Chapter 188: Chapter 115: Assassin Sect_3
Then Yan Fei thought of those diet pill manufacturers bankrupted by his weight loss cookies. Dream Technology had stolen their livelihood; could they have turned to desperate measures, such as kidnapping Lu Pingping? There were also those regional agents Lu Pingping had dismissed; they, too, were suspects in her abduction. Even former employees who’d been denied jobs at Dream Foods were under suspicion.
As Yan Fei’s mind wandered, he realized he had too many suspects to consider. It was only now, in this crisis, that he recognized the seemingly thriving Dream Technology was actually besieged by enemies on all sides, standing in extreme peril. Even without Lu Pingping’s kidnapping, other serious issues were bound to arise. He’d been unaware of the situation, thinking everything was going well, and had no idea how Lu Pingping had been handling this pressure alone.
After some thought, Yan Fei still decided to share his suspicions with Wei Chao. The recording officer beside them immediately noted down Yan Fei’s suspected targets.
Weighing the thoughts, Wei Chao turned and asked, “President Yan, besides these, do you think there could be other reasons behind Lu Pingping’s abduction?”
Yan Fei’s train of thought shifted from the company to himself. The assassins who had attempted to kill him were the most likely suspects. Then the shadow of Japan’s Oogawa Family flashed through his mind. The likeliest scenario for Lu Pingping’s kidnapping were the assassins coveting the one hundred million US dollar bounty. But there was another possibility not to be ignored: the Oogawa Family’s involvement.
Having killed Ryoko Oogawa, Jo Oogawa, and Hideo Oogawa in Japan, the Oogawa Family might not know it was Yan Fei’s doing, but they could find out Ryoko and the others had had issues with Dream Technology in China, becoming enraged by their deaths and, in a transfer of anger, kidnapping Lu Pingping. This would not only help them obtain the secret formula for the weight loss cookies but also fulfill Ryoko’s last wish, killing two birds with one stone.
With that in mind, Yan Fei’s perspective broadened once again. Beyond these two forces, there was another prime suspect: Yang Song of the Yang Family of Beijing. Having previously suffered a substantial loss at Yan Fei’s hands, Yang Song had suspiciously gone silent. Although Yan Fei remained guarded against reprisal, Yang Song had yet to act. Considering Yang Wanlin’s recent visit to probe for intelligence, Yan Fei’s focus had shifted to Yang Liu, nearly forgetting about Yang Song’s existence. Yang Song’s unrequited attraction to Lu Pingping also made him a possible suspect; spurned love could have turned to hateful action, prompting him to orchestrate her kidnapping.
The thought of Lu Pingping kidnapped, her fate uncertain, and in grave danger, twisted Yan Fei’s heart. He would have traded places with her if he could. To rescue Lu Pingping, Yan Fei was ready to disclose some information; as he prepared to convey all his suspicions to Wei Chao, Lu Pingping’s secretary arrived at the scene, escorted by the security captain.
The secretary was holding an envelope and, upon seeing Yan Fei, hurried over. Anxiously, she said, “Boss, I was on duty at the company today when a courier delivered this letter addressed directly to you. I saw that the envelope wasn’t sealed and, out of curiosity, I opened it, only to discover something shocking…”
Seeing that the secretary didn’t continue, Yan Fei asked, “What shocking discovery did you make?”
The secretary handed the letter to Yan Fei, saying, “Boss, it’s best if you see for yourself.”
Yan Fei took the letter, noting indeed there was no seal on the envelope, which was printed with the words “For Yan Fei!” in large characters. His heart stirred as he opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of stationery. A few photographs also fell from the envelope as he did so.
With quick reflexes, Yan Fei caught the photos mid-air. He picked them up and saw Lu Pingping on them, unconscious and lying on the floor, which had nothing on it to indicate the location. Each photo showed her lying in the same position, just from different angles.
Yan Fei felt a tightening in his chest and hastily read the letter he held, only to find an English letter printed on the paper, which read:
“Dear Mr. Yan Fei, Hello, we are sorry to inform you of such unfortunate news by this letter!
First, please allow us to introduce ourselves. We are envoys from the distant Assassin Sect of the Middle East, representing the supreme Old Man of the Mountains, Huo Shan, with a sincere proposal for you. As our sect is looking to improve our diet, we hope you would willingly and graciously three billion US dollars in cash.
Furthermore, do not harbor resentment; being chosen by us is a privilege. It signifies that you surpass the vast majority of people in excellence. We will give you three days to raise the funds. Once the three billion is deposited, your person will be returned unharmed. Otherwise, your person will meet the great zhen master, and you shall swiftly follow suit. Our rule is simple: those who obey us shall be safe; those who defy us shall die without a complete corpse!
Last but not least, we are not petty thieves; we are a formidable force. So, we won’t stop you from contacting the police. Yet, we trust the police will convey to you our strength, aiding you in making the right decision.
With that said, we wish you a pleasant cooperation and a joyful life, and hope your company prospers and soon becomes an international powerhouse!
Sincerely, Envoy of the Great Assassin Sect!”
At the bottom of the letter was the name of a foreign bank and a long string of numbers for a bank account.
After reading the extortion letter, doubts filled Yan Fei’s eyes. The ones behind Lu Pingping’s abduction were not who he had imagined—the Oogawa Family from Japan or the Yang Family of Beijing, nor any of the bounty tasks from the Dark Web, and not any of the other organizations or individuals he suspected, but rather an envoy of the Assassin Sect.
But what exactly was the Assassin Sect? The name was unfamiliar to Yan Fei, leaving him without a clue. With questions in his mind, a Drone immediately connected to the free internet near the Shanghai coastline and began searching for detailed information about the Assassin Sect.