561: Chapter 550: Stepped on a Landmine!
[10 Updates] 561: Chapter 550: Stepped on a Landmine!
[10 Updates] Having secured a partnership with the Xu Corporation, Kamante finally breathed a sigh of relief, and it also meant he had completed his mission.
Had he not succeeded in this, Europe would have had no place for him.
Following Kamante’s invitation, Ruolan would visit the workshops of the Zarfi Group over the next two days, observing their gemstone polishing processes and gathering some experience.
“Mr.
Ning, I’m truly grateful to you for agreeing to partner with us.
It’s an honor for our group!”
As Kamante was leaving, he kept bowing to Ning Fan, with a humble attitude that betrayed none of his prior arrogance.
Although Ning Fan had emphasized multiple times that the partnership between Xu Corporation and Zarfi Group had nothing to do with him, Kamante already deeply associated Ning Fan with Ruolan.
His behavior made Ruolan even more curious about Ning Fan’s past.
Ruolan knew that it was not because they valued the potential of Xu Corporation that these European giants had offered ninety percent of the profits and shamelessly sought Ning Fan’s agreement.
It was entirely for Ning Fan’s sake.
Their actions amounted to doing anything at whatever cost to please Ning Fan, and this had a significant impact on Ruolan.
For the Xu Corporation, this was like unexpected pie falling from the sky, or more appropriately, stacks of cash shoving their way into their pockets, unstoppable.
All of these benefits were thanks to Ning Fan.
Ruolan’s multiple negotiations were not a match for the presence of Ning Fan.
Aside from being helpless, she also felt a bit defeated, and it even started to make her question her life.
“Congratulations to you, your goal for coming to Europe has been greatly achieved!”
Hearing such words of congratulation from Ning Fan’s mouth, Ruolan felt an overwhelming sense of incongruity.
Once she realized Ning Fan was deliberately trying to distance himself from the matter, Ruolan couldn’t help but roll her eyes and persisted in asking, “Who are you really, that someone as influential as Princeton needs to curry favor with you?”
Ning Fan’s influence wasn’t limited to the domestic arena; he also had significant clout overseas, which astonished Ruolan.
Ning Fan blinked, appearing as if he didn’t understand what Ruolan was saying.
“I am just Ning Fan, a doctor from the mountains.
It was you who invited me out here, remember?”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, never mind…” Ruolan sighed helplessly.
Ning Fan was clearly trying to conceal something and didn’t want to tell her, and Ruolan had no intention of forcing the issue.
Anyway, the deal with the Zarfi Group was set in stone.
The purpose of coming to Europe had been achieved.
The details of the partnership would require deeper negotiations.
However, this sudden windfall still left Ruolan somewhat bewildered…
“Alright, alright, you’ve been busy all day, you should get some rest early!”
…
In a quaint little town in Europe, an old factory stood at the edge of a forest on the outskirts—long abandoned and of no interest to anyone until new visitors arrived tonight.
The town’s population had dwindled significantly; only a few elders remained as most of the younger generation had already moved away.
Built during the industrial revolution, the factory had a lengthy history.
Although long abandoned, the various tools and machines in the workshop were still well-preserved antiques.
Under the cover of night, five silhouettes scaled the factory’s perimeter wall and entered the nearest workshop.
“Does anyone really exist in such a godforsaken place?” Alej whispered, dressed in a black combat suit.
Beside him were the other three elements—wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—along with Ning Fan.
Alyu squatted on the ground, pinching the soil as if searching for something, too preoccupied to reply to Alej’s question.
According to reliable information from Ajio, the remnants of the Yun Ci Guild were hiding in this abandoned factory.
Once Ning Fan received the news, he immediately made arrangements.
The Blood Wolf Mercenaries had already infiltrated the small town next to the factory in Europe, waiting for a signal from Ning Fan before storming in, while Ning Fan led the four warriors—Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning—into the site first.
“Let’s first look for any entrance,” Ning Fan whispered.
Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning began to carefully search the surroundings separately.
Click——
Suddenly, Thunder’s figure paused; he stiffly stood in place as if he had stepped on something.
“Landmine!”
Thunder said in a hushed tone as a warning to Ning Fan and the others, a drop of cold sweat already forming on his forehead.
Ning Fan and the others instinctively stopped their movements and retraced their steps cautiously.
Wind quickly moved next to Thunder and consoled him simultaneously, “Stay calm, stay calm, it’s nothing…”
“I know!” Having been through many battles, Thunder was somewhat embarrassed to be comforted by Wind.
His face darkened, and he forced a bitter smile.
To actually step on a landmine—what a stroke of bad luck!
“You’d better hold steady; I don’t want to die with you.”
“Bastard, can you stop joking at a time like this!”
Wind touched his nose and let out a laugh, though his expression was grave.
“It’s a model I’ve never seen before; it must be a new type.
You’re really lucky…”
If it weren’t for the fact that there was a landmine underneath his feet, Thunder would have definitely taught Wind a harsh lesson for making such insensitive comments at this time.
Wind took out a dagger and slowly began to dig away the dirt beside the landmine, revealing its full appearance before his eyes.
“I’m going to count to three, and then you immediately lift your foot!”
“What are you planning to do?” Thunder furrowed his brows.
With a casual tone, Wind nudged his chin and replied, “Don’t worry, I’m very fast.
I’ll make sure to save your leg!”
Wind, ready to defuse the landmine, had a look of intense concentration.
He took a deep breath, slowly raised his head to look at Thunder, and crouched close to the ground like a hunting cheetah.
“Get ready!”
Wind gave a reminder and then began the countdown.
“One, two, three!”
Boom!
The second after Thunder lifted his foot, a shadow flashed through the darkness; at a distance of over twenty meters away, a burst of fire followed, and in the light of the fire, Wind’s figure jumped to the side.
The thunderous roar of the landmine explosion echoed through the skies, resonating within the factory for a long time.
Immediately after, countless floodlights switched on, illuminating the interior and exterior of the factory as if it were daylight, and numerous footsteps sounded within the facility.
The explosion had alerted those hidden within the factory that enemies had infiltrated their premises.
Numerous shadows flitted across the light as dozens of fully armed elite warriors emerged from the workshops, leaving Ning Fan and his comrades, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, with nowhere to hide!
[Woke up at three in the afternoon and then kept on writing, finally finishing ten chapters before ten o’clock.
I’m going back to sleep for a while.]