Chapter 815 - Stake it all
But in reality, Stein had overthought the matter.
With Lin Yifu’s current strength, how would he possibly be interested in a mercenary base?
He only came here to treat Hamza. As for the father and son relationship between Hamza and Stein, he had no intention of poking his nose into it.
Then again, the reason why he brought Su Tao here was to take a look at his old friend and to examine this future grandson-in-law of his.
He wasn’t against men who were playful. On the contrary, it was inevitable for an outstanding man to have several women around him.
This was also the reason why Lin Yifu was unhappy when his son-in-law rejected the temptation of women.
When he was younger, Lin Yifu was playful himself. It was just that he had tamed down after getting on his age.
Then again, it was also understandable because he did not have much interaction with Stein, so it was normal that Stein has no idea how he was in the past.
On this matter, Hamza knew it fully well. Otherwise, how would Hamza accept Lin Yifu to head the business with his prideful character?
When Stein heard Lin Yifu’s cold tone, he sneered in disdain, “Since you’re not willing to leave, then you can continue to stay behind as you wish. But as for this young physician over here, I’m afraid that he will have to suffer some bitterness!”
“You can try!” Lin Yifu replied coldly.
As Stein’s gaze turned sharp, he gave a signal to his trusted aide as someone walked over to Su Tao.
There was nothing he could do about Lin Yifu, but a physician was nothing to him.
However, he had no idea of the true relationship between Su Tao and Lin Yifu.
When his trusted aide stepped forth, Hamza’s loyal subordinate, Jacob, stepped forth with thirty-four people as they surrounded everyone.
Both sides had their firearms prepared with bullets loaded. The atmosphere was intense as a conflict could break out anytime.
Watching this scene, Stein never imagined that a young physician would cause so much change. His father wasn’t dead, and he only had 50% confidence of taking down this entire base. But if his father dies, he would have 100% confidence of taking down this base.
As a cautious man, Stein had been planning for a long time to snatch all the resources from his father. But now that he was faced with this choice, he had to be cautious or he might lose everything.
Glaring at Jacob, Stein questioned, “Are you intending to rebel?”
“We only chose this career path because of freedom. We’re all gathered together to make money with a common goal. But if we’re not united, then we will just disperse. There’s nothing about rebel to talk of.” Jacob grinned in disdain.
Stein gave a complicated glance at Lin Yifu as he knew that the latter must have given Jacob heavy interest. Otherwise, it was impossible for Jacob to stand out with his intelligence.
“From today onwards, you guys are no longer part of our mercenary group,” Stein responded.
Since Jacob wanted to start up trouble, then so be it. Stein had already planned to absorb more fresh blood. As for his father’s subordinate, they had already been suppressed by him with most of them split up.
He couldn’t even be interested in these bunch of old mercenaries. If they dared to try something, then it would save him time to clean up the mess.
“That’s where you’re wrong. You and your dogs are the ones leaving tomorrow.” Jacob grinned in disdain.
“You!” Stein’s cold gaze swept between Jacob and Lin Yifu as he asked, “You only have so few people with you, and you want to chase over a thousand of us away? Are you dreaming?”
“This base was founded by us together with Hamza, and it has nothing to do with an unfilial son like you.” Jacob replied in disdain as he added, “Do you think that the thousand followed you willingly? You’re the one dreaming instead!”
Although there were many of Stein’s trusted aide planted among the management, most of the mercenaries here only came for Hamza’s reputation.
Stein did not have a sufficient reputation to back up so many people, nor could he give so many mercenaries a sense of security.
Mercenaries might not be afraid of death for money, but they loved their lives. This is also the reason why they chose a big mercenary organization, they needed the protection.
Along with Stein replacing Hamza, many people have begun to stir because Stein was so much inferior compared to his father. Most importantly, Stein was obstinate and self-opinionated, so no one wanted to follow him.
It was also because of this point that gave Jacob confidence.
However, he did not have enough prestige and hoped to have Lin Yifu backing him up.
Then again, he was also loyal to Hamza. If it wasn’t for the fact that Stein had crossed the bottom line, Jacob wouldn’t have gone against Stein.
“Everyone knows about my father’s situation. Do you guys think you have a future following him?” Stein barked.
He knew that Jacob was wavering everyone’s heart. But why did Jacob say all of that so suddenly?
Stein immediately figured that it must be Lin Yifu!
He had guessed it correctly as Lin Yifu had gotten Jacob to contact Hamza’s old subordinates last night and began a plan to suppress Stein.
However, the plan still wasn’t complete, and they never expected that conflict would take place so quickly. The fight between Su Tao and Arnold earlier was the spark.
But even without Su Tao, Jacob would still stand out and go against Stein.
