Trafford's Trading Club

782: Chapter 26: Collusion 782: Chapter 26: Collusion Some time earlier.

Caroline finally managed to get in touch with the lawyer Karo and went to the hospital to visit Nia with him.

Of course, they took the bus.

Karo said that last week, because he was in a rush to deliver a contract to a client, he parked in a non-parking area and his car ended up being towed by the police, so lately, he has been taking the bus, sometimes even taking motorcycle taxis.

Karo kept complaining to Caroline about how unreasonable the traffic police were, then escalated to criticizing the legal system of this country as being rudimentary.

What can be said?

Talking non-stop… but she couldn’t understand a word?

Caroline only felt as if she was witnessing a petty person haggling with a butcher at the market, eventually failing, much like a beaten hen.

Karo paid the fare when they boarded, but Caroline didn’t feel he had any so-called gentlemanly demeanor—he should have paid back at the café.

How much is a single bus fare worth? “Oh!

Poor Nia!

Forgive me for only now learning about your situation!

I should have come sooner!”

Upon seeing Nia lying on the hospital bed, Karo immediately rushed to her side, almost without thinking, and knelt beside the bed, holding Nia’s withered hand with both of his, pressing it to his forehead, speaking in a hoarse, emotional voice as tears fell, “You used to be such a beautiful woman, why have you become like this?

God is so unfair!

Oh… you should have let me know sooner, why didn’t you let me know?”

Nia seemed moved by the man’s deep affection, perhaps reminiscing about past moments with him, and the hollows of her eyes began to moisten.

Caroline once thought that Nia’s tears would have dried up by the time she was hospitalized.

Yet she was still moved to tears by such nearly nauseating words from this man…

Couldn’t Nia see how exaggerated Karo’s performance was?

After not seeing each other for several, even over ten years, how could he be like this?

Or perhaps, the illness has swallowed Nia’s shrewdness and reason, rendering her more ignorant than any ignorant woman?

Caroline opened her mouth slightly, even revealing her disdain for Karo through her gaze.

She hoped Nia could see her actions, yet Nia’s eyes never left Karo.

Caroline didn’t know if Nia wanted to remember this man’s face forever, but in the end, she didn’t voice the reminder she wanted to give Nia.

She closed the door and sat alone in a chair outside the ward, leaving Karo a chance to perform for Nia.

God, for the sake of the commission fee, hopefully this man would remain gentle till the end. “Why do I care about such things?”

Caroline suddenly shook her head self-mockingly.

Feeling a bit bored, she looked around the inpatient department corridor and realized there were actually quite a few people… they must all have relatives hospitalized here, right?

As her thoughts scattered, Caroline took out her phone and began to browse her social circles and Twitter to pass the time.

She wondered how the conversation between Nia and Karo was going?

She sent Livia a message.

After waiting a while, Livia didn’t reply.

She called instead, only to find that Livia’s phone was off.

Livia had said she would be leaving for a while, perhaps she has left by now?

Although Livia worked in the flesh trade within the district, Caroline knew full well that Livia secretly had a boyfriend outside, who seemed to be a university student.

This fool Livia even quietly set aside a portion of her money each month to subsidize this man’s tuition and living expenses.

Maybe she’s gone over to her boyfriend’s place.

Thinking along these lines, Caroline fell asleep.

She had a dream.

In her dream, she was an angel, but her wings were not the pure white described in the Bible, instead they were gray.

Her wings were folded, wrapped around her body, unable to fly, causing her body to begin falling from the sky.

However, she could never reach the ground, just kept falling endlessly, as if there was no end.

She couldn’t speak, only able to helplessly maintain her falling posture, her body like a statue, feeling like a soul imprisoned within it.

She didn’t know when, but another version of herself appeared before her.

Identical facial features, except the other had no wings, appearing just like her ordinary self.

She was falling too, at the same speed, their lines of sight maintaining a moving horizontal line between them… it felt like looking into a mirror.

Both continued falling headlong towards the ground, yet their eyes remained focused upon one another.

Caroline still couldn’t speak and had never felt more anxious.

But the other moved—the other version of herself moved.

