Chapter 590
Chapter 590:
A convoy of black SUVs was waiting. A man in a white linen suit stood by the lead car, wiping sweat from his balding head with a silk handkerchief.
“Mr. Thorne!” the man called out, rushing forward with a smile that showed too many teeth. “Welcome back! It’s been too long p>
“Manager Zhou,” Alistair acknowledged him with a nod that was barely polite. “I didn’t ask for a reception committee p>
“Oh, nonsense!” Zhou waved a hand. “Director Zhao insisted. We have the presidential suite at the Grand Hotel prepared. Security is top-notch p>
Alistair stopped. He looked at Zhou. “Director Zhao works for me. Or at least, he used to. But I see the local accounts have been shifting. Zhao answers to the highest bidder now, doesn’t he p>
Zhou’s smile faltered for a microsecond before snapping back into place. “I… I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, sir. Operations are normal p>
“Get in the car, Zhou,” Alistair said, walking past him. “But not that one.” He pointed to the lead SUV. “We’re taking the third one. And Felix is driving p>
Zhou looked flustered. “But sir, the protocol p>
“The protocol is that I don’t die today,” Alistair said.
They piled into the third vehicle. It was heavily armored, the glass thick enough to stop a sniper round. Felix took the wheel.
As the convoy moved out of the airport and into the city, the disparity became visceral. They drove past starving children picking through mountains of electronic waste, their small hands searching for copper wire. A hundred yards later, they passed a dealership selling Lamborghinis.
“Parker has been busy,” Alistair said, looking out the window. “He hasn’t just been managing operations; he’s been manipulating the local logistics software for months. He created artificial shortages to drive up prices, skimming the profit into offshore accounts. The misery out there? That’s his algorithm at work p>
“He’s bleeding the country dry,” Skye murmured.
Suddenly, the convoy slowed.
Ahead, the street was blocked. A dozen motorcycles, modified with jagged metal spikes and painted with dragon motifs, revved their engines, creating a wall of noise and exhaust. The riders wore bandanas and carried chains.
A𝗅 𝘧𝘳𝘦e 𝗈𝘯 𝘣e𝗹𝘯ovе𝗅ѕ.c𝗼𝗺
“Local color?” Skye asked, her pulse quickening.
“Intimidation,” Alistair said. “Zhou tipped them off. He wanted us to stop so they could ‘negotiate’ a toll. Lucian must have promised the local gangs a cut of the profits p>
The lead biker revved his engine and popped a wheelie, spinning his bike around to face the Thorne convoy. He pulled out a machete and pointed it at the lead car.
In the front seat, Felix looked in the rearview mirror. “Orders, Boss p>
Alistair didn’t blink. He didn’t look worried. He looked bored.
“They think we’re tourists,” Alistair said. “They think we’ll pay p>
“And will we?” Skye asked.
Alistair looked at her. “Skye, in Port Valor, if you pay once, you pay forever. You don’t negotiate with hyenas. You run them over p>
He tapped the partition. “Felix. Ram speed p>
“Copy that p>
The engine of the armored SUV roared. Felix didn’t hesitate. He floored the gas.
The heavy vehicle surged forward like a charging rhino. The bikers realized too late that this wasn’t a bluff. Their eyes widened behind their goggles.
CRUNCH.
Message from Noa: Dear readers we got today two new novels that you requested for, enjoy them. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. ( • ᴗ – ) ✧