I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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122 – Right to Silence
122
Bohol, Philippines.
Emerald Resort.
The moment I stepped into the hotel lobby, I felt unfamiliar eyes upon me.
Them again.
The ones who dragged me to China.
Those rude bastards who hauled me all the way to China without even offering a meal in flight.
They’ve come again.
The instant I sensed their gaze, I veered away from the lobby toward the resort’s garden outside.
Toward the emptier sections.
I retrieved a gun from my inventory and naturally tucked it into the back of my waistband.
I wasn’t going to let myself be captured so easily today.
I left the lobby and stepped into the garden.
The Emerald Resort was my home.
I knew every corner, every passage, where everyone was stationed.
The moment I turned toward a secluded corner, I felt them rushing at me from behind.
Probably planning to throw a hood over my head, no doubt.
They’d tried the same thing last time.
No creativity in these bastards.
Then again, it worked last time, so there was no reason for them to change tactics.
But that was when I cooperated.
This time was different.
I stopped mid-stride and bent forward sharply.
The agent chasing me couldn’t check his momentum and crashed onto my back, clinging desperately.
I flipped him over my shoulder and hurled him hard onto the ground.
Thud!
The impact winded him, his body convulsing in pain, but I gave him no mercy.
I drew the gun from my waistband and began firing directly beside his face.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shots erupted inches from the agent’s ear.
The earth cratered, shock flooded the man’s face, and tears welled in his eyes.
Only the pinned agent was terrified.
The other agents who’d crept close to bind my hands and arms froze in place, paralyzed by fear.
I raised the gun, aimed it loosely at them, and waved my hand in a clear gesture to back away.
The startled agents immediately retreated, establishing a safe distance.
Within moments, guards who’d heard the gunfire came rushing over.
In the Philippines, armed guards exist everywhere.
Especially at a luxury resort like ours.
And given that we ran Rebel Forces operations, dealt with gangsters, and trafficked weapons on the side.
The guards lacked nothing in numbers, skill, or equipment.
They surrounded the Chinese agents.
Additional personnel were called in via radio.
Not just the guards stationed at Emerald Resort, but those off-duty as well.
Even the guards from Vicente Palace next door came rushing in.
Members of the Sandro Group staying at the hotel joined the encirclement.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security agents, surrounded in an instant, went beyond shock into sheer horror.
They weren’t merely exposed—they were completely boxed in.
There was no escape route.
“Let’s keep this simple. Drop your guns and get tied up? Or do you want to take bullets and get dumped in the Philippine waters? Either way, you came here to kill me. So I’m being generous.”
The Ministry of State Security agents’ eyes converged on one point as they realized there was no way out.
A single man stood there.
He gave a subtle nod, and the agents carefully lowered their weapons to the ground.
My guards went over, confiscated the guns, and bound the agents.
.
.
.
The hotel’s business conference room.
I sat across from Li Qingwu.
I held a coffee in one hand.
Li Qingwu sat completely bound.
He’d been thoroughly searched and restrained so tightly he couldn’t move a single finger.
I said it wasn’t necessary, but the team wouldn’t hear it.
They insisted on absolute security and tied him up like that.
It wasn’t really needed.
I could die anytime in life, but at least I was confident it wouldn’t be by Li Qingwu’s hand.
Looking at how he planned operations, ambushes were all he knew.
With someone like that, you just had to watch out for sneak attacks.
But I couldn’t just push my own opinion either.
Even if my judgment was correct, I needed to value my staff’s input.
I was the resort’s representative.
I cherished my employees’ opinions.
“Are you the Team Leader?”
“Yes. Just kill me.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I kill you?”
“······”
“Your name.”
“······”
“I hate this. I like talkative people best, and second are those who make excuses. The ones I hate most are stubborn types like you who won’t say anything.”
“······”
“You think staying silent here makes you some kind of patriot? Makes you feel like some grand, noble sacrifice? Like you’re saving your team? You’re not. Not at all. You’re throwing away the one chance you have to save yourself and your entire team.”
“······”
“Why did you come here? To retrieve me, right? All I need to do is reach China, doesn’t that complete the mission? Do you really need to kidnap me, blindfold me, bind my hands, and drag me there for it to count as success?”
