But the Lord Will Save (7)
The call from Mi-joo came just as I was entering Guangzhou University City to oversee the hunter recruitment process again today.
“Only four?”
“Yes. They asked me to pass on their sincere apologies.”
This was Gao Xusen's response—relayed through Mi-joo and Suyeon—to my request that he send over about ten of the Awakened Ability Users imprisoned on suspicion of rebellion. The communist noble, who held real power in the city Public Security Bureau, said four was the limit for now.
After the battle now dubbed the “Guangdong Great Subjugation,” there were so many captured Awakened Ability Users from the unsavory elements taken alive. Just four? For a fleeting moment, I wondered if this bastard had gone blind to everything but his performance metrics. But on second thought, Gao Xusen wasn't the type of idiot to treat me like yesterday's leftovers.
A communist noble overflowing with achievements wouldn't lack for power either. So there was only one conclusion to draw.
‘Beijing must be monitoring the capacity of city-level detention facilities in real time.’
China's “Rise of the Awakened” initiative was publicly known only as a national project to mass-train and militarize Awakened Ability Users. But it couldn't end there. There were projects to uncover the causes and principles behind superpowers, to integrate them into industry, economy, military, and science; to project Awakened forces overseas for global influence; and—as Hushan Liang had hinted to me—to systematically recruit foreign Awakened Ability Users. All bundled into the grand “Rise of the Awakened.”
Among these, the project decoding the origins and mechanics of powers needed as many test subjects as possible. A normal country, like the current U.S., would recruit clinical trial volunteers with cash incentives. But a nation like China had no reason to waste budget on such frivolities.
The rebels being mysteriously transported to unknown destinations for the past three days were proof that this project was underway.
‘Though even those paying for volunteers aren't exactly above board.’
For instance, France was still selecting volunteers from Awakened Ability Users in its former colonies—nations where it played overlord. They haggled down the price as a baseline, then signed “comprehensive employment contracts” requiring anything legal. This secured both test subjects and mercenaries in one go. They claimed to stay within legal bounds, but in Africa's lands ruled by poverty and chaos, one had to question if basic research ethics would hold.
Lost in these thoughts, I heard Mi-joo hesitantly broach a delicate topic over the line.
“There's... one more issue.”
“Hm?”
“I'm not sure how to put this...”
“Just say it.”
“One of the four is the man I asked Gao Xusen to set aside for me in advance...”
I paused, puzzled for a second, then understood and pressed a hand to my temple. It was tied to avenging the dead Gapsu.
“What a coincidence... No, not even that. In a situation with so few to send, it's practically inevitable.”
“Yes.”
“Was he one of the guys on site that day?”
“No. Regrettably, all the perpetrators are presumed KIA. They were all from one assault team. Tracing their movements from the statements led to a riverside ambush where the army and navy had concentrated fire.”
“Exposed to naval gunfire? Identification would be nearly impossible.”
“Exactly. We checked every body from the scene, but none had intact limbs. The freezers for storage were insufficient, so decomposition was advanced. Most were Black Sea Party or peasant workers anyway—no DNA on file.”
As she spoke, I pictured Mi-joo in a stench-filled makeshift morgue, unzipping one flimsy Chinese body bag after another, rotten fluids leaking out. She must have felt more rage and emptiness than disgust.
“Too bad. So the one we caught was an instigator?”
“Close. He confessed to being one of those involved in planning the attack.”
“Hm...”
Whatever she made of my brief silence, Mi-joo's voice softened.
“I heard you're planning some kind of experiment, sir. I'm fine with it—take him, do what you need, and send him back. Or if you'd handle it for me...”
“What are you talking about? You have full rights over his treatment.”
“But—”
“No buts. It was my call. If you want to keep him alive as long as possible while making him suffer, then sure, use my help.”
“I'd never dare ask that much. I just worry my personal feelings are causing too much trouble for you and the organization...”
“I said it's fine. Slice fillets off him alive, skin him and cauterize his tongue and eyes—do whatever you want. Just send the other three here.”
“I don't know what experiment you're running, but will three be enough? If you give us more time, factoring in transport, we could send more death row inmates in about ten days.”
“Ten days? I'll probably be in Indonesia or Korea by then. And it's not that critical to drag out. Don't worry—if we're short, we'll improvise.”
“...Thank you deeply for your grace, sir.”
“I just hope you're not too disappointed.”
“Yes...”
With things turning out this way, I figured I'd better get a feel for it on animals before putting a blade to humans. With self-proclaimed hunters swarming the city, offering above-market rates would secure test subjects before half a day passed.
