aircannonsinc Chapter 54 You wouldn't really want to defect, would you?
Chapter 54 You wouldn't really want to defect, would you?
The fact that Maroni met with Qin Wei in his study is enough to prove that he harbored a strong desire to kill.
"You disturbed my sleep. If it were just some trivial matter... you know the consequences, right?" Under the dim lamplight, Maroni, wearing blue and purple striped pajamas, leaned back in his chair, a cigar between his fingers, and stared at Qin Wei.
He said he was disturbed from his sleep, but his eyes were bright and alert, and he didn't look like he had been dragged out of bed at all.
You've clearly been waiting for me for ages, keep pretending!
Qin Wei saw through their intentions but didn't say anything, instead explaining his purpose with a smile.
"Falcone just contacted me..."
"Oh? I like your honesty. This proves that our cooperation can move to the next stage." Maroni was not surprised by this news. After all, all the spies around him had been removed, and Qin Wei was the only one left. If Falcone wanted to get the truth, this was the only path he could choose.
"Do you think I'll use this opportunity to deal with Falcone?" Maroni asked.
Qin Wei scratched his stubble. He felt the question wasn't important and that he could answer honestly:
"Harvey Dent has made such a big fuss. If it were me, I wouldn't cause trouble at this critical juncture."
"The rational answer, but not my choice."
Maroni stood up, strolled leisurely to the wine cabinet, and after some browsing, selected a bottle.
"Want some drinks and let's chat? It's a shame I didn't have time to sober up."
"No need, let's finish talking early and go to sleep, I'm very sleepy."
"Fine! Then I'll be frank, I look down on Harvey Dent, and even if he sends Mayor Poker to jail, I won't fall!"
"A mere prosecutor thinks he can get something on me? That's the most ridiculous joke in the world. Even if he could, Gotham's politicians and businessmen would rush to my defense in an instant!"
"As for this party, I deliberately chose it to be around the time the port's black market opens—a once-in-a-decade opportunity to lure the snake out. As for the plan, I bribed Falcone's chauffeur; on the day of the party, he'll plant a time bomb under the seat cushion, and after the party… boom!"
"Good plan, but why not send in those assassins?"
Qin Wei voiced his doubts: compared to bombs, those crazed killers who clung to him like maggots were the simplest solution.
"You mean those owl chicks? Although those guys are discarded by the Claws, they are still under the jurisdiction of the Owl Court, and Falcone is also a partner of the court... I don't think I need to tell you that much."
Qin Wei didn't know what the Court of Owls was, but fortunately, his memory was pretty good.
He recalled a casual remark Falcone made during their first meeting: "For some reason, I can't bring myself to do anything to Maroni."
It seems that "some reasons" refers to the Court of Owls.
It should be a much larger and more secretive organization hovering over the Roman Empire.
"By the way, what code do you and Falcone use to communicate?"
Maroni seemingly casually throws out a topic, but in reality, he is subtly revealing his trump card.
If Qin Wei could change his perspective and go around to the back of the desk, he would immediately see Oswald bound hand and foot and gagged under the desk.
Poor Oswald was so nervous he dared not breathe, and could only close his eyes and pray that Qin Wei would tell Maroni the truth.
Otherwise, he would be dead.
But Qin Wei's answer was disheartening.
"You're using code words... there aren't any code words, are there?"
"Are you sure?" The waterfall of red wine suddenly broke, the bottle hanging precariously from the rim of the wine glass. Maroni seemed petrified.
At the same time, his tone became exceptionally gentle, as if he were afraid of disturbing the ripples of wine in the goblet.
"Yeah, there's no code at all. He just calls me first, and I'm only allowed to answer yes or no. I don't think that counts as a code."
Oswald's heart, which had stopped beating, started beating again.
Qin Wei actually said it.
But questions also arise.
How could he so easily tell Maroni that he really intended to betray Falcone?
Oswald didn't understand.
"Does it count? Of course not!"
Maroni smiled and, without realizing it, had filled the glass with red wine.
Fresh blood dripped down the side of the goblet and splattered onto the Persian carpet.
……
Maroni's willingness to reveal the assassination plan means he had no intention of releasing the person.
After his phone was confiscated, Qin Wei was taken to the guest bedroom of the mansion.
