Helpless.

"What do you mean by that!"

The general on the other side was furious.

"Calm down, and listen. Two of my men have been compromised. We have a proposal ready, and we are completely ready for the mission this time."

The general scoffed at this and said,

"Are you insane? Your unit has been compromised, and you expect me to send my men on this mission?"

"No one else on my unit is a traitor. I can assure you of that."

"Even if that is true, isn't it a possibility that the enemy already knows more about your unit now? And if we are going to send in someone, wouldn't they be prepared for it?"

Tai didn't have a comeback. Everything he just said was a fact.

"We have an enemy now. So I guess that the mission has become valid. But that doesn't mean that you are free to do and ask for whatever you want. Your error led to the enemy manipulating your personnel. Standard protocol dictates that you will be relieved of your command after an inquiry. As for the mission, it will be transferred to another task force."

"We don't have time. If we don't take action now, the enemy will succeed in their plan."

The General raised his voice.

"Be that as it may, you don't have the authority to step in. The mission will be transferred, one way or another."

General hung up. Tai clutched the phone in his hand and smashed it on the floor.

"Damn it!"

He could do nothing. If he took action, he could be hanged for insubordination.

But he couldn't care less about that. Right now, his error could lead to the termination of his unit.

He walked out of his office, helpless due to his predicament. Alex was busy reading through the computer, but he did sense Tai's lethargy.

"Are we getting any backup?"

"No. I will be withdrawing the mission from the Zhao family."

Alex turned around and asked,

"I am guessing that the talks didn't go too well?"

Tai smirked.

"I am on course to be terminated from this job."

Everyone else looked at him in shock.

"What about them?"

"They could still keep their jobs after a screening test. I will take full responsibility, and they could push all the blame on me."

Alex stood up and asked,

"How much time until they arrive?"

"One, maybe two days. I would advise you to stay put until then."

"We don't have much time then. Let's get going."

Alex patted him on his shoulder and said.

"The mission is finished. Where do you want to go now?"

"To complete the mission."

Alex walked towards the elevator, and Tai Zhong looked at him in shock. The elevator reached the floor. Alex looked at him and asked,

"Are you coming?"

The chief hurriedly picked himself up and followed Alex into the elevator.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Better. I have the culprit."

----------------------------------------------

After a nine-hour drive, Alex stepped out of the car with a backache.

Tai was about to step out, but Alex said,

"Why don't you let me handle this one?"

He asked Tai to stay back in the SUV. His presence would only complicate things.

Tai agreed. Alex walked towards the huge skyscraper. Two guards were at the entrance.

He stayed out of their sight and entered through the front door as fast as he could. Human eyes couldn't follow him, and all the guards felt was a strong, sudden breeze.

Taking advantage of the lack of presence, He used his system space to change into his suit. He was now inside the building and formally dressed.

The receptionist noted his appearance.

"Excuse me, can I help you?"

"Yes. I am here to meet Luo Tian."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No. But please ask him that someone from the Rockstone Corporation is here to meet him."

The receptionist picked up her cell phone and called up to the Luo family heir's office.

Luo Tian picked the phone up and said,

"What is the matter?"

"Some kid claiming to be from the Rockstone corporation is here to meet you."

His eyes widened.

"What did he say?"

"The Rockstone Corporation. Should I send him up?"

"Is he a foreigner?"

"He is. But he can speak Mandarin fluently."

"Send him in. But make sure that at least 5 guards are with him."

"Ok."

The receptionist hung up.

"Mr. Tian is waiting for you. If you wouldn't mind, he has also asked for some guards to escort you for your visit."

Alex smiled.

"I am okay with that."

The receptionist felt her heart skip a beat. This kid was too charming!

She called up to the security. A bunch of guards arrived and escorted him to the elevator.

He followed them quietly. There was no need to storm it like his previous mission.

The elevator door opened. He walked out of it and followed the guards to his office.

One of the guards opened the door. Alex stepped in and was greeted by a lavish office. It oozed class.

"Mr. Luo Tian."

He raised his hand towards the target for a handshake.

"Mr.?"

"Alex Rock."

"Alex Rock?"

Not a name that he had heard before.

"Forgive my brashness, but I haven't heard your name before."

"Forgive me, Mr. Tian. But people only get to know my name when our corporation wants to do business."

Tian frowned.

"And what business are you here to do today?"

Alex smirked.

"Your weapon. The Rockstone corporation is interested."

Luo Tian looked at the guards in front of them. They were never supposed to know of this.

"Oh, did I make a mistake?"

"No. It isn't a big deal. Guards, you can leave."

Tian memorized all of their faces. They cannot be allowed to live for too long.

"Please take a seat."

"So as I was saying, we are interested in your weapon."

"Excuse me, but I already have buyers for the weapon.

He poured a glass of whiskey for himself. When he offered some to his guest, Alex refused.

"We already know that. We also know that you are risking your career for this."

Tian took a sip. He already knew the consequences.

"I have my ways. My career isn't everything."

"I can see that. But what if we make you the overseer of the business that the weapon brings?"

He choked at that statement.

"Pardon?"

"As you already know, the weapon is too good to pass. We could give you some money, but that would be such a waste, don't you think?"

Tian looked at Alex and said,

"We can take the burden of claiming the ownership of the weapon design. You can switch sides without alerting anyone by simply joining our corporation. By the end of this, you could continue to work as a free man, while we would earn profits because of the weapon."

Tian was seriously considering the offer. In the past, the Luo family had appointed him as the CEO of the weapons division of a new beneficiary. He had pleaded to the Rockstone corporation for a deal, but the company refused to listen to his offers. His designs were nothing special, and his company was a new venture that had struck gold with a pistol design.

After that, the government refused to accept his company as a worthy supplier of weapons. Soon enough, his division was closed down, and he was transferred to a desk job with no progress in sight. Now that he finally had a golden goose, the goldsmith had appeared on his doorstep.

"I am willing to discuss the terms."