81: Chapter 81: Taking on the first job, escorting a Middle Eastern princess.
JFK International Airport, New York.
The gray sky hung low, and a fine drizzle fell onto the tarmac, creating a layer of damp, cold mist.
Inside the VIP lounge of the private terminal, the heating was turned up high, yet the air carried a bone-chilling aura of slaughter.
"Boss, the target is inside."
Ada Wong pushed open the heavy gold-plated doors and stepped aside to make room.
Today she wore a deep gray military-style trench coat, cinched tightly at the waist, outlining her lethal and sharp curves.
Chen Yuan stepped into the room.
He held an unlit cigar in his hand, his eyes casually scanning his surroundings.
The room was large.
But the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
Several Saudi bodyguards in black suits and headsets stood in the corners, hands perpetually pressed against their armpits, their eyes as vigilant as if they were guarding against assassins.
And on the expensive leather sofa in the center sat a girl.
She wore a black silk robe with intricate gold thread embroidered at the collar—the exclusive family crest of the royal family.
A veil covered most of her face.
Only a pair of deep, azure eyes, like the starry sky, were revealed.
Those eyes were too bright.
Even in this slightly dim room, they still shimmered with a majesty that made one afraid to look directly at them.
"Princess Salama?"
Chen Yuan walked up to her, but he did not bow like the others.
He pulled over a chair, sat down casually, and lit his cigar.
"I am Chen Yuan."
"Your new head of security."
Salama did not move.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinized Chen Yuan from head to toe.
Her gaze wasn't that of someone looking at a life-saving straw, but rather like looking at some sort of unstable, dangerous chemical.
"The boss of Umbrella Corporation, a Baron, or... a nouveau riche medicine seller?"
Her voice was cold, carrying a standoffish arrogance. "I've heard your name. You caused quite a stir in San Verde."
"But I highly doubt that someone like you, who is used to fighting wars with monsters, understands what protection means."
Chen Yuan exhaled a smoke ring and smiled through the haze.
"Your Highness, it seems you don't know me well enough."
"I don't just understand protection."
"I also know how to make it so those who want to kill you don't even have ashes left."
Chen Yuan stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers.
"Let's cut the nonsense."
"Since the money has already arrived, it's time for us to depart."
"There are too many rats in New York; I'm afraid the smell will offend you."
Salama gave a cold snort and stood up gracefully.
The two bodyguards beside her were about to step forward to escort her, but they were glared back by a cold look from Ada Wong.
"Outside, only Umbrella takes over."
Ada's voice was crisp and powerful, devoid of any emotion.
A few minutes later.
A massive convoy consisting of eight all-black, plateless bulletproof SUVs slowly drove out of the airport.
Leading the way was a heavily armored Hummer with a stealth fire-control radar mounted on the roof.
Chen Yuan and Salama sat in the back seat of the middle Lincoln Navigator.
The interior was spacious with excellent soundproofing.
There was only the slight sound of tires rolling over the wet road surface.
"Boss."
Ada Wong's low voice came through the intercom. "The fish have taken the bait."
"Two black Chevrolets are behind a bridge pier one kilometer straight ahead. At the five o'clock position, there's a tail we can't shake. And overhead..."
"That news helicopter that's been circling—its altitude isn't right."
A cruel arc curled at the corner of Chen Yuan's mouth.
He casually rubbed the ring on his index finger.
"Three groups."
"Old friends from the CIA, New York local snakes wanting to snatch the credit, and... the assassins sent by your royal brother, right?"
Chen Yuan turned his head and looked at Salama with a faint smile.
Salama's body stiffened for a moment.
She subconsciously clutched the briefcase in her arms, which contained top-secret agreements enough to turn the situation in the Middle East upside down.
"Since you know we're being followed, why not lose them?"
She turned her head, her azure eyes full of anxiety. "What are your people doing? Taking me for a joyride?"
"Lose them?"
Chen Yuan chuckled.
He looked out the window at the rapidly receding Manhattan streetscape.
"No."
"I like it lively."
"Since everyone is so enthusiastic, I have to give them a chance to perform on the same stage."
Chen Yuan pressed a button on the armrest.
"Ada, notify the brothers."
"Don't fire, and don't slow down."
"Just follow the planned route."
"I want to see who loses their patience first and jumps out to be the sacrificial lamb."
Looking at Chen Yuan's cynical expression, Salama's chest heaved with anger.
She felt this man was insane.
He was a gambler.
He was gambling with her life.
"Chen Yuan, you'd better understand what you are doing."
Salama's voice trembled slightly with anger. "If anything happens to me, the Saudi Royal Family will level your Pharmaceutical Factory to the ground."
"Level it to the ground?"
Chen Yuan acted as if he had heard something hilarious.
He slowly leaned closer to Salama until the distance between them was less than ten centimeters.
He could smell the expensive oud perfume on her.
He could also see the undisguisable fear deep in her pupils.
"Your Highness, don't try to scare me with those grand principles."
Chen Yuan's voice was very low, carrying a shivering magnetism.
"In this car, I am your God."
"As long as I don't nod, even the King of Hell can't take you away."
"As for the rest..."
Chen Yuan sat back in his seat, his eyes becoming cold and deep again.
"You just need to sit quietly and watch."
The convoy drove onto the highway leading to Long Island.
That was the only way to the extraction point.
The surrounding traffic gradually thinned out.
The desolate industrial buildings looked somewhat eerie in the rain.
The two black Chevrolets that had been following suddenly accelerated, one on the left and one on the right, attempting to sandwich the Navigator.
At the same time.
The cabin door of the helicopter overhead slowly slid open.
A massive gun barrel poked out from it.
"Boss, the opposition is making their move," Ada's voice rang out again.
Chen Yuan didn't look out the window.
He simply uttered two words:
"Begin."
Seeing Chen Yuan's calm demeanor even as the mountain was about to collapse, Salama gritted her teeth and spoke coldly.
"Mr. Chen, I'm warning you one last time."
"Control your people and don't cause me trouble."
A cold light shimmered in her arrogant eyes.
"I hired you just to go through the motions; I don't want to cause a diplomatic dispute."
"I don't need bodyguards."
"If I encounter real trouble, I will solve it myself."