Reborn in 1993, Dark Sea

As they drew closer to the club, An Xiaohai looked out the car window and saw Kang Lianhai and Kang Jiaxiang standing at the intersection waiting for him. Each of them was accompanied by a bodyguard, a far cry from the lavish lifestyle they had enjoyed just over two months ago.

The area around the clubhouse was also desolate and deserted. The big battle terrified the surrounding businesses, and the seemingly endless investigation by the local police caused almost all the business owners in the vicinity to choose to leave.

As the investigation deepened, more and more of the shady dealings hidden in the hotels and entertainment venues next to the club were exposed, and the local police simply shut down these places.

Today, only one building remains of the clubhouse.

"President Chen!" As soon as An Xiaohai got out of the car, Kang Lianhai rushed up and grabbed his hand. He had only said two words when tears started streaming down his face.

"President Kang, what's wrong with you?" Kang Lianhai's reaction startled An Xiaohai.

"President Chen!... Waaaaah..."

Kang Lianhai managed to squeeze out two more words before bursting into tears. His sobs grew louder and louder, and he was on the verge of completely losing control. An Xiaohai and Kang Jiaxiang quickly helped him into the clubhouse.

"Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry. My father has suffered a lot of setbacks recently, and he often loses control of his emotions. Please forgive him!" Kang Jiaxiang explained with a frown.

"It's okay, I understand."

"Mr. Kang, if you want to cry, just let it out. Holding it in isn't good; it'll make you sick. Chen Xun, go to the next room and find some peace and quiet."

"Yes, Mr. Chen."

Zhou Xun immediately stood up, and Kang Jiaxiang followed suit: "President Chen, I'll also excuse myself for a moment and tell the men outside not to come and disturb us. Please, could you please comfort my father? Thank you!"

Kang Jiaxiang and Zhou Xun left together, and the moment the door closed, Kang Lianhai burst into tears.

An Xiaohai held Kang Lianhai's hand with one hand and patted Kang Lianhai's shoulder with the other, then began to painstakingly brew tea.

Since meeting An Xiaohai and holding his hand, Kang Lianhai has not let go.

Kang Lianhai cried for a full 10 minutes before finally stopping. He finally let go of An Xiaohai's hand, sat blankly on the sofa, his eyes vacant.

"Mr. Kang, Xiaoyu told me about what happened in Honggang. I heard that Solo lost badly, and those who followed him lost a lot of money. You also lost a lot of money, but money is just an external thing, so don't take it too seriously."

While comforting Kang Lianhai, An Xiaohai handed him the cooled tea. Only then did An Xiaohai realize that Kang Lianhai had lost a lot of weight in just over two months.

Kang Lianhai took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Mr. Chen, I'm not crying about money."

After what happened last time, I finally understand. You're absolutely right. Money is just an external thing. Once you're gone, you really have nothing left. No amount of money will help you then...

I'm crying for Weiting! Everything was fine until just like that, and he was gone...

Weiting and I grew up together in Yau Ma Tei. He always looked after me from childhood to adulthood. Now that he's gone, I'm really panicking!

Mr. Chen, do you know that I haven't been able to sleep these past few days? Every time I close my eyes, I think of Weiting, and I think of that explosion…

I feel so guilty. If I hadn't been so focused on getting Jiaxiang out of there as quickly as possible, Weiting might not have gotten into this mess...

I really regret it! ..."

Kang Lianhai kept talking incessantly, and it was clear that he was in real pain.

"Mr. Kang, since you've brought this up, I really have to ask you about it."

Who exactly are Igawa Yu's group? Damn it, I risked offending An Xiaohai to help them, and even had my private doctor fly over overnight to treat their injuries.

And what a terrible thing they did! They repaid kindness with enmity! They actually tried to wipe us all out! If it weren't for Lao Duan inviting us fishing that day, we would all have perished there!

What the hell is going on here?!

"Mr. Chen, please don't ask anymore. Those people... we can't afford to offend them, we really can't afford to offend them!"

I don't know why they did this. I asked my superiors, but I still haven't received an answer..."

"Above? Above what?"

"This... I misspoke. I didn't express myself clearly. It's not 'above,' it's 'middleman.'"

I asked the middlemen, and they said they didn't know either. Moreover, all of Igawa Yu's gang are dead. The day we rescued Jiaxiang, they attacked the Shenhai City Public Security Bureau, were ambushed, and all of them perished there.