This ornately decorated room had no windowsills, which essentially eliminated the possibility of Qin Wei escaping and alerting others.
"I trust you, but just in case, I must cut off all your means of communication. The phone can only be returned when Falcone calls; you should know what to do then."
"Of course, you've given me so many benefits, I'll do my best to help you. If you call, I'll tell Mr. Falcone that everything is safe and he can participate without worry."
Qin Wei smiled in a harmless manner.
"Smart guy! You should rest well for the next 24 hours. If you need anything, just tell Benny, and he'll do his best to meet your needs." Maroni's gaze fell on Benny, and he patted Benny's elbow.
After explaining all this, Maroni left the guest room.
Only Benny, as huge as a rolling boulder, remained firmly holding onto the door.
Qin Wei knew that Maroni was only saying such nonsense as "I will try my best to meet your needs" to save face. This Benny was a surveillance device. If he showed any tendency to run away or try to pass messages to Falcone, this fatso would not hesitate to lift his butt and let him experience the "Zangief's" 3A big sit.
But Maroni has given the order after all, so who knows, maybe Benny will obediently carry it out?
Thinking of this, Qin Wei comfortably lay down on the sofa, took off his shoes by the heels, and threw his smelly leather shoes into the corner.
"Benny?"
A striking scar ran from Benny's left ear down to his chin, adding a touch of ruggedness to his chubby face. And like his appearance, his voice, just as Qin Wei had expected, was a deep, resonant bass with a hint of bubblyness.
"How can I help you?"
"My feet are sore, come give me a foot massage!"
"Huh?!"
Benny was taken aback. The task Maroni had given him was surveillance; he had never heard of any special services involved.
"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what Mr. Maroney said? Do your best to meet my needs!"
Benny gave an awkward smile and scratched his head.
Benny was Maroney's top enforcer, once the undisputed king of Blackgate Prison, but unfortunately, he only had the mental capacity of an eight-year-old. Because of his low intelligence, he was impossible to turn, which is why Maroney entrusted him with the task of surveillance.
Maroni greatly underestimated Qin Wei's thick skin, and he actually dared to climb the ranks by taking advantage of a polite remark.
The painstakingly set-up surveillance system turned out to be a foot massager, which is quite funny.
"Brother, is this pressure okay?"
Benny wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked with a forced smile.
Because of the squatting motion, his trousers were pulled open, revealing cartoon underwear with a Mickey Mouse head.
"A little higher, a little higher, hey! This is it, it's perfect!"
Just as Qin Wei was comfortably drifting off to sleep, there was a knock on the door.
"Benny, Mr. Maroni wants us to bring this man over. Treat him the same way as the other man, and watch out for any signs of them trying to escape or contact the outside world..." His companion pushed Oswald into the house, only to find Benny flushed and panting heavily.
……
"Wei, I think we messed up."
Oswald slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at the brass chandelier on the ceiling.
"Broken up? Where did you mess up!"
With a toothbrush stuck in his mouth, Qin Wei rubbed his shampoo-covered head as he poked half his body out of the bathroom. The shocking wounds on his body made Oswald's heart pound.
Oswald felt somewhat guilty. While in the hospital, when he heard Maroni say, "You're the only one suffering, while your friend just withdrew $1000 million from the bank," he did feel a little unbalanced.
In reality, Qin Wei suffered far more hardships than him.
"I should have killed you! I shouldn't have told Maroni the secret code!" Oswald slammed his head against the wall and covered his eyes in despair.
"What's the big deal? So what if I said it? It's not a big deal!"
Qin Wei pulled his head back, and the sound of rinsing mouths came from the bathroom.
"But Falcone..." Oswald didn't understand. Using Falcone's power to deal with Maroni was a plan devised by Qin Wei.
"We're already in this situation, why are we still worried about Falcone? Good luck to us!" Qin Wei, wrapped in a bath towel, came out, grabbed an apple from the fruit plate, and took a big bite.
Oswald remained silent, his resolve beginning to waver.
I initially thought Qin Wei was being sarcastic because he was afraid Maroni would eavesdrop, but looking at the other party's nonchalant attitude, he might actually be telling the truth!
Recalling the last time Qin Wei answered Falcone's call but told a big lie, Oswald suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He wouldn't really want to abandon me and defect to Gomarone, would he?