to release me because of this. I only beg you to spare my family. They are of no use to you. Let them go to the East with those two China girls and settle there... That's all. As long as they are frugal, my inheritance will be enough for them to live on."

"More than that," Kang De scoffed, "Your wife could make a fucking fortune as an English teacher in any major China city, damn it."

The United Kingdom asked, puzzled, "Huh?"

"None of your business, where's your mother, you damn white bastard."

At this point, there was a gentle knock on the door, one knock followed by two.

The United States ambassador, who was slumped over the table, began to sob.

Kang De composed himself, Phase Gate flickered. He appeared in the third empty office next to the ambassador's office. Phoenix Vision unfolded, revealing a humanoid figure of extremely high energy level standing in front of the ambassador's door.

They've arrived.

"Ian" said in a deep voice, "Please come in."

The door was pushed open.

A man in a tuxedo and carrying a briefcase walked in.

He was tall with curly black hair interspersed with streaks of white, but he looked very young and showed no signs of aging. His fingers were long and slender, appearing agile and strong. His gaze was firm and focused, yet a friendly and gentle smile played on his lips. He greeted "Ian" with a warm smile as soon as he entered.

"Hi, Mr. Ian," he greeted, "I'm sorry I'm a little late."

"Stop, just stand there."

Ian gripped the heavy machine gun, aimed it at the other man, and asked in a cold and ruthless tone, "The Round Table?"

"Right."

Less than ten meters away, with the muzzle of an M2 heavy machine gun pointed at him, it meant that if the trigger was pulled, anyone would be reduced to a pile of minced meat in a second. Yet the man who walked in remained calm, smiling politely, "The representative sent by the Round Table, codenamed Barber, call me Todd."

"Ian" said coldly, "Hello, Tony."

The other person smiled and said, "It's Todd."

"Oh, Tony."

Tony paused for a moment, then dismissed it, chuckling, "My compatriot, there's no need for such hostility. We are family, connected by blood and fate. I know you've had some bad experiences, but the hardest times are over... because the doors of the Round Table are now open for you."

Ian remained silent, his face cold.

Tony seemed very patient. He smiled and said, "Originally, I shouldn't have been your guide—but the person who was supposed to guide you suddenly discovered something interesting, and I volunteered to lead you into the Round Table. Do you know why?"

Ian looked at him with a questioning expression.

"Because our destinies are intertwined... a wondrous connection and destiny."

The superhuman codenamed "The Barber" said, "I already know what happened to you today. Those filthy, inferior mortals treated you brutally and unjustly... You did well."

"It all started today when you were ordered to that slum in North London, where you encountered a terrible accident, were made a scapegoat, and were treated unjustly by Military Intelligence Section 5. In anger and despair, you awakened your supernatural abilities, transcending the mundane and becoming a higher form of life."

"And that's our destiny."

Ian's pupils contracted. "You did that?"

The Barber didn't say anything, but just smiled and bowed in greeting.

Ian stared coldly at the other person without saying a word.

"Are you angry with me? That's normal, my brother, but don't stay angry for too long. Although you were in pain and despair at one point, everything is different now. Look at yourself now, feel the Flame and power in your hands. You have elevated your life. You lost something but will gain more. This is our destiny. My actions drove you to despair, but they also gave you a new life. You shouldn't resent me."

"... The Round Table has opened its doors to you."

He extended his hand. "I am commanded to guide you to join us, to join this destined-to-be-great legend."

"Ian" said coldly, "I don't care about any great legends, I only care about my family."

Barber Todd frowned, then smiled and said, "That's perfectly normal. After all, you've just been promoted and still retain some of the old human emotions and beliefs... There's absolutely no problem. We love our brothers, and of course, we love their families as well. Your family is safe; the power of the Round Table will protect them—you work at MI5, so you should know our strength."

He invited again, "Join us, and we will share all of this with you."

Ian insisted, "I appreciate your kindness, but please understand, I cannot fully trust you... I will join you, I will go with you, I will serve you, but there is one condition."

The Barber smiled and said, "Please go ahead."

"My wife and daughter are absolutely safe," the man repeated. "Absolutely."

"The protection of the Round Table is absolute."

"No, as I said, I don't completely trust you," the husband and father said. "Absolute safety is guaranteed when they are sent to China... that's my condition."

"We can arrange it."

"No, I've already made arrangements—I'll use those two China girls you kidnapped to secure the China government's promise to shelter my wife and daughters and protect them."

Hearing this, the Barber frowned again.

"Listen, brother, if it were any other request, we would grant it without hesitation, but not this one—I don't know how you convinced the Prime Minister, but it's not enough to make us back down."

The Barber calmly said, "We only took one girl away. The other one was neither the target nor a kidnapped person—the latter is irrelevant, but the former is very important."

"Ian" said coldly, "The more important, the better. The more important, the greater the favor."

"No, I told you, we can't let that girl go."

Why? Why is she so important?