It seems only Igawa Yu's wife, Koyama Kazuko, returned to Japan; everyone else is doomed.

"Damn, they got off easy! But a husband's debt is a wife's debt, and I'll settle the score with that Koyama Kazuko sooner or later!"

It's one thing to blow up my newly built house, but to cause such a huge mess that the armed police have taken back my land, and they still haven't cleaned up the mess. Damn it!

By the way, their son's name is Igawa Jiro, right? And doesn't Jiro also have a Ōro? If there's a Ōro, finding him would be the same!

"Forget it, Mr. Chen, really, you have to believe me! We can't afford to offend these people. I don't even know what to do next..."

Thank goodness, thank goodness we have Ka-cheung, really!

During this time, if Jiaxiang hadn't been by my side, I don't think I would have made it through...

Mr. Chen, I am truly grateful to you for rescuing him...

Actually, this whole thing started because of us, and logically I should compensate you for your losses, but recently… sigh! I can't talk about it anymore, it really hurts!

"Mr. Chen, this time we still need you. It's thanks to you that I, your brother, have turned things around..."

Kang Lianhai talked on and on with An Xiaohai for almost an hour. It was clear that he was really terrified and had completely lost his composure.

He actually drifted off to sleep when An Xiaohai asked him for the list and introduction of the investment observation group.

An Xiaohai quickly scanned the list and introductions, found a piece of clothing to cover Kang Lianhai, and then tiptoed out of the private room.

The club was very quiet, and it didn't seem like anyone was there. An Xiaohai went to the next private room to study the list carefully as soon as possible. But just as he sat down, Kang Jiaxiang suddenly walked in and closed the door.

An Xiaohai watched Kang Jiaxiang quietly until he sat down opposite him with a smile.

It was only at this moment that An Xiaohai began to seriously and carefully observe the young man.

Kang Jiaxiang is very thin, with dark skin, and not very tall, about 1.68 meters. He is dressed very formally, with his hair neatly combed and wearing a pair of non-prescription black-rimmed glasses.

He looked like a well-mannered rich young master or a successful young man. An Xiaohai found it hard to associate him with a drug addict, gambler, and a bad-natured rich second-generation.

"President Chen, I've been looking for an opportunity to formally express my gratitude to you, and today the opportunity has finally come!" Kang Jiaxiang said, deliberately lowering his voice, his deep tone indeed more infectious.

"I was just doing a job for money. Mr. Kang has already paid what he was owed. We're even now. There's no need for you to do this, Mr. Kang," An Xiaohai said with a smile.

"How can that be? How can I forget the life-saving grace!"

Furthermore, my father has explained the entire process to me in detail. What Mr. Chen did has far exceeded the scope of the agreement between my father and you.

In my opinion, Mr. Chen's actions can be described as extremely righteous!

In this day and age, people as loyal as Mr. Chen are very rare…

After Kang Jiaxiang finished speaking, he seemed to let out a soft sigh.

An Xiaohai didn't speak, but his mind was racing. Kang Jiaxiang had come to him for more than just to thank him for saving his life.

"Mr. Chen, what exactly are your plans for that purified water project?"

"It's very simple. I just want to get it listed as quickly as possible, cash out, and leave this place as soon as possible!" An Xiaohai said, feigning some emotion.

"You know, I've been wandering outside for far too long, living in constant fear, risking my life to make a living."

I did all the hard work, but I only received a very small portion of the money.

Honestly, I'm fed up with this kind of life. I don't want to be someone's dog anymore. After making this big profit, I plan to retire.

But don't worry, Mr. Kang, I never intended to cheat you. I believe you've read the terms of cooperation. I didn't set any traps. When the company goes public, everyone will make a profit.

I can reveal more inside information to you. The accounting firm I hired is quite capable. They have already prepared the accounts for that small water plant for several years. Fuwang Grain and Oil has attributed all the profits of that area in recent years to the water plant.

As a result, the small water plant has been profitable for several consecutive years, and its profitability fully meets the requirements for submitting a listing application.

"It'll be soon. I estimate we can submit the listing application this year. At that time, Mr. Kang will have to put in a lot more effort!"

"That's for sure. It's all my own business, and I'll naturally do my best. Mr. Chen, calling me Young Master Kang is too formal. Just call me Jiaxiang, like a father to me."