“······”
“If you won’t speak, then I have no choice but to package you all up nicely and send you to China as you are.”
“What???”
The moment I mentioned sending them to China, Li Qingwu’s mouth finally opened.
“Did you think I’d give you the honor of death? Why would I grant failed agents such glory? What you deserve isn’t the honor of death—it’s the shame of arrest and extradition. The same way you brought me here. Blindfolded, hands bound, legs bound, delivered to China. Actually, let’s skip the blindfold. Your faces should be visible. Everyone needs to know who the black agents are that failed this operation.”
“······”
“I’ve had a long day. Why is there such a power shortage in the Philippines? Anyway, I’m exhausted. I want to go rest. If you won’t talk, we’re done here. I have no more questions for you. You won’t speak. I’m just rambling to myself, and I hate this moment so much.”
“······”
I opened the door without hesitation, as if I had no lingering attachment to this conversation, ready to leave.
Li Qingwu’s expression shifted to shock.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to actually walk out.
I spoke to the guards standing outside.
“Take all of them, including this bastard, to the basement. Gag them, blindfold them. Bind them so they can’t move a single finger or toe. Don’t feed them. They didn’t feed me either.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And stay alert. These are still agents, after all. They’ve been trained extensively, so keep watch carefully. If they try to escape, shoot them. Knees, ankles—anywhere. Don’t hesitate. If you do, you’ll be the ones paying the price.”
“Understood.”
“And tell Jason tomorrow morning that we’re sending them to China. He needs to smuggle these bastards and get them to Beijing.”
“Understood.”
As I turned to leave the conference room, Li Qingwu called out to me from behind.
“Wait… just wait a moment…”
I looked back at Li Qingwu with an expressionless face.
A face that said I had no interest in anything he had to say.
“Give me just a moment.”
“No. Time’s up. Haven’t you watched sports? Once time expires, anything added after that doesn’t count.”
Li Qingwu’s expression grew desperate.
Anxiety wrapped around his entire body—the fear that if the door closed now, everything would truly be over.
“The door isn’t closed yet. Isn’t that a buzzer-beater?”
“No, you bastard. The game ended when I stood up. So stop being pathetic.”
“Just kill me. Kill only me and let my agents go.”
“Why would I kill you? And I already told you—I’ll package you nicely and send you. This guy’s the type to repeat himself too. I didn’t mention it before, but there are people I hate more than those who stay silent—people who can’t understand simple words and make me repeat myself. Those people are hopeless. So let’s end this here. Anything more will just sour the mood between us. I won’t see you out. Travel safe, and if you somehow survive, come visit later. I’ll give you a resort pass.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you everything.”
“I don’t want to hear it. I’m tired, like I said. And I don’t want to repeat myself either. But you’re doing exactly that. Stop being pathetic.”
“I won’t be pathetic. I’ll tell you everything. My name is Li Qingwu, and I’m the Team Leader of MSS Overseas Operations Division 2. We were ordered to bring you in, which is why we came here. We were selected because we’ve conducted similar operations before.”
“But why should I care about that?”
“What?”
“I’m not curious about your name. Your position, your organization—none of it interests me.”
“Then what…?”
“I’m curious who I was supposed to meet if I’d been kidnapped. And who came up with this ridiculous operation.”
“······”
“Look. This is why I hate guys like you. You ramble on about useless crap, but the moment I ask for information that actually matters, you clam up. And then you whine about wanting to die. It’s pathetic. Get out of here. Go back and take your punishment, resign, do whatever—I don’t care. I’m leaving.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t know the exact details, so I was thinking it through. The operation was ordered by the MSS Director. And I don’t know exactly who you were supposed to meet. I was just told to bring you to Zhongnanhai.”
“The MSS Director ordered the operation. And you were told to bring me to Zhongnanhai?”
“Yes.”
It seemed like it wasn’t the MSS Director’s line this time either.
If it’s Zhongnanhai, Wei Zhonglin is the most likely candidate.
I heard Assand’s side effects were severe, so maybe that’s why he called me.
