162: 162.
Freedom to Choose Life 162: 162.
Freedom to Choose Life At that moment, the opulent and Latin American-styled hotel lobby was filled with bullet holes and bodies.
Lu Li opened his earphone and said, “The matter is settled.”
Immediately from the channel came Aurora’s shout:
“Nicely done!
We’re coming out now!
You guys, go start the cars!”
Her voice was full of vigor, suggesting she was unharmed.
Lu Li disconnected the communication, allowing the “Blood-Drinking Sword” to fall back into his backpack.
But things in the world tend not to suffer from scarcity as much as from uneven distribution.
The other Flying Swords, unable to go out and wreak havoc, immediately started thrashing inside the backpack, making loud clanging noises.
Lu Li patted the backpack to stop their increasingly violent movements.
A minute later, the doors to the banquet hall opened, and Lady Maria and the others came out.
Their opening of the door caused a precarious marble wall to fall and shatter on the ground with a loud crash.
Aurora immediately noticed two bodies and couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, “You broke their necks!?”
Gunfight and broken necks?
Two such formidable assassins dying like mere chickens was truly inconceivable!
Lady Maria, looking at the white faces of the two agents, solemnly said, “Foreign Affairs Bureau?”
Lu Li replied, “Yes, exactly.
Agents of the Foreign Affairs Bureau.”
Lady Maria’s expression turned cold, “Their way of operating hasn’t changed at all over the years.”
The intelligence department of the Star Alliance Country was always known for its ruthless methods.
Not long ago, they had just launched a missile with a drone, killing a general in Persia.
If a high-ranking official could meet such a fate, the Foreign Affairs Bureau wouldn’t hesitate even more with a mere presidential candidate.
But the bad news didn’t stop there!
At that moment, Aurora found two cell phones on the bodies.
The phones required iris scans to unlock, and just right, the two agents were dead with their heads hanging and eyes wide open.
A quick wave of the phones in front of their eyes, and the system was accessed.
Aurora swiped a few times, her expression suddenly turned grave, showing the screen to Lu Li and Lady Maria—
Displayed was a dark web wanted notice issued personally by Benjamin.
Anyone who could kill Lu Li and Lady Maria would receive 30 million dollars.
Seeing this, Lu Li immediately had an understanding, “It seems these agents have taken on some side jobs; that 10 million was just a deposit.”
Being the top bodyguard of a lady, being on a bounty was not unexpected.
However, the faces of the campaign team grew even uglier.
Such a high bounty, who knew how many assassins it would attract…
plus the targeted actions by the Foreign Affairs Bureau, the situation was extremely grim.
Especially since most of the trouble was caused single-handedly by the lady’s insistence on provoking the Star Alliance Country!
Thinking of this, their faces showed hints of resentment, and the atmosphere turned quite oppressive.
Only Lu Li remained composed throughout.
The more power one holds, the more calm they tend to be.
And in the extraordinary yet unobtrusive Blue Star, speech is also a form of power.
“To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.”
Facing a nervous campaign team, Lady Maria said composedly,
“Taking risks in exchange for boosting support is my decision.
If anyone wishes to leave, I will not stop them and will even offer three months’ salary.”
This statement, however, reminded the crowd: Lady Maria’s support was at the forefront, with a nearly 90% chance of winning!
With such high rewards within reach, who would willingly leave?
The executive assistant thought further: in just one month, they would be safe in Mexico City!
After all, it’s the capital of the country with elite troops stationed, which offered some dignity.
Only a few strategists and assistants were still hesitant…
Lady Maria then turned to Lu Li and bowed, “I am very fortunate for my decision to have you today.”
Lu Li smiled and replied, “There’s no need to be so formal, I am pleased to work with you.”
Seeing the mysterious and powerful Easterner always remain calm, even those who were unsure made up their minds and said one by one:
“Madam, we will not leave.”
“Yes!
You are the hope of this country, I am willing to die for you!”
…
In just a few words, morale was quickly rebuilt.
Lu Li nodded in satisfaction; this lady had indeed managed to get to where she was with some skill.
Once she was elected president, she would not only bring many benefits but could also use the power of the nation to locate Benjamin!
Although the government could not defeat the drug lord, finding his general location should not be difficult, and then the time would come to settle both new and old scores…
As he was pondering, sirens and ambulance sounds burst from outside.
It was time to leave.
Suddenly, Lady Maria said, “Keep a close watch on these two corpses, store them in a refrigerated truck.”
The group quickly realized that this was important evidence.
A “media strategist” quipped:
“Madam, should we post the events online and denounce the acts of terrorism by the Star Alliance Country?”
The other staff members agreed, “This way, the public will inevitably unite in hatred against the enemy, and your approval rating will surge once more!”
“No!”
Faced with such a tempting proposal, Lady Maria decisively shook her head and said, “Let’s keep this matter low-key.”
The few were slightly stunned, then agreed wholeheartedly, “Madam, your wisdom and decisiveness are commendable.”
Lu Li thought for a moment and quickly understood:
“She wants to deter the Foreign Affairs Bureau while creating a situation for negotiation and cooperation, to prevent them from going mad and actually launching missiles with drones.
“Combining defense and offense in one move…
Indeed, none of these politicians are simple.”
Lu Li shook his head, feeling that brute force suited him better.
By then, the vehicles had reached the hotel entrance, and everyone started to leave.
Before leaving, Lu Li noticed Aurora was directing people to put the bodies into body bags.
He reminded, “I want the suit and the folding gun, and there’s another corpse on the cathedral rooftop.”
Aurora nodded, “These are your spoils of war, no one dares object.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Only when she sat in the back seat of the car did Lady Maria finally let out a long sigh of relief.
She was nearly fifty, covered in bullet wounds, and not nearly as strong as she appeared.
Teresa immediately took out a thermos and some pills, helping her mother take them.
After swallowing the painkiller-laced hot water, Lady Maria finally relaxed slightly.
She quietly looked out at the city through the car window, then at Aurora, Reyes…
These people were loyal and capable, but nowhere near enough to help her soar!
Maria recalled the young man embracing her, strolling through the garden dodging high-caliber sniper bullets…
She closed the car’s front visor and said to her daughter, “You don’t need to come home tonight.”
Teresa frowned, somewhat reluctant, “Mother, Jessica will be with him tonight.”
The young girl didn’t want to comply with her mother’s wishes.
It wasn’t because of the shock or the swelling pain, but because she simply disliked being a political prostitute…
But Maria gripped her daughter’s hand tightly, staring sternly, “Our fate, and the fate of countless others, depends on him!
You must go!”
“But I…”
Teresa wanted to say more, but fate tends to hit you hardest when you’re down.
Maria looked at her daughter’s lower abdomen and coldly said:
“Today is your ovulation day, go and conceive his child.
The room is close by, I’ll be counting, and if you dare slack off, remove my name from your surname!”
This was akin to severing relations.
Teresa’s face turned pale, and she bowed her head silently.
Seeing her daughter capitulate, Maria spoke softly again:
“Mom really needs your help, but don’t worry, once I gain power, you’ll be free to choose your life.”