Chapter 89: The Vein of the Ungodly (4)

Chapter 89: The Vein of the Ungodly (4)

As we had agreed on the first day I arrived in this city, I brought Gao Shusens share of the stolen goods to a warehouse he had leased under an alias. Located on the north bank of the waterway dividing Haizhu and Liwan districts, this warehouse was a mere 1 kilometer away from the pier base of the Guangzhou River Police. Close enough that you could visually identify peoples movements if no boats were passing by.

Rather than hiding in plain sight, it would be more accurate to say he had connections here. Although cornered, Gao Shusen was still a high official of the Communist Party, and the first quality demanded of a communist official was the ability to manage connections.

Of course, Gao Shusen had leased the warehouse to hide the location of his vaults from me. It would be crazy for him to request I deliver directly to his vaults. Not like Id promise not to rob those too.

Waiting for me in person until this time, he spread his arms with a delighted expression as the cars I had borrowed entered the warehouse.

Welcome, Chairman! Ive been waiting for you with three autumns of longing!

Three autumns of longing refer to missing someone so much that a day apart feels like three years. Judging by his bloodshot eyes, it was no exaggeration. After getting out of the Yongshi SUV, I looked at the suit-clad shoulders surrounding the Deputy Secretary and asked:

Can all the people here be trusted?

Why would I have brought untrustworthy ones to an occasion like this? They each have insurance. So, show me the promised goods first.

Clenching his fists, Gao Shusen peered like an impatient child.

Insurance, I see. Thats more reliable.

I nodded in understanding then turned halfway around, gesturing with my chin to the subordinate in the drivers seat. Thud. As the trunks of the Yongshi SUVs opened, Gao Shusen hurriedly went over to inspect the loaded cargo. The moment a sack was untied, a torrent of gold washed over his face.

Oh, ohh

Was it really that great? Intoxicated, Gao Shusen shoved both hands greedily through the gold bars, grabbing handfuls back and forth, concentrating on one handful then pulling out another. Mixed among the gold bars were rhino horn gold and horse hoof gold. They were named after the horn of a rhino and the hoof of a horse which they resembled. Both were legacies from the Qing dynasty.

After fondling the gold and counting dollars to his hearts content, when Gao Shusen checked the footage recorded from the mountain villa, he made a sullen expression.

Although Ive already agreed that the ratio of evidence to keep will be up to you, Chairman with this much, wouldnt it be alright if we took a little more? Whether its 10 kg more or less of gold bars, it should look about the same.

What nonsense. I gave him a dry response.

Deputy Secretary, right now youre asking to scalp not just some gold, but your and your uncles lives.

Erm

Behind Gao Shusens actions must also lie some suspicion toward me. Since the footage alone didnt let him know the exact amount, he was anxious I might skim off more without him being able to tell. Gao Shusens demand was an indirect expression of doubt.

But what could I do if he was anxious? There were already this many safeguards in place.

Dont forget that the total value of the confiscated goods that will be submitted as evidence is exactly the same as the total amount of bribes reaching the top level.

At my pretended reminder, Gao Shusen reluctantly backed down.

Right. It must be so. I spoke out of turn. I apologize.

No need. Im grateful youre keeping the agreement.

Its difficult for anyone below the partys highest level to get their hands on confiscated goods handed over to the state treasury. In other words, this is a rare opportunity to directly offer bribes to someone normally out of reach. If this proves enough value, Gao Shusen and his uncle Gao Ninghuis lives would be guaranteed by the central party, making them untouchable by the provincial government level.

With a hand in my coat pocket, I continued the businesslike conversation.

Then lets move on to the next step. You have the intel on the Triads, right?

I had expected it. Where there is severe famine, could cannibals be absent? Humans were originally creatures that lived by preying on each other, only how they preyed changed according to circumstances.

Moreover, there were far too many hungry people in China right now. The 70 million flood victims from the historically unprecedented great floods last summer. Having drifted to the cities in search of a living, they must have nibbled away at each other little by little even during their long journey to get there. Usually the corpses of those who collapsed while walking, occasionally the weak who lacked strength but were still alive.

Such a scene of humans repeatedly preying on each other, as there was no other way for the destitute to fill their stomachs.

The proliferating cancerous masses were insufficient to fill their bellies either. The proliferation of cells that fed on magic power and mana was far too slow a process compared to the hunger of the masses. It was like a poor farmer who boiled and ate up all his seeds for next years planting as well.

Truly an abyss of isolation.

My words puzzled Kyung-tae.

Huh? What do you mean?

I speak of gu poisoning by isolation. Creatures with venom are confined together, prey on each other repeatedly until only the one with the strongest venom remains. Its merely superstitious sorcery, but you must have heard of it at least once.

Ah, that. Of course, I know it. But why

It just came to mind seeing people eat people at this late hour. Even those without venom will generate deadliness from preying on each other.

In the end, anything that harmed people could be called poisonous, also because its spread would sicken society.

Oh.

Kyung-tae glanced outside the car window following scenery I couldnt see, shrugging as he said.

They used to say the cruelest gu was confining and starving children to create ren gu human gu.

Is that so.

Yes. Starving kids and letting them twist their bodies to crawl inside bamboo to die was considered the best, I heard.

Excessively unrealistic.

Who knows. If not for meeting you, I may have ended up like that.

Nonsense.

Haha.

Kyung-tae laughed awkwardly and turned the steering wheel. The convoy gently curved following the river road.

I saw the providence of nature in this concrete jungle. Exploitation and oppression. Primitive, direct cannibalism and more civilized, indirect forms carried out through oppression. Beneath the lowest floors were more, and the weak devoured by the strong were predators preying on even weaker beings. In the seething cauldron of discrimination and oppression, soft human benevolence melted away, leaving only hard clumps of evil.

Now was the time for me as a hunter to step into that abyss of isolation.

1. TLN: Please spare me if I make a mistake in translating any of the titles/positions in this novel. Since Im new to translating novels with real-life background Author's Thoughts

Disclaimer:

This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.

Also, if you find some error in translation please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)

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