Rebirth: Super Banking System Chapter 2398 - 2238: Growing Stronger
Previously on Rebirth: Super Banking System...
A week had passed.
The nineteenth day.
Beijing.
Outside Chai Ren's home.
In the afternoon.
"Uncle Tang, take this candy." The daughter of Chai Ren pulled a sweet from her pocket and offered it to Tang Qing. That title left Tang Qing feeling somewhat helpless.
Uncle!
Alas!
In the old days, we were mere children.
Lingering.
Hovering.
Yet today, we've turned into uncles. Luckily, in terms of looks, even after scores of years or a full century, ignoring the family ranks, there's no risk of hearing "grandpa."
"Call me brother instead." Tang Qing suggested with a grin.
"Nope."
Her small head wagged back and forth fiercely.
"Why not?"
"Mommy says Uncle Tang stays Uncle Tang!" Her tiny face brimmed with determination.
"..."
Sound... reasoning!
Bulletproof.
"Haha, don't sweat it; once you start a family, this won't bother you." Chai Ren chuckled nearby while tousling his daughter's hair.
Next.
"Smack!"
His daughter's palm struck his hand in clear disapproval. Seeing the scene, Tang Qing couldn't suppress a chuckle. Chai Ren's girl, as she matures a bit, will undoubtedly turn into a real handful.
Naturally.
No offense intended, merely picturing Chai Ren's future troubles—his dream of a sweet, caring daughter won't come true. Maybe he'll aim for a boy next time.
Wait.
Better to say: He's already at it.
The year before.
A new arrival joined Chai Ren's household—a little boy who's just beginning to toddle. And earlier, though Chai Ren skipped the detail, Tang Qing was aware that Zhan Xi is pregnant once more.
Fine.
This household.
Appears quite prosperous; come Chinese New Year, they'll snag extra red packets.
Once the candy was shared.
Chai Ren's daughter dashed inside to join her brother in the living room. They called it playing, yet really, they clutched a tablet, viewing cartoons side by side.
Out in the yard.
Basking in the gentle wind.
Conversing.
Reminiscing old times.
"You can't imagine my terror back then, fearing I'd never hold my daughter again, and suddenly, those fighters descended, seizing control in a flash."
"..."
Chai Ren shared his tale of the abduction in Africa.
Each recollection.
Sends shivers racing down his back.
Without Tang Qing's aid, he'd likely be a feast for beasts by now; those scenes linger sharply.
Icy.
Ruthless.
Formidable.
His saviors, based on their fighting prowess, were surely top-tier experts, impossible without vast combat know-how, their strikes so swift and precise.
Regrettably.
To this day.
Their identities escape him; he only knows they hailed from the Black Prison, nameless, no aliases even, vanishing after the mission.
Pondering the Black Prison.
Abruptly.
Chai Ren let out a heavy sigh.
Formerly.
He'd viewed it as a shadow group, yet it boldly backed the Congo Gold United Power Grid Co.'s launch.
Claiming the biggest stake.
Leader.
Clan.
Commander.
Congo Gold's key players all allied with it. When Tang Qing brought him aboard as an investor, the surprise lingered for ages.
Later on.
Actions followed in waves.
Bridging dark and light realms.
Today.
It has evolved into a fearsome monster, rooted deep in Africa's hidden networks, its reputation alone enough to instill dread across the continent's underworld.
None provoke it lightly.
Those who try.
Mostly fade into oblivion, while a handful join the Black Prison ranks. Chai Ren even caught his father noting that the group's mightiest arm.
May lie not below.
But.
Above.
On the legal side.
Bribes.
Support.
Control.
...
Via countless tactics, the Black Prison's shields in African nations abound. Their reach could extend into those lands' forces.
Sure.
Pure guesswork.
Still.
Data from a superpower's elite spy network, sifted and examined, holds worth even as theory.
Plus.
His father once portrayed it: The outfit grows ever more elusive, intel on it dwindling, morphing into myth.
Not from decline, but ascent.
Yet.
Chai Ren holds no fears.
For now.
It shows no foe-like traits, and under Black Prison guard, his African mining ventures have sailed smoothly all these years, free of snags.
If issues arose.
Unspoken.
They'd likely be handled already.
In essence.
Gratifying!
With that thought, his eyes drifted to Tang Qing, marveling inwardly at how Tang Qing connected with that ally.
He'd encountered him.
An aura that dominated.
But just once, at the Congo United Mining Group's founding; afterward, meetings ceased, calls sparse too, since topics were scarce.
All matters.
Were wrapped up by them.
"..."
And so.
Just a handful grasp the Black Prison's reality and details; its secrecy ranks so elite, even Zheng Lin remains in the dark.
He gleaned from his dad.
Solely due to dealings with the Black Prison and long familiarity, granting him scraps of knowledge, though limited.
Likely.
The Tang Qing before him holds deeper insights.
Truth be told.
Gazing at Tang Qing these days, Chai Ren struggles to stay composed inside; this guy's talent for alliances is blinding, the Black Prison as proof.
What's more, their bond runs deep.
Next.
Myanmar's scene, this rising powerhouse, booming fifty times in GDP over five years, alongside exclusive goods, captivating globally.
Lastly.
The Hummingbird.
Ignorance shocks less than investigation.
Previously.
His father jolted upon uncovering those allies' backgrounds, given their iron grips in home nations across.
Covering arms, governance, commerce.
If inclined.
In their lands, scant limits exist for them; swaying presidential picks falls within reach, if that's not power, what counts?
Thus.
The Tang lineage.
Even sans ties to elite heirs, stands as a thorn in every corner, too vital for Huaxia to ignore.
Besides.
It's expanding.
Hence.
Numerous clans ponder forging links, like with the Tang clan's sole girl this era—Tang Nian’er, a prime target in many minds.
Sadly.
She sticks to Qingyan City.
Desperately.
To approach, options narrow to Yantang University enrollment or elder matchmaking, but Tang Kai shuns Huaxia's elite gatherings, skipping Beijing.
Seeking marriage.
Can't just barge in with proposals, can they?
Likewise.
Qin Yugang's pair of girls draw interest too, prompting his Shanghai shift, spearheaded by the Chai clan, with swift follow-through from others.
Beyond that.
Direct heirs from big families in Shanghai pursue every angle to win favor; warnings reach Qin Yugang's workmates via their backers.
---Build rapport, never cross them.
Very well.
Chai Ren shook his head in wry amusement, truly curious who'll ultimately snag this vital tie.
"..."
The following day.
Dawn.
Tang Qing joined yet another park launch event; being in Beijing drew crowds of big shots, including both Qingbei university heads.
After all.
Tang Qing counts as their alumnus.
Moreover.
A good share of park staff hail from Qingbei; thanks to local policies, plenty of out-of-province grads sought transfers home to Beijing.
Deep inside.
Overflowing thanks.
Such employee-friendly firms are scarce; while some permit relocations, not all boast Beijing outposts.
Simply put.
The encounter.
Spells fortune.