She smiled slightly, a bizarre smile that spurred terror in Caroline’s heart with one glance.

The other moved.

This identical figure moved.

As they fell, she reached out her palm slowly towards herself, eventually placing it below her own abdomen.

Her mouth opened, as if making no sound, but her lips were ceaselessly changing shape, clearly saying something. “I’ve taken it.” “What?”

Below them, the earth was suddenly engulfed in darkness, the darkness spreading like ink dropped onto a napkin, quickly climbing up towards the sky, eventually dyeing the bright sky black.

Caroline felt pain, an intense pain. …

The cause of the pain was a hospital gurney being pushed quickly down the narrow corridor by doctors and nurses, the wheel outright running over Caroline’s foot… no wonder it hurt so much.

Caroline jolted awake from the pain, glared hatefully at the departing gurney, and hurriedly took off her shoe.

A crimson mark had been pressed onto her foot, no way to tell if the bone was damaged.

Why was today so unfortunate?

Caroline sighed, slowly massaging her foot.

At this moment, the door to the ward ahead suddenly opened, and Karo walked out expressionlessly, frowning upon seeing Caroline still sitting there. “Have you finished your conversation?

How’s Nia?” Caroline had no choice but to ask.

Karo replied indifferently, “She finally managed to fall asleep, best not to disturb her… by the way, do you have some time?

I’d like to discuss something with you.”

Caroline had a gut feeling it was nothing good, yet she endured the pain in her foot, put on her shoes, and followed the man to a relatively quiet spot—a place in the hospital’s inpatient department reserved for patients to get some fresh air.

Walking with a limp, Karo made no move to offer support.

This old man, whose youthful good looks could still faintly be seen, now pulled out a crumpled pack of soft cigarettes from his suit pocket, choosing one to light up.

Caroline said impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it quickly.

If there’s nothing, I’m leaving.

It’s getting late.”

The nighttime was when she worked, so being late was merely an excuse.

She simply disliked being around this old man, as it reminded her of Nia’s appearance.

That look, different from moments of despair, when she seemed renewed with a strange vitality, as if seeing hope. “You’re a prostitute too, aren’t you?” Karo slowly exhaled smoke, “Nia told me some things about you.”

Caroline crossed her arms and looked at the other person, frowning, “If you have something to say, just say it quickly.”

Karo turned around, leaning against the railing, with his back to the city’s night lights, “Nia entrusted me to sell her house, and the commission has already been agreed upon.

But she has one more condition.” “I won’t get involved in the property matters.” Caroline shook her head… Such things are too troublesome and thankless, and she had no reason to help.

Karo said with a faint smile, “Really not planning to get involved?

Even if you could get ten percent of the wealth after the property is sold?”

Caroline’s heart skipped a beat.

Karo explained, “Nia did entrust me, but she also entrusted you to act as her agent.”

With that, Karo let out a cold laugh, “This woman clearly didn’t trust me.”

Thinking of Karo’s behavior in the ward, Caroline also sneered, “Who would trust you, really disgusting.” “Only for the sake of money.” Karo shrugged, “If she was willing to give me money, I’d even kiss her feet right away.

And you, you’ve always insisted on visiting Nia in the hospital, isn’t it with some sort of purpose?”

Caroline shook her head slightly, unwilling to continue talking with this man.

Nia willing to give her ten percent after the sale honestly amazed her.

Is this… considered a reward for all the visits over this time?

Perhaps, just as this old man said, she had secretly hoped for something from the beginning—because she knew that Nia had no children or relatives.

But later, her intentions unknowingly faded, and when they disappeared altogether, even Caroline herself couldn’t say. “Is that all?

If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.” Caroline turned away… perhaps she should wait for Nia to wake up and discuss this matter with her properly.

Nia was a light sleeper, constantly tormented by illness, so Caroline thought she wouldn’t have to wait long. “Ten percent is too little, but how about if it becomes fifty percent?” Karo’s voice came from behind, full of an unprecedented allure.

Caroline instinctively turned back, only to see the old man biting a half-smoked cigarette, his hands in his pockets, giving her a smile she deeply disliked.

