Afterlife Department

"You've worked under Raymond Chase, but wanted to be killed by him after you've slept with his lover?" Jonathan Baurne said as he looked at the handsome young man. 

"I've never slept with anyone, and is dutiful with my tasks. I was slandered by another subordinate since Raymond's lover took an interest with me, and he tried to sleep with her, but he turned the tables instead." The young man said and frowned. "Women can't be trusted." He said, his voice filled with indignance. 

Jonathan Baurne thoughtfully looked at the young man. "One reason I've never had any relationship and remained chaste is because, not only women, but even men, can betray you." He said. "Women betray you because they are fickle-minded, while men betray you because of interest. You can never trust your back to anyone." He said as he looked out of the window and gazed afar. 

The young man didn't answer and just remained silent. 

Jonathan retracted his gaze and turned back to the young man who remained silent, an indignant look on his face remained. He knew Raymond Chase. He is a wealthy businessman, and is famous for being an idiot. His gaze turned to sympathetic as he looked at the young man. The young man has an amazing build and looked reliable and loyal in the first glance. However, he worked under an idiot instead. 

"How did you end up working for that idiot?" he asked. 

"The security company I worked before recommended me." The young man answered. "I needed a lot of money to go abroad and legitimize my citizenship, so they recommended me to Raymond Chase for a fast money. However, I didn't expect…" his lips thinned into a line. "I was chased by them until I fall in the Thames River. They thought I was dead." He explained. 

Jonathan nodded. Although Raymond is stupid, but he isn't a vengeful person. He wouldn't waste his resources on a mere bodyguard. "You've reminded me. Raymond is a businessman, so you should know some of his company secrets?" he asked. Raymond Chase is also a talkative person, added to the fact he is arrogant. 

The young man nodded. "Yes." He nodded. "When he was drunk and I drove him back, he was in the heavens after he closed a deal with the Regent Real Estate. Then, there's that woman." He said as his thick brows knitted. "She told me Raymond will be engaged with the K family's daughter, and she was very sad so she wanted to sleep with me…" he didn't continue as his face darkened. 

Jonathan almost laughed out loud. The young man is very young, but is frigid so his world must be small. He could never understand how the world truly works. This reminded him of when he gave Huo Ling his first task. 

His gaze suddenly lowered. "Raymond is very petty. He must have already kicked that woman away, thinking you really touched her." He just said. 

The young man sneered and didn't comment. Jonathan's eyes flashed with interest. This guy also doesn't talk bad behind his employer, even if it was a former employer. Truly a good seedling. He's wasted on Raymond Chase's hands. "You have some secrets of Raymond on you. You can go to Lao Xie. Why did you choose me?" he asked. 

The young man frowned when he heard this. Jonathan found it amusing, since the young man doesn't hide his dislike. He's a straightforward person. "I understand my shortcomings. I am simple-minded, while Lao Xie is as crafty as a fox. I'll just be played around by him." He heard the young man said. "After I'd trade these secrets with him, I'll be hanging under the bridge tomorrow." He said. 

Jonathan almost roared in laughter. "Hahahahahaha… then what about Lu Si?" he asked. 

Tiredness flashed in the young man's eyes. "I don't like working in groups, and live a life filled with uncertainties." He answered. "They are vagabonds, while I serve only one master. I choose you because I can secure my food and my shelter, as well as my clothes." He explained. 

Jonathan smiled, feeling satisfied with the young man's answer. He's a loyal dog, indeed. He thought. "Alright." He said. "It's not that there's an internal strife between us three. That's just what we pose in the surface to feed the government and those hypocrite aristocrats some wrong information." He explained. When he saw the young man's confused face, he laughed. "Lao Xie and I are friends, and between Lu Si and I, we're casual. I'll hire you, and could also introduce you to Lao Xie. Don't worry. Since Lao Xie knows you're one of my people, he won't hang you under the bridge." He told him. 

The young man's face darkened. "But?" he asked. 

Jonathan couldn't hold back but laugh. Although the young man is simple-minded, but he is sharp. "But, he will play small tricks on you." He told him. "Hey. It won't be that bad. It's just his sign of acquaintanceship. Since you'll give him some information, you can also exchange it for money to him, he might let you off based on the use of the information you'll tell him." He explained. 

The young man's expression finally eased. 

Jonathan smiled. "You already know me. I'm Jonathan Baurne. What's your name, my friend?" he asked. 

The sound of the footsteps echoed in the walls as Jason Baurne walked towards them. "Uncle, who is he – " he said, but was cut off when the young man spoke. 

"My name is 'Ling' – " the young man said. "The 'ling' as in the feather – " he said. 

Jonathan Baurne's pupils shrank while Jason Baurne froze as he stared at the back of the young man in shock. 

"And my surname is – " the young man said, unaware that the two men, one in front of him while one was staring at his back, waited for him to resume speaking while holding their breath. " – 'Yi'. I am called 'Yi Ling'." He finished. 

Jonathan's stiff face eased while Jason Baurne felt relieved as they released their breath. They didn't notice that the young man who shaken their heart imperceptibly smiled. His dark pupils flashed and a tinge of ice-blue color appeared on them before it returned to pure black color. 

"You're hired." Jonathan Baurne finally said, ignoring Jason Baurne whose face paled as he looked at the young man's back. 

A young man who's also a Chinese, and named 'Ling'… 'Yi Ling'… who is he, really? Is there such a coincidence? Or is this fate? 

Back at the hotel, Di San sat on the sofa while chatting with Si Shui. "Damn that Yi Bing. He's so evil." He said as he nibbled the snacks sent by the hotel. "He doesn't plan to let Jason Baurne off and wanted to sow more discord than there already is between the uncle and the nephew." He shook his head and sighed with emotion. 

"Senior… why are you still here?" Si Shui asked and awkwardly smiled as he turned to Di San after he surfed the internet. Liu Lin and Feng Er have already left as they conscientiously do their task. 

Even Yi Bing who doesn't need to work since it was their group's fault in the first place why Yi Bing ended up like this. He knew that Yi Bing would've been fine and suffer only a small loss if he saved only Huo Ling. Yet, he still saved their group. 

Di San, the one who is responsible the most, should be the one working himself like a dog and not Yi Bing. Yet, he is here, lazing on the sofa like a king and chatting with him. 

"Brat." Di San spat as he glared at Si Shui. "Don't think I'm slacking off in my work. I've already told Yi Bing I'll wait until Huo Ling's funeral was finish before I'd approach Lao Xie." He said as he sat up on the sofa. "Among the three factions in the mafia, Lao Xie may be oldest, but 'the older, the wiser' as they say. He is the one who's the most difficult to get into. Lu Si's the easiest, since he takes in whoever it is, as long as they are vagabonds. Jonathan only needs to see your loyalty, and he'll hire you. But Lao Xie – " he said as he clicked his tongue. " – he may be an old man who looked like he would care for sentiments, but he actually is more cold-hearted than a snake." He looked at Si Shui. 

Si Shui felt a chill on his back and his back straightened up. "Y-yes…" he nodded in understanding. 

"How is the task I gave you?" Di San asked. 

"I've found it." Si Shui answered as he left the chair for Di San to sit on and read the file he downloaded from the computer. "Lao Xie's former company is called the Xingbao Company. He single-handedly built it." He said as he watched Di San read the file. "Meanwhile, Xi Zhengdong is the patriarch of the Xi family. I don't know how these two relate to each other, until you told me to investigate Lin Yuxiu." He said and pointed something at the screen of the computer. "I found this, and everything fell into place." He said. 

It was a picture of a yearbook.