307: Chapter 307 Qiao Family

Central Continent, Shengjing City, Qiao Family Villa.

This villa was built halfway up the mountain. Half of the mountainside had been leveled to accommodate an expansive estate covering over a hundred acres, following the natural contours of the land. Before the main gate stood a pair of white marble lions, each over two meters tall, imposing and solemn, radiating an air of grandeur.

Inside a study of this estate, an elderly man in his seventies gazed tenderly at a photo frame in his hand. It was a family portrait, once depicting a happy family of three, now separated by life and death for nearly four years.

"Wei'er, Yuheng, don't worry," the old man's voice was soft yet each word was clear. "Grandfather has long since calculated this. What is owed to you, I will reclaim with interest, no matter who the other party is..."

Qiao Zhenbang's withered fingers repeatedly traced the edge of the photo frame. A faint smile first appeared on his wrinkled face as he recalled his grandson as a child, circling his knees begging for candy. But the smile froze in an instant, swallowed by a bottomless sorrow.

Everything was gone, beyond return.

Three years ago, his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law had inexplicably disappeared in Binhai City. No trace of them was found, alive or dead.

A massive reward, all the overt and covert forces the Qiao family could mobilize, even some unspeakable special channels—over three years, they had turned Binhai City and the surrounding areas inside out, yet to this day, nothing had been found.

The only clue pointed to the most dazzling genius on Earth today, the young man who had risen to prominence in such a short time.

And the power he now possessed was something even the Central Continent government could not ignore. Even Qiao Zhenbang himself had received a warning to cease pursuing the matter.

But with his own descendants gone, why would he care about such things?

A bitter smile appeared on Qiao Zhenbang's face. His cloudy eyes showed a hint of sharpness, yet also seemed dismissive.

Presumably, Tianyou's operation had already begun. Regarding this adopted son, Qiao Zhenbang had initially been indifferent. But considering he still had some capability, this matter was entrusted to him to handle.

Now, all he could do was wait quietly for news.

"As long as this person lives, I will never rest in peace, even in death..."

After speaking softly, Qiao Zhenbang sat back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. The radio on the desk played the opera he often listened to: "Royal son-in-law, step forward and examine closely, it states Qin Xianglian, thirty-two years old, accuses the current royal son-in-law..."

However, just as he closed his eyes, a calm voice interrupted the opera's broadcast, shattering the peace within the study.

"Tsk tsk... So Old Master Qiao enjoys listening to this."

The voice came abruptly, yet was gentle and unhurried.

Qiao Zhenbang's cloudy eyes snapped open. His study was located in the villa's core area, protected by five layers of security, with personnel on duty twenty-four hours a day. Not even an unauthorized insect could fly in.

Who was speaking?

Qiao Zhenbang steadied himself and realized the voice was coming from the nearby radio.

"Who are you?"

Qiao Zhenbang's voice grew low, replaced by the instinctive calm of a long-time leader facing an unexpected situation.

The voice from the radio seemed to sneer.

"Weren't you just talking about me? Can't you guess who I am? Old Master Qiao is truly getting on in years, memory failing."

Hearing this, Qiao Zhenbang's blood seemed to freeze, then instantly boil. His hands clenched the armrests of the chair, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

"Lin Fang—!"

Two words, spat from Qiao Zhenbang's mouth, carrying three years of bone-deep hatred.

"Heh, no need to get so worked up," the voice from the radio seemed eternally infuriating, making Qiao Zhenbang wish he could drag him out and subject him to the cruelest dismemberment.

"I came this time to tell you the whereabouts of Qiao Wei and his parents."

Qiao Zhenbang's expression changed.

"You... what did you say!"

The old man's voice trembled with agitation, even cracking. "You... you know where they are? Are they alive or dead?"

"Lin Fang, just tell me. I swear on the honor of the Qiao family, I will never oppose Third-Party Technology again. The Qiao family can even become an ally of Third-Party Technology."

The other party fell silent for a few seconds, seemingly shocked by his words. After a moment, Lin Fang continued, "That would truly be my honor."

But in the next instant, the voice turned eerie. "Let me think. Three years ago, I did kill all three of them with my own hands and buried them 500 meters underground. That's why you never found them."

"I imagine by now, only bone fragments remain."

"You!" Upon learning this, Qiao Zhenbang's eyes widened, nearly splitting at the corners. He clutched his chest, almost fainting on the spot.

Qiao Zhenbang's voice was venomous. "Lin Fang, you are a demon. I curse you to die a horrible death."

"A demon? I rather like that title,"

Lin Fang's voice came through the radio, carrying a chilling calmness:

"But I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Old Master Qiao. I will not die. If you're pinning your hopes on that fool Qiao Tianyou, you might as well save your breath. Besides, you won't have the chance."

"What do you intend to do?" Qiao Zhenbang demanded loudly.

"Originally, I planned to spare the Qiao family out of respect for the Central Continent government. But you insisted on seeking death. You can't blame me for this. This time, I will uproot your family to stop you from constantly scheming against me."

Lin Fang's voice gradually faded, but it was clear enough for Qiao Zhenbang to hear his final words.

"And incidentally, fulfill your wish of not resting in peace..."

Boom—

Under Qiao Zhenbang's horrified gaze, two dark figures descended from the sky, smashed through the roof, and landed directly in his study.

Through the shattered roof, a massive aircraft could be vaguely seen hovering in the sky above.

Without a word, the two soldiers stepped forward and restrained Qiao Zhenbang. The frail old man was utterly powerless against the two armored Clone Soldiers.

Only then did Qiao Zhenbang react.

"Let go! Do you know who I am? Do you know where this is? How dare you do this?"

"Trespassing! Illegal detention, using unidentified armed forces! These are serious crimes in Central Continent! Lin Fang, do you think you can act with impunity?"

Qiao Zhenbang tried to struggle, but the armored soldiers' iron grips remained immovable. No more sound came from the radio, the young man's voice gone.

This was truly lawless.

Qiao Zhenbang's heart turned cold. Not only had Lin Fang cultivated an illegal armed force, but he also dared to appear so brazenly at the foot of the imperial capital. Was this a declaration of war against the Central Continent government?

In his moment of despair, the study door was forced open from the outside. Six agile figures rushed in, their standard-issue pistols instantly aimed at the two armored soldiers restraining Qiao Zhenbang.

"Release Old Master Qiao!" The leader was a man in his forties with a resolute face, his expression grave upon seeing the scene in the study.

"We are from the Special Protection Department of the National Security Bureau! Your actions are suspected of seriously endangering national security! Surrender immediately!"

——

..Next chapter under review.