This smile was just like that of the pimp who had brought her into the business and introduced her to her first client, helping her complete the first deal of her life. “What did you say?”

Karo walked toward Caroline, “I see Nia’s condition is really bad, don’t you think?

She can’t be saved, nor will she be saved.

Why should we waste wealth on such an expensive surgery that may not even work?

Why put money into the hospital instead of our pockets?”

With every word Karo said, Caroline’s breathing became more rapid.

Suddenly, Karo lifted Caroline’s chin, “With this money, both our lives would become so much better, wouldn’t they?

And all we need to do is weave a beautiful lie.

You know?

A house in the Western District can be sold for a price you can’t even imagine.

It’s a fortune that even sleeping with hundreds of men wouldn’t guarantee.” “Scum!”

Caroline fiercely struck Karo’s face and left in anger.

Karo didn’t get angry but raised his voice as he called after Caroline, “Think it over well.

Just a nod, and you can have a fortune.

Nia can’t survive, is it worth it or not?” …

A house in the Western District could indeed sell for a fortune, Caroline didn’t even know how Nia made the money to buy such a house.

Is surgery… really not an option for Nia?

The doctor did mention that Nia’s condition was terrible, and surgery was just a last gamble, with slim chances of success, and more likely, would hasten death—or she might die during the operation.

Why entrust me?

Looks like she sensed Karo’s insincerity and was worried… After all, Nia was a dying person, it was understandable for her to be suspicious and not trust anyone.

Could it be… she’s not afraid I might…?

A house in the Western District, how much could it sell for…

Regardless of how much, it’s not a luxurious villa, it couldn’t compare to the wealth in her staggering bank account…

But until the situation was clear, this fortune couldn’t be used recklessly.

Thinking and thinking, Caroline didn’t know when she had reached Nia’s hospital room door, her hand resting on the door lock, about to push it when she suddenly paused.

Her hand… seemed unwilling to push open that door.

She felt as if there was a pair of eyes watching her from behind… Karo’s eyes.

Caroline abruptly turned around, but there was nothing behind her, just the gray-white walls of the hospital corridor.

On the right suddenly came the sound of crying, a woman lying on a moving hospital bed refusing to get off… The bedsheet had already covered the face of the person lying on it, and Caroline knew what this meant.

She remembered, it was just this moving hospital bed that had rolled past her not long ago. “I’m sorry, the surgery failed.” The doctor seemed only able to say some pale and useless words.

She had heard these words many, many years ago… when her father was shot during gang fights.

Death…

Caroline turned pale, her breathing a bit labored.

Her hand released the lock of the door, feeling weak all over, leaning against the wall of the corridor, just wanting to get away from this place.

Whether it was Nia, or the crying woman ahead, or perhaps even Karo still smoking on the mezzanine and hadn’t left… far away. … …

In the VIP room, after a moment of stillness, Song Haoran heard footsteps again—approaching the door.

Click, the sound of the door opening.

An old man with white hair, looking a bit sloppy… probably around sixty years old.

The old man was evidently terrified, perhaps having seen Song Haoran slitting the throat of the thug, thus shocked… But evidently, because the one killed was the thug, it gave the old man the courage to appear. “Are you… really the one sent for rescue?” The old man, besides terror, also held deep suspicion.

Song Haoran said calmly, “Let’s not talk about that now, there’s a bomb installed here, I’ll get you out soon.” “Bomb!” The old man exclaimed. “Enough to completely destroy this place, very dangerous.” Song Haoran nodded, “Let’s get going, I’ll take you to the exit first, you leave first.

I still need to find the remote for the bomb.”

Song Haoran quickly glanced at the old man, searching his memory… His memory had always been good, especially after acquiring the Sun God Badge, seemed to have the makings of a memory master.

So he had memorized the information of many important figures in the country early on, their faces, backgrounds… and this old man was also in his memorized information.

Ferenc, from the national research institute, an expert in the aerospace field… also one of the few remaining researchers after the disastrous rocket launch explosion many years ago in this country.

Why would this old man be in such good spirits, coming to this place to listen to a concert?

And in the VIP room nonetheless…