184: Like a lost soul

However, Xu Ning remained motionless, his eyes locked with Golovdev's.

The next scene caught everyone off guard: Golovdev suddenly turned, pointing his gun directly at his own jeep.

"Bang."

The bullet, like an angry flash of lightning, pierced the silence and struck the driver sitting in the driver's seat.

Apparently still uneasy, Golovdev immediately followed up with two more shots.

"This new guard was assigned to me from above. He definitely heard our conversation. If he doesn't die, you'll be in danger."

Xu Ning suddenly understood Golovdev's decision.

Golovdev continued, "Although I don't know who you're dealing with, for the sake of the time we drank together..."

"Teach that bastard a harsh lesson for me."

Xu Ning met Golovdev's fervent gaze and nodded heavily.

"Okay."

...

In a guest room behind the Hulifuka banquet hall, Mr. Harvey was adjusting his tie in front of a mirror.

He glanced at the clock on the wall, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curving upward.

By now, Malyshev should have been completely dealt with. As for those Asian City people, they would either be arrested or killed, after all, he had sent an entire camp's force to handle it.

"It's best if you don't die so quickly; I still want to personally send you to hell."

"What makes you so happy?"

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. A pair of fair arms wrapped around his waist, asking with a hint of coquettishness.

Under the dim yellow light, Mr. Harvey's eyes seemed particularly deep. The woman's long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her body wrapped only in a half-open white shirt, her posture exuding an indescribable allure.

"Are you really not considering letting me return to Eagle Country?" Her voice was as soft as a whisper in the night wind, trying to touch the most tender part of Mr. Harvey's heart.

She leaned closer, almost pressing against his chest: "I can be your secret. You wouldn't want me to fall into someone else's hands, would you?"

Mr. Harvey's gaze fell gently on her. His fingers inadvertently twirled a strand of her hair, playing with it softly, "You're right, you can only be mine."

Hearing this promise, a shy and sweet smile bloomed on the woman's face. She closed her eyes, slowly leaned forward, her lips about to touch the corner of Mr. Harvey's mouth.

However, at that very moment, a muffled sound broke the room's tranquility. Intense pain, like an electric current, pierced her body. She opened her eyes in shock, only to see a crimson flower blooming on her chest.

Unbeknownst to her, a cold pistol had appeared in Mr. Harvey's hand. He was still gazing at her with that affectionate look. "I don't allow anyone to lay a hand on what belongs to me."

...

Soon after, there was a knock at the door.

Mr. Harvey quickly hid the pistol, tidied his clothes, and then calmly opened the door.

Standing outside the door was Uto Male's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gromyko, a portly man with blonde hair and blue eyes.

His gaze swept across the room. He glimpsed the woman lying on the floor, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he said nothing.

Mr. Harvey offered a polite smile: "Mr. Gromyko, you've come at just the right time. I need some help handling some troublesome matters."

Gromyko forced a smile in response: "Haha, I'll arrange for someone to handle it right away."

Despite his prominent position, he dared not show the slightest negligence in front of Mr. Harvey. After all, Mr. Harvey was backed by a father who was a Deputy Commander, and for Uto Male, which desired Western support, this was someone they had to appease.

"Mr. Harvey, are you satisfied with your stay here?" Gromyko inquired cautiously.

"Very satisfied. Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements. It's much more comfortable than before." Although Mr. Harvey's words were calm, they made cold sweat break out on Gromyko's forehead.

"Mr. Harvey, please rest assured, I have already dealt with those who were disrespectful to you," Gromyko quickly explained, afraid of the other party's displeasure.

"Oh? What about their families then?" Mr. Harvey asked lightly.

Gromyko was momentarily speechless but quickly regained his composure: "Understood. I will deal with it immediately."

At that turbulent time, Makarov's family welcomed a new life, a newborn daughter, adding a touch of tenderness to the household.

Mr. Harvey, a name behind which seemed to hide countless conspiracies and calculations, intended to put someone's entire family to death merely for a trivial offense.

Standing before such a man, people couldn't help but question, could such a heart still be called human?

At this moment, Mr. Harvey lightly placed a hand on his companion's shoulder, as if everything was just a casual conversation: "Don't be in a hurry. Oh, that's right, I passed through Chernobyl a few days ago. I heard that since the disaster there, the residents' bodies have changed?"

Gromyko's voice trembled slightly as he replied, "That's true. Many people there have contracted incurable diseases."

"Even newborns haven't escaped misfortune; many babies face physical defects from birth," Gromyko said sadly.

Mr. Harvey sighed and said, "What a human tragedy. My father was deeply sympathetic when he learned of this. He also asked me to bring some ideas of democracy and freedom along the way."

Gromyko was stunned, clearly not understanding the deeper meaning in Mr. Harvey's words. "Please forgive my slowness, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"It's just a small matter," Mr. Harvey said lightly. "Father hopes that after completing the handover of the ulyanovsk aircraft carrier, I can establish a biological research laboratory here, specifically to study lives affected by nuclear radiation."

"Bio... biological research laboratory?" Gromyko stammered, his shock evident.

"By the way," Mr. Harvey continued, "you might consider including the Skorlov family as research subjects. You just need to find a suitable excuse, and I believe you are fully capable of doing that."

"Perhaps God would approve of this way of reuniting a family," Mr. Harvey said, making the sign of the cross and softly uttering, "Amen."

Gromyko's body went cold. The Mr. Harvey before him no longer seemed human, but rather an evil spirit crawled out from the abyss.

Afterwards, Mr. Harvey straightened his clothes, patted Gromyko's shoulder again, and led him towards the site of the upcoming aircraft carrier handover ceremony.

The banquet hall was already bustling with activity. Everyone was smiling and eager to talk to this future helmsman. For them, Mr. Harvey represented new hope.

But no one realized the true intention behind this gathering, and how it would change their destinies.

And amidst all this commotion, Gromyko was like someone who had lost his soul. His responses became mechanical and cold, and he was experiencing an unprecedented storm within his heart.