"Director, I, Moore, have been following you for a full five years! I even took a bullet for you. How long has this pretty boy been around? Not even a year, right!? Just because of one thing he said, you start suspecting me, investigating me… It's enough to chill all the brothers' hearts!"
"Are you really that taken with this pretty boy? He's nothing like the powerful, cool-headed, independent queen we all look up to!"
Moore took the initiative, bracing both hands on the table, his dark face twisted with rage.
Chen Che immediately felt the increased hostility from the rest of the Special Operations team toward him.
He was stirring the others' emotions, further putting subtle pressure on An Nishang.
If this isn't handled well, it'll be a huge blow to An Nishang's authority.
Outside the door, Bobby pressed his face close, listening intently to everything inside, his heart pounding fast.
"This pretty boy better not be playing me, damn it…"
Inside the room.
Heh, if I hadn't gotten wind of this in advance, maybe I really would have felt a twinge of guilt toward you, my 'loyal' subordinate… An Nishang's face remained calm, those mesmerizing, fox-like phoenix eyes cool as she slowly turned to Chen Che.
Chen Che could feel the pressure, but his expression showed little panic; he walked slowly up to the table, braced his hands on it, and stared down Moore, whose eyes blazed with fury.
Moore was black, brawny, easily two meters tall, while Chen Che stood at 1.8 meters and was built solidly himself.
But their different races meant some physical differences. At least outwardly, this black man totally crushed Chen Che in terms of pure presence.
Yet everyone present noticed: in Chen Che's eyes, there wasn't a trace of fear—just an unspeakable calm.
Compared to this black man, it felt like… one of them was bluffing, while the other actually held all the cards.
An Nishang's demonic, fox-like eyes arched slightly, interest flickering there.
[He's changed. This calm, this presence—maybe dying once really did make my little pet different… that much more interesting.]
[System prompt: An Nishang's killing intent toward you has decreased by 5%.]
Come on, before his rebirth, he'd been a top chef and met all sorts of world elites.
Those people truly stood at the top of the world.
Chen Che could even introduce his dishes to heads of state with perfect confidence.
A black man, scare him? What a joke.
Chen Che stared at Moore, speaking in a steady voice: "Captain Moore, did I wrong you? Do you really not know in your heart? Between us, who's the real traitor—we both know damn well."
Looking at the confidence on Chen Che's face, Moore was struck by a hint of guilt.
[Damn!
This pretty boy—could he really have found something on me?
Shit.
Can't panic… can't panic…]
Now come on, get nervous. Because if you don't, I will… Chen Che locked eyes with Moore, trying to apply psychological pressure.
Moore was guilty inside, but it didn't show on his face. He glared right back at Chen Che and said in a low, sinister tone, "What I'm more curious about is who's backing you? Who's got the balls to make you frame me, the Director's right-hand man!? What spell did you cast on the Director?
You accuse me and the Tasting Commerce Association of hijacking the Director's arms shipment?
Don't make me laugh!
First there are those so-called investigation team's 'evidence', and then our own Special Operations' private digging—it all clearly points to you, selling the shipment route directly to Tasting Commerce Association!
You overheard me and the Director talking last time, just when we were discussing the arms delivery. You claimed you only overheard a little. I was worried you'd screw things up, so I asked the Director to have you kept under watch. But she trusted you and didn't restrict your freedom.
Then you went to Tasting Commerce Association's casino, racked up a giant gambling debt, and not only did they let it slide, they even gave you a pile of cash.
Why would Tasting Commerce Association go easy on a pretty boy like you?
Besides betraying the Director and selling out the shipment info, what else could possibly make them treat you like that?"
"Heh, Captain Moore, maybe you don't know, but I've already come clean to the boss."
Chen Che's words jolted Moore.
What the hell did this guy give up to An Nishang?
"Yeah, I did go to Tasting Commerce Association's casino, racked up a huge debt, and it's true that they wrote it off and gave me cash.
But I never betrayed the boss."
Speaking, Chen Che moved next to An Nishang. Right in front of everyone, he knelt on one knee before her, cradled her snow-white jade hand, caressed it gently, and looked up at her with eyes full of obsession and submission.
"The only reason I got where I am, living the life I have, is thanks to my boss's affection. Even when I confessed to her about my gambling debt…
The boss might punish me, make me suffer a little, but she also cleared my debts for me. Why would I ever sell her out? Am I stupid?"
An Nishang narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth quirking up in a barely-there smile—clearly pleased with the look in Chen Che's eyes.
Hell, the guy had dated a movie queen. His acting skills could rival a film emperor's, and people always said that if he didn't make it in the culinary world, he'd rule the entertainment world instead… Hah, who's out-acting who here?
Let's see who's more loyal.
Chen Che kissed An Nishang's fingers, then let go and stood, turning to the astonished Moore: "The reason they cleared my debt and even gave me money is simple—the son of the casino owner is obsessed with the boss. That debt and the cash? It was his price for buying some of her personal clothing."
Chen Che lifted his neck, showing off the bruises on it: "The boss already punished me for my mistake."
"Now let's talk about you… Captain Moore, if I remember right, it was me who asked you if there was any fun place where I could both gamble and have fun.
And you recommended Tasting Commerce Association's casino.
So I went to check it out.
Because I trusted you. After all, you're the boss's right-hand man, and we have no conflict of interest. Why would you screw me over?
It was only after I got pinned down by Tasting's thugs for my debt that I realized it was their casino.
I'm curious—being the Director's right-hand man, you know full well we're at odds with Tasting Commerce Association right now.
Why would you send me, the boss's pet, to play at our rival's casino?
Surely you know a dumbass like me might get caught and used against the boss?
Don't tell me you didn't know it was Tasting's casino—that's kid stuff."
Chen Che picked up the evidence An Nishang found earlier and said, "Here's your own statement, saying that your contact with Tasting Commerce Association and infiltration into their business empire was all because the boss ordered you to fully investigate Tasting's business activities in the Ninth Special Zone.
So, you should know every single business Tasting owns in this zone, every casino, every brothel—like the back of your hand!"
"So let me ask you again.
Since you knew that casino belonged to Tasting Commerce Association, why send me there?
You could've steered me to a place that had nothing to do with them, or just ignored me entirely.
But you insisted on that casino… so why?
Was it because… it would make me easier to frame?"
[Huh? When did this pretty boy get so slick with words?] — from Xia Na.