I understood. They were creating a simulation system where one could see the precise location of goods, and by connecting it to the internet, information would be synchronized and viewable anywhere in the world simply by accessing the system.
In reality, all of this was virtual, merely appearing seamless.
I told the elder that they should continue their work here for now, and we would go to Brother Bao's office to discuss how to deal with the organization from Country A.
By stabilizing Brother Xie Jia Bao here and dealing with the underground organization from Country A, we could then undermine Chen Li Ben and thwart his plans.
Wen Si Qiang went to buy a mobile phone for the elder and brought it to him.
We sat down in Brother Bao's office. I said, "Wen Si Qiang, go prepare ten bunk beds, the best quality. Install them in the idle workshop. Remember, the beds should only be unloaded at the main entrance. You and Qian Fu Gui will handle the rest. Besides you two, no one else should know where you install the beds."
Wen Si Qiang acknowledged and turned to go downstairs.
I said, "I have arrangements for the people the elder brought over. It's best if they stay outside, so we can deploy them easily when we move. General's fifteen men, operating by night and resting by day, are better off staying inside."
The elder replied, "You think about these things more thoroughly. Honestly, some of your ideas are countless times beyond those of your peers. Even I, an old man, admire you."
I said, "What ability do I have? I've learned from you, my wise mentors and friends. If I have any ideas, it's because I've experienced too much and been tempered by it."
The elder responded, "How old are you to say you've experienced too much? If that's true, your life must be quite tragic."
I said, "You are correct. I endured hunger and deprivation, suffered bullying and humiliation in school, and faced family calamities. Back then, just surviving was a blessing."
The elder commented, "I know some of your story. What we are doing now is merely a continuation of your youthful experiences. The old enemies remain the same, their intentions unchanged. They still aim to eliminate you and your family."
I grunted. The current war had simply expanded from solely targeting my father to including me and everyone associated with me.
The elder continued, "My friend has fed me information that the underground organization from Country A has dispatched three groups to infiltrate Ruili. They are in groups of three, most likely staying at the Rui En Hotel."
He added, "Most of them are of Western descent, with significant physical differences from us. Therefore, they won't show themselves during the day. We need to be vigilant at night. They are few in number, highly mobile, and each is an eighth-dan black belt, proficient in Taekwondo and Muay Thai. They can kill a person alive without using weapons, their methods are shockingly brutal!"
I only knew they were exceptionally skilled. What the elder described was entirely new to me.
The elder went on, "The men General Wu sent over are not bad, but compared to these desperate criminals, they might still be a step behind. I believe we should go scout the Rui En Hotel. It would be best to find out where these assassins are staying. This way, we can shift from being passive to active. We could try to apprehend a few of them during the day. This would reduce their strength and also serve as a deterrent, making them more cautious in their actions."
I replied, "You truly have foresight, elder. When should we depart?"
The elder said, "While we're still in these clothes and haven't returned the car, we'll get ready and go."
I agreed. "Your passport and business cards have been prepared by Jing Lei. We'll leave once Wen Si Qiang returns."
I called Wen Si Qiang and told him to have the truck delivering the beds bring it to the courtyard for unloading and that he didn't need to wait. He should pay and come back.
Wen Si Qiang acknowledged. After I hung up, I said to the elder, "I just remembered something. We still have a few assassins from Wu Guo Dong captured here. Since we've figured things out, there's no point in keeping them confined. We can grant them their freedom and let them return."
The elder exclaimed, "Oh, you have them? Then I'll go with you to see them. Perhaps we can glean more information."
I responded, "They are of lower rank and don't seem to know many core secrets."
The elder insisted, "Ask them anyway. You never know."
I agreed, "It's a good time now."
We took off our jackets. It felt a bit odd to be so formal in our own place.
We went downstairs and asked the security guard to fetch an electric cart to take us there.
It wasn't that we didn't want to walk those few steps, but rather to save time.
The security guard at the workshop entrance saw us approaching and quickly opened the door for us to enter.
We pushed the door open and stepped inside the inner room. The room was quiet, unlike our last visit when they were playing cards.
It turned out everyone was asleep on their beds.
What kind of sleep was this? It was too late for a nap and too early for nighttime sleep. It seemed their biological clocks were quite messed up.
The security guard went up and woke them, announcing my arrival.
The men scrambled to their feet. Upon seeing me, they quickly greeted me.
I asked them, "What kind of sleep are you having now?"
Cousin Wang Dong grinned and replied, "Boss, we don't sleep at night and sleep during the day."
As expected, their sleep schedules were reversed, like trying to adjust to a new time zone after returning from abroad, making it difficult to switch back.
I said, "Do you want to go back? It's not right to keep you here indefinitely. If you wish to return, I'll arrange for someone to send you back."
Cousin scratched his head, clearly not fully awake and not yet grasping my meaning.
I continued, "I've been to the other side and met General Wu. We have no grievances, and all matters are settled. Therefore, it's unfair to keep you here. From now on, you are free."
At this, the three men finally understood what was happening. For a moment, they were joyous, but then their heads drooped, and they looked at me listlessly. Cousin said, "Boss, where can we go back to? Back there? Even if the General wanted us, Chen Li Ben would still kill us. Here, you can at least protect our lives. Going back means only death. I'm not leaving. I won't interfere if the other two do."
The other two also shook their heads vigorously like rattles, indicating they would not return.
This put me in a difficult position. I said, "If you don't leave, I can't keep you confined forever. That's illegal. What should we do?"
Cousin replied, "Then we'll work for you. We can be waiters or security guards, anything, as long as we get food."
I stated, "You don't have local identification cards. It's too risky and complicated for me to employ you."
Cousin pleaded, "Then arrange for us to work in logistics, growing vegetables or cooking. Just don't make us go back."
It seemed they truly wouldn't be safe if they returned, and I couldn't just watch them go to their deaths.
I said, "How about this? We do have a vegetable garden. You can endure some hardship for a while, help with planting vegetables and buying rice. Later, when there's an opportunity, I'll move you to the front. I believe you are all skilled individuals, and I can't let your talents go to waste."
Cousin replied, "We don't mind growing vegetables. We have no complaints. Just arrange it as you see fit."
I said, "Alright, that's the arrangement for now. I'll make adjustments later."