"Respect is no substitute for obedience!"

An Xiaohai smiled slightly, raised his teacup, and the two drank a cup of tea instead of wine.

"Mr. Chen, you shouldn't be much older than me, right?"

I'm three years older than you.

"That's it, my feeling was right. I think it's a pity that you're retiring at such a young age. You're someone who can do great things."

There's nothing to regret or not!

Jiaxiang, we get along very well, even though we've only known each other a short time.

I was born in a small mountain village. My family members all died long ago, and I've always been destitute. It's a miracle that I've managed to get to where I am today.

Over the years, I've come to see through it all. This is a world where people eat each other. Those people's good lives are sustained by people like me, nourished by their blood and flesh.

No matter how well I do, they will never see me as one of their own. They have always treated me like a dog, and my only purpose is to bring back their prey for them.

They would never allow me to become human!

So why am I still working so hard? It's meaningless. I'm thinking, even if I have to be a dog, I want to be a free and unrestrained stray dog, a stray dog ​​that lives only for itself!

I never want to risk my life for someone else again, and after so many years of fighting and killing, I'm tired of it all.

"Mr. Chen is indeed a man with a story!"

"It's a pity they're all horror stories, haha."

"Looking at what President Chen has done... it seems that's indeed the case!" Kang Jiaxiang laughed. "However, President Chen, I actually have some different opinions."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"I think the reason Mr. Chen is so disheartened is simply because he's working for the wrong people. If he were in a different place, in a different organization, with his talent and ability, he might just rise to godhood!"

"Ascension to godhood? Heh, I've never heard of such an organization before! Forget it, I have no interest in religion or cultivation, and I know very well that I'm not cut out for it."

An Xiaohai took a sip of tea and said with a smile.

"Hehe, Mr. Chen, you've misunderstood. I'm not trying to recruit you into a church, nor am I trying to trick you into becoming a Taoist," Kang Jiaxiang said slowly, his eyes fixed on An Xiaohai.

"I'm talking about an organization, a purely commercial organization, an absolutely fair organization. If you can join it, you can easily acquire endless wealth, until finally, you possess power approaching that of a god!"

"Such an organization exists? Could it be the so-called 'higher-ups' that General Manager Kang just told me about, the ones he consulted?"

Did my father say any of these things?

"It sounds like it. I just asked him, but he denied it and said he was the middleman."

"I see... Sigh, sometimes I don't know what to say about my father, but since he's already let it slip, it means he considers President Chen one of his own, so I won't hide it from him anymore."

We do have an online network; without their support, my son and I wouldn't be where we are today. This organization is the one I was referring to—the one that grants us power approaching that of a god.

"Are you telling me all this to try and recruit me?"

"Yes!" Kang Jiaxiang nodded readily. "Actually, my position in this organization is higher than my father's, but my father doesn't know it. This is a request I made to the organization, because I was afraid my father would feel uncomfortable about it."

I recently had a promotion opportunity, but at the same time I also faced a huge test.

If I fail this test, I may very well lose this promotion opportunity forever. And I feel that, given my current abilities and capabilities, the chances of me failing are very high.

Do you think I can help you?

"Yes, if Mr. Chen is willing to help me, my chances of success will be much greater. If Mr. Chen helps me, I am willing to share that almost divine power with you!"

If Mr. Chen wants to retire after helping me, I can also give you some financial compensation.

"I'm curious, how much are you willing to pay me for my help?"

"One hundred million or two hundred million, in US dollars!"

"So many?! Then the challenges you face must be extraordinary."

"Yes, it's very difficult."

"Can you tell me what kind of test it is?"

"Kill God."

"Kill God?"

"Yes, my test is to eliminate a god who has betrayed the divine court."

"If it's a god, how do you kill it?"

"Actually, killing him isn't difficult. He has already been stripped of his divine status by the Divine Court, and his power has been greatly weakened. The difficulty lies in finding him."

"You asked me for help, is it because I can help you find him?"

"That's right, I think if President Chen agrees to help me, there's a way to lure him out."

"Can you tell me what the method is?"

"I can't say right now, unless you, Mr. Chen, agree to help me or agree to cooperate with me."

"Hmm... I'll have to think about that. Could you tell me the name of the god who betrayed the Divine Court?"

"Nemesis, the god of vengeance, Nemesis."