“Didn’t you hear what I said last time? I told you I’d go on my own if you sent an invitation. Why do you always have to complicate things like this? If I asked Zhou Chiming… oh, he’s dead. Anyway, I’ll go on my own. Just make sure you come when I call.”
“That might be difficult…”
“Do you think you have a choice?”
“How about this? I’ll send my men. I’ll stay behind. I’ll escort you all the way to China myself.”
“Ha ha ha. So you’re saying you’ll keep watch over me.”
“··· That part is···”
“Fine. I can understand that much. But you’re paying for the plane ticket. First class. And the duty-free shopping too. I should treat myself to some luxury shopping while I’m at it.”
Li Qingwu’s expression didn’t look pleased, but so what?
Why should I care about that?
*******
I headed to the Chairman’s office in Zhongnanhai with Li Qingwu.
I’d shopped so much at duty-free that I left the bags at the hotel.
Thanks to Li Qingwu, I’d acquired quite a collection of luxury goods.
I was oddly grateful for it.
And he’d escorted me all the way here to Zhongnanhai.
Thanks to him, the journey was comfortable.
See how much better it is when you do things this way?
No awkward confrontations between us.
When I arrived at the office, Wei Zhonglin—who looked like the Chairman but wasn’t quite—greeted me.
“Welcome. Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
My lukewarm response made Wei Zhonglin’s expression turn cold in an instant.
From my perspective, Wei Zhonglin was far from welcome.
He’d cut off the Assand supply and tried to kidnap me.
There was no reason to be glad to see him.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhonglin was a man who held vast China in his grasp.
No one dared to raise their head in front of Wei Zhonglin.
There was no one who showed such disrespect before him.
Yet this man before Wei Zhonglin was acting incredibly arrogant and rude.
Wei Zhonglin didn’t like it.
He wanted nothing more than to slam this bastard’s head into the ground right then and there.
“Was there anything uncomfortable on your way here? Your expression doesn’t look good.”
“No, nothing. I flew first class and it was comfortable. I even did some shopping at duty-free.”
Wei Zhonglin’s cold gaze turned toward Li Qingwu, who had brought me here.
Li Qingwu looked flustered.
Whether they fought or not wasn’t my concern.
“So why did you want to meet?”
“We’ll talk about that later. Let’s eat first.”
“I ate on the plane. It’s fine, so let’s talk first.”
“Hmm…”
It looked like veins were bulging on Wei Zhonglin’s forehead as he clenched his teeth.
Maybe I was just seeing things.
“You must have had a reason for calling me. Tell me.”
“…”
Time passed, but no words came from Wei Zhonglin’s mouth.
It seemed like he was holding back anger.
But was there something to be angry about?
Did something bad happen before I arrived?
“If you have nothing to say, I’ll just go. And next time you want to meet, call me yourself. Don’t send agents.”
Was silence the default setting in this place?
Everyone refused to speak.
It seemed awkward for them to talk.
Why call me if you’re not going to say anything?”
I simply stood up from my seat.
I was about to leave.
“Sit down.”
A commanding order came from Wei Zhonglin.
Was he really from the military?
The type who can’t tolerate insubordination?
But I’m not Wei Zhonglin’s subordinate.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Haha, this is amusing.”
I was about to leave but sat back down instead.
I wanted to know why Wei Zhonglin was acting this way.
It was simple curiosity.
“You look too young to have learned proper etiquette, but this isn’t a place where you can come and go as you please or act however you want.”
“Oh, how did you know? I grew up like an orphan and never learned manners. Are you a shaman by any chance? Can you read me that well? Can you see my future? Does my future just appear to you?”
Wei Zhonglin looked slightly flustered as I countered his intimidation with shamanism.
Did he really think I’d be scared if he tried to intimidate me like that?
“Read my future for me. I’ll pay you generously.”
“Ahahaha.”
Wei Zhonglin laughed with genuine amusement, continuing his thought.
“I can see it. Your future. On your knees, swearing loyalty to me.”
“Really? I have no such plans. Sounds like you’re seeing things.”
“No, I’m certain. That’s what will happen to you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I pulled out my wallet and placed a hundred-dollar bill on the table.