‘Meriyam might be a little sad depending on the results.’
I was rushing the experiments because of Meriyam's siblings. On the second night after the Great Subjugation, with Gao Xusen and Public Security Bureau Maritime Sub-branch Chief Hu Sugwang's cooperation, I had shipping restricted in Jiaoyi Bay at the Pearl River estuary for a set time.
This was to administer “baptisms” to Meriyam's siblings nearby. Just like opening her circuit, each baptism didn't take long—thanks to the experience and know-how from custom circuits for Kyung-tae and the others.
But the six who had already awakened before meeting me couldn't receive it. Too late to refine their circuits; one was barely balanced, the rest hardly qualified as ability users. Their power was only slightly above average, but using it meant risking severe side effects.
You should've seen their despair when I said baptism was impossible. Two went pale and fainted on the spot.
Meriyam's concerns about her blood-unrelated siblings' mental states only proved more accurate with time.
Mi-joo, back to her usual tone, continued her report.
“One more thing. Gao Xusen asked me to confirm your schedule for this evening.”
“Did he say what for?”
“Yes. First is finalizing the equity split ratios for Guangdong Triad assets and indirectly related businesses.”
“Ah, that.”
I'd forgotten amid everything else.
“How far along is the nuts-and-bolts discussion? Rough conclusion reached?”
“Per Policy Office Director's guidance, we've focused negotiations on securing shares and operations in licensed junkets, conceding casinos and miscellaneous spots. Provisional agreement: 1% in Macau Entertainment Corp., 51% in Asia Gaming Holdings, 51% in Ho Entertainment Company, 38% in Morpheus Corporation...”
Policy Office Director was a role Suyeon handled alongside her secretarial duties. Given the topic, calling her that now was appropriate.
The names Mi-joo listed—all but Macau Entertainment Corp.—were licensed junket firms tied to the Triads.
‘Perfect. I was looking to reduce reliance on Diamond Casino and the Native casino alliance for laundering anyway.’
Licensed junkets were Macau's unique legal intermediaries linking casinos to VIPs. They took 1.25% commission on all VIP bets at contracted casinos, while also managing those accounts as gateways for deposits and withdrawals—making them the invisible powers behind Macau's economy.
Purely financial? Better to grab the casinos themselves. Way better. But junkets' strength lay in their discreet operations. The main reason mainland Chinese VIPs used them was that secrecy; ironclad security and confidentiality were junkets' alpha and omega.
Plus, junket-managed casino accounts defaulted to RMB and HKD. HKD was pegged to the USD, making it prime for laundering. Second reason VIPs loved them: once cash turned to chips, tracking was near impossible. Chips shuffled endlessly with every game—who could trace origin or owner? Not even the players knew.
Granting casino licenses meant accepting such side effects—for tax revenue and public welfare. Even in this corrupt continent, that was the nominal justification.
I waited for Mi-joo's report to wrap, then asked,
“Just to check: you audited the junkets' finances before acquisition? The previous Triad management surely fiddled with chip issuance.”
“HQ reviewed the ledgers—no major irregularities. The Policy Director said Triad-owned junkets' VIPs were no ordinary folk; small fry couldn't scam them much. So push fast, don't nitpick. That's what we did.”
“Indeed.”
I'd been short-sighted. Gao Xusen had two reasons to keep the deal fair: his ties to me, and to Mi-joo. A communist noble wouldn't scam a woman he'd set his sights on—unless to impress her more.
With staff consensus, it was time for the bosses to rubber-stamp.
“Fine, but if that's first, what's next?”
“Second: face-to-face on advancing the ‘Rise of the Awakened.’ Third and last: he wants to treat you properly before you leave China—a victory celebration. Might be more he didn't tell me.”
“Got it. Tell him after six p.m., and not too late.”
“Yes. Say no later than midnight?”
“Hm.”
“Understood. I'll follow up.”
“Good work as always.”
“No need—it's my job.”
“Hanging up.”
“Yes.”
After the call, I pondered my new acquisitions.
‘Hide a tree in a forest; hide dirty money in clean.’
Macau's casino economy clocked ~$40 billion—three times Vegas's, the famed sin city. Factor in shadow funds? Who knew how many multiples. Tourism slump and global recession meant no peak profits, but junkets' VIP base ensured stability.
That clientele doubled as potential guanxi networks. On this continent, thicker connections meant wider maneuverability.
Finally, with a quarter of Cotai Strip—Macau's core—Vegas-owned, junkets could forge business ties for smoother, faster international flows.
All in all, a stellar business win. Self-satisfied? Fairly.