Chapter 76
The sharp sound was like claws scraping against glass, scratching at the hearts of every onlooker. Several seconds passed before anyone thought to look for a fire extinguisher.
Amidst the raging flames, a middle-aged man repeatedly tried to pull the door open but failed. He then kicked the glass, shattering it, and climbed out of the car window with his wife, whose voice was nearly hoarse from shouting.
To keep the embers from burning his back from going out, he rolled around on the ground, clutching his head. But to the many guests, the sight seemed particularly eerie.
The flames from the explosion clearly engulfed the two men, yet they not only escaped unharmed.
Could this be the legendary miracle?
The newly arrived guests missed the scene of the man escaping through the car window. Seeing the middle-aged man rolling around on the ground, they approached him with strange expressions and asked:
"Second brother, what... what are you doing?"
The middle-aged man felt no burning sensation throughout, which left him bewildered. Upon hearing this, he stopped what he was doing and then noticed a faint brown shield covering his skin.
Perhaps due to Shi Lei's improved cultivation level, the color of the Jade Shield is lighter than before.
"I..."
The explosion on the third floor caused panic, forcing everyone to scramble for their lives. Few noticed the protective shields during this time. Now, after being alerted, people are beginning to notice them:
"Hey, what's that on me?"
"Hey, I have one too! It looks like a semi-transparent film, but I can't touch it at all."
"You can't touch yourself, but you can touch others! Touch me, doesn't it feel hard?"
The couple, who survived the ordeal, were both shocked to discover the protective shield on their bodies.
That's incredible!
A normal person sitting in an exploding vehicle would be instantly killed. The fact that they are standing here unharmed proves that this protective shield has worked.
The middle-aged man looked at his hands, then poked at the hymen on his wife's body, his face turning terribly gloomy.
He was certainly fortunate to have survived. But what he was more concerned about now was who wanted to harm him.
The Underground Parking Lot should have been checked last night to ensure its safety. Furthermore, there are numerous security guards at every exit of the hotel; where did this bomb come from?
Lost in thought, Miss Beatrix Suiya through the crowd to the side, crouched down, and asked:
"Second Uncle, are you alright?"
"If it weren't for this shield-like thing on my body, I'm afraid I would have died here today."
Upon learning that the couple had escaped safely from the exploding vehicle, she breathed a sigh of relief and explained:
"Fortunately, I invited Mister Zhongli today. This shield is his Originium Arts. It can attach to a person and block all damage except for themselves."
Having said that, Beatrix stood up and pointed.
Those pointed at instinctively stepped aside, revealing the refined young man in the center of the crowd. All eyes, like a hundred streams flowing into the sea, converged on him.
Some of the later guests remained skeptical, feeling that the ability to create a shield for the entire group and grant immunity to all damage was an overstatement.
Mr. Blake Suiya, the second-in-command of the Schwayer Group, and his wife were unharmed in the car explosion and were able to escape by breaking a window.
The facts are undeniable and cannot be questioned.
With Beatrix's help, Blake stood up. He and his wife walked over to their Savior Shi Lei, and grasped his hand tightly.
Time has not only etched countless wrinkles on Blake's face, but also a grateful heart.
"Thank you, young man, thank you very much."
"Don't mention it. It's my job to take money and solve problems for people. Also, my ability can only be maintained for fifty meters, so please don't stray too far from me."
As a contract, a mandate requires the protected party to be reminded of its purpose. If they insist on going their own way, that's another matter.
Upon hearing this, those who valued their lives quickly gathered together.
Shi Lei's shield range is more than this, but in order to keep everyone together and prevent them from running around, it is uniformly said to be 50 meters.
Some people called the police, while others contacted their trusted confidants to come and help them. Everyone was busy for a while. Although they had protective shields, no one dared to drive.
Shi Lei looked at Lee in the crowd from afar, thinking of going to him to learn talismans and magic. However, there were too many idle people around, making it inconvenient to teach him such things.
Besides, since I need their help, it would be best to buy some gifts and visit Koi-Style Detective Agency tomorrow.
Even if I learn Lee's talismans, they might not be as strong as the Jade Shield and Planet Befall Techniques I have now. But I still need to learn some basics.
Only with a solid foundation can one learn by analogy and innovate new immortal techniques. Otherwise, without any reference points, it's impossible to create anything at all.
Not long after, the sound of sirens grew louder as they approached.
An explosion occurred in the most bustling area of Lungmen, a matter of great importance. Chen led a large number of police officers to the scene, along with specialized bomb disposal personnel.
After checking and confirming that there were no bombs in the other vehicles, the guests left with their families and confidants with peace of mind.
Given what happened today, the internal meeting definitely can't be held; we'll have to discuss it at another time later.
Blake sent his trusted aide to escort his wife away first, then borrowed Beatrix from Shi Lei. He then led Shi Lei and Officer Chen to the conference room on the first floor of the Royal Hotel.
"Receive."
Chen communicated with Hoshiguma via Walkie-Talkie to search for the suspect who threw the Originium bomb on the street. However, the nearby surveillance cameras happened to be broken, and the lead went cold.
"Mister Zhongli, do you have any clues about the murderer or the mastermind behind it?"
Shi Lei shrugged, indicating his helplessness.
"I was asked by Miss Beatrix to protect the guests inside today. From 3 to 6 pm, I stayed in the clothing store across the street and didn't come out. After entering the venue at 6 pm, I stayed there, but I didn't find any suspicious people."
Around 7 PM, there were many protesting workers outside holding banners demanding higher wages, but I feel the suspect who threw the Originium bomb wasn't with them. If you're asking for anything else, I really can't provide that.
