Chapter 1 Bernardo Manor

In the conference room of Bernardo Manor, Tagu received a report from the canal, learning that the Barna City police system had clashed with Su Tianyu, Jiangzhou, and others. They had also blown up two canal bridges, resulting in heavy losses for his side.

Most importantly, despite the fierce firefight, apart from wasting a lot of ammunition and collapsing two bridges, the Barna City side had failed to capture any significant figures. All that was left at the scene were corpses, and the police system personnel hadn't even caught a glimpse of Bruna.

Tagu couldn't accept this outcome. He tossed his sparse hair and sat in his chair, angrily cursing, "Bastard-bred fools, leading a group of mentally deficient pigs, staging the biggest joke of the century at the canal entrance! A joke!!"

Tagu's temper was well-known throughout the Barna City military. Hearing his angry curses, everyone lowered their heads, afraid to engage with him.

After a while, Tagu's emotions subsided. He drank his coffee with a gloomy expression and fell into deep thought.

From the report, Tagu learned that all the officers he had sent to work with Booker had been killed. Booker's usually calm demeanor and extreme actions this time made Tagu even more vigilant.

About ten minutes later, a series of footsteps echoed outside the door, and a guard ran over to report, "Reporting, Legion Commander, Mr. Booker has arrived."

"Let him in," Tagu replied faintly, picking up his cigar box.

At the door, after receiving the notification, Booker walked into the conference room alone. He kept his head down, his face pale, and didn't speak.

Tagu lit a cigar and said faintly, "Unfortunately, you still didn't follow my orders."

Booker kept his head down and remained silent for a while before replying, "I'm sorry, brother! It was my stubbornness that made me make a mistake. I sincerely accept your criticism!"

The two brothers, one sitting, one standing, one sweating profusely, the other calmly smoking a cigar.

After a long stalemate, Tagu slowly got up, holding his cigar in his mouth, and walked to Booker.

A strong sense of oppression hit Booker's heart, making him nervous and afraid.

Booker still clearly remembered when he was a child, playing at his relatives' ranch. Tagu had stabbed a cow to death in the wooden pen because it mooed during his nap, its neck riddled with holes from the dagger. Then he went to rest in the tent, covered in blood.

He was only thirteen years old that year!

In Booker's mind, Tagu was definitely a madman.

Tagu stood in front of his brother, reached out to straighten his clothes, and said softly, "You know, Father is gone, and that fool Bruna ran away with the Orientals. Our huge family is facing division. I... I have no direct relatives left, only you and Boang."

"Yes," Booker nodded.

"I went crazy trying to make myself stronger, just to protect my family." Tagu reached out and patted Booker's shoulder. "You made a mistake, but you're my brother, and I can't bear to blame you. Even if Bruna is so stupid, I don't want to really hurt her."

An unusual emotion rose in Booker's heart. He seemed a little moved and looked up, replying, "Thank you for your understanding, brother!"

"We are brothers!" Tagu patted his arm, took a puff of his cigar, and said, "If Bruna wants to leave, then let her leave. You and I, and Boang, must continue to face the Bernardo family's awkward situation."

"I will completely obey you!" Booker immediately expressed his loyalty.

"Of course!" Tagu sighed. "There are many things we need to do now, but the most urgent is to consolidate some funds. You know, those politicians who followed Father are all greedy old men. They are more cunning than hyenas. We need to use a lot of money to buy them off, not slaughter them."

Booker was stunned.

"You may be surprised, but this is the best way I can think of right now." Tagu sat in his chair. "If Bruna hadn't run away, if the Orientals and District One weren't coveting our interests here, we could have killed all those who didn't listen. But the situation is a bit complicated now. If we don't handle it well, Barna City may face the risk of division. Relying solely on armed forces may not be enough to support our continued rule. We need to buy people's hearts."

"Yes... yes," Booker replied.

"The money will come from the Barna City government. I will send some shrewd accountants there to check the accounts and consolidate the funds." Tagu looked at Booker with his hands clasped. "I need your help with this."

Booker was the executive deputy chief of Barna City, equivalent to the second-in-command of the region's political affairs. But after his father died, according to the order of identity and position, he would inevitably be the new chief.

In other words, Tagu wanted to send someone to intervene in the municipal financial liquidation, which was equivalent to seizing financial power.

The problem came to Booker's side. He looked at his brother and said almost without hesitation, "Of course, you are the future master of Barna City. No one has more power than you to distribute the wealth of Barna City."

Tagu looked at him. "Thank you for your support."

"We are brothers!"

"...Oh, and also, Boang's health is getting worse every day, and it's so chaotic outside. I don't think he can take care of himself. I'm going to bring him to my side." Tagu continued, "I will take good care of him."

Booker paused for a moment. "Of course, I believe you!"

"Then let's each prepare," Tagu replied with a smile.

Five minutes later, Booker left the conference room and walked out expressionlessly.

Of the four core members of the Bernardo family, only Booker and Boang were born to the same parents. Tagu's intention to take him over and keep him by his side was already very clear.

Booker knew that his actions at the canal entrance had already caused Tagu's dissatisfaction and wariness, so he had to regain his eldest brother's trust.

Such a good family, adding up, had at least ten thousand schemes in their hearts. Family ties had long become as thin as white paper.

...

Slanka Town, inside the Chi Army base.

Su Tianyu and others got off the plane, together with Bruna, and headed towards the headquarters.

"How's the situation?" Zhao Wei Hu greeted them. "I heard you got chased out again?"

"Damn it, it's good enough that we came back alive." Su Tianyu sighed and pulled Jiangzhou over, saying, "Brother, let me introduce you. This is my newly recognized second brother, Jiangzhou!"

"Hello!" Zhao Wei Hu immediately extended his hand, saying in a teasing tone, "Six mentioned you to me more than once. I think we're very compatible... Why don't you guys rest for a while, and we'll become sworn brothers!"

Hearing this, Da Bai muttered from the side, "Ah, Brother Tiger has become worldly too."