Chapter 407: Preparing for Rainy Days
As the center of the storm, Xia Yu naturally attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives at all times. Especially during this sensitive period with the Kessick family's troubles and Xia Yu's major suspicion, and his subsequent invitation to the police department, it was impossible for the outside world not to pay attention.
A sensitive time, a sensitive person, a sensitive organization, and a sensitive matter all coming together meant that everyone was watching closely, whether in the business world, political sphere, or among high society elites. Their thoughts varied, some were hopeful, others worried...
As time ticked by, when Xia Yu walked out of the police department building with ease, the news reached the upper echelons of Hong Kong immediately. Xia Yu's friends breathed a sigh of relief, while those with ulterior motives sighed deeply.
---
On the top floor office of the Shun Tak Group headquarters on Hong Kong Island.
Gambling king Ho Hung-sen sat in his chair, while Ho Yau-kuang stood silently beside him. Both were watching the subordinate who had just finished reporting in front of Ho Hung-sen.
"Alright, I understand. You can leave now."
After dismissing the reporting subordinate, Ho Hung-sen stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, with Ho Yau-kuang following closely behind.
Through the glass, Ho Hung-sen gazed at the bustling street below and then up at the blazing sun in the sky, narrowing his eyes, his expression complex.
Ho Yau-kuang observed his father's every move and change in expression, feeling just as complex inside. He understood his father's emotional fluctuations.
If his father, who had eaten more salt than he had rice, could be so emotionally affected, how could he not be?
Recently, with the rapidly changing situation in Hong Kong, they were watching from Macau. While shocked, Ho Yau-kuang often lamented that the world was changing too fast for him to keep up.
The Ho family, having risen from unclean beginnings, had their underground influence in Macau, and were familiar with the assassin and mercenary world. Therefore, after the Kessick family's troubles, they knew about the bounty list, and the seasoned Ho Hung-sen immediately guessed that it was Xia Yu's doing.
Who did it was not the key point; after all, fifteen million dollars was a sum many wealthy families in Hong Kong and Macau could come up with.
The key was that after doing it, nothing serious happened—now that was true skill!
Despite rushing from Macau to Hong Kong that night to seize the opportunity and get a piece of the action before others could unite to resist him, Ho Hung-sen's attention to Xia Yu did not wane. When Xia Yu was taken away by the police, he put down his work and quietly waited, planning various scenarios and countermeasures in his mind.
When he received the news that Xia Yu had safely left the police department, Ho Hung-sen himself wasn't quite sure of his feelings. There might have been joy, regret, or lament—his emotions were hard to define.
But regardless of his feelings, it was irrelevant. He only knew one thing:
From now on, Xia Yu's development in Hong Kong would be smooth sailing, and no one would dare to challenge him in an underhanded way.
Even if there were setbacks, they would only be minor ones within the rules. No one would voluntarily cross the line to oppose Xia Yu unless it was a matter of life and death.
After all, if the renowned Kessick family had fallen, which other wealthy family would dare to be confident that they were stronger than the Kessick family?
And the Jiuding Consortium—yes, to Ho Hung-sen, though the Jiuding companies were not many, they already constituted a consortium. After all, Jiuding Securities was a giant in the securities industry, and Yi He Insurance Advisory Group was a giant in the insurance industry, giving them two strong pillars in the financial sector.
Besides that, with the media crown of the King of Media and the industrial behemoth of Wharf Holdings, their power was formidable, matching or even surpassing Ho's own lineage.
As long as Xia Yu did not make mistakes, Ho Hung-sen could already determine that Xia Yu was destined to be among the top in Hong Kong.
However, judging by Xia Yu's current performance, it was more realistic to expect pigs to climb trees than to hope Xia Yu would make mistakes and completely ruin the massive Jiuding Consortium.
Looking at the blazing sun above, its brightness so glaring that Ho Hung-sen's eyes were dazzled, it seemed as though he saw Xia Yu's face in the sun.
Ho Hung-sen was struck by realization. Xia Yu was as dazzling and brilliant as the noonday sun!
"Young people are to be feared. Have we grown old?"
Compared to the young Xia Yu, the ever-defiant Ho Hung-sen felt a sense of aging. He couldn't help but express his feelings.
"Father, he really keeps exceeding our expectations. I truly don't know where his limits are!"
Hearing his father's lament, Ho Yau-kuang couldn't help but sigh as well.
"If Chao-qiong knew, I don't know how impressed she would be..."
After speaking his mind, Ho Yau-kuang suddenly realized he had misspoken, quickly shutting up and glancing nervously at his father, Ho Hung-sen.
Ho Hung-sen's face twitched, and he took a deep breath, falling into silence with a deep gaze.
"I know Chao-qiong is still secretly in contact with him, paying attention to his affairs. You have also played a part in this."
Ho Yau-kuang's face changed at Ho Hung-sen's words. He lowered his head silently, afraid of his father's gaze.
"Let her be."
Ho Hung-sen said expressionlessly.
Ho Yau-kuang suddenly lifted his head, looking at Ho Hung-sen's back, and responded with mixed feelings, "Yes!"
"Father has finally bowed his head. I had anticipated this, but back then, Father... sigh…"
"I hope it's not too late. Even if it is, it won't be possible to have the best outcome as before... sigh…"
"Forget it, as long as Chao-qiong is happy."
Ho Yau-kuang thought to himself, feeling very conflicted.
"Alright, let's move on!"
Ho Hung-sen was unwilling to dwell on the topic where he was wrong. He quickly shifted focus back to the Shun Tak Group's involvement in targeting the Yi He Consortium.
He had come over from Macau last night to seize this rare opportunity. While Hong Kong's Chinese capital was distracted, he aimed to take a bite of the Yi He Consortium's flesh and rapidly expand Shun Tak Group, strengthening his ability to compete in the future.
As for the Yi He Consortium and the Kessick family, Ho Hung-sen had been somewhat worried. However, upon learning that Old John and Henry Kessick could not be saved, he relaxed.
Knowing that Xia Yu had safely left the Hong Kong police department, he understood that the Yi He Consortium and the Kessick family were thoroughly finished.
Xia Yu's safe departure from the Hong Kong police department was highly significant. It represented the government's stance.
Unless the government obtained a fatal clue, Xia Yu would remain unaffected.
With such a ruthless figure as Xia Yu, the Kessick family's nemesis would never rise again, and the Yi He Consortium was also destined for a bad end.
As for Charles Kessick, temporarily saved, Ho Hung-sen regarded him as already dead.
Ho Hung-sen knew the cruelty of high society, especially a leaderless high society. The Kessick family's branches, in the face of immense wealth, would not care about the already pale family ties and would never allow Charles Kessick to survive.
Without Old John, outsiders would also find it difficult to interfere in the Kessick family's internal affairs. It was expected that soon there would be news of Charles Kessick's death.
Once Charles Kessick was dead, the various branches would fight for the inheritance, each trying to secure as much as possible, and they would certainly not withstand the pressure from other big shots.
At that time, there would be no need for tactics. Many of the Kessick family's controlled stocks would be sold off. Preparation must be made in advance to seize as much as possible!
Missing such an opportunity would be a huge loss!