Chapter 359: It’s Beneficial for Both of Us

While Kim Mu-hyeok was deep in discusson about Afghanistan’s future with Ahmad, the head of Valence, Xavier, was busy receiving reports in his office.

“Hmm…”

He set down the paper he was holding and asked his butler.

“You managed to execute the ambush, but you couldn’t kill Kim Mu-hyeok?”

“A few mercenaries guarding Kim Mu-hyeok were killed, but th Taliban suffered far greater losses. Most were killed, and a few managed to escape. One has even been captured by the U.S. Military.”

“I suppose I had too high expectations of the Taliban.”

Although Xavier’s tone was typically indifferent, his butler was sweating profusely with his head bowed.

“Have all ties to us been severed?”

“Yes, we’ve ensured that no investigation can trace back to you. Any pursuit will lead to a ghost with no tangible existence.”

Xavier nodded. He then got up and opened the window.

A cool breeze rushed into the office, brushing past Xavier.

Looking out at the meticulously arranged garden beyond the window, Xavier smiled.

The butler remained still, head down, waiting for his master’s command.

After gazing silently at the garden for a while, Xavier turned his body.

“Any movements from Lorenze?”

“No movements at all. There haven’t been any attempts to contact Kim Mu-hyeok. He’s simply been poceeding with the family business as usual.”

“It seems he’s definitely discussing something with Kim Mu-hyeok, but my bait isn’t nticing enough…”

He had thrown various baits, yet Lorenze never took a bite.

Whether Lorenze recognized it as bait or if he had something else in play was uncertain.

Or perhaps all of this was just his own suspicion.

But once doubt took root, it was hard to shake off.

He had his instincts, but lacked evidence. No matter who it was, he couldn’t eliminate Lorenze without proof.

Growing uncomfortable with Lorenze’s refusal to act as he wanted, Xavier started searching for a candidate for the family head.

Lorenze’s younger brother was full of greed, while Lorenze’s son seemed disinterested in the position.

He even contemplated manipulating the brother to incite infighting, but Lorenze’s grip was too strong.

“Not satisfactory at all.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ha ha, I know how much strain you’re under. You have nothing to apologize for—it’s all in God’s hands.”

With a comforting word, Xavier slowly walked closer to stand before the butler.

He placed a hand on the butler’s shoulder.

“But I don’t need someone who keep failing. Even if that someone has been by my side for decades.”

His tone was casual, but the pressure from his hand on the shoulder was increasing. The butler began to tremble.

“Find out what Kim Mu-hyeok is plotting with tht lion cub, Masood.”

With that final word, Xavier brushed past the butler and exited his office.

* * *

He continued his conversation with Ahmad for quite some time.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a boy and two girls rushed in.

Ahmad welcomed the children with a broad smile.

“These are my kids.”

The children bowed their heads to greet me. It was charming that they were polite, but I couldn’t understand a word.

I waved my hand in response and then turned my gaze to the only boy.

Now a teenager, I recognized this boy.

Bearing Ahmad’s name, Ahmad Masood, he led the guerrilla forces resisting the Taliban’s renewed control of Afghanistan.

Noticing my gaze, Ahmad asked me.

“Do you like my son?”

I answered with a smile.

“He looks just like the general.”

“Ha ha! That’s nice to hear.”

Ahmad laughed heartily at the compliment.

His affectionate gaze toward the kids revealed his deep love for them.

“The children have suffered a lot because of me. They’ve wandered through foreign lands. I feel like I’m a useless father to them.”

I had no response.

Born as the child of a commander leading a rebellion; I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that would be like.

“So I’m always sorry.”

Ahmad said, ruffling his son’s hair.

The boy seemed to enjoy his father’s touch, grinning broadly and looking up at Ahmad with joy.

For someone who had experienced hardship, he seemed to be quite attached to his father.

“I don’t want to pass down a country bathed in the smell of blood. I believe I must sever this chain of evil in my lifetime.”

Ahmad spoke resolutely, withdrawing his hand from his son’s head.

“If I must walk through hell to do that, I will do so willingly. Even if Allah were to forsake me, I must take that path.”

His words, filled with firm resolve, brought a smile to my face.

“I hope your dream for the country comes true.”

“Thank you.”

Ahmad sent the children out. Once they left and the door closed, I turned to Ahmad and spoke.

“General, have you considered sending your son abroad for studies? It might be difficult for him to get a good education in this country right now.”

“Abroad, you say?”

“Yes. I think it would be beneficial for him to get a proper education in Europe.”

Ahmad furrowed his brows and sighed.

“For the country to develop and establish itself, we need capable individuals. A country lacking talent will ultimately be left with only chaff, unable to foresee a future.”

Observing Ahmad still seeming unsure, I continued speaking.

“If you’re worried about his safety, Black Bear can provide protection. You must be aware of Black Bear’s standards since you’re already receiving their security. I think Europe or Switzerland would be suitable. What do you think?”

“I’ll think it over.”

He did not seem inclined to engage further, so I refrained from pushing the issue.

In the end, Ahmad would send his son abroad for studies. And I would have no choice but to ensure the boy’s safety.

To be honest, his son was something of a hostage. If his son was in the hands of Black Bear, he would be less likely to break our agreement.

Ahmad checked the time on his watch and prepared to leave.

“Time has flown by already. I must take my leave. Please discuss the details with Jia.”

After shaking hands with me one last time, Ahmad departed.

Ahmad Jia Masood, watching his brother leave, spoke up with a grin.

