Chapter 372: You Are Threatening Me
Half an hour later.
Jin Mingzhu still hadn't returned.
Xiao Ye frowned slightly and glanced at the time. 'Why is she taking so long?'
Linton had been waiting for this moment. "Mr. Xiao, rest assured, Miss Jin is safe for now. But whether she stays safe..."
"Well, that depends on your decision, Mr. Xiao!"
Xiao Ye's head snapped toward him. "You're threatening me."
He took two steps forward and grabbed Linton by the collar. "Tell me, what have you done to Mingzhu!"
"If anything happens to her, I will make you regret it!"
The people around them noticed the scene and their eyes widened.
What was wrong with Xiao Ye? How dare he lay a hand on Linton!
Linton may have been from Country A, and this wasn't his home turf.
But he controlled the United Group's business dealings, something everyone was vying for!
The members of the Ouyang Family, in particular, saw the commotion and walked over.
"Patriarch Xiao, what do you think you're doing?"
Before Xiao Ye could speak, Linton spoke up instead. "We just had a little misunderstanding, that's all. Please, everyone, pay it no mind."
After speaking, he lowered his voice and looked at Xiao Ye again, his eyes full of menace. "Are you sure you want to make a scene for everyone to see?"
"Besides, Miss Jin is still waiting for you!"
"Relax, I really just want to talk business with you."
Xiao Ye took a deep breath and finally let go. "Take me to Mingzhu."
"If anything has happened to her, I will absolutely not let you off the hook!"
Linton's eyes were filled with the confidence of someone who had already won. It seemed Jin Mingzhu was far more important to Xiao Ye than they had imagined.
If that was the case, then they had made the right move!
Linton nonchalantly straightened his collar, the smile on his face barely wavering. "Mr. Xiao, come with me."
"Let's go somewhere quiet to have a nice chat. You'll be able to see your Miss Jin very soon."
Xiao Ye said nothing, simply following silently behind Linton.
The two of them left the banquet hall and arrived at a luxurious room deep on the second floor.
As soon as they entered, a faint fragrance assailed his nostrils. It was the exact same perfume Jin Mingzhu had been wearing earlier.
"Where's Mingzhu? I need to see her first!"
"I'll only talk business with you once I've confirmed she's safe."
Linton immediately clapped his hands.
Then, the large screen behind him turned on.
It was playing a surveillance video.
Jin Mingzhu was lying on a bed, having been changed into a new dress.
Next to her was a woman—the very same waitress who had served the drinks earlier.
"You see, Mr. Xiao? Miss Jin is just asleep for the time being. She's in no danger at all."
"But as you can also see, my people are right there with her."
"If you don't agree to my terms, well... I can't be sure what might happen."
Xiao Ye's voice was low. "I don't like being threatened!"
"I understand," Linton said, his face full of apology. "I don't like being threatened either. But please forgive me; my hand was forced."
With that, he gestured for Xiao Ye to sit. "Let's have a proper chat, shall we?"
Xiao Ye was silent for a moment before sitting down across from him. "Cut the crap and spit it out!"
"Mr. Xiao, you don't need to be so hostile toward me. In fact... I'm one of the good guys."
Xiao Ye scoffed. "Bad guys never admit they're bad. Why should anyone believe a word you say?"
"You kidnapped my woman, and now you're here threatening me, yet you have the nerve to say you're a good guy? How ridiculous!"
Linton didn't get angry. He took out a bottle of fine liquor and poured two glasses. "Mr. Xiao, I know you have a huge misunderstanding of me."
"No, I should say, you have a huge misunderstanding of the Angel Association."
Hearing those two words, Xiao Ye shot to his feet, looking at him coldly. "I see we have nothing to talk about!"
"The Angel Association is a load of bullshit!"
Xiao Ye had been actively working against the Angel Association, a fact the association itself was aware of. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent assassins after him time and time again.
Therefore, he couldn't just easily agree to their recruitment offer; it would arouse suspicion.
'If I'm going to put on an act, I have to commit to it fully!'
"Mr. Xiao, calm down. For the sake of the lovely Ms. Jin, you should at least hear me out, right?"
"I know that under Dragon Country's influence, you've always believed our Angel Association is up to no good. But in reality, that's just your prejudice talking."
"From start to finish, the Angel Association has never harmed any person or country! Think about it, isn't that true?"
'Of course not!'
On the surface, it seemed like the Angel Association did nothing.
But in reality, they did quite a lot!
Those controlled celebrities, and other famous figures.
They used their influence to imperceptibly change the world!
Take Country H, for example. The current Country H was a nation completely controlled by chaebols, where entertainment was paramount.
Consumer attitudes had also undergone a massive shift.
It was a tiny speck of a country, yet its consumption of luxury goods was the highest in the world!
Even people with no money would take out loans or scrimp and save to buy luxury items.
In the end, all that money went into the pockets of the Angel Association, funding their various inhumane research projects and other schemes.
As for the brainwashed common people, they were left to guard their useless luxury goods while living a life of hardship.
Linton continued, "The Angel Association is indeed an organization only elites can join, but we are definitely not aiming to rule the world."
"All those speculations about us are pure slander! In fact, we have always been striving for the betterment of humanity!"
"Most of the Angel Association's funds are used for biological research, all to overcome the challenges of human lifespan and disease."
The more Linton spoke, the more agitated he became. He stared at Xiao Ye, his eyes seemingly ready to shoot fire. He was truly, deeply brainwashed!
"I know, many people say it's because the rich want to live to be a hundred, but if we really succeed in our research, won't ordinary people benefit as well?"
"Many of the international scientific studies and new drug developments today were all discovered during the Angel Association's research process!"
"Not only have we not harmed the world, we are even benefiting all of humankind!"
"Xiao Ye, join us!"
Xiao Ye's hand tightened around his glass. "How do I know if you're telling the truth or not?"
"We will prove it to you later. As a show of good faith, I will hand over the United Group's business to the Xiao Family. How about it?"
"No, I refuse. Release Jin Mingzhu right now!"
Xiao Ye's stance was unchanged. "I will never join the Angel Association. Linton, this is Dragon Country. If you don't want trouble, you'd better do as I say!"