“A tip for the fortune teller. I’m not thrilled with the reading, but what can I do? The future unfolds as it will. Even if I don’t like it, I should pay my respects.”
“Kahahaha. You’re an interesting one.”
“If we’re done here, I’ll be leaving.”
“Your comprehension skills seem lacking. I just explained—this isn’t a place you can come and go from freely.”
“Is that so? I wasn’t informed beforehand. Do you just change the rules whenever you feel like it? That your style? Is that why you staged a coup?”
“Tsk. Your tongue is becoming tiresome. I think you need some discipline.”
Wei Zhonglin glanced at the bodyguard standing behind him.
The bodyguard began moving toward me.
“You invited me here, and you’re going to do this? That’s acceptable to you?”
“Of course it is. This is my world. Anything goes here. Killing one person like you is nothing.”
“Since you say anything goes, I won’t hold back either.”
I pulled five grenades from my inventory and threw them all at once.
The grenades rolled across the office floor.
The bodyguard, completely unprepared for this, froze in shock.
No one could have imagined grenades appearing in this office.
The man had been thoroughly searched multiple times before entering.
He’d passed through security gates and been patted down by hand.
So where did the grenades come from?
There was no way to know.
In that moment, I grabbed Wei Zhonglin and pulled him under the desk with me.
This desk seemed like the safest spot in the room.
BOOM!! BOOM!!
The grenades detonated.
Shrapnel scattered across the office, embedding itself everywhere.
The office transformed into chaos in an instant.
The acrid stench of gunpowder filled the air.
The windows, reinforced with bulletproof glass, remained intact.
Yet the shockwave was devastating.
People bleeding from wounds scattered throughout the room.
Others searching for me with guns drawn.
Alarms began wailing.
Agents waiting outside rushed in.
At this point, I felt genuine fear creeping in.
I honestly hadn’t thought it would come to this.
I didn’t come to China with the intention of planting grenades in the Chinese President’s office.
Yet there was no other choice.
Even if I managed to deal with the security personnel coming after me, it would be futile.
This is Zhongnanhai.
There could be thousands of guards like these.
I couldn’t face them one by one.
I couldn’t escape through the windows either.
They would certainly be bulletproof, and they probably wouldn’t open.
The thought crossed my mind that today might be the last day of my life.
If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do about it.
But I won’t give up.
I still have the greatest hostage in my hands.
I pulled Wei Zhonglin to his feet.
Then I positioned myself safely behind Wei Zhonglin.
I used Wei Zhonglin as a shield.
With one hand, I aimed my gun at Wei Zhonglin’s head.
“Tell them all to leave.”
I spoke to Wei Zhonglin, but he didn’t listen to me.
He kept his mouth firmly shut.
If I let time slip away, the advantage would be mine no longer.
“Wasn’t it you who called me here saying you had something to discuss? Your hospitality is terrible. If I leave like this, Assand is finished forever—are you okay with that?”
Only then did Wei Zhonglin’s senses return.
He had called me to obtain Assand, but his irritation at the man’s disrespectful attitude had made him forget about Assand entirely.
He had almost ruined everything.
Assand is absolutely necessary in China right now.
He must transform China, where Dissand reigns, into a nation of Assand.
It was humiliating, but there was no choice if he wanted to obtain Assand.
“I have urgent matters to discuss with this man, so everyone must leave.”
Wei Zhonglin gave the order after collecting his thoughts, but the agents hesitated even as blood dripped from their wounds.
“That’s not possible, sir. We cannot leave you alone with this man.”
“That’s right. We don’t know what might happen.”
“Allow us to escort you.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry. Have the injured receive treatment immediately, and no one is to enter the office until I call for you again. Everyone, dismissed.”
At Wei Zhonglin’s firm command, the agents reluctantly filed out, and I remained behind Wei Zhonglin, gun trained on him, watching the situation unfold.
The area in front of the door was filled with agents, but none of them dared to make a move.
They could only glare at me.
Thud.
The single door connecting to the office closed.
I immediately locked it.
It’s a specially designed security door.
The door won’t open.
Now I could finally speak freely.
“Shall we talk now?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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