Chapter 233 181: Special-Class Hero
As Sikinkov finished speaking, only the sound of the wind and rain remained in the tea room, as if an invisible wall was pressing down in the air.
He snapped back to reality, cold sweat unknowingly soaking his clothes, and thought: Am I insane? What am I saying...
The smile disappeared from Zhao Yiming's face, leaving him as expressionless as a machine, devoid of anger or joy, which only made him seem more terrifying.
Amir seemed a bit panicked and quickly distanced himself from Sikinkov: "President Zhao, I support canceling the operation... If he wants to do it this way, there's nothing I can do!"
Hong Quansheng said nothing, merely closing his eyes silently.
Zhao Yiming slowly turned to look at Hong Quansheng, flicked the hat off his lap, and suddenly broke into laughter: "Did you hear that? The villain plagued with countless crimes, our glorious and righteous Director won't spare you!"
"But I can understand; after all, a press conference was just held, declaring to destroy Raven's Nest. To back down now, you'd lose face for a lifetime."
A mysterious smile once again appeared on Zhao Yiming's face as he hooked his index finger around his tie, pulling it off from his collar.
"Humans, sometimes, are just like this."
He spoke while winding the tie around his palm.
"The biggest difference between humans and machines is that machines calculate gains and losses precisely to make the best choice."
"But humans often let personal emotions cloud their judgment, leading to foolish decisions."
He pulled forcefully, turning the tie in his hand into the shape of a noose.
Seeing the tie, Sikinkov's breathing became rapid, his gaze drifting into a stupor.
"Tap, tap, tap..." Zhao Yiming rose and began walking toward Sikinkov, the cold clatter of his shoes hitting the floor echoing ominously.
The tea table wasn't large, just a few steps away, yet it felt as if it took a lifetime to cross.
The looming sense of danger made Sikinkov sweat like a river, his shirt soaked, bringing a chill all over.
Unnoticed, Zhao Yiming was now between Sikinkov and Hong Quansheng.
He leaned forward, face to face with Sikinkov, his silhouette obscured by the backlight except for those cold, reptilian eyes.
Simultaneously, an oppressive presence loomed behind Sikinkov; he knew it was that enigmatic, square-faced man standing there.
Trapped in between, Sikinkov felt like a captured prey, trembling uncontrollably. He wanted to speak, but his mind went blank, the words stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single sentence.
Gripping the noose-tied tie, Zhao Yiming spoke with unfathomable depth: "Since the Director spurns politeness, don't blame me for being ruthless."
In an instant, a shivering sensation exploded throughout his body, a current surging through, the pain prickling as fear tangled in chaos.
Just as Sikinkov feared he was about to collapse, an unexpected change occurred.
Zhao Yiming suddenly looped the tie around Hong Quansheng's neck, tightening it with lethal force.
Hong Quansheng's face quickly flushed red, yet he seemed to accept his fate, eyes closed, offering no resistance as Zhao Yiming executed the deadly act.
Both Sikinkov and Amir were terrified, instinctively rising but stumbling over their own chairs.
The City Council President and the Public Security Bureau Director sat helplessly on the floor, watching as Hong Quansheng was strangled.
Zhao Yiming's expression remained indifferent, as if killing a chicken: "Xiaohong, it's alright, bear with it, it'll be over soon."
Even though Hong Quansheng didn't resist, human instincts to survive manifested, and when he was suffocating, his body involuntarily struggled.
Zhao Yiming was not an Extraordinary Being, and the dying struggle had considerable power; soon, the frantically resisting Hong Quansheng knocked him over.
Zhao Yiming used his knee to pin Hong Quansheng's back, continuing to strangle him, lips tightly pressed, veins bulging on his forehead.
The two gentlemen in suits appeared like gladiators in an arena, primitive, brutish, grappling messily, overturned teacups staining their clothes, even losing a shoe.
The tie was of excellent quality, as Hong Quansheng, severely oxygen-deprived, failed to break it, his face turning purple, nasal blood spurting and drool flowing, hands flailing erratically.
Eventually, his struggles waned, his taut body slackened, and he fell silent.
At that moment, Amir and Sikinkov were utterly terrified.
The Raven's Nest, reigning as King of the Borderlands for eight consecutive years, saw their leader Hong Quansheng strangled to death, like a dog.
Zhao Yiming shook off Hong Quansheng's corpse and staggered to his feet, his body weak from exertion, almost toppling backward.
The square-faced man caught him just in time, calmly saying: "President Zhao, you need to exercise."
Zhao Yiming discarded the tie, rubbing the friction burn mark with a hearty laugh at Amir and Sikinkov: "Pardon the loss of composure, it's been too long since I hit the gym."
He sat back down, gulping down several cups of cooled tea, unbuttoning his shirt for air: "Whew... Why are you sitting on the floor? Let's continue with our tea."
Like picking up chicks, the square-faced man lifted Amir and Sikinkov, placing them back in their seats.
Zhao Yiming gestured at Hong Quansheng's body, smiling: "Director, take him back for your commendation. I'll throw in ten more heads for you, all from the leadership of Raven's Nest."
"... What?" Sikinkov was a bit dazed, unsure of what it meant.
Zhao Yiming stroked his chin, pensive: "'The New Public Security Bureau Director Charges into the Borderlands, Shoots Down Raven's Nest Leader on the Spot, Defends New Moon City's Dignity' — how does that sound for a headline?"