Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Is everything on the order ready?"

Old Auster sat dignifiedly in his seat, looking at his eldest son.

"The contract has been negotiated, and the quota has been allocated to our factories, where we are working overtime to meet the production targets."

"Hmm," old Auster nodded in satisfaction upon hearing his son's report.

This was the first time the chairman of Meshko Industries had ever been so obsequious to someone.

"Father, do we really... have no choice but to bow our heads?"

The youngest son, standing to the side, asked unwillingly, "He's just a person."

The eldest son, standing to the side, revealed a mocking smile.

My dear brother, you still don't understand what this means.

You've really been spoiled these past few years...

"We are Meshko Industries! The largest industrial group in Kazimir, surely we can't..."

"Cough cough cough..." Upon hearing this, old Auster coughed a few times.

“Eldest son, go,” Old Auster said to his eldest son, “give this good-for-nothing a slap.”

Upon hearing this, the eldest son first showed a troubled expression, but under old Auster's stern gaze, he had no choice but to come to his younger brother's side.

First, she gave her younger brother an apologetic look, and then slapped him without hesitation.

"Does it hurt?" Old Auster asked, taking a deep breath.

“Father, you…” Little Auster covered his face, looking incredulously at his father and elder brother, who had always been obedient to him.

"Continue!" Upon seeing this, old Auster coughed again and then roared.

The eldest son slapped him again without hesitation, a hint of barely perceptible pleasure in his eyes.

He really didn't hold back at all; it was visibly obvious that both sides of his younger son's face were swollen.

"I'm asking you, does it hurt?"

Old Auster roared, leaning on his cane.

"It hurts...it hurts...I was wrong, Father..."

Seeing this, little Auster didn't dare to say anything more.

"What's wrong?"

"I...I...I shouldn't have, I shouldn't have said those things..."

“You still don’t understand, you still don’t understand…” Old Auster slumped into his chair upon hearing this.

"I shouldn't have been so lenient with you all these years..."

"I repeatedly warned him not to mess with that person during the Major."

"And what was the result? What did you mean by all those things you and the youngest son of the Ingra family boasted about at the party?"

"Are you turning a deaf ear to my words?"

"Slap him again!"

Upon hearing this, the eldest son slapped him again without hesitation.

"Oh... I was really wrong!" He looked pitifully at his father and older brother.

"Later, I told you again, you must never mess with that person, and it's best to avoid him!"

Old Auster took a breath and scolded, "Look at what you just said!"

“But… he really is just one person…” Little Auster said timidly.

Hearing this, old Auster was furious.

"Hit me!"

Upon hearing this, the eldest son slapped him twice across the face.

"How could I have a son like you... My lifelong reputation... How could I have given birth to a son like you..."

Old Auster was so angry that his lips were trembling.

The eldest son beside him heard this and a slight smile appeared on his lips, a hint of pleasure flashing in his eyes.

Isn't this all your own choice, you old hag? Just because you had a child late in life, you spoiled him and did whatever he wanted. Otherwise, how could he have turned out like this?

If this hadn't happened, would you have given him the entire company?

Ah.

"You are a traitor... you are a traitor!"

Old Auster over there already regretted his actions.

“I shouldn’t have… cough cough cough…” Old Auster coughed as he said this.

"Father, please take care of yourself," the eldest son said with concern, stepping forward to support him. "Don't get too angry. I'll talk to my younger brother about it..."

"You're so accomplished, and so filial," Old Auster said with satisfaction, patting his eldest son's hand.

"As for you," he turned to look at his youngest son, hesitated for a moment, "you stay obediently in the manor and don't go anywhere!"

“But Father,” the eldest son paused, “didn’t I already make all the arrangements? To let my younger brother go and get some experience…”

“Well, let’s forget it,” old Auster shook his head upon hearing this. “I’m afraid he can’t bear the suffering.”

"Boss, from now on, please be more lenient with him..."

“…I understand,” a shadow crossed the eldest son’s eyes.

"By the way, the price of that order..."

“It was all done as you instructed,” the eldest son replied immediately, “I didn’t earn a single penny.”

"That's good, that's good," old Auster breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

It's good that you've accepted it!

If they accepted it, it means that person didn't intend to go all the way.

Ah.

I still have plenty of time.

As for his eldest son beside him, didn't he know what the son was up to?

Ultimately, he's still a bit too inexperienced.

This scene has occurred in countless wealthy and powerful families.

After learning that Rhodes Island had accepted the so-called 'bribe' in its entirety, many people breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated wildly.

Little did they know, death would soon come to claim them.

258 Do you really consider them saints?

Charné looked at the lively banquet before him and felt a moment of disorientation.

Just two weeks ago, he was living in constant fear, immersed in the dread of losing his power as the spokesperson for the business federation.

And now, he has transformed himself into the representative of the Red Pine Knights stationed in the Grand Knight Territory.

The dazzling lights and vibrant nightlife before my eyes seem like a dream.

But the flattering words of the merchants constantly reminded him of one thing.

This is reality.

“I must say, Mr. Charner, there have been many misunderstandings between us in the past,” Pavel, president of Howling Guard and director of the Business Federation, said with a smile, raising his glass to Charner. “I believe we will have many opportunities to clarify these misunderstandings in the future.”

“Of course,” Charné said with a smile, “there are no permanent friends, nor permanent enemies.”

"Only eternal interests," the two said in unison, then clinked their glasses. The crimson wine looked so tempting under the dazzling lights of the banquet.

"I believe we will have many more opportunities to cooperate in the future."

The two smiled at each other and then went their separate ways.

Some things are best left unsaid and understood by everyone.

but……

Future opportunities for cooperation? Unfortunately, there won't be any.

Charnee understood what he meant.

But he understands Xia language better.

Such people are not the type to let go of others for a little bit of profit.

Watching the wealthy and powerful socializing and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the banquet, Charnet could only scoff.

Do you really think you can escape?

Do you really think he'll let you off the hook? Just because of some trivial so-called bribery?