“It seems my brother likes you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, otherwise he wouldn’t have spent so much time with you.”

To think the Lion of Panjshir would take a liking to me. I shrugged and responded with exaggerated gratitude.

“What an honor! Well, it’s mutually beneficial, so I assume he carved out this time for us.”

“Hmm…Still, half of the underground resources seems excessive. It was his decision, so I shouldn’t meddle, but…”

Nodding slightly, I quickly wiped the smile off my face.

“I’m also risking a lot in this endeavor. If you feel that’s too much, then find another partner.”

My assertive response made Jia wave his hands in embarrassment.

“No, it’s just lamenting; I have no intention of changing what’s already been decided. Shall we discuss the finer details?”

With that cue, I started negotiating specifics with Jia in earnest.

He proved to be more agreeable than I expected. There was a reason Ahmad trusted him.

“Then I shall rely solely on Charlie.”

After finalizing the arrangements with Jia, we shook hands at the entrance of the safe house and parted ways.

I climbed into the car and glanced down at the watch on my wrist. A significant time had passed, but I still couldn’t return to the lodging yet.

“Where to next?”

“Let’s head to the Black Bear base.”

“Yes, Boss.”

The car carrying Manager Ma and me drove through the streets of Kabul toward the Black Bear base.

As the sun set, darkness fully enveloped the city.

There seemed to be barely any lights on, as if the power grid hadn’t been properly restored.

If Afghanistan’s largest city looked like this, the conditions in other cities might be worse.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at the Black Bear base within Kabul.

Black Bear had set up camp around a building that was nearly in ruins, using tents as shelters.

Yet, despite the darkness surrounding them, their base was quite bright—suggesting some level of self-sufficiency.

As we arrived, I saw mercenaries clearing blockades that were obstructing the path.

The car moved past the checkpoint toward the center of the base.

At the heart of the base stood a building that had not collapsed.

As I got out of the car, a man stepped out from within.

“Glad to meet you. I’m Yuri Zhirkov.”

“Nice to meet you. Where’s the captured person?”

“Please follow me, Boss.”

Following Zhirkov, I entered the building.

“Have you found anything out?”

I asked while walking alongside him, honestly expecting little.

“It was the Taliban.”

“Don’t you have any other information?”

“Nothing that indicates they were significant figures. They said they were just following orders from above.”

As expected. If they were significant players, there would have been attempts to rescue or assassinate them.

As I conversed with Zhirkov, we descended underground.

The basement contained a large room. Inside were two mercenaries and a man sprawled out like a corpse.

It was a gruesome sight. I frowned, while Zhirkov casually questioned the mercenaries.

“Any insights?”

“None. He just keeps repeating the same things.”

Zhirkov nodded slightly and waited for my instructions.

“Zhirkov, you stay here. I’ll speak to him directly.”

Zhirkov sent the other mercenaries away and closed the door.

I walked over to the man lying like a dead body.

Manager Ma brought a chair and set it down for me to sit on as I examined the man.

His fingernails and toenails had all been pulled out, and some were outright severed.

“Did they use drugs on him?”

“Yes.”

“Manager, let’s see his face.”

Following my orders, Manager Ma lifted the man’s face. Dried blood caked his beard, and the man’s nose was flattened; his eyes were already clouded.

He mumbled something continuously. I strained to catch his words.

“Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar…”

I frowned and sighed deeply.

I couldn’t understand these fanatics who still sought God while nearing death.

I continued the interrogation through Zhirkov, but he was already so broken that I couldn’t glean decent answers.

I quickly lost interest and stood up.

“Doesn’t seem like there’s anything more to find. Handle it as you see fit.”

As I exited the room, the mercenaries who had been inside earlier were waiting for me.

Zhirkov relayed my instructions to them, and they re-entered the room.

I walked down the hallway with Zhirkov. As we reached the end of the corridor, a gunshot rang out from behind us.

The next day.

I woke up in a hotel to find an American waiting for me.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Timothy Chandler.”

Chandler was a CIA agent.

“I heard you were attacked by the Taliban.”

“That’s right. What does the U.S. know about it?”

Chandler shook his head and replied.

“We haven’t figured anything out either.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because of the conversation I had with Ahmad yesterday.”

“…”

I held my silence, scrutinizing Chandler’s face.

“Ahmad is a primary target of our surveillance.”

“Surveilling a nation’s leader… Do you realize how disrespectful that is?”

Chandler shrugged as if it were nothing and replied.

“Whether he becomes a leader or not is still being discussed in Washington. Nothing’s set in stone yet.”

Chandler’s words implied that the U.S. could act to remove Ahmad at any moment.

It was an arrogant statement, but I nodded calmly; that was a luxury the U.S. could afford.

“So what do you want to hear from me?”

“We cannot accept that the blood we’ve spilled is harvested by another.”

“Can’t accept?”

Considering he mentioned Washington, it was clear he wasn’t just an ordinary agent, but a representative of the higher-ups.

Even if that was the case, this attitude was excessive. I didn’t like it.

“Yes. Half of the underground resources is ludicrous… Why should you reap the rewards of the blood we’ve shed?”

“I’m simply investing in Afghanistan and reaping what I sow. If you want to complain, direct it at American businessmen to invest during a war.”

“Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Chandler glared at me like a rabid dog.

I chuckled at Chandler’s glare. Given that he was spying on me, I might as well turn this to my advantage.

“So, does that mean the U.S. invaded Afghanistan seeking compensation?”