Chapter 624 - 359: I’m Not Like You

Chapter 624: Chapter 359: I’m Not Like You

Not only had they played ball together, but Lin Chu had also brokered a deal for him to purchase a large quantity of expensive traditional medicinal herbs for property and pharmacological analysis.

He dialed his number.

After a few pleasantries, Lin Chu invited him to come along and take a look.

Given his current status, the name "Lin Chu" was an invitation in itself, glittering like gold. Wang Huating’s attitude was warm when he answered the phone, and after hearing the reason for Lin Chu’s call, he agreed on the spot.

The matter had recently become a hot topic throughout the industry, and he was personally very interested in it as well.

After they talked for a bit, Lin Chu remembered Zhao Peng’s earlier request.

He wanted to use Lin Chu’s network to help him build a modern hospital in Dubai.

A private hospital, of course, so he could recuperate in a safe and secure environment.

’I’ve already agreed to this request. I was planning to get started after the New Year since it’s my vacation time now, but since this is related, I might as well look into it at the same time.’

Tsk.

’It’s really true... with great power comes great responsibility.’

’Some people spend their entire lives mastering a single field. But me? My interests are naturally broad, and I’m not short on cash, so I’ve become more of a jack-of-all-trades.’

’But that’s fine, too. You never know what problems you’ll face in life. Ultimately, the more connected you are to society, the more cards you have to play.’

’And for the security company, having its own medical facility to treat special cases, like gunshot wounds, would be a huge advantage.’

...

The next day, Lin Chu first met Wang Huating for a meal. They talked at length and spoke their minds freely.

As an insider, he had a clear understanding of the industry’s operations and its inherent problems, all of which he explained to Lin Chu in detail.

His overall assessment wasn’t high.

After all, the problems were objective facts.

And they were practically unsolvable.

Every proposed solution was little more than a patch-up job on the existing framework.

To put it bluntly, it all came down to money.

It was like that classic line from the movie: "There’s only one disease in this world—poverty." Money is life.

Lin Chu mostly listened, rarely offering his own opinion and maintaining a thoughtful silence.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel the gravity of the situation.

’The allocation of medical resources is really just an issue of wealth distribution.’

’This industry is a microcosm of society as a whole.’

’Perhaps, with the resources I have now, if I think on a timeline of twenty or thirty years, I might actually be able to make a real difference.’

’At the very least, I can start by addressing the healthcare needs of my own group’s employees.’

...

「Baiyun International Airport.」

Liszt’s plane landed slowly. The reception wasn’t ostentatious or particularly high-profile. He was pushed out in a wheelchair through a private VIP channel, a large entourage trailing behind him.

Lin Chu finally met him in a private VIP lounge.

The local reception team from Yang City was also there. Judging from the brief encounter, they didn’t seem to be government officials, but rather internal corporate staff.

His business empire spanned the globe, its tentacles reaching every corner, so such treatment was to be expected.

Lin Chu strode over.

One of the security guards instinctively moved to block him, raising a hand.

Liszt saw what was happening and gave an order. It was passed down the line, and the guard let him through. Only then did Lin Chu approach him, a warm smile on his face as if greeting a long-lost friend. "How have you been? Are you feeling alright?"

"As you can see. Same as always."

"You look much stronger than you did before."

Liszt replied with a genial smile. The age spots on his face were distinct, and if you got close, you could smell the faint scent of old age—the odor of life in decay, something no amount of cologne could mask.

"I’ve been working out lately. Getting ready to go to prison and become the top dog."

Lin Chu joked, patting the seated man’s shoulder from above.

Liszt let out a dry, withered laugh.

After greeting Li Jingxian, who stood behind Liszt, Lin Chu stood to the side and scanned the room. His eyes landed on a "familiar" face: Jin Bingzou. He had a typically South Korean appearance—neat and sharp, with black-rimmed glasses that gave him a refined, scholarly look, despite being in his forties.

Their eyes met, and Jin Bingzou gave a polite nod, showing no reaction whatsoever to their previous encounter.

’The man he sent after me is still sitting in a prison in Dubai.’

’He sang like a canary.’

’Lin Chu and Liu Chenhui had promised to let him go if he talked.’

’But after he was taken to Dubai and spilled everything, he lost his nerve. He’d rather stay in prison for the time being than go back home.’

’Compared to losing his life, the temporary loss of freedom was a price he could bear.’

At this moment, surrounded by the crowd, the group got into their vehicles. Lin Chu was invited to sit in the "lead car," a Toyota Koaster.

Aside from the accompanying bodyguards and staff, the only other passengers in the vehicle were Lin Chu and Jin Bingzou—the two "candidates" under evaluation.

Liszt gazed out the window, his eyes focused and entranced by the festive decorations and ubiquitous red lanterns. His eyes, however, were physically clouded with age.

Lin Chu sat opposite Jin Bingzou, watching him casually. After a moment’s thought, he spoke. "Do you want your man back?"

There was no need for pleasantries. Lin Chu went straight for the throat, displaying clear aggression.

’No matter what’s going on with the club, I’m getting involved this year. I’ll develop my own businesses while I contend with all the sharks and monsters around here.’

’At least, as long as the old man is alive, anything is possible.’

’Of course, this could all be a grand stratagem of the old man’s. The final objective is still unclear; perhaps he’s the only one who knows it.’

’But my own pieces are starting to fall into place.’

’The men I sent to the Solomon Islands have successfully established a foothold. They’ve opened a restaurant as a front to gather more information and intelligence.’

’According to their reports, there are indeed some researchers in the area, and even some mystical types "setting up fortune-telling stalls" on the streets.’

’But there’s no trace of the so-called ’base’ yet. That will take more time.’

’Lin Chu wasn’t in a hurry. He’d just investigate bit by bit. Sooner or later, he’d uncover the truth.’

Jin Bingzou paused, feigning ignorance. "What man?"

"The man who tailed me on the yacht. He said you were his boss. If he was lying, how about we bring him here and have him say it to your face?"

Lin Chu taunted with a smirk.

The corner of Jin Bingzou’s mouth twitched, but his gaze remained perfectly placid. He held up his hands. "I have too many employees to keep track of. It’s possible, I suppose? Quite normal. Nothing to be concerned about."

Liszt listened to their exchange with keen interest, making no move to intervene.

"But you and I are different."

"You’re a dog. A lapdog, shaking its head and wagging its tail. I’m different. You wouldn’t understand what it means to be independent, to rather break than bend. You don’t even have the guts to admit what you’ve done. You’re no threat at all."

Lin Chu continued his provocations.

’Here on my home turf in Yang City, they’re the ones who should be worried, not me.’

’Of course, given the environment here in the country, a physical fight was unlikely. I’m not an idiot, and neither are they.’

Jin Bingzou’s breathing quickened. He stared at Lin Chu, his eyes burning with a fierce light, but he remained silent.

Liszt, however, let out a chuckle.

"Chu," he said, "as I understand it, Mr. Jin has placed at least ten people around you. This is part of the competition, of course. You should be careful, provoking him like this."

He was even fanning the flames.

He was clearly enjoying the show.

Jin Bingzou’s pupils contracted slightly. He heard this but still said nothing.

’I can’t refute what the old man said.’

Lin Chu’s mind raced. That piece of information was an unexpected bonus. His eyes fixed on Jin Bingzou. "Can you give me the list? Otherwise, you might not be able to leave Yang City."

Jin Bingzou’s expression changed instantly.

’This young man in front of him... he really doesn’t play by the rules.’

’His words sounded like a joke, but they also carried the weight of a genuine threat.’

...

...