Although Su Tao had no idea what was going on, he knew that it was a piece of good news to him. With an internal strafe, he will have a higher chance of saving Yuan Lan.
Seeing that the situation was going on a bad path, Stein’s expression became darker as he waved his hand, “Uncle Jacob, I respect you as an elder and I can fully understand that you want to get out of this since my father’s health wasn’t well. We were all brothers who had fought together, so it would be best to avoid bloodshed among us. Let’s end this matter today and discuss this again tomorrow over a meal.”
When Jacob heard those words, he turned to look at Lin Yifu, which the latter nodded at him.
Under Stein’s mediation, the tension slowly eased up as Yuan Lan was brought to be locked up. As for Su Tao, no one pursued his responsibility anymore.
It was mainly because of Su Tao’s treatment on Hamza was effective, and this was the reason why Jacob stood out.
When Su Tao saw that Yuan Lan did not take a glance at him throughout the whole episode, he felt a little heartache.
He knew that Yuan Lan pretended not to know him so that their relationship wouldn’t be revealed. Otherwise, Su Tao would become a prisoner as well.
Stein was a demon who kills without blinking his eye, and the reason why he did not touch Su Tao was because of his fear for Lin Yifu and Jacob.
As Su Tao returned to the room with Lin Yifu, the latter asked with his brows knitted, “You know that woman?”
After a brief pondering over this matter, Su Tao did not hide it from Lin Yifu as he nodded his head, “She had once saved my life.”
Lin Yifu was stunned upon hearing those words as he frowned, “Such a coincidence?”
“I was also surprised when I saw her. The other day when I left the manor, I went to search for her and another friend.” Su Tao sighed with a bitter smile.
Lin Yifu fell into silence as he started analyzing the truth in Su Tao’s words. After a brief pondering, he asked, “What are they doing here?”
“To kill someone!” Su Tao sighed as he added, “If I have guessed correctly, that person is currently under Stein’s protection.”
Lin Yifu believed that Su Tao must have a reason for making a move. The Su Tao he knew wasn’t an impulsive man, and he wouldn’t make the situation worse for a stranger.
“This matter is somewhat complicated. I only realized that I had underestimated Stein’s ability after coming here. He had already gained full control of the base now. We shouldn’t discuss on how to save your friend right now, but how to leave this place safely.” Lin Yifu sighed.
“What if Stein recovers?” Su Tao asked.
With a flicker through Lin Yifu’s eyes, he knew that Su Tao’s treatment was effective. But in the end, he still shook his head with a bitter smile, “Hamza’s loyal subordinate, Jacob, could only mobilize about a hundred people right now. On the other hand, Stein controlled nine hundred. Even if Hamza recovers, there won’t be much change to the situation. Stein had already built his momentum!”
“So you guys intend to move Hamza out of the base?” Su Tao asked in astonishment after a brief pondering.
Seeing that Su Tao was so smart, Lin Yifu nodded, “We can only give up on the base right now. Based on the current situation, it wasn’t optimistic to seize the base back.”
Su Tao finally understood Lin Yifu’s motive. The latter got him to take a look at Hamza was a reason to sneak Hamza out secretly.
The base might be under Stein’s control, but it wasn’t tough for Lin Yifu to shift someone out.
Even if Stein noticed something, he wouldn’t make a move for his own reputation.
“Then can you bring my friend out as well?” Su Tao sighed.
“No way!” Lin Yifu shook his head and added, “It will increase the difficulty.”
“Then I will save her myself!” Su Tao replied decisively. For Yuan Lan, he had decided to stake it all.
Listening to Su Tao’s words, Lin Yifu was briefly stunned before he shook his head.
It was within Su Tao’s expectation for Lin Yifu to refuse his request because the latter had already planned everything before he came to the base. They were only going to shift Hamza out of the base.
However, adding another person in will ruin the entire plan, so Lin Yifu couldn’t make any changes.
Lin Yifu knew that Su Tao went to look for his friends on the second day he came to Slovakia, so he knew that Su Tao wasn’t lying.
However, there wasn’t anything he could do to help Su Tao.
Saving Hamza involved the lives of many people, so he had to pay attention to the overall situation.
Yuan Lan was locked up once more with an increment in the guard.
Stein had to think about Jacob’s action, so he chose to toss Yuan Lan aside for the time being.
The room was dark without any light. If an ordinary person was locked up in this room, it wouldn’t take a single day for them to go insane.
However, Yuan Lan had undergone professional training, and her willpower was stronger than ordinary people.
With a bitter smile on her face, Yuan Lan was thankful for Su Tao standing out to save her, allowing her to retain her life for the time being.
But since she wasn’t dead, then there was a chance for her to make a comeback.