"I can't tell you now," the Barber said apologetically. "Sorry, brother, but my task is only to guide you. In fact, not only do you not fully trust us, but we can't fully trust you either. When the time is right, when you have gained our approval, I will tell you the whole answer."

Ian remained silent for a moment.

"This is bad," the real Ian said to Kang De. "Even if I go with him, he won't tell me about the China girl, nor will he take me to where she's being held, and the Prime Minister probably won't be able to persuade them either—your plan has failed."

When he said this, the United Kingdom wasn't gloating. If the China girl couldn't be rescued, it meant his wife and children couldn't get on the plane. Ian was probably even more anxious than Kang De right now.

He suggested, "Why don't you just capture him and interrogate him?"

Kang De replied, "No, judging from the conversation, the Round Table has a strict hierarchy and a well-organized structure, and they do a good job of keeping secrets. I'm afraid he doesn't know much information... he'll only alert them."

"What should we do then?"

"Start a fire."

"Ah?"

Before Ian could react, he found himself holding a heavy machine gun. "I want to ensure the absolute safety of my wife and daughters—if you don't release them, then unfortunately, there's nothing more to talk about."

He grabbed the ambassador by the collar, ignoring the man's pleas and screams. "Let's see who gives up first."

The Barber's face darkened slightly. "Don't refuse the Round Table's offer, Ian, brother. Only we can save you now... Do you know what you're giving up?"

"Leave now, I need to make another call to the Prime Minister—otherwise, we'll fight."

Ian gripped the heavy machine gun, his gaze cold and sinister, with black flames flickering around his body.

The swirling, churning, and burning black flames ignited the air, faintly emitting mournful howls. The distorted air refracted intricate patterns, with sacred and profound characters appearing and disappearing. In the shadows, it seemed as if a colossal black flame beast was shrouding "Ian" behind him, spreading its wings and exuding an awe-inspiring aura and power.

This scene caused the Barber's grip on his briefcase to tighten slightly, then he slowly loosened his grip.

The pretentious spells that have been optimized over hundreds of years in another world and used to intimidate and rule over the common people are no ordinary things.

He said in a deep voice, "The Prime Minister cannot persuade us, nor is his power and influence sufficient to make us submit. Making a hundred more phone calls won't do any good."

Ian did not speak.

The Barber sighed and left for the time being.

Meanwhile, Grand Secretary Yue, who had been rejected by the Round Table for the third time, was furious. He paced back and forth in his office, feeling extremely aggrieved. He was being humiliated by Kang De, Ian, and the Round Table.

Add to that the public's ridicule, congressional inquiries, and government pressure, Yuebao is going crazy.

Just then, my phone rang.

He was about to hang up impatiently, but then he glanced at something and suddenly his expression changed.

Because this number... comes from China.

He answered the phone hastily, and just as he was about to speak, a thick, rustic English accent came from the other end. "Hello, is the caller the British Prime Grand Secretary Yue Britain?"

The golden retriever asked in surprise, "Huh?"

The other person said, "My name is Kang De. How's the weather today?"

Grand Secretary Yue jumped in surprise. "Ah! Mr. Kang De!"

Before I could even exchange pleasantries or say anything else, the other person blurted out, "I just found out about this. You United Kingdom are really something."

The Prime Minister asked blankly, "What?"

"An Youyi is someone I know, a friend of my good friend."

Grand Secretary Yue was stunned.

"I'll get on a plane right now and London as fast as I can. You prepare the labor costs, preferential policies, and investment license, and find the right person for me. I'll help you deal with that Ian Crook."

The golden retriever finally snapped out of his daze and stammered, "What? This... wait..."

"Of course, you don't have to find the person for me. I'll find them myself when I get to London. I don't want any of the money or the policies," the China man said. "You can keep it as repair costs."

After saying that, he abruptly hung up the phone, leaving only a busy tone echoing in the Prime Minister's ears.

Grand Secretary Yue held his phone, frozen in place for a full thirty seconds.

Then he jumped up, cursing, "Damn it! How could this happen! You motherfucker! What a joke! Why did this happen! Damn it!"

He paced back and forth in the office at an even faster pace. His chaotic mind was suddenly crystal clear as he considered the pros and cons and weighed the options. He realized that real trouble was about to strike.

He dialed the Round Table's number for the fourth time, and before the other end could speak, he went straight to the point. "The China girl you kidnapped is a friend of Kang De's friend! He already knows! She's on her way to London!"

"Release them immediately! Before he finds out you did it, I'll cover for you! Hurry! Otherwise, if he can't find them, he'll tear London apart!"

Meanwhile, on the China side, Kang De, who had specially rushed back to Capital to make this call, smiled at Qin Mengjin.

"Alright."

He said, "Now, all they can do is return An Youyi to us alive and intact."

Because of Ian, Kang De, the Prime Minister, and the Round Table, the chains of deterrence, suspicion, and interests among these four individuals have been fully formed, intricately intertwined, mutually restraining, and mutually beneficial.

An Youyi is safe.

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PS1: Update... Why haven't the Republican Party launched a counterattack yet? (Looking into the distance)