Chen nodded, then turned and asked:
"Mr. Blake, do you have any leads on the killer or the mastermind behind it?"
"No."
Do you have any enemies?
Yes, there are many.
The essence of capital is the plunder of resources. The Schwayer Group's rise to its current position inevitably involved stepping over the corpses of its competitors.
Shi Lei, who knew nothing about detective work, casually suggested, "Then let's start by investigating who benefits first after he dies."
Upon hearing this, Blake's face turned as black as dust.
Adam Suiya, the Chief chairman of the Schwayer Group, has been bedridden for more than 20 years due to illness, and his credibility and influence within the family are declining.
If she dies, her biggest competitor for the inheritance will be Beatrix's father, followed by her other siblings.
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123 How can a party be complete without you?
There are currently no substantial clues or evidence to confirm the identity of the mastermind behind this.
From a profit perspective, it's reasonable to conclude that the suspects are likely from within the Schwayer family.
Blake had a stern face, giving off an air of authority. His brow was furrowed, as if he were deep in thought. He remained silent for two minutes before finally speaking:
"Officer Chen, in order to maintain the positive image of the Schwayer Group and its Commercial Union (monthly fee group 694936135), I hope that the progress of this case investigation will not be made public, is that alright?"
As for new media channels such as television stations, newspapers, forums, and websites, the Commercial Union will pay to smooth things over and try to minimize the heat of the case.
"No problem. I will convey Blake's request to my subordinates and the director later."
As victims, they certainly have the right to demand that the Lungmen Guard Department not disclose the information to the public in order to protect their personal privacy.
Afterwards, Officer Chen took out a pen and paper and asked Blake and Shi Lei some questions about the scene. After quickly taking their statements, she said goodbye and left the meeting room.
The suspect who threw the Originium bomb is at large, and apprehending him is the responsibility of the Lungmen Guard Department. We must not allow criminals to roam freely in Lungmen, lest they harm innocent civilians.
In an instant, only the two people remained in the conference room.
"Excuse me, I need to make a phone call first."
Blake walked to a corner and whispered something.
A short while later, a young and beautiful female secretary Feline knocked on the door. She entered only after being granted permission, placed a bank card on the table, bowed, and left, revealing her cleavage.
"Mister Zhongli."
Unlike his previous cold demeanor, Blake adopted a kind expression, spreading his hands and pointing to the bank card:
"I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. This is just a small token of my appreciation; I hope you will accept it."
"Mr. Blake, this is against the rules."
Shi Lei shook his head, refusing decisively:
"Today, I have been entrusted by Miss Beatrix to protect the safety of all guests inside until the end of the meeting. I have already received payment once according to the contract, so there is no need to collect it a second time."
A strange look appeared in Blake's eyes, but he quickly realized it and gave a friendly smile:
"Please consider this an extra gift from me to repay your life-saving grace. Please accept it."
Shi Lei keenly sensed that this money might be a hot potato. If it was merely to repay a debt of gratitude, there was absolutely no need to arrange to meet here privately to give the money.
When Blake first called him and Chen here, he thought he was going to tell them something important.
He dismissed Officer Chen with just a few words, indicating that his true intentions were elsewhere. Aside from her as a pretext, his only remaining target was himself.
Perhaps, taking money is just the beginning.
Like bait on a hook, you need to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Some money isn't so easy to get.
"I'm sorry, I can't accept this card. I'll finish get off work and go home once your bodyguard comes to hand it over."
This answer was somewhat unexpected by Blake. He regained his serious demeanor.
He looked at the young man in his early twenties with his own face, sizing him up and down.
But the next second, his tense face quickly relaxed. His kind smile was incredibly approachable; this seamless transition was truly astonishing.
"Alright, then I'll get straight to the point. Mister Zhongli, I hope to work with you long-term. Don't worry about the salary; it's definitely a price that will appeal to you."
Really.
You want to throw money at it and privatize it, right?
Those workers outside holding banners are a cautionary tale. These successful entrepreneurs are not as glamorous as they appear on the surface.
As a well-known large family business in Lungmen, the Schwayer Group should offer salaries and benefits higher than the industry standard. Only a fool would protest in the streets under these circumstances.
If salaries were in line with industry standards, there wouldn't be so much discontent. It's only when salaries are below the industry standard that this situation has arisen.
What, are you afraid of breaking industry rules by raising salaries for those below you? Are you Lungmen?
This money is definitely too hot to handle.
To be honest, Shi Lei can manage even without money. Besides, having recently completed two jobs with Miss Beatrix and the Rhodes Island commission, he should have paid off most of his debts.
Being a bodyguard for an entrepreneur is nowhere near as carefree as being Messenger.
"Mr. Blake, I'm afraid I'm sorry to disappoint you today, but I have no intention of changing allegiance."
Seeing that such talent could not be recruited, Blake felt deeply regretful, but there was nothing he could do:
"Mister Zhongli, may I have your private phone number? I believe there will be opportunities to cooperate in the future."
"Yes, that's no problem."
After exchanging phone numbers, he stood in the conference room waiting. Shi Lei only took his leave after Blake's bodyguard arrived.
He walked out of the Royal Hotel and found his colleagues and bosses waiting for him outside. He smiled and joked:
Why haven't you left yet?
Exusiai, who was sitting by the flower bed, stood up when she saw him come out and said:
"Of course, how could a party be complete without you?"
She opened the car door and waved:
"Come on, Zhongli, get in the car. The boss's on the tab tonight, let's drink him out of house and home, hahaha."
The Emperor smiled like an uncle upon hearing this, but said nothing more. Even if all the wine stored at the 'End of the Earth' were drunk up, it would not shake its accumulated wealth.