ushernet Chapter 200 Threat
Chapter 200 Threat
The sudden accident startled him so much that he wanted to scream, but in a daze, he only saw Chenxi standing in front of him with a smile, and he didn't know when he had slapped a rather heavy money bag into his hand.
"not enough?"
The sound of slapping rang out, but before Karl could reply, another slap was heard.
After a familiar flash of black and white, he felt a chill on his neck, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. When he reached up to touch it, he found his head still safely on his neck, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking again at his hand, he saw yet another identical money bag.
This time, before he could even speak, Chenxi slapped him on the shoulder, whispered in his ear, and spoke each word carefully, as if trying to etch the threat of death into his mind:
"I understand your rules, but don't try to pull them on in front of me. Drop your pretentious gentlemanly act, or I won't hesitate to let you experience what it's like to be worse than dead."
After patting his shoulder twice more, Chenxi stood back next to Marcus and finished off the coffee he had been drinking earlier.
Karl clutched the two money pouches in his hands, his cheeks flushed red, raising them high as if about to explode. But a single glance from Chenxi sent a suffocating, python-like pressure coursing up his neck, turning his face deathly pale once more.
The mysterious spell dissipated as Karl tapped the rim of the teacup, and, no longer daring to misbehave, finally accepted the money pouch. Facing Hoffmann, he said angrily:
"And you, miss from headquarters, what are your orders?"
Hoffman didn't reply, but instead shifted his gaze back and forth between Chenxi and Karl, who had become like this. In the end, all his words turned into a long sigh:
"Excuse me for speaking frankly, Mr. Carl, you are two hours and fifteen minutes late."
Chenxi continued sipping her refilled coffee, ignoring Hoffman's gaze. Meanwhile, Karl, upon hearing Hoffman's voice, gradually realized who was in charge of the conversation.
A mere assistant dares to act like this in front of the mentor. The thought of Chenxi suffering at Hoffman's hands later improved Karl's mood, even returning him to the level before his conflict with Chenxi.
"I apologize, my lunch with the Finance Minister was a bit too lavish, but unfortunately your train wasn't on time either."
"You've been dining elsewhere? Our agreement was..."
Now even Hoffman wants to give this guy a good beating.
"Don't rush, ma'am from headquarters! You're not familiar with the pace here yet."
“Look at this industrialization, this so-called modern design, they’ve turned our great cities, our fluffy and soft lives, into a cold machine.”
"Forgive these train crews, sewer workers, and plumbers! A little 'unpunctuality' is their right, and a manifestation of our free will..."
"In conclusion, you didn't have to wait too long, and I enjoyed lunch. A happy ending, isn't it?"
Hoffman remained unmoved, Marcus kept his head down, and Chenxi continued drinking his coffee.
Clearly, Mr. Carl could only rejoice in silence.
"By the way, why was your train delayed?"
"It knocked down a deer that had free will."
It's rare for Hoffman to be so sarcastic; it seems Karl's behavior is indeed quite unpopular.
"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that."
"Alright... please forgive old Karl's slight oversight, ladies. We're currently busy clarifying the rumors about Golden Island and simply don't have the manpower. If headquarters could provide us with some personnel assistance this time, instead of transferring some, everything would be much easier."
As if completely oblivious to the sarcasm in Hoffmann's words, Karl accepted Hoffmann's response without any hesitation, appearing utterly unconcerned.
“I’m just doing my job impartially, Mr. Carl. Would you like me to write your request into the report?”
"—It's okay, it's okay!"
Upon hearing that he would have to add a line about himself to the report sent to headquarters, Karl repeatedly refused. He didn't want to lose the benefits that came with the title of "Head of the Vienna Branch of the Foundation."
"They're just a bunch of lunatics from Crazy Island, occult criminals exiled from some small country. People will forget about them in less than a month."
"Only those self-important young artists, unscrupulous criminals, and neurotic conspiracy theorists would think it would have any impact on Vienna."
"The Magyars and Bohemians are already enough of a headache for us... Mystics? They are not the most important ethnic problem for the Empire!"
He continued to dodge the question about the mystic, but Xiao Ma, who was exceptionally sensitive to words, immediately pointed out his problem:
"But isn't it you in charge of registering and managing the mystics...?"
"But I also serve the emperor and the empire first, don't I?"
With his hands shrugged, Karl looked quite innocent and helpless.
"Before you defined me with the title of 'head of a branch of the foundation,' I am first and foremost a proud citizen of Vienna, loyal to our great Emperor, Miss!"
"But you said this is an open and inclusive city..."
Marcus's question remained hesitant, but she still asked it firmly.
“Oh yes, we’re in charge of dealing with the little troubles of the mystics—like I said, just as we deal with the little troubles of the Magyars and the Bohemians.”
As for Chenxi? He was still drinking his coffee. The fact that he hadn't killed this person yet was already giving him the most face.
It's fair to say that this situation exists in almost every branch: rampant corruption and blatant bribery. It's precisely because of people like this that countless individuals like Snyder die in obscurity.
However, Carl continued to swing his cane and stride forward cheerfully. If he knew what Chenxi was thinking, he would probably lose three pounds from the cold sweat that broke out on his back.
"Alright, the historic St. Love Foundation Vienna building is just ahead. Let's go over there!"
Marcus touched his left cheek, and the touch left by Chenxi when he removed the tongue-rolling spell was still slightly hot.
“Mr. Carl… is very different from the people I’ve met at headquarters…”
Faced with students' questions, the tutor patiently provided his/her answers:
"...In most cases, the members of the foundation's branches are not comrades with the same mission, but bureaucrats who cooperate with the authorities."
"We need them to coordinate the relationship between the foundation and local governments in order to better safeguard peace in the human world."
"Conversely, you can't expect them all to be cosmopolitans. Most of them are primarily loyal to the royal family and the country; they are more like government employees."
She suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"...Marcus, was that occult license one of your belongings before you joined the Foundation?"
When questioned by his tutor, Marcus tightened his grip on the books under his arm, lifted them slightly, and then pulled out his scarf to cover the spot where the tongue-rolling spell had been applied.
"Yes, although Austria abolished the mandatory inspection permit in 1868, Romania did not until 1913... I just brought it out out of habit. Fortunately, it came in handy."
"It seems this truly is my time. Time has returned..."
"—Under no circumstances should the connection between 'heavy rain' and 'the times' be disclosed to unrelated personnel."
The stern reminder startled the apprentice, who stopped talking and didn't continue.
"Keep your documents safe and follow Carl."
“Remember what I said, Marcus—even in a Foundation branch, don’t trust anyone.”
As for Chenxi… Hoffman's only request was that she not disrupt their normal mission progress. She no longer expected anything more from this "problem child."
And so, the group gradually made their way to the foundation building.