freenovelworld Chapter 742 There are too many ruthless people.
Chapter 742 There are too many ruthless people.
Deep inside the warehouse, a man with slicked-back hair paced anxiously, the sound of his leather shoes striking the concrete floor jarringly in the empty space. He glanced at his watch for the third time; the "Shanghai" brand watch on his wrist gleamed coldly in the dim light.
"Damn it! You're playing me for a fool!" he finally couldn't hold back and growled at the air. In the huge warehouse, only the pile of things covered by canvas in the middle remained silent.
The man with the slicked-back hair grew angrier the more he thought about it, and turned around to kick the empty oil drum next to him hard. A loud "bang" rang out, startling him so much that he took a half step back.
Unable to wait any longer, he rushed to a dusty desk in the corner of the warehouse, grabbed an old-fashioned black crank telephone, took a deep breath, and cranked the handle hard, making a "crackling" sound.
The call volume wasn't too high at night. After a brief conversation, a long "beep...beep..." sound came through the receiver.
A small restaurant in an office building.
On the disheveled table, the wine bottles were empty, and the vodka was nearly gone. The project leaders who had just been "drunk and confused," arm in arm with Li Huaide, calling him brother, were now sitting in a circle.
The atmosphere was eerily quiet, with only the greasy smell of leftover food emanating from the food.
"Ring ring—ring ring—" The shrill sound of the telephone suddenly broke the silence in the room.
The leader in the main seat, with gray hair and referred to as "Commander-in-Chief Zhang," didn't even lift his eyelids. Beside him, Deputy Commander Wang, with a ruddy complexion and unusually clear eyes, immediately stood up, walked to the corner, and calmly picked up the receiver.
"Hello? Where is that?" Deputy Commander Wang's voice was not loud, with his usual tone.
"Commander Wang... Commander Wang! It's me! Xiao Chen! West Warehouse!" A hurried, low voice came from the other end of the phone, his hair styled in a slicked-back middle part. "He hasn't come! We haven't even seen a shadow of him! The Russians... they're changing shifts tomorrow! What are we going to do with this machine... this machine! I'm so worried!"
Deputy Commander Wang listened expressionlessly, his eyes sweeping over his colleagues at the table. General Manager Zhang picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.
Another slender, bespectacled technical lead subconsciously adjusted his glasses and tapped his fingers nervously on the table.
"What's the panic!" Deputy Commander Wang snapped into the receiver, his tone laced with reprimand. "Is the sky falling? Stay calm! Do what you're supposed to do! Wait for further instructions!" With that, he slammed down the phone.
He walked back to his seat and said to General Manager Zhang and the others, "That little Chen from the West Warehouse is getting impatient. He said that before the people arrive, the old Russian he knows is going to be relieved."
"No rush... wait a little longer!"
"Hmph!" Sitting to Mr. Zhang's left, a stocky man with a ruthless look in his eyes sneered, picked up his chopsticks and tapped the empty bowl in front of him, making a crisp sound. "As expected! Those two 'imperial envoys,' one playing the bad cop, slamming the table and glaring, the other playing the good cop, smiling and trying to get close, they acted quite convincingly! Too bad, I got tired of this charade when I saw it on the cultural troupe's performances!"
He picked up a piece of cold braised beef, popped it into his mouth, and mumbled, "The higher-ups sent these two bastards, do they think they can fool anyone? They just want to investigate, right? I'll show them some 'good stuff'! That 'big curved board' was something I deliberately left out for that smiling tiger Li Huaide! I'm just waiting for that 'fool' surnamed Yang to take the bait!"
He put down his chopsticks, glanced around at everyone, and his eyes gleamed with calculation: "What kind of temper does that Yang guy have? He can't stand anyone! I heard this precious gem is gathering dust in the warehouse, do you think he can stand it? I knew he'd sneak over there tonight! So, I made arrangements all along..."
He paused, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of malice, "I had Old Liu from the security department waiting at the warehouse with two 'small fry' (referring to bribes)! If that guy surnamed Yang knows what's good for him, he'll take the gold, and we'll all be fine. It'll also be easier for him to explain himself when he gets back..."
At this moment, a slightly timid voice asked softly, "Director Zhao, what if... what if Yang Youning doesn't buy it and refuses to take the money? He seems quite stubborn..."
The small restaurant fell silent for a moment.
Director Zhao's smile vanished abruptly, replaced by a fierce glint in his eyes. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray with a soft hissing sound.
"Not accepting?" He snorted coldly, made a throat-slitting gesture, and lowered his voice even further.
"...Then don't blame us! The warehouse is near the border, and the Russians stationed there have been exercises recently. Artillery fire has no eyes...and 'accidentally' missed a shell."
"Bending machine, auditor—it's all over. Would the higher-ups really risk a complete falling out with the Russians over two auditors? In the end, it was just an unfortunate accident!"
These words elicited varying reactions from the people at the table.
General Manager Zhang continued sipping his tea leisurely, not even lifting his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard a thing. Deputy Commander Wang nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, clearly approving of this "cutting off the fuel supply" tactic.
But Chief Engineer Li, the technical lead, turned deathly pale! He abruptly looked up, his eyes behind his glasses filled with horror: "Old Zhao! This...this is too risky! Faking an artillery shelling scene? What if...what if it gets discovered..."
"Find out?" Director Zhao glanced at him sideways, his tone laced with disdain and threat. "How can we find out? The shells were fired by the Russians! The site was reduced to rubble, not even a complete set of bones could be found! Who would investigate? Who would dare to investigate? Besides, Lao Li, don't you have any idea where that machine came from? If we really turn everything upside down, do you think you can clear your name? Even if it's not shit, it's still shit!"
Chief Engineer Li was speechless, his lips trembling, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hem of his clothes, making him appear restless.
Deputy Commander Wang spoke up at the right moment, his tone calm but carrying pressure: "Old Li, don't scare yourself. Old Zhao is doing this for the greater good. That machine is ultimately a hidden danger. Either we make it 'disappear' in a reasonable way, or... someone has to 'use' it. But right now, can we use it? Do we dare to use it?"
He gave Chief Engineer Li a meaningful look: "Instead of living in fear, let's solve this once and for all. Do as Old Zhao says, it'll be clean and efficient. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up." As he spoke, his gaze swept over General Manager Zhang, who sat calmly on the sidelines.
Mr. Zhang finally put down his teacup, wiped his mouth with a towel, and said in a low voice, "Alright. It's pointless to say more now. Old Zhao, the people you arranged, be smart. Old Li, keep your mouth shut and do your job of 'proving' your technical skills. Everyone else, just do what you're supposed to do. Remember, stay calm and follow the steps. Dismissed."
He was the first to stand up, hands behind his back, and strode out of the restaurant. Director Zhao and Deputy Commander Wang exchanged a glance and followed suit. Only Chief Engineer Li remained, sitting blankly at the disheveled table, his face ashen, as if his soul had been ripped from his body.
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