Chapter 396

Chapter 396 The Mysterious Mr.’s Threat

Xu Wenjie stood in the middle of the flowing crowd, his eyes carrying an unmistakable look of anxiety.

The phone call he was about to make would determine the course of his life.

Whether he lived or died, whether he scraped by or found glory, it all came down to how he performed next!

“The sir is resting. You can tell me directly what this is about.” The old butler said flatly.

“That won’t do. This matter is of great importance. I must report to the sir in person!” Xu Wenjie said firmly.

“Are you certain this matter is more important than the sir’s sleep?” A trace of coldness crept into the butler’s voice.

Hearing those words, Xu Wenjie was practically roaring inside!

“Sleep my ass! So what if I disturb his sleep?”

Despite the raging in his heart, Xu Wenjie maintained a respectful demeanor on the surface and said, “I assure you, this matter will have a very significant impact on the sir’s future arrangements. Otherwise, why would I insist on reporting to him personally?”

The butler hesitated for a moment and said, “Very well then. I’ll go check with the sir right away, but you need to understand what consequences this may bring.”

Xu Wenjie laughed bitterly to himself. He had already been cast aside by Gaoqi Bank. What other options did he have left?

Xu Wenjie waited a full five minutes before a languid voice came through on the other end of the line.

“Xu, I hope the value of what you’re about to say is worth as much as my precious sleep.”

Hearing those words, Xu Wenjie trembled all over and quickly said, “Sir, please rest assured. I would never dare disturb you unless it was absolutely critical.”

“Then go ahead and say it.”

“Sir, I have identified the culprit behind the drop in Gaoqi Bank’s stock.” Xu Wenjie said, struggling to suppress his nerves.

“Oh?” The voice on the other end of the line began to take on an amused tone. “Something I haven’t been able to find out myself, and you actually managed to dig it up? Are you sure you’re not joking?”

“I would never dare speak nonsense in front of you.” Xu Wenjie said. “The unprecedented stock decline at Gaoqi was not the work of several investment banks acting together. It was done by Bikang!”

“Done by Bikang?” The voice on the other end seemed to carry a hint of disbelief. “Xu, you should know what happens when someone tries to deceive me.”

“How would I dare deceive you? I’ve already been fired by Smith. Aside from you, what other options do I have?”

After saying that, Xu Wenjie took a deep breath. His heart was pounding at its absolute limit!

If his pulse were measured right now, his heart rate would certainly not be below one hundred beats per minute!

Because he knew full well that his rise to the position of Asia regional head at Gaoqi Bank was only partly due to his own efforts. The help from this mysterious sir had played the decisive role. Without his hints from behind the scenes, those acquisitions that had shaken America could never have gone so smoothly. And it was precisely because of those successful deals that his standing within Gaoqi had risen steadily.

When it came to this all-powerful mysterious figure, Xu Wenjie had never considered hiding anything. Something this big couldn’t be concealed even if he tried. Better to come clean completely.

He knew that having lost his high position, he no longer held any value to the mysterious sir and was very likely facing the danger of being discarded. But he refused to accept defeat just like that. He wanted to take one last gamble.

“You were fired by Smith?” The mysterious sir’s voice now carried a trace of surprise and anger. “Since you’ve been fired, you’re completely worthless to me. There’s no need to contact me again.”

“No, I swore long ago to be loyal to you. Sir, please give me one last chance!” A note of pleading had crept into Xu Wenjie’s voice.

“Give you a chance? Fine. I’ll see whether what you have to offer is still of any value to me.” A cold smile played at the corner of the mysterious sir’s lips. “I’ve invested enormous effort and money in you. If you ultimately disappoint me… you won’t live to see tomorrow morning’s sun.”

“I won’t!”

Although those words had sent his heart racing with fear, Xu Wenjie had to seize this opportunity. He had no room for hesitation and dared not hesitate. In the briefest moment, he quickly gathered his thoughts and gave the mysterious sir a detailed account of everything that had happened at the final banquet of the financial summit that day. Every detail, without the slightest concealment.

After finishing his account of the day’s events, Xu Wenjie added, “Sir, in my view, the very fact that Smith chose to fly to China at this particular time is indirect proof that this stock decline was Bikang’s doing. However, there is one thing I can’t figure out: if Bikang already has that much money, why does it still need to keep raising funds?”

The mysterious sir was apparently lost in thought for a moment before saying, “That question is actually very simple. Because Bikang doesn’t have that much money.”

“Then how did Gaoqi Bank’s stock fall?” Xu Wenjie said in surprise.

“That’s even simpler.” The mysterious sir’s voice took on a somewhat playful tone. “Whoever Smith is apologizing to is the one behind this whole incident.”

“Him? How is that possible?” The image of Su Rui surfaced in Xu Wenjie’s mind, but in the very next second he dismissed the thought entirely.

How could that unsophisticated country bumpkin possibly command hundreds of billions to snipe at Gaoqi Bank? That was pure fantasy.

“Don’t believe it?” The mysterious sir naturally had no interest in continuing to explain things to Xu Wenjie. He smiled faintly and said, “Xu, you’ve done well.”

This time it was Xu Wenjie’s turn to be stunned. He never expected to actually receive praise from the mysterious sir.

After all, having been under his control for so long, Xu Wenjie had never once been directly praised.

The other party would occasionally pass along a few words of praise through the butler, but had never said it directly like this.

“Sir…” Xu Wenjie’s voice was now thick with excitement. This meant the other party had not abandoned him after all!

“I’m praising your loyalty, not your ability.”

“My loyalty?” Xu Wenjie heard those words and seemed a little puzzled.

“Of course. On that point, you need have no doubt whatsoever.” The mysterious sir said. “When it comes to what has been happening in China, I know more than you do. I naturally know that Smith flew to China, that he bowed and apologized to a man, that he threw a resignation agreement at you, and I even know every single word he said to you!”

The mysterious sir’s words sent Xu Wenjie plunging into an icy abyss. His entire body stiffened instantly from the chill.

So he had known everything all along. He had simply been waiting for Xu Wenjie to tell him himself.

But hadn’t the butler said he had been sleeping the whole time? How could he be so thoroughly informed about everything happening in China?

Could this mysterious sir be even more all-pervasive than Xu Wenjie had imagined?

An intelligence network like that was enough to fill anyone with dread.

After the shock subsided, Xu Wenjie couldn’t help but feel quietly relieved. Thank goodness he had chosen to come forward and confess on his own. Otherwise, he might very well have enraged this devil.

Sure enough, while Xu Wenjie was still caught between relief and lingering fear, the mysterious sir spoke. “Your choice saved your life.”

Hearing those words, Xu Wenjie was once again flooded with a chill from head to toe. His heart gave a violent lurch.

Serving this devil, he truly didn’t know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

“Sir, I am willing to devote my entire life to serving you.” Xu Wenjie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and pledged his loyalty with trembling apprehension.

“Very good. From this point forward, you will be my representative in China.” The mysterious sir said flatly, his tone seemingly devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

Hearing those words, Xu Wenjie drew a deep breath, and a look of wild joy instantly flooded his face.

“Sir, please rest assured. From this day forward, my loyalty belongs to you and you alone!”

“Very good. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

The mysterious sir had barely finished speaking when a rather mocking voice came through from across the ocean on the other end of the line.

“He certainly won’t disappoint you. He’ll just disappoint you completely.”

Xu Wenjie was utterly dumbfounded. He had no idea when Su Rui had appeared in front of him, let alone how his phone had ended up in the other person’s hands.

He moved to snatch the phone back, but Zhou Xianwei had already stepped behind him, turning his palm into a blade and delivering a heavy chop to the back of Xu Wenjie’s neck.

Without a sound, the latter’s body went limp and crumpled to the ground.

“You’re Su Rui?” The mysterious sir had immediately called out Su Rui’s name.

“You know me?” Now it was Su Rui’s turn to be a little surprised.

“I’ve already learned about what happened in China, so naturally I could figure out your name.” A faint smile crossed the mysterious sir’s lips.

Su Rui responded with a contemptuous sneer. “Playing all mysterious. Who are you?”

“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m very angry about what you did to Gaoqi Bank.”

Although the mysterious sir claimed to be angry, the smile on his face was absolutely radiant.

The butler standing nearby didn’t dare breathe, his heart giving an involuntary jolt. He knew that the more brilliantly the sir smiled, the angrier he truly was inside.

“You’re angry?” Su Rui seemed entirely indifferent to this, and said with a grin, “You’re angry? Then come bite me. I’ll be right here in China waiting for you.”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t dare?” A cold edge crept across the mysterious sir’s lips. “The research method for Sancuoanlun is something I am determined to obtain.”

Su Rui shook his head, his face full of mockery. “You really think you’re something special? Let me be straight with you: plenty of people have said things like that to me before, and in the end, they all died. Someone like you who hides in the shadows and plays games, what kind of future could you possibly have?”

The mysterious sir seemed unfazed. He simply said one sentence, and it made Su Rui’s eyes narrow instantly.

“Do you still remember Song Yili?” The mysterious sir burst out laughing. “He harbors a bone-deep hatred for you right now! I think the day you two meet again is not far off!”

With that, he hung up the phone.

And Su Rui’s brow had already knitted together tightly.