Section 7

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Oh, oh, oh," José leaned back helplessly and said, "I am not such a heartless person. I always take care of my subordinates, don't I? He had an accident in Anton, but what can we do? In this world, even Alexander Salieri can have accidents; it's the arrangement of heaven. But he is not as fortunate as my Alex. Look, aside from being able to move his head, he can't speak or do anything. That shameless Anton kid just threw him back to me. But I can't support this traitor, can I?" He sighed, "I called his wife, but that girl doesn't want him anymore, so I had to come to you. After all, he is the father of your child. I think I can sell Balden's big house now, exchange it for a small apartment and some money, so you can take good care of your husband, and your daughter can have a father—although he won't be able to attend parent-teacher meetings.

Alex walked into the old man's room with a sullen expression. Under the dual pressure of Carmen Salieri and Sonia, he ultimately could not avoid having a vial of blood drawn. Fortunately, both the syringe and the blood collection tube were made of corrosion-resistant glass. This room was located on the second floor, featuring a spacious balcony, a small sitting room connected to the bedroom, and a study. The main color scheme was a rather soft coffee brown and beige. Currently, several people were seated in the small sitting room: Yel, Fude, and two individuals whom Alex was not very familiar with. Sitting in a wicker chair near the balcony was Uncle Jose, who reached out his arms to his child the moment he saw Alex. Alex walked over and embraced him. Although this man had entered the ranks of the elderly, his strong arms and heartbeat indicated that he could still live for a long time. Moreover, his spirit was the most resilient and passionate that the lich had seen since stepping into this frail plane. Even in Faerûn, such a human could achieve great things.

Moreover, you need not worry that he will hit you like before. "Doctor Jose said with a smile, "The doctor has assured me that he will only be like this for the rest of his life, needing someone to feed him and help him bathe—though that might indeed be somewhat difficult. Perhaps I should consider sending him to a nursing home.

Baldwin's ex-wife blinked, seemingly unable to believe what she had just heard

Even a woman who is well-behaved is somewhat aware of the matters between Anto and Don José. Balden's ex-wife immediately burst into tears: "I know nothing at all," she said, "He hasn't seen the two of us for several years. My daughter has been raised solely by my own efforts; we have never received any money from him..." Balden's ex-wife immediately burst into tears: "I know nothing at all," she said, "He hasn't seen the two of us for several years. My daughter has been raised solely by my own efforts; we have never received any money from him..."

It is like this. "Jose said with a tone of regret: 'You see, when Balden worked under me, he was always steady and had a lot of money to earn. But recently, he made a mistake, and the most unfortunate thing is that he didn't have the courage to admit his error to me; instead, he ran off to Anto.'"

The outsider could glean from Alex's memories that Balden had nearly succumbed to a mental breakdown before finally freeing himself from the woman he had married under his mother's orders. She was eight years older than him, constantly nagging, frugal to the point of obsession, utterly lacking in charm, disinclined to bathe, never wore makeup, yet swore she would bear him a dozen children, along with a daughter who was just as thin and shriveled as his ex-wife, showing signs of aging before her time.

What they said was completely sincere, and perhaps that is the most terrifying aspect of it

The other two individuals introduced themselves to Alex; they were the head of the intelligence department and the financial supervisor of the Salieri family. The former was named Aaron, who was as unremarkable in appearance as his name, while the latter was a Sardinian Jew with a distinctly Jewish face and a gentle smile. Father Jose nodded at them and then said to Alex: "We were just discussing the situation at the Triangle Sea base—our person in charge there has been heavily trafficking drugs, not for the Salieri family, but for his own pocket. However, he was quite unfortunate, as this matter came to Baldon's attention—I'll skip the details, you know how it goes. In any case, before your return, I made a deal with Anto: the Triangle Sea base belongs to him, while that person in charge and Baldon belong to me."

Baldin's wife, along with his ex-wife, was also brought in. She was a woman who, even among the generally petite Sardinian women, could be considered extremely thin and frail. Compared to the plump and tall Baldin, she resembled an underdeveloped child, yet the wrinkles on her face far exceeded those of Don José.

