The film starts with the Navy SEALs

Chapter 2304: Courtesy first, then attack

"I will wipe out the remaining British soldiers and avenge my husband. Because of them, I lost my beloved, and this debt must be settled." Ariana's eyes burned with intense hatred, the glint of which seemed to ignite the surrounding air. Her tone was firm and resolute, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth, carrying a deep-seated pain and hatred. This decision was as firm as a rock in her heart, the result of countless days and nights of torment and preparation, brooking no doubt from anyone. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and got into the car without hesitation, her movements swift and decisive. The car door slammed shut, as if severing her brief connection with this place of trouble. She was leaving this place to devote herself fully to the further preparation of her revenge plan. Her clenched fists and resolute profile revealed her unwavering determination for revenge.

Zayev remained silent, watching their departing figures with a cold, unyielding gaze, like a silent statue. His eyes were deep and complex, as if a convoluted game of chess was being planned within them. In this world of intrigue and betrayal, a dark jungle, he knew every decision was like walking on the edge of a precipice, a single misstep could lead to utter destruction. But at the same time, every opportunity was like a glimmer of light in the darkness; seizing it would bring him one step closer to his ambitions. He narrowed his eyes slightly, silently contemplating his next move. In this cruel game of power and self-interest, he had to proceed cautiously, step by step, to realize the burning ambition hidden deep within his heart.

……

Meanwhile, on a seemingly ordinary yet subtly sinister private jet at the airport, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the calm before a storm. The soft, dim lighting, seemingly weighed down by the heavy atmosphere, barely illuminated the small space inside the cabin, unable to dispel the tense, gloomy air. Daniel and his private lawyer sat facing each other, engaged in a crucial and cryptic conversation concerning life and death, profit and loss. Daniel's brows were tightly furrowed, like deep furrows filled with worry and confusion. His eyes revealed a deep concern and bewilderment about the current situation, as if he were in a dense, foggy forest, unable to find his way forward.

"How exactly did they control the four major families? I've racked my brains but still can't figure it out. There must be a huge, unknown conspiracy hidden behind this." Daniel asked with a hint of urgency and doubt. His eyes were fixed on the old woman opposite him like a hawk, trying to find the key clue to unravel the mystery from her seemingly calm expression and every subtle answer. It was as if finding that one clue would be enough to dispel the fog in front of him.

"The methods they employed were undeniably ingenious. First, they meticulously selected and promoted the second-in-command from among the major families to high positions. Once they successfully seized control of the family leaders, the entire family became like puppets on strings, completely under their control. As you know, in the dog-eat-dog world of business, equity is equivalent to power; the more equity, the greater the power. They were like stealthy hunters, using hostile takeovers to gradually erode the power of the major families, like silkworms devouring mulberry leaves, incorporating them one by one into their own territory, building a vast and secretive power empire." The old woman sitting opposite him explained in detail, her tone calm and collected, like a wise sage who understood all the secrets of the world. Every word seemed to have been carefully considered before being uttered, revealing her complete understanding of everything and her profound insight into the situation.

"What's New York's opinion on this? They can't possibly sit idly by and do nothing about something so important, can they?" Daniel pressed on impatiently, eager to know the attitudes of all parties, especially New York's position. In his mind, New York's attitude was like a crucial weight on a scale, potentially having a dramatic impact on the entire situation.

"New York has no interest in this matter. They think it's just a minor local squabble, not worth their time or resources. From their superior perspective, it poses no real threat to their vast and stable system of interests; it's just an insignificant farce," the old woman explained casually. Her expression was slightly helpless, seemingly disappointed by New York's dismissive attitude, yet also as if she had expected it.

"A minor skirmish? That's utterly absurd, pure nonsense. They have no idea how serious things are. If the situation gets out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable; the whole thing could plunge into an abyss of no return." Daniel's eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing this, his expression filled with disbelief. He couldn't believe that New York could be so short-sighted, turning a blind eye to this storm that harbored a massive crisis. In his view, what lay behind this was far more complex than it appeared on the surface—a colossal conspiracy capable of overturning the existing order.

“Yes, that’s what they think. New York seems convinced it’s just a minor, insignificant conflict between some local powers, nothing to worry about.” The old woman nodded firmly, trying to get Daniel to accept this harsh reality. Looking at Daniel’s expression, a mixture of shock and anger, she felt a pang of helplessness; after all, she couldn’t change New York’s attitude.

“Heavens above, this is utterly foolish. Their shortsightedness could have a devastating impact on the entire situation, plunging us all into an abyss.” Daniel let out a cold laugh, feeling both angry and helpless at New York’s attitude. He knew all too well that New York’s misjudgment could push the situation in an even more complex and dangerous direction, and that they would all be caught in the eye of the storm, facing an unprecedented crisis.

“Why not just give the arms to the Damach family? After all, you still have casinos, bookmakers, and other lucrative businesses. Losing a batch of weapons won't cripple your vast business empire, and it will prevent you from getting into even bigger trouble,” the old woman suggested again, trying to persuade Daniel to compromise. From an outsider's perspective, she believed that in the current complex and dangerous situation, taking a step back might be a wise move, allowing Daniel to avoid falling into an even more difficult predicament.

“No, absolutely not. This batch of weapons is crucial to me; I cannot easily hand it over. It's not just a batch of cold weapons; it's a vital bargaining chip for me to turn the tide in this power game. Without it, I will lose too much initiative in this brutal competition.” Daniel refused without hesitation, his eyes revealing unwavering stubbornness and determination. He deeply understood the immense value of this batch of weapons and the key role it could play in the future development of the situation. In his mind, this batch of weapons was like a guiding light in the darkness, a crucial support for realizing his ambitions.

Just then, a Volkswagen SUV slowly drove up behind the private plane along the airport runway. The sound of its engine grew louder as it approached, then gradually faded away, and silence returned, as if even the air itself had frozen. The two people inside the car, engrossed in their heated conversation, were unaware of this sudden turn of events. The older woman continued her earnest advice: "You have no other choice now, Daniel. Discretion is the better part of valor. Tell them the container combination. Continuing this stalemate will only put you in greater danger. You must understand that circumstances dictate actions; sometimes compromise is a valuable form of wisdom, allowing you to preserve your strength in this storm and make a comeback." "Wow, even you've been bought off. I was blind to have trusted you so completely, considering you my most reliable partner." Through the reflection in the car window, Daniel inadvertently noticed a group of burly men disembarking from the car diagonally behind the plane. Their expressions were wary, their movements efficient; it was clear they were up to no good. A sudden realization dawned on him, and he understood that even his old friend who had been by his side for so many years had betrayed him. His eyes instantly filled with anger and disappointment—the heart-wrenching pain of being stabbed in the back by the person he trusted most. Now, all that remained for this person he had once trusted so implicitly was deep disgust and hatred.

"If you take someone's money, you have to solve their problems. That's an ironclad rule in business, so don't take it too seriously. Everyone's just trying to make their own money, you should understand. In this realistic world, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests," the old woman said without batting an eye, as if it were all perfectly natural. There was no trace of remorse in her tone, only a naked pursuit of profit and a helpless compromise with reality.

"Is all our friendship of so many years worthless, Marianna? I've always considered you my closest and most trusted partner. Through countless difficult times, we've stood together through thick and thin. I never imagined you would betray me for such a trivial gain, discarding our years of friendship like trash." Daniel said with a cold laugh, his tone filled with sarcasm and disappointment. A mix of emotions welled up inside him—anger, helplessness, and heartache—surging like a tidal wave through his heart.

“My name is Maria. Please remember my name and don’t call me by the wrong name again,” the old woman corrected, her expression remaining calm and composed, as if she didn’t care about Daniel’s anger at all. She seemed to have made up her mind to completely break with Daniel for her own benefit.

"Whatever. It's too late to say anything now anyway." Daniel felt a surge of disgust, frowning as he looked at the approaching figures outside. He questioned, "What are those people doing here? Are they planning to capture me alive? Or do they have some other ulterior motive?"

"They're just trying to appease us first, then resort to force. They don't want things to escalate too much; after all, nobody wants to completely ruin the relationship. You should just accept your fate and stop resisting. Hand over the password obediently, and you might save your life, or even escape unscathed from this mess," the old woman continued, trying to persuade Daniel to give up and accept reality. She knew all too well the methods those people outside used; if Daniel continued to resist, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“You are of no use to me anymore, Maria. Since you have chosen betrayal, don’t blame me for being impolite.” A cold killing intent flashed in Daniel’s eyes. In the blink of an eye, he drew a pistol from his waist with lightning speed, his movements as swift and decisive as a cheetah pouncing on its prey. Without hesitation, he aimed at the terrified Maria, his finger tightly gripping the trigger, his eyes showing no hesitation or pity.

A sharp gunshot rang out, like a thunderclap in the night sky, shattering the brief tranquility of the cabin. Maria's head was instantly split open, blood gushing out like a fountain, shimmering eerily in the dim light, staining the seat and the surrounding floor red. Her body slumped onto the seat like a puddle of mud, a trace of terror and disbelief still lingering in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe, even in death, that Daniel would be so cruel to her.

Those guarding the private jet, hearing gunshots from inside, immediately realized something was wrong. They cautiously peeked out from behind their vehicles, exchanging wary and suspicious glances. Then, they rushed towards the plane, their steps hurried and hurried, weapons gripped tightly, ready to respond to any eventuality.

Just then, Daniel, carrying a satchel and wielding an AK-47, charged down the aircraft's flight path like a tiger descending a mountain, his eyes revealing a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve. He fired wildly as he descended, the fully automatic firepower exceptionally fierce, "rat-a-tat-tat-tat..." A dense hail of bullets rained down, echoing a chilling sound across the silent airport. Several unsuspecting gunmen were instantly hit, their bodies collapsing to the ground like kites with broken strings, writhing in agony. Blood quickly spread beneath them, staining the ground crimson, and the air filled with the pungent stench of blood. The remaining men, seeing this, scurried behind their vehicles, too terrified to show their faces. They knew Daniel's prowess; under such overwhelming firepower, revealing themselves would be suicidal.

Daniel, true to his reputation as a cunning and shrewd arms dealer, was incredibly skilled and ferocious with guns. He quickly ran out of AK-47 ammunition, then swiftly tossed the gun to the ground. He then pulled an Uzi submachine gun from his bag and began firing wildly at the car in front of him, retreating towards the nearby hangar as he fired. (End of Chapter)

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