Chapter 241 - loved ones

"Even the military is involved with them. It only helps those who have given up in front of their demands…"

"If someone tries to raise their voice against this ill practice, they are either kidnapped or murdered in mysterious circumstances…"

"We are not even allowed to leave the city and go to South City. President has issued a decree and even stopped the public transportation facilities in between two cities…."

Xiu Mei heard everything patiently but she was getting more and more confused about the situation. Why? What is the reason behind all this? What illegal practices? She pinched the space between her brows.

"I'm unable to understand what on earth has happened here? Seven years back this place was like heaven, full of beauty and life. Then what happened suddenly? What's the reason?" she closed her eyes and massaged her temples.

This situation was getting on her nerves. Feng Jianyu's whereabouts are missing? She doesn't even know whether her husband is alive or not? Despite being a computer and mechanical expert, all she could do was to stare at her gadgets instead of able to contact the outside world? To communicate with someone the most important thing required is 'Network', which unfortunately is shut down for the entire northern city.

Her hopes of finding Butler Xavier are long dead now as the situation of this City is beyond comprehensible.

She took several deep breaths to calm herself down….

"I'll explain you everything" Xiu Mei heard a heavy male voice. She lifted up her eyes and saw a physically disabled man in his late 50's walking towards her on crutches. His face and hands were badly burned. Looking at the scars it felt like something happened with him years back.

She looked at him from top to bottom curiously. Her eyes glued to the man's face as if looking for something but she cannot point out exactly what she was looking for. Even his dirty clothes, worn-out shoes, and rugged look cannot hide the elegance with which he was carrying himself.

His straight posture, sharp eyes and that commanding heavy voice, he doesn't look like a normal person.

"Young lady, you mind if I sat down and narrate the story? It's not a good manner to keep someone standing. Especially when they are elder to you" He asked politely yet at the same time taught her a lesson. When she didn't answer him, he arched a brow at her. "Staring is also bad manners"

"Cough…. I'm sorry… Please sit down"

She looked away from his face and gestured everyone to feel relaxed around her. For an unknown reason, this man's voice made her feel uneasy. Why did it have an effect on her anyway?

Xiu Mei looked back at his face and saw him looking at her intricately. "Please tell me whatever information you have. It will be of great help"

She looked calm and collected, but this stranger's presence was making her feel restless, especially the way he was looking at her. It was as though he can read through her mind with his eyes.

He pulled his chair closer to hers so that no one can eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Almost a decade back someone set up an illegal business in North City under the name of providing employment opportunities to the local people. Finding it as a golden opportunity for their kids future, no one opposed it and let them use their lands without any objection but it turned out to be the biggest mistake of these people"

"For the first few years, it seems everything good as people started earning good without bothering to leave their home town in search of jobs. It was a win-win situation for them as they were earning good by simultaneously staying with their loved ones. But does a fake dream last long?"

"It was the smart tactic by the company to lure these people into their trap. Once you are entangled there's no looking back"

"The people who were recruited into the company eventually stopped returning home in the name of the workload. At first, it seems normal as family members used to receive occasional phone calls and messages from their loved ones but the communication frequency started declining till it stopped abruptly"

"When their families didn't receive any message from their loved ones for a long duration, they went to the company looking for answers but turned away harshly as the company rejected their claim out rightly. Till date, no one knows where are their loved ones? Are they still alive or not?"

Xiu Mei huffed in anger, "This is clear bullying. Who knows that company might target these kids in the future. I'm afraid they will face the same fate or might even worse if this is not stopped"

He smiled when he saw her caressing the head of a child lovingly before placing him on her lap. He continued….

"If anyone dared to voice out against the company they are either killed or kidnapped"

"Later the company started spreading their wings to other parts of the city, keeping their original base as headquarter. Illegal acquisition of land is just a part of it. As far as forced labor is concerned, they are used for illegal mining of diamonds"

Xiu Mei cannot stop herself from asking a question that was bugging her since long. "Hold on! Please tell me you know why no one is complaining to the President"

He smiled dryly and rubbed her hair, "You seem like an intelligent lady. What do you think about why these people are not complaining?" Her brows furrowed at this question as she pondered what could be the reason.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock thinking about something. "Their loved ones!? These people are being blackmailed over them. No news is better than bad news. People of this city are living in that tiny hope that their loved ones will return someday!? That's why they are not complaining about it to President Pang. And those who dare to complain are silenced"