The hawk-nosed José moved slightly as he received a pure silver snuffbox from Fude, taking a couple of deep sniffs: "Perhaps you may resent my autocratic ways, but I hope that at least within the Salieri family, we can be transparent with one another. You might think that the base in the Triangle Sea is a money-printing operation, but I see it as a ticking time bomb. Oh... you might think that the base in the Triangle Sea is a money-printing operation, but I see it as a ticking time bomb. Oh... oh... please forgive me, one becomes forgetful with age." The old man wiped away the tears that had sprung from his eyes due to the irritant substance: "I know why Anto wants that place, and I don't even mind letting our leader profit from his goods— for a century, the Salieri family has guarded that location, with goods shipped from the Ilyushin Islands, spreading to both continents, and then a large sum of money flows into our accounts— well, if he wants it, I'll give it to him," José lowered his voice: "Some may think that the Salieri family has become weak, that we cannot contend with a mere child, but that is fine, let them say what they will, we will remain silent. Aside from the lottery, gambling, and the underground black market maintaining the status quo, the sex industry and illegal boxing matches will be significantly reduced, while hotels, transportation, mining, and industry will be intensified, and drug trafficking will be minimized... that is truly not a good thing, one day the government will come to collect on this deadly matter."

Baldwin's eyes bulged out

The entire room was enveloped in silence. Finally, Don José said, "Well, it seems that you haven't thought of anything to say for the time being. So, when you do think of something, feel free to come and talk to me at any time. But don't keep it bottled up inside; you know that Don José is someone who can listen to opinions. Alex, you stay; the rest of you may leave. There may be many more events in the future, but remember that the Salieri family has a final bottom line: your safety. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on you, remember this: no matter who it is, when it is, or where it is, I will always be able to bring you justice."

Of course," he said firmly, "Don José, you are absolutely correct." He wanted to kiss Don José's ring, but the latter caught him and gave him a kiss on the cheek and a book.

"No, I am your father, Alexander Salieri," the head of the family said kindly. "We are family, Alex, my son"

"This is unacceptable." The woman immediately expressed her opposition, looking gently at Balden: "I have worked as a handyman in a nursing home and know how the little girls torment those poor souls. They are always hosed down with water, can only eat coarse bread, and are never given water to drink, lest they need to use the restroom constantly. I cannot throw my Balden into such a place."

Seeing that woman in such a state of ecstasy, Balden will surely be able to live well for another twenty years, thirty years, or even longer

But his ex-wife fearlessly took the wheelchair from the nurse, holding it tightly: "Holy Mother, I really should thank you, generous Father José. People say you are a good man, and today I have finally witnessed it." She said with a beaming smile: "Five years ago, when he left me, if it weren't for our daughter, I would have been heartbroken long ago. Now it's great, I have my husband back, and my daughter has her father again."

Watching the couple, who had mended their broken relationship, depart, Tang Jose smiled at Alex and said, "I hope you are not dissatisfied with this outcome. If you had died, there is no doubt that Balden would have sunk into the sea as well. But you must know how happy I was when I learned that you were still alive, so I decided to share this joy with everyone—don't you think this is wonderful? A complete family is the cornerstone of social stability"

The embrace from Hall José was very brief; he released Alex, his gray eyes sparkling as he surveyed this miraculously rescued son. He pointed to a chair: "Please sit down, and *read* with Alex," he said. "I should have involved you in the family decisions. I once thought it was best to protect you, but it turns out that was a mistake. Fortunately, we still have a chance to make amends. Now, please sit down; starting today, you will also begin to work for the Salieri family."

Hude stepped forward to embrace his father, kissing him on the cheek, while the other three kissed the ring on Don José's hand. Once they had left, Don José turned to Alex

The woman nodded with trepidation, unsure of what had transpired, hoping only that no misfortune would involve her or her child

Baldwin was first brought into the room. Alex was surprised to find that, contrary to his imagination of a bloodied and mentally broken Baldwin, he seemed to be doing quite well. He was neatly dressed, sitting in a wheelchair, blinking his small eyes, and desperately trying to catch Alex's attention with his glances, yet he remained silent. The temporarily incapacitated lich was confused within Alex's body, but was unable to read his mind.

Madam Balden," said Mr. Jose with a pleasant expression, "I believe you still know your ex-husband Balden.

"Indeed," said José solemnly, "I have always believed that a traditional family must be upheld. Look at Balden; he nearly lost such a wonderful wife and family."

Alex was finally able to breathe

Next, we need to deal with Balden. I apologize, but that bastard in charge has already been taken out by Anto. Perhaps one day we will take care of Anto, but for now, I think you would prefer to see how we handle Balden first. He pressed the internal phone on one side and waited a moment before it connected: "You can bring in Balden